Industry could be producing more cancer-causing PCB chemicals today than at any other point in history, despite their production having been banned more than 40 years ago.

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are human-made substances that were used as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment until they were banned due to their links to health problems and because they do not break down easily in the environment.

They are known to cause cancer in animals as well as damage to the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems. They also have the potential to be carcinogenic in humans and exposure to them has been linked to acne-like skin conditions in adults and neurobehavioural and immunological changes in children.

Research seen by the Guardian and Watershed Investigations shows that PCBs are being produced as byproducts in chemical reactions, which means small proportions of them are present in many chemicals used today.

Read more: theguardian.com

Photo: theguardian.com