Great Lakes Monitoring

Goal: Virtually eliminate sources to the Great Lakes and continue declines in air concentrations

Status: PCBs are no longer produced in the U.S., but they may be released from equipment and contaminated sites containing PCBs and redistribute in the environment. Electrical equipment containing PCBs is gradually being phased out in the U.S. and Canada.

Trends: Concentrations of PCBs in the air have been declining since monitoring began in the early 1990's.

Issues: Remaining U.S. sources are difficult to control. PCBs are still used in other parts of the world and can be carried to the Great Lakes from afar.