PCB

PCB
a family of highly toxic chemical compounds consisting of two benzene rings in which chlorine takes the place of two or more hydrogen atoms: known to cause skin diseases and suspected of causing birth defects and cancer. Also called polychlorinated biphenyl.
[p(oly)c(hlorinated) b(iphenyl)]

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Any of a class of highly stable organic compounds prepared by the reaction of chlorine with biphenyl, a two-ring compound.

The commercial product, a mix of several PCB isomers, is a colourless, viscous liquid that is almost insoluble in water, does not degrade under high temperatures, and is a good electrical insulator (see dielectric). PCBs became widely used as lubricants, heat-transfer fluids, and fire-resistant dielectric fluids in transformers and capacitors in the 1930s and '40s. In the mid 1970s they were found to cause liver dysfunction in humans and came under suspicion as carcinogens; their manufacture and use were consequently restricted in the U.S. and many other countries, though illegal dumping by manufacturers continued. They persist in the environment and have entered the food chain, causing great harm especially to invertebrates and fish.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • PCB — PCB …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • PCB — [Abk. für polychloriertes Biphenyl oder Polychlorbiphenyl]: Gruppenbez. für im Allg. als Gemische vorliegende Chlorierungsprodukte des Biphenyls, die 1–10 Chlor Atome (Massenanteil ca. 19–71 %) enthalten können. Die PCB sind farblose, giftige,… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • PCB — steht für: Printed Circuit Board, elektronische Leiterplatte PCB, eine freie Software zur Erstellung von Leiterplatten Layouts, siehe gEDA (Software) Polychlorierte Biphenyle, PCB, organische Umweltgifte process control block,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • PCB — may refer to: Science and technology: Printed circuit board, a board used in electronics PCB (software), software to design printed circuit boards PCBoard, bulletin board software for MS DOS Polychlorinated biphenyls, organic compounds Plenum… …   Wikipedia

  • PCB — (el. pcb) sb., PCB’et (en giftig organisk forbindelse) …   Dansk ordbog

  • pcb — (el. PCB) sb., pcb’et (en giftig organisk forbindelse) …   Dansk ordbog

  • PCB — (printed circuit board) thin board to which electric components and wires are attached to one side and printed circuits are attached to the other PCB (polychlorinated byphenyl) n. poisonous chemical substance …   English contemporary dictionary

  • PCB — ● PCB nom masculin (abréviation de polychlorobiphényle) Nom d une famille de composés aromatiques dont la décomposition à chaud peut donner naissance à des furannes et à des dioxines …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • PCB — UK US noun [C or U] ► PRODUCTION, ENVIRONMENT ABBREVIATION for polychlorinated biphenyl: a harmful chemical that is used in industry: »PCBs have been used in many products including electrical equipment, inks, adhesives, and paints …   Financial and business terms

  • PCB — 〈Chemie; Abk. für〉 polychlorierte Biphenyle, hochgiftige synthetische Verbindungen aus Chlor u. Biphenyl, die u. a. als Zusätze in Holzanstrichen verwendet werden …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

  • pcb — acronym for polychlorinated biphenyl …   Etymology dictionary

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