The legacy of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of 209 chemical compounds with the molecular formula C12H10-nCln, where 1 ≤ n ≤ 10. They were commercially produced as complex mixtures for various uses, being employed principally as dielectric fluids in capacitors and transformers. They are not easily degraded due their chemical and physical stability and tend to bioaccumulate in the organisms. After the discovery of their xenobiotic activity, restrictions were imposed for their use, as well as for their discards. Nowadays the development of recovery processes for contaminated environment urges to be done due to the extension of reached areas.