Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Terphenyls (Second Edition) - Environmental Health Criteria 140

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were discovered before the turn of the century and their usefulness for industry, because of their physical properties, was recognized early. The PCBs have been used commercially, since 1930, as dielectric and heat-exchange fluids and in a variety of other applications. They have become widely distributed in the environment throughout the world, and are persistent and accumulate in food webs.