Public Health Services A Shared Service of Cape Breton District Health Authority (CBDHA) &

1. Public Health Services A Shared Service of Cape Breton District Health Authority (CBDHA) & Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority (GASHA)

2. Brochure

3. Learning Objectives • Identify sources of PCB’s • Discuss health effects of PCB’s • Review actions for reducing exposures to PCB’s

4. PCB’s Identified • 209 different chemical compounds • Trade name – Aroclor, banned since 1978 • Oily liquids or solids, colorless to light yellow • Products made in 1977 or before still exist and are being phased out

5. Coolants / lubricants in transformers, capacitors Hydraulic fluid Adhesives Fire retardants Pesticides Inks Carbonless reproducing papers May still be around,products made before 1978, such as: Old fluorescent lighting Electrical Devices Microscope and hydraulic oils PCB’s Uses

6. PCB’s & the Environment • Persistent in the environment • Travel very far away – Artic circle • Build up in environment and affect human health, contaminate the marine food chain • NO ONE is PCB-free, stored in body fat, very slowly eliminated

7. How We Can Be Exposed • Old fluorescent lighting • Old electrical appliances and devices such as TV’s and refrigerators • May leak while heating up and cause skin exposure

8. How We Can Be Exposed Contaminated food : • Fish caught in contaminated waters • Red meat • Pork • Dairy • Fats • Oils

9. How Can We Be Exposed? • Contaminated air around hazardous waste sites • At work • While preparing and maintaining PCB transformers • Accidental fires or spills • Improper disposal

10. PCB’s and Your Health • Lung and nose irritation • Abdominal pain • Affect blood and liver function • Fatigue • Headache • Numbness and tingling

11. Health Effects : Skin • Chloracne – a sever form of acne • Rashes • Gray – brown discoloration

12. Health Effects : Infants • Exposed via placental transfer or breast milk • Low birth weight • Problem with motor skill • Decreased short-term memory • Depressed immune function • Decreased IQ of at least 5 points • Defects in teeth enamel

13. Health Effects : Children • More susceptible because body weight, diet, activities, still developing vital systems • Decreased reading comprehension, possibly higher incidence of ear infections

14. Health Effects : Hormonal Disrupts hormones such as : • Thyroid • Estrogen • Testosterone • Steroids

15. Health Effects : Cancer • Suspected to be cancer – causing • Probable cancers : • GI • Lymph and blood systems • Liver • Gall bladder tract • Skin • Pancreas

16. Protect YourselfProtect Your Family • Have well water and soil tested • Remove shoes at the door • Vacuum, damp mop, and dust your home often • Limit eating fish caught in contaminated areas, check with Department of the Environment for fish Advisories

17. Protect YourselfProtect Your Family • Breast feeding is still recommended • Benefits outweigh any possible exposure to PCB’s in breast milk • Do not let children play with or put soil or dirt in their mouth

18. Protect YourselfProtect Your Family Avoid exposure to : • Old electrical equipment • Old appliances • Contaminated soil and water • Children in particular should not play in hazardous waste sites

19. What To Do: • If exposed at work : • Shower and change at work • Wash clothes separately • PCB’s can be carried home from work

20. What To Do: • Encourage industry to continue clean up of PCB’s and properly dispose of them • PCB’s can be clean up through Dehalogenation (chemical process to remove halogens), dig and remove, dredging, and incineration with a special incinerator

21. In Review • What are PCB’s and how are we exposed to them • How do PCB’s effect our health • How can we reduce our exposure to PCB’s