Is Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Your Home? Here's How to Know for Sure
✓ Your concern is understandable. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) is present in more homes than most people realize, and you're doing the right thing by researching it.
You're not overreacting. Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) is invisible and odorless — the EPA recommends every homeowner test for it regardless of age or condition of the home.
The test kit below can tell you in 48 hours whether your home has elevated levels. Testing is the only way to know for sure.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) is a high-severity indoor air quality hazard that the EPA classifies as a significant health risk. It is most commonly found in basement, kitchen, living-room and originates from old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979, caulking in pre-1980 buildings, old electrical transformers and capacitors.
Persistent chemicals in old fluorescent light ballasts and caulking. Hormone disruption risk. PCBs were banned in 1979 but remain in older building materials. They do not break down easily and accumulate in the body over time, disrupting endocrine and immune function.
Your family may be breathing polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) right now.
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This test kit gives you results in 48 hours. Testing is recommended by the EPA as the first step for any suspected hazard.
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Symptoms to Watch For
If you or your family members are experiencing any of these, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) could be the cause:
Quick Reference Data
| Hazard | Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) |
| EPA Severity | HIGH |
| Common Sources | old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979, caulking in pre-1980 buildings, old electrical transformers and capacitors, contaminated building sealants, aged paint in industrial buildings |
| Affected Areas | basement, kitchen, living-room, home-office, garage |
| Health Symptoms | skin conditions including chloracne, liver damage, endocrine and hormonal disruption, immune system suppression, neurological effects in children, developmental delays, increased cancer risk |
| EPA Recommendation | If your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for PCBs. Do not disturb suspected PCB-containing materials. Hire certified professionals for removal and disposal. Ensure proper ventilation in areas with older light fixtures. |
Your Children Breathe 20,000 Liters of This Air Every Day
Kids breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Their lungs are still developing. If polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) is in your home, they're getting a higher dose than you are. You childproof cabinets and plug outlets — but have you checked what they're breathing?
⚠️ The EPA estimates indoor air can be 2–5× more polluted than outdoor air. Your family breathes 20,000 liters of indoor air every day.
If polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) is present, every breath could be doing damage you can't see or feel — until it's too late.
Where It Hides in Your Home
Common Sources
- • old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979
- • caulking in pre-1980 buildings
- • old electrical transformers and capacitors
- • contaminated building sealants
- • aged paint in industrial buildings
Affected Rooms
What the EPA Recommends
EPA-Recommended Actions
If your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for PCBs. Do not disturb suspected PCB-containing materials. Hire certified professionals for removal and disposal. Ensure proper ventilation in areas with older light fixtures.
Sources & Citations
All data on this page is based on publicly available information from the cited sources. This page is not affiliated with or endorsed by the EPA, CDC, or WHO.
📋 Our Testing Methodology
Hazard severity classifications follow the EPA's Indoor Air Quality assessment framework:
- • Critical: Immediate health risk — evacuate and contact emergency services
- • High: Chronic exposure risk — test within 1 week, remediate within 30 days
- • Moderate: Potential risk — test to confirm, address if confirmed
Product recommendations are based on published detection accuracy, third-party test results, and EPA-recommended testing methods. Updated May 2026.
Test Kits & Protection
EPA recommends testing as the first step for any suspected polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) exposure. These are the tools most homeowners start with.
Airthings 2960 View Plus Air Quality Monitor
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Shark PowerDetect HEPA Stick Vacuum
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Your Home Air Defense Kit
These 3 items help you monitor and improve your indoor air.
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First Alert Radon Gas Test Kit
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and you can't smell or see it. This EPA-listed test kit gives you results in days — know your levels before it becomes a problem you can't undo.
Test for Radon — What You Don't Know Can Hurt You →
Digital Moisture Meter
Hidden moisture behind walls and under floors is how mold problems start. A pin-type moisture meter lets you catch elevated readings early — before you see or smell the damage.
Get the Moisture Meter — Stop Mold Before It Starts →Your home may have hidden hazards you can't see, smell, or taste.
Our Room-by-Room Scanner checks every corner of your home for 20+ air quality hazards.
Scan My Home Now →One more thing — your home may have related hazards
If your home has polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), there's a chance it also has asbestos fibers. Both can thrive in the same conditions. When you test for one, check for the others too.
Related Hazards
Asbestos Fibers
Asbestos causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Homes built before 1980 likely contain asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, and pipe wrapping. Disturbing it releases deadly fibers into the air.
