Influence of Environmental Contamination with PCBs on Human Health

Statistical data on different sicknesses have been processed to evaluate the dynamics of human health in Serpukhov City (an administrative centre in the Moscow region of Russia) and to estimate the contribution of ecological factors to the total level of morbidity. Chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) appear to be among the most dangerous contaminants of the ecosystem that includes the urban areas and those lands, which are actively used for vegetable production. A preliminary health risk calculation for PCBs has been done using soil contamination data. We estimated the share of cancer attributable to soil contamination with PCBs to be approximately 6% of the value of total cancer morbidity in Serpukhov. The highest level of soil pollution by PCBs occurred in the district of the city where the highest values of some other sicknesses also were located. The results of this study could be useful for decision-making and planning of environmental policy in the city.