Polychlorinated biphenyls
PCB; formula: C12H10-xClx
Persistent and toxic chlorinated compounds
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are a class of 209 chlorinated hydrocarbons which share a common biphenyl structure but vary in number and position of chlorine atoms (congeners). The identification of the single congeners is facilitated by numbers whereby higher numbers are normally associated with a higher degree of chlorination. The degree of chlorination determines the physico-chemical properties of the compound, e.g. with increasing degree of chlorination, viscosity and lipophilicity increase but vapour pressure and water solubility decrease.
Commercial products always contain mixtures of 50-70 different congeners. Depending on the degree of chlorination they are thin or viscous oils.
Until the 1980s PCBs were widely used, e.g. as hydraulic fluids, lubricating oils, cooling and insulating fluids in transformers and capacitors, plasticisers and flame retardants in paints, plastics, sealing compounds and insulates.
Due to their wide application and high persistence, PCBs are ubiquitous. In the atmosphere they can be transported over long distances.
PCBs are accumulated by organisms and enriched in the food web (biomagnification). Furthermore, they are of high chronic toxicity and are suspected to be carcinogenic, teratogenic, reproductive toxic and developmental toxic and to act as endocrine disruptors.
Since 1983, PCB production is banned in the Federal Republic of Germany. When the Stockholm Convention entered into force in 2004, PCBs were banned worldwide.
For practicability reasons, analysis of PCB in samples is mostly restricted to six so called indicator-congeners (PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 53, PCB 180). These were chosen according to toxicological aspects.
Furthermore, PCB 118 is often analysed as representative of the dioxin-like PCBs.
Recommended analysis examples
Substances
-
PCB 28PCB 28 is a low chlorinated, volatile PCB. Together with other low chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 52 and PCB 101) it stands for acute contamination of the ambient air. It degrades rather fast and accumulation in organisms is negligible.
-
PCB 52PCB 52 is a low chlorinated, volatile PCB. Together with other low chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 28 and PCB 101) it stands for acute contamination of the ambient air. It degrades rather fast and accumulation in organisms is low.
-
PCB 101PCB 101 is a low chlorinated, relatively volatile PCB. Together with other low chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 28 and PCB 52) it stands for acute contamination of the ambient air. It degrades rather fast and accumulation in organisms is lower compared to higher chlorinated congeners.
-
PCB 118PCB 118 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans. They are highly toxic. Technical mixtures of PCB contain only trace amounts of dioxin-like PCB. They can occur as by-products of incineration processes.
-
PCB 138PCB 138 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 153 and PCB 180) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
-
PCB 153PCB 153 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 138 and PCB 180) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
-
PCB180PCB 180 is a higher chlorinated PCB. It is hardly degradable and accumulates strongly in organisms and the food web. Together with other high chlorinated congeners (e.g. PCB 138 and PCB 153) it stands for long-term contamination mainly through food.
-
Sum 6 ndl-PCB incl. LOQSum of non-dioxin-like (ndl) PCBs: PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 153, and PCB 180. These six congeners are also called indicator PCBs or ICES-6. The calculation of the sum, all values of the individual congeners that are below the limit of quantification are set equal to the limit of quantification. The calculation is performed according to the upperbound concentration method: upperbound concentrations are calculated on the assumption that all the values of the different congeners below the limit of quantification (LOQ) are equal to the limit of quantification.
-
Sum 6 ndl-PCB excl. LOQSum of non-dioxin-like (ndl) PCBs: PCB 28, PCB 52, PCB 101, PCB 138, PCB 153, and PCB 180. These six congeners are also called indicator PCBs or ICES-6. The calculation of the sum, all values of the individual congeners that are below the limit of quantification are set equal to the limit of quantification. The calculation is performed according to the upperbound concentration method: upperbound concentrations are calculated on the assumption that all the values of the different congeners below the limit of quantification (LOQ) are equal to the limit of quantification.
-
PCB 77PCB 77 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.0001
-
PCB 81PCB 81 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.0003
-
PCB 126PCB 126 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.1
-
PCB 169PCB 169 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.03
-
PCB 105PCB 105 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 114PCB 114 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 123PCB 123 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 156PCB 156 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 157PCB 157 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 167PCB 167 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
PCB 189PCB 189 belongs to the toxicologically relevant group of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs, also known as WHO-PCBs) that have molecular-biological properties resembling those of dioxins and furans.Toxic equivalency factor according to WHO(2005) (WHO-TEF(2005)): 0.00003
-
WHO(2005)-PCB TEQ excl. LOQSum of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), expressed as WHO toxic equivalent (TEQ) using the WHO-TEFs(2005), calculation by using lowerbound concentrations: lowerbound concentrations are calculated on the assumption that all the values of the different congeners below the limit of quantification (LOQ) are zero.
-
WHO(2005)-PCB TEQ incl. LOQSum of dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), expressed as WHO toxic equivalent using the WHO-TEFs(2005), calculation by using upperbound concentrations: upperbound concentrations are calculated on the assumption that all the values of the different congeners below the limit of quantification (LOQ) are equal to the limit of quantification.
Specimen
-
Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
-
Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
-
Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase
-
One of the most important edible mussel species common in the North and Baltic Sea
-
As the only viviparous fish in German nearshore waters, it is a bioindicator in nearshore coastal marine ecosystems.
-
Inshore, the herring gull mainly feeds from the sea: upon fish, mussels, and crabs.
-
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
-
A major primary producer in semi-natural and anthropogenic affected ecosystems.
-
The roe deer is the most common of the larger herbivores (first order-consumer) to be found in the wild in Europe.
-
A pigeon species home in nearly every city.
-
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
-
As an organism living at ground level, it is a major driver of the decomposition of organic material (e.g. plant litter).
-
Soil is livelihood and biosphere for humans, animals, plants and soil organisms. All the substances brought in are transported, transformed and/or accumulated in the soil.
-
Student groups with an even number of female and male students at the age of 20 to 29.
Sampling area
-
The only high mountains national park in Germany and an area of the Limestone Alps with international relevance
-
Important, old-industrialised conurbation in Germany.
-
Main water divide between the North- and Baltic Sea
-
Longest river in Germany
-
Germany's first national park
-
National Park in the largest brackish water (Bodden) habitat of the world.
-
National park in the world largest connected sand and mud flats.
-
Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
-
Region in the chemical triangle of Central Germany
-
Germany's largest forest national park
-
Second highest and largest low mountain range in Northern Germany
-
Germany's largest connected forest area in a range of low mountains
-
The Upper Bavarian Tertiary Uplands are a part of the Southern German Molasse Basin
-
Second largest river in Europe
-
4 university cities as sampling areas.
Sampling period
1985 - 2023