Polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, are a group of synthetic chemicals that were widely used in the United States until they were banned in 1979 due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment. PCBs have been linked to cancer, immune system damage, and developmental problems in children. They are known to persist in the environment for long periods of time and can accumulate in the tissues of living organisms, including humans. In Texas, PCBs have been found in a variety of environmental media, including air, water, soil, and sediment. The main sources of PCBs in Texas are legacy industrial sites, landfills, and waste disposal sites. PCBs were used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, including the manufacture of electrical equipment, such as transformers and capacitors, and in the production of rubber, paint, and plastics. There have been several studies on the presence of PCBs in Texas. For example, a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology in 2002 found PCBs in sediment samples from several locations in Texas, including Galveston Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, and Matagorda Bay. Another study, published in the journal Environmental Pollution in 2010, found PCBs in surface water samples from […]
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