You may be eligible to file a Tylenol Autism ADHD Lawsuit / Acetaminophen Autism ADHD Claim if you or a loved one used Tylenol and/ or Acetaminophen during pregnancy, and your child was subsequently diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Over 140,000 Exactech hip, knee and ankle implants have been recalled due to packaging errors that can lead to the breakdown of parts vital to the device’s function.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries from an Exactech implant device, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
You may be eligible to file a Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuit if you or a loved one used chemical hair straighteners, hair relaxers, or other similar hair products, and subsequently were diagnosed with:
Over one million people, who were present at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) between 1953 and 1987, may have been exposed to toxic substances in the water.
The Camp Lejeune Contaminated Water Lawsuit can apply to you, a family member, or a loved one who lived at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina) and suffered health effects from the decades of water contamination that occurred.
If you have been exposed to Paraquat and diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may be eligible to pursue compensation, and entitled to participate in the paraquat lawsuit.
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[2023 Guide] FAQ: What are PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)?
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic substances that have been banned since 1979, but are still present in some contaminated areas.
PCB Lawsuits are being investigated for people exposed.
PCB Lawsuit
» FAQ: What are PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)?
Last Updated: November 17th, 2023
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Overview of PCBs and Effects of PCB Exposure
Question: What are PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)?
Answer: PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) are a group of man-made organic chemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms.
They were widely used in industrial and electrical applications due to their insulating and fire-resistant properties but have been banned in the United States since 1979 — PCBs are still a present danger for human health and the environment.
People exposed to PCBs have reported severe and often fatal health conditions, including several types of cancer.
Scientific research on the health effects of PCB exposure have concluded that these toxic substance are probable human carcinogens.
PCBs were primarily produced by Monsanto (now owned by Bayer), who have faced PCB Lawsuits filed by individuals, schools, municipalities, and state governments.
PCB Lawsuits have resulted in settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
If you or a loved one were exposed to PCBs and subsequently developed related health problems, you may be eligible to file a PCB Lawsuit claim.
Contact TorHoerman Law for a free consultation, or use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for the PCB Lawsuit instantly.
Reach out to our law firm with any questions or concerns you may have about PCB Lawsuit claims, PCBs in schools, and more.
Our law firm has decades of experience representing individuals exposed to toxic substances.
TorHoerman Law aims to hold negligent companies liable for the harmful health effects of their products and practices, and we have secured over $4 billion in negotiated settlements and verdicts since opening in 2009.
We are comprised of several highly skilled and coveted chemical exposure lawyers who have dedicated their careers to seeking justice for people harmed at no fault of their own.
Contact us for more information and to find out how our PCB Lawyers can help you.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, commonly referred to as PCBs, are a group of man-made organic chemicals consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms.
PCBs belong to a group of chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons, which include other highly toxic chemicals and industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), vinyl chloride, and more.
Different types of chlorinated hydrocarbons are probable human carcinogens and are linked to several other health problems.
PCBs were employed in numerous products, such as transformers, capacitors, and electrical equipment.
PCBs were present in certain types of fluorescent light fixtures that were widely used in schools and other older buildings.
Given their chemical stability, PCBs do not readily break down and may remain for long periods cycling between air, water, and soil.
Why Were PCBs Used?
From the 1920s until bans took effect in the late 1970s, PCBs found favor in a wide array of industrial applications, primarily because of certain properties they exhibited.
The properties and features that made commercial PCB mixtures favorable in industrial applications include:
Chemical Stability: PCBs resist breaking down, even when exposed to extreme temperatures or pressures.
Electrical Insulation: The insulating capabilities of PCBs made them valuable in electrical equipment like transformers and capacitors.
Low Flammability: Due to their low flammability, PCBs became useful in safety-critical applications.
Thermal Stability: The ability of PCBs to perform consistently across a range of temperatures made them useful in a variety of industries and products. PCBs were not only used in electrical equipment but also in hydraulic systems, heat transfer systems, and even as plasticizers in paints, plastics, and rubber products.
Chemical Makeup of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Structurally, they have two phenyl rings (a six-sided carbon ring typical to many organic compounds) and can contain anywhere from one to ten chlorine atoms.
The number of chlorine atoms and their specific locations on the biphenyl molecule can vary, leading to a potential of 209 different PCB congeners (varieties).
PCBs were widely manufactured and used in various industrial applications due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, and electrical insulating properties.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were first synthesized in the late 1800s, but their commercial production began in the 1920s by Swann Chemical Company of St. Louis, MO.
