2,2',3,4',5,5'-hexaCB (PCB 146)
2,3,3',4,4',5-hexaCB (PCB 156)
2,3,3',4,4',6-hexaCB (PCB 158)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5-heptaCB (PCB 170)
2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-heptaCB (PCB 180)
2,2',3,4,4',5,6-heptaCB (PCB 183)
2,2',3,4',5,5',6-heptaCB (PCB 187)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5'-octaCB (PCB 194)
2,2', 3,3', 4,5,5',6'-octaCB (PCB 199)
2,4,4'-triCB (PCB 28)
2,2,5,5-tetraCB (PCB 43/52)
2,3',4,4'-tetraCB (PCB 66)
2,4,4',5-tetraCB (PCB 74)
3,3',4,4'-tetraCB (PCB 77)
3,4,4',5-tetraCB (PCB 81)
2,2',3,4,5'-pentaCB (PCB 87)
2,2',4,4',5-pentaCB (PCB 99)
2,2',4,5,5'-pentaCB (PCB 101)
2,3,3',4,4'-pentaCB (PCB 105)
2,3,3',4',6-pentaCB (PCB 110)
2,3',4,4',5-pentaCB (PCB 118)
3,3',4,4',5-pentaCB (PCB 126)
2,2',3,3',4,4'-hexaCB (PCB 128)
2,2',3,4,4',5-hexaCB (PCB138)
2,2',3,4',5',6-hexaCB (PCB 149)
2,2',3,5,5',6-hexaCB (PCB 151)
2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexaCB (PCB 153)
2,3,3',4,4',5'-hexaCB (PCB 157)
2,3',4,4',5,5'-hexaCB (PCB 167)
3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexaCB (PCB 169)
2,2',3,3',4,5,5'-heptaCB (PCB 172)
2,2',3,3',4,5',6'-heptaCB (PCB 177)
2,2',3,3',5,5',6-heptaCB (PCB 178)
2,3,3',4,4',5,5'-heptaCB (PCB 189)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5,6-octaCB (PCB 195)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5,6'-octaCB (PCB 196)
2,2',3,4,4',5,5',6-octaCB (PCB 203)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6-nonaCB (PCB 206)
2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decaCB (PCB 209)

LOD: 5 pg/g serum
Analytical method: HRGC-HRMS

PCBs, including 209 congeners, were produced for use in a wide variety of industrial and commercial materials such as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment, in sealing and caulking compounds, cutting oils, inks and paint additives. PCB manufacturing no longer occurs, but still, PCBs can be detected in the environment.


General structure of PCBs

The most important source of PCB exposure in the general population is through the diet, primarily fish, meat and dairy products. This is because PCBs, due to their lipophilic nature, accumulate in fatty tissues of animals, and also in human breast milk. In fact, human milk is a major source of PCBs to infants. People may also become exposed to PCBs in buildings constructed with PCB-laden materials, or where old electrical devices and PCB containing transformers are found.

PCB exposure can lead to thyroid problems, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or problems with the neuropsychological functioning (e.g. verbal learning).

Studies of the PCB pattern in blood samples can give important information about the nature of the PCB exposure. Highly chlorinated, very persistent PCBs will be abundant in high organisms, including fatty fish, and may be good marker candidates for general (dietary) exposure. Moderately persistent and easily metabolized PCBs, on the other hand, indicate occupational and recent occupational exposure, respectively. Calculating the ratio of easily metabolized (fast clearing) PCBs to relatively persistent (slow clearing) PCBs indicates whether an individual has been recently exposed.