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  • Coplanar PCB (dioxin-like PCB) : ABSTRACT

    With the purpose of providing the basic scientific information and data useful for regulators, industries, and consumers to understand and to make decisions relative to the possible risks of coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (Co-PCBs, dioxin-like PCBs), comprehensive analyses are conducted based on the existing information and data on Co-PCBs as well as on other PCBs and dioxins. Further, reviewing the data and information including sources and amounts of emissions, environmental concentrations, exposures, pharmacokinetics and body burdens, etc., human health risks of Co-PCBs (and also of the total dioxins including Co-PCBs, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)) and ecological risks of Co-PCBs in Japan are evaluated with their toxic equivalent (TEQ) values as the toxicity of dioxins calculated with TEFs.

    In the both human health risk and ecological risk (risk in fish-eating birds) assessments of Co-PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs, it is concluded that the risks at the current exposure levels are not in the levels to pose any concern. Compared to the contamination levels in the past, there is substantial improvement in the current contamination levels and the risks have been decreased. Only limited effects are to be achieved with risk reduction measures in the domestic environment to further decrease human dioxin exposures, for the significant contributions of the imported food. It is suggested that the measures with focus to the high exposure populations, or monitoring and regulations of imported food would be effective in future.

    Coplanar PCB Risk Assessment Document was produced under the Comprehensive Chemical Substance Assessment and Management Program funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

    The full text of Coplanar PCB Risk Assessment Document (in Japanese) was published by Maruzen Co., Ltd. in March 2008.