Abhatoo - Centre Nationale de Documentation

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of synthetic organic chemicals, are found worldwide in air, water, soil, food—and the fatty tissues of humans and animals.

Human exposure to PCBs through contaminated foods may cause such health problems as developmental

and behavioral disorders in children and disruption in the endocrine and immune systems. PCBs are considered to be carcinogenic. Research also links PCBs to reproductive failure and suppression of the immune system in seals, mink, and other wild animals. Moreover, PCBs are toxic to fish; higher doses kill fish and lower doses cause spawning failures.