Clear river water flows over rounded stones, with rocks visible beneath the surface in the foreground, and trees lining both banks under a clear blue sky.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls —

This manufactured toxic chemical is ubiquitous and can be found in nearly every water body around the world.  While PCBs were banned from production in the U.S. in 1978, they can still be found in transformers, capacitors, caulks and paints, and other household products.  Unfortunately, EPA regulations still allow PCBs in products such as color inks and dyes at levels that impact our water resources. 

Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Ubiquitous —

They take decades to break down in the environment. They build up in fish, animals, and humans. They are in almost every part of our environment.

Health Effects —

PCBs can have serious health effects on the immune, nervous, reproductive and endocrine (hormonal) systems in humans and animals and have possible links to cancer. They are still produced — Though banned by the EPA in 1976, “inadvertent” production is still allowed as a manufacturing by-product.

They are in Liberty Lake, Spokane River, and Spokane Valley Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer —

PCBs are introduced into our water via the inflow of sediments, storm and wastewater, groundwater, and atmospheric deposits. They impact the food web of our local watersheds – PCBs are in fish, a food source for local residents.

What is being done?

Over the past decade, municipalities and industries have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to modernize and build state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems in both Washington and Idaho to remove PCBs from their waste streams.

What can you do?

Long-term progress in reducing PCBs in the environment will rely on everyone’s stewardship.

REDUCE the use of all hazardous substances and disposable, single-use items.

FOLLOW labeling instructions for proper use and storage.

DISPOSE of all waste properly. PCBs are found in both new and old products such as inks, dyes, paper products, clothing and paints; therefore, vigilant waste disposal is the best contribution we each can make.

VISIT the online Waste Directory which will guide you through how and where to dispose of possibly hazardous waste. Visit the Spokane/Kootenai Waste Directory at https://spokaneriver.net/wastedirectory/