PCB pollution was once considered a problem of developed countries that have massively produced and used PCBs. However, recent surveys indicate that nations in the torrid zones of lower latitudes are also being polluted. One reason for this pollution is the export of PCB-polluted products from developed countries to the developing world. Exported products are still being used and some of them are discarded in inappropriate ways. PCB pollution is no longer a problem that can be addressed by the efforts of one single nation. Now, worldwide cooperation is required. A survey of the year-to-year changes in the concentrations of PCBs in the environment indicates that there was a peak in the 1970s, and then after that, concentrations began to decline following the ban on production. Concentrations are still declining, but at a slower pace compared to other organo-chlorine pesticides. A monitoring report on mink whales in the Antarctic Ocean shows that concentrations have not changed in the past 10 years, but rather have shown a tendency to increase. This suggests that pollution sources have not yet been completely removed and also indicates that PCBs are very slow to decompose. Once PCBs are emitted into the natural environment, it takes a very long time for them to decompose. We must not allow any more release of PCBs into the environment.

Worldwide PCB Pollution of Air

Comparison of concentration of PCB in Various Environmental Compartments in India, Australia, and Bering Sea during 1988-1992

Media Unit Area India (1988-1989) Australia (1990-1992) Bering Sea (1989-1992) Air pg/m3 1600 8400 93 Water pg/L 16700 500 12 Agriculture soil ng/g NA 36 Sediment ng/g 270 110 0.13 Fish ng/g 3.5 55 7.2