POLYCHLOROBIPHENYL COMPOUNDS Meaning and
Definition
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Polychlorobiphenyl compounds, also known as PCBs, are a group of chlorinated organic compounds consisting of biphenyl molecules with varying degrees of chlorination. These compounds are man-made and belong to a family of organochlorine chemicals that were widely produced and used in various industrial applications from the 1930s to the 1970s.
PCBs have garnered significant attention due to their persistent nature in the environment and their potential adverse effects on human health and the ecosystem. They are highly stable, insoluble in water, and resistant to breaking down through natural processes. This resistance to degradation has led to their accumulation in the environment, particularly in soil, sediments, and living organisms.
Due to their physical properties and chemical stability, PCBs were used in a wide range of industrial applications such as electrical transformers, capacitors, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer systems, and even in certain consumer products like carbonless copy paper and pigments. However, their production and use were phased out in many countries due to increasing concerns about their toxicity and persistence in the environment.
Exposure to PCBs is primarily through ingestion of contaminated food, particularly fish, meat, and dairy products, as well as inhalation of indoor air in contaminated buildings. PCBs have been associated with numerous health effects in humans, including immune system dysfunction, reproductive problems, developmental issues, and increased risk of certain cancers.
Efforts to control and remediate PCB contamination in the environment have been carried out, including regulations on their production and use, as well as remediation strategies for contaminated sites.
Common Misspellings for POLYCHLOROBIPHENYL COMPOUNDS
- oolychlorobiphenyl compounds
- lolychlorobiphenyl compounds
- -olychlorobiphenyl compounds
- 0olychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pilychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pklychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pllychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pplychlorobiphenyl compounds
- p0lychlorobiphenyl compounds
- p9lychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pokychlorobiphenyl compounds
- popychlorobiphenyl compounds
- pooychlorobiphenyl compounds
- poltchlorobiphenyl compounds
- polgchlorobiphenyl compounds
- polhchlorobiphenyl compounds
- poluchlorobiphenyl compounds
- pol7chlorobiphenyl compounds
- pol6chlorobiphenyl compounds
- polyxhlorobiphenyl compounds
Etymology of POLYCHLOROBIPHENYL COMPOUNDS
The word "Polychlorobiphenyl" is derived from the combination of three components:
1. "Poly-" - This prefix comes from the Greek word "polus", meaning "many" or "multiple". It is commonly used as a prefix in scientific terminology to indicate the presence of multiple or many elements.
2. "Chloro-" - This prefix originates from the Greek word "chloros", which means "pale green" or "yellowish-green". In scientific terminology, it is used to denote the presence of chlorine.
3. "Biphenyl" - This term is formed by combining two components: "bi-" meaning "two" or "double" and "phenyl". "Phenyl" is derived from the term "phenol", which refers to a compound derived from benzene.
