Despite being banned over 40 years ago, PCB chemicals, known to cause cancer and various health problems, continue to pose a significant threat due to their presence in modern industrial processes.
A recent study from the UK has revealed that the production of these harmful chemicals may be higher now than ever before, surpassing levels seen during their peak commercial production in the 1970s (via The Guardian).
Alarming Resurgence of Harmful PCB Chemicals
The study, led by environmental forensic scientist Dr. Dave Megson from Manchester Metropolitan University, sheds light on the alarming resurgence of PCBs in today's industries.
Despite efforts to eliminate them under the Stockholm Convention, PCBs are being produced as by-products in chemical reactions, leading to their presence in various products used daily.
Chlorinated solvents used in chemical manufacturing are identified as a major source of these unintentionally produced PCBs. Surprisingly, these by-product PCBs are not being detected in many existing monitoring programs, raising concerns about their unmonitored environmental and human health risks.
The implications of this study are far-reaching, extending beyond industrial processes to impact marine ecosystems. High levels of PCBs have been found in marine mammals, such as killer whales, posing a severe threat to their health and survival.
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Deadly Effects on the UK Killer Whale Population
According to a study, PCBs weaken orcas' immune systems, making them more vulnerable to various diseases and stressors in the marine environment. Second, their ability to reproduce is impacted.
Dr. Francesca Ginley from the Marine Conservation Society warns that PCBs, with their persistent nature, could collapse the UK killer whale population and threaten other marine species.
"A killer whale from the west coast of Scotland was found dead in 2016 after being tangled up in fishing nets, and a postmortem examination revealed levels of PCBs in her tissues were 100 times higher than the levels known to impact the health of marine mammals," Ginley told the Guardian.
While regulatory efforts have been made to address legacy PCB pollution, including the ban on PCB production in the US and UK, challenges remain in eliminating stockpiles and controlling unintentional PCB contamination.
Urgent Call to Action
In response to these findings, calls for urgent action are growing. The study suggests classifying by-product PCBs as a "pollutant of emerging concern" and addressing them with the same urgency as legacy PCBs. However, regulatory bodies such as Defra and the US Environmental Protection Agency face challenges in enforcing regulations and monitoring unintentional PCB production.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. Efforts are underway to eliminate the use of PCBs, with commitments to phase them out by 2025 in the UK.
Additionally, petitions to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), such as the one from the Washington State Department of Ecology, highlight the need for stricter regulations on unintentionally generated PCBs in consumer products.
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(Photo : Tech Times Writer John Lopez)