Over the subsequent decades, Monsanto became the principal producer of PCBs in the United States, under the trade name Aroclor.
By the late 1970s, however, growing concerns over environmental contamination and health risks led to strict regulations, and Monsanto ceased its production of PCBs in 1977.
Monsanto Knew About PCB Dangers, but Continued to Produce Them
According to documents from the Poison Papers Project and legal actions throughout the years, it has become evident that Monsanto was aware of the health and environmental dangers posed by PCBs well before the federal ban in 1979.
Despite this knowledge, the company continued to produce and market the chemical.
One revealing Monsanto document from 1969, found in the Poison Papers archive, acknowledges the environmental persistence and harmful effects of PCBs.
Within the document from 1969, Monsanto officials say that:
“…direct lawsuits are possible… [because] customers using the products have not been officially notified about known effects nor [do] our labels carry this information.”
Despite this ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), many areas where PCBs were used or disposed of still exhibit high levels of these chemicals.
As a result, numerous lawsuits have been initiated, and actions have been taken to mandate the remediation and cleanup of contaminated sites.
Potential Human Health Effects of Exposure to PCBs
Research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other organizations have highlighted the severe risks of exposure to PCBs.
Exposure to PCBs may disrupt the immune and endocrine systems, potentially leading to disease susceptibility and reproductive issues.
The connections between PCB exposure and immune system effects has been seen primarily in animal studies, specifically with laboratory animals prenatally exposed to PCBs.
PCBs bioaccumulate in organisms, intensifying their concentration up the food chain and posing significant health risks to humans and apex predators.
Exposure to PCBs affect human health, and different types of exposure may increase the risk factors for people to be diagnosed with certain health effects related to these toxic substances.
Cancer Causing Chemicals: What Cancers are Linked to PCB Exposure?
Exposure to PCBs has been linked to several types of cancer in scientific studies.
The Journal of Pediatrics: Prenatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and attention at school age
European Journal of Cancer Prevention: Environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and breast cancer: a systematic review of the epidemiological evidence
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology: Congener-Specific Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Brain Regions, Blood, Liver, and Fat of Adult Rats Following Repeated Exposure to Aroclor 1254
Environment International: Effects of environmental contaminants in water resources on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Their resistance to breakdown means they linger in ecosystems, affecting land, air, and water resources.
Over time, PCBs accumulate in plants and animals, disrupting delicate ecological balances.
Water systems, particularly, face the brunt of PCB contamination.
Aquatic plants and animals can absorb PCBs, leading to detrimental effects on their health and reproduction.
As these PCB contaminated fish are consumed by predators (and sometimes humans), PCBs move up the food chain, resulting in bioaccumulation.
This process means that top-level predators, including certain fish species consumed by humans, can have alarmingly high levels of PCBs.
On land, soil contaminated with PCBs can adversely impact plant growth and the organisms that rely on that flora for sustenance.
One of the most concerning aspects of PCB contamination is its longevity.
Ecosystems may suffer the consequences for decades, if not longer.
PCBs can interact with other environmental pollutants, potentially amplifying harmful effects or creating new hazards altogether.
To protect both the environment and humans, understanding and addressing the pervasive issue of PCB contamination is extremely important.
Efforts to clean up contaminated sites and prevent further PCB release are crucial steps.
Case Study: Anniston, AL PCB Contamination
From 1929 to 1971, Monsanto Chemical Corporation, succeeding the Swann Chemical Company, produced polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Anniston, Alabama, leading to significant contamination of the local environment.
It was not until the 1990s and early 2000s that investigations shed light on the elevated levels of PCBs in residents and the environment.
These findings, along with documentation from the Anniston Community Health Survey, indicated that PCB levels in Anniston residents were substantially higher compared to the general public, with African-Americans bearing an even greater burden.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) completed the Anniston Community Health Survey (ACHS), presenting results of the survey in April 2008.
