Transformer oil contains polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs)
What are the immediate effects of
exposure to PCBs?
Chronic inhalation exposure of
workers to PCBs has been reported
to result in respiratory tract
symptoms , such as cough and
tightness of the chest,
gastrointestinal effects including
anorexia, weight loss , nausea,
vomiting , and abdominal pain , mild
liver effects, and effects on the
skin and eyes, such as
chloracne, skin rashes, and eye
irritation. source: United State
Environmental Protection Agency
Exposure to PCBs has also been
linked to reproductive problems in
women such as low birth weight,
and a prevalence to liver cancer in
humans after continuous exposure
either through the air or
contamination of food.
An epidemiological study of women
occupationally exposed to high
levels of PCBs suggested a
relationship between PCB exposure
and reduced birth weight and
shortened gestational age of their
babies.
Two series of human studies that
investigated exposure to PCBs
through the consumption of
contaminated fish suggest that
exposure to PCBs may cause
developmental effects in humans.
Both studies reported an
association between consumption
of fish with high PCB levels by
pregnant women and an increased
incidence of neurodevelopmental
effects, such as motor deficits at
birth, impaired psychomotor index,
impaired visual recognition, and
deficits in short-term memory in
infants.
A study of men with low sperm
counts found elevated levels of
PCBs in the blood and an
association between certain PCB
compounds in semen and
decreased sperm motility.