A significant human health risk is not likely to be associated with being in a room for a short period of time after electrical burnout of PCB containing fluorescent light ballasts. A worker exposed to even a large quantity of PCBs may not experience any immediate ill health, although exposure may result in skin irritation and persistent skin rashes. A painful and persistent condition known as chloracne may result. High exposures can damage the liver. There is some limited evidence that they cause skin cancer in humans and they have been shown to cause liver cancer in animals.
Many scientists believe there is no safe level of exposure to a cancer-causing agent.
Such substances may also have the potential for causing reproductive damage in humans. They may be passed to a child through mother's milk. Polychlorinated Biphenyis can affect the reproductive system of adults. Other Long-Term Effects Repeated exposures can cause liver damage. This may persist for years.