In February 2013, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PCBs as carcinogenic to humans. During the expert meeting that led to the reclassification, much attention was given to the respiratory exposure route. Breathing PCBs is now recognized by scientists as a major source of exposure.
David O. Carpenter, MD, Director of the State University of New York University of Albany Institute for Health and the Environment served on the IARC PCB carcinogenicity panel that met in Lyon, France. Dr. Carpenter describes the work of this panel and explains the scientific basis for reclassification.