Lead Paint Dust
Lead paint was banned in 1978 but remains in millions of homes. Sanding, scraping, or peeling paint releases lead dust that causes irreversible brain damage in children. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are emitted by paints, cleaning products, air fresheners, and building materials. Concentrations indoors are up to 10x higher than outdoors. Long-term exposure damages liver, kidneys, and the central nervous system.
How Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Compares to Related Hazards
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) carries a HIGH severity rating — the second-highest tier. Compared to related indoor air hazards, 2 are rated more severe and 2 are rated lower. All demand attention, but the testing and remediation sequence depends on which hazards share your home's risk profile.
Asbestos Fibers carries a critical severity rating, which is higher than Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)'s high classification. This means if both are present in your home, asbestos fibers may require more urgent intervention. However, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) exposure compounds the overall risk.
Shared locations: basement, kitchen
Lead Paint Dust carries a critical severity rating, which is higher than Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)'s high classification. This means if both are present in your home, lead paint dust may require more urgent intervention. However, polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) exposure compounds the overall risk.
Shared locations: living room, kitchen
Both Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) carry the same high severity classification. Their combined presence in your home creates a compounding effect that exceeds the risk of either alone. Both are commonly found in kitchen, garage, home office. Addressing one without testing for the other leaves a blind spot in your home's air quality.
Shared locations: kitchen, garage, home office
Severity classifications follow EPA Indoor Air Quality assessment standards. Related hazards share environmental conditions but may require different testing methods.
What Your Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Test Results Mean
After testing for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), you'll receive a measurement or a positive/negative result. Here's how to interpret what that number means for your home and family.
Below Detection
No polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) was detected. Continue routine monitoring — high-severity hazards can emerge as conditions change.
What to do: Re-test every 6-12 months. Pay particular attention to old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979 and caulking in pre-1980 buildings, which are the most common entry points.
Low-Level Detection
Low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) were detected. While not immediately dangerous, chronic exposure to a high-severity hazard compounds over time — especially in basement and kitchen.
What to do: Identify the source among: old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979, caulking in pre-1980 buildings, old electrical transformers and capacitors. Improve ventilation and re-test in 2-4 weeks. If your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for PCBs.
Elevated / At Action Level
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) levels have reached or exceeded the action threshold. At this level, the EPA recommends if your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for pcbs.
What to do: Schedule professional testing within 1 week. Begin source remediation within 30 days. Do not ignore — high-severity hazards do not resolve on their own.
Interpretation guidelines are based on EPA standards for chemical hazards. For polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), if your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for pcbs. Always confirm results with a certified professional.
Questions Homeowners Ask About Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
What are the symptoms of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)?
Common symptoms of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) include: skin conditions including chloracne, liver damage, endocrine and hormonal disruption, immune system suppression, neurological effects in children, developmental delays, increased cancer risk. If you are experiencing these symptoms, test your home and consult a healthcare provider.
How do I test my home for polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs)?
Common sources include: old fluorescent light ballasts pre-1979, caulking in pre-1980 buildings, old electrical transformers and capacitors, contaminated building sealants, aged paint in industrial buildings. You can test using the products recommended above. If your home was built before 1980, have fluorescent light fixtures and caulking inspected for PCBs. Do not disturb suspected PCB-containing materials. Hire certified professionals for removal and disposal. Ensure proper ventilation in areas with older light fixtures.
Is polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) dangerous to children?
Yes. Children are especially vulnerable to polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Persistent chemicals in old fluorescent light ballasts and caulking. Hormone disruption risk. PCBs were banned in 1979 but remain in older building materials. They do not break down easily and accumulate in the body over time, disrupting endocrine and immune function.
Stop wondering.
Start knowing.
The data is clear. The next step is testing.
The EPA notes that polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs) can only be confirmed through testing — it's often invisible and odorless. A test kit or monitor gives you a real number instead of a guess.
1 in 15 US homes has elevated radon levels — the only way to know is to test.
Take the free Air Quality Risk Score quiz and find out what's lurking in your home.
Medical & Environmental Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes and is based on EPA and CDC guidelines. It is not a substitute for professional environmental testing, medical advice, or remediation services. If you suspect a gas leak or carbon monoxide emergency, evacuate immediately and call 911.
Maren K. Solberg
Residential Air Quality Researcher · 10+ Years Investigating Home Environmental Hazards
Garrison F. Hale has spent over a decade researching residential air quality hazards, including mold, VOCs, radon, and combustion byproducts. He translates complex EPA and CDC guidance into clear, actionable steps for homeowners.
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