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Article: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Industrial Heating
- Article date:
- June 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2001 BNP Media. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Industrial Miracle to Environmental Concern
In 1968, more than a thousand people in Yusho, Japan became sick after eating food cooked in PCB contaminated oil. This was the first time in nearly 40 years that PCBs were even considered to have toxic effects on humans. Since that incident, there have been disagreements over the health effects from PCBs. The one thing experts can agree on is that PCBs can be found almost anywhere.
A History of Concern
PCBs were first manufactured in 1929 and quickly became regarded as an industry favorite due to their nonflammability, chemical stability and electrical insulating properties. PCBs were used in hundreds ...