Polychorinated Biphenyls (PCB) are synthetic organic chemicals that have been associated with a variety of harmful effects to people and the environment. They were originally used as coolants and lubricators in transformers and other electrical equipment. There are no known natural sources of PCB in the environment. There are twelve of the 209 individual PCBs (congeners) that are very similar to dioxin in structure and toxicity (about one hundredth as toxic). They are scored for their dioxin-like potency, and described in terms of their "Toxic Equivalency Factor" (TEF) relative to dioxin. The other non-dioxin-like PCBs have different toxic properties.

Reference Method:   EPA 1668a

 

 

Detection Limits:

• water 2-10 pg/L
• soil 1-10 pg/g
• food PCB 126 <0.1 pg/g, PCB 77 <0.5 pg/g, others 0.5-5 pg/g

 Chain of Custody