TOXICOLOGY OF POLYCHROLINATED BIPHENYLS.

Abstract

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are chlorinated hydrocarbons formed by two fused benzene rings linked by a single carbon-carbon bond, with until 10 chlorine atoms. PCBs had diverse industrial uses and its commercial production started in 1929. These compounds present high resistance to degradation, capacity for bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the trophic web, and large distribution in the environment, being the atmospheric transport its main mechanism of global dispersion. Due to implications to human health as well as environmental impacts, PCB use and production was restricted in the 1970s, with expiration date for its use scheduled for 2025. Even nowadays, there are studies in progress aiming the assessment of the human exposure to PCBs as well as the reduction of the environmental impact generated by these compounds.