Scientific studies on the environment and health surveys on the Anniston, AL PCB contamination include:
Journal of Hypertension: Blood pressure and hypertension in relation to levels of serum polychlorinated biphenyls in residents of Anniston, Alabama
Environmental Health Perspectives: Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Exposure and Diabetes: Results from the Anniston Community Health Survey
Journal of Environmental Health: Analysis of the effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorinated pesticides on serum lipid levels in residents of Anniston, Alabama
Chemosphere: Polychlorinated biphenyls in tree bark near a former manufacturing plant in Anniston, Alabama
Environmental International: Metabolic syndrome is associated with exposure to organochlorine pesticides in Anniston, AL, United States
Environmental International: Racial differences in levels of serum lipids and effects of exposure to persistent organic pollutants on lipid levels in residents of Anniston, Alabama
United States Geologic Survey: Evaluation of toxicity to the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, and to the midge, Chironomus dilutus; and bioaccumulation by the oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus, with exposure to PCB-contaminated sediments from Anniston, Alabama
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: Assessing measurable adverse changes to benthic invertebrate communities based on site-specific sediment toxicity testing and community data at the Anniston, Alabama PCB site
Pediatric Clinics of North America: Environmental Health Disparities: Environmental and Social Impact of Industrial Pollution in a Community—the Model of Anniston, AL
Environmental Health Perspectives: Hypertension in Relation to Dioxins and Polychlorinated Biphenyls from the Anniston Community Health Survey Follow-Up
Chemosphere: Polychlorinated biphenyls, indicators of thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies in the Anniston Community Health Survey I (ACHS-I)
Monsanto was aware of the detrimental health effects associated with PCBs, including links to hypertension, diabetes, and some cancers.
Yet, the company prioritized profits over the health and well-being of the Anniston community, perpetuating systemic racial and environmental injustices that still resonate today.
In 2013, nearly 85 years after PCBs were first used in the town, Monsanto subsidiary Solutia agreed to a $700m settlement to complete cleanup at the Anniston PCB Superfund Site.
Other PCB Contamination Events and Superfund Sites
PCBs have contaminated lakes, rivers, public waterways, soils, and the natural environment across the United States, leading to the establishment of Superfund sites by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A Superfund site is a designated area identified by the EPA as contaminated by hazardous waste and selected for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment.
PCB contamination has stemmed from both Monsanto’s industrial operations, as well as other companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse.
PCB Hazardous Waste and Superfund Sites include:
Hudson River, New York: This Superfund Site was heavily contaminated due to PCB production by the Monsanto Chemical Corporation from 1929 to 1971. The local environment and residents experienced significant exposure, leading to health concerns and litigation.
Sauget, Illinois: Home to several Superfund sites that are a result of its industrial history, Monsanto’s main manufacturing plant for PCBs was located in Sauget. These sites have witnessed the release of a range of pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, and other toxic compounds, leading to groundwater, soil, and surface water contamination.
Fox River, Wisconsin: From the 1950s through the 1970s, several paper mills along the Fox River released PCBs into the water. The contamination led to health advisories on fish consumption and ultimately to the river’s designation as a Superfund site.
New Bedford Harbor, Massachusetts: From the 1940s to the 1970s, two electrical capacitor manufacturing plants released PCBs into New Bedford Harbor. This resulted in contamination of fish and shellfish, prompting fishing restrictions and a cleanup effort worth over $1 billion.
Housatonic River, Massachusetts: The General Electric facility in Pittsfield released PCBs into the river, contaminating nearly two miles of the Housatonic. The contamination spread through the floodplain and affected wildlife, leading to its designation as a Superfund site.
San Jacinto Waste Pits, Texas: Located on the San Jacinto River near Houston, these pits contain harmful toxins, including PCBs, that were dumped in the 1960s. Erosion and storm events have raised concerns about further spreading of the contamination, leading to its categorization as a Superfund site.
Harbor Island, Seattle, Washington: A major urban industrial center, Harbor Island has seen contamination from various sources, including PCBs, and has been designated as a Superfund site. Remediation efforts are ongoing to address soil and groundwater contamination.
Moss Landing, California: This site along Monterey Bay was contaminated with PCBs from electrical transformers and other equipment, and is designated as a Superfund site. Cleanup efforts have involved removing and treating affected soils.
Several other Superfund sites for PCB contamination exist in the United States.
A significant source of PCB exposure comes from old fluorescent lighting fixtures, which, when deteriorating or damaged, can release PCBs into the surrounding environment.
This can be particularly concerning in older buildings or schools where such fixtures haven’t been replaced, as children and faculty can be exposed for very long periods and come into skin contact with the chemicals.
PCB exposure can also occur through the ingestion of contaminated food, particularly when eating contaminated fish.
Fish that dwell in waters near hazardous waste sites or areas with improper disposal of commercial PCB mixtures often have elevated PCB levels.
When humans consume PCB-contaminated fish, they ingest these toxic substances, leading to a direct pathway of exposure.
Breast milk, due to its fat content, can also carry PCB congeners, leading to infants being exposed to PCBs during breastfeeding if the mother has been exposed.
This is especially true for mothers who have consumed PCB-contaminated fish or who live near hazardous waste sites where improper disposal of PCBs has occurred.
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