Public Health Services A Shared Service of Cape Breton District Health Authority (CBDHA) & Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority (GASHA)

Brochure

Learning Objectives  Identify sources of PCB’s  Discuss health effects of PCB’s  Review actions for reducing exposures to PCB’s

PCB’s Identified  209 different chemical compounds  Trade name – Aroclor, banned since 1978  Oily liquids or solids, colorless to light yellow  Products made in 1977 or before still exist and are being phased out

PCB’s Uses  Coolants / lubricants in transformers, capacitors  Hydraulic fluid  Adhesives  Fire retardants  Pesticides  Inks  Carbonless reproducing papers  May still be around,products made before 1978, such as:  Old fluorescent lighting  Electrical Devices  Microscope and hydraulic oils

PCB’s & the Environment  Persistent in the environment  Travel very far away – Artic circle  Build up in environment and affect human health, contaminate the marine food chain  NO ONE is PCB-free, stored in body fat, very slowly eliminated

How We Can Be Exposed  Old fluorescent lighting  Old electrical appliances and devices such as TV’s and refrigerators  May leak while heating up and cause skin exposure

How We Can Be Exposed Contaminated food :  Fish caught in contaminated waters  Red meat  Pork  Dairy  Fats  Oils

How Can We Be Exposed?  Contaminated air around hazardous waste sites  At work  While preparing and maintaining PCB transformers  Accidental fires or spills  Improper disposal

PCB’s and Your Health  Lung and nose irritation  Abdominal pain  Affect blood and liver function  Fatigue  Headache  Numbness and tingling

Health Effects : Skin  Chloracne – a sever form of acne  Rashes  Gray – brown discoloration

Health Effects : Infants  Exposed via placental transfer or breast milk  Low birth weight  Problem with motor skill  Decreased short-term memory  Depressed immune function  Decreased IQ of at least 5 points  Defects in teeth enamel

Health Effects : Children  More susceptible because body weight, diet, activities, still developing vital systems  Decreased reading comprehension, possibly higher incidence of ear infections

Health Effects : Hormonal Disrupts hormones such as :  Thyroid  Estrogen  Testosterone  Steroids

Health Effects : Cancer  Suspected to be cancer – causing  Probable cancers :  GI  Lymph and blood systems  Liver  Gall bladder tract  Skin  Pancreas

Protect Yourself Protect Your Family  Have well water and soil tested  Remove shoes at the door  Vacuum, damp mop, and dust your home often  Limit eating fish caught in contaminated areas, check with Department of the Environment for fish Advisories

Protect Yourself Protect Your Family  Breast feeding is still recommended  Benefits outweigh any possible exposure to PCB’s in breast milk  Do not let children play with or put soil or dirt in their mouth

Protect Yourself Protect Your Family Avoid exposure to :  Old electrical equipment  Old appliances  Contaminated soil and water  Children in particular should not play in hazardous waste sites

What To Do:  If exposed at work :  Shower and change at work  Wash clothes separately  PCB’s can be carried home from work

What To Do:  Encourage industry to continue clean up of PCB’s and properly dispose of them  PCB’s can be clean up through Dehalogenation (chemical process to remove halogens), dig and remove, dredging, and incineration with a special incinerator

In Review  What are PCB’s and how are we exposed to them  How do PCB’s effect our health  How can we reduce our exposure to PCB’s