Abstract
In this chapter, we explore (i) the temporal trend of stocks and emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) throughout the lifecycle of PCB-containing products, and (ii) the spatial dispersal of PCBs through international trade of technical mixtures, finished products and waste (anthropospheric dispersal), as well as long-range environmental transport mediated by air and ocean currents (environmental dispersal). We reveal that in-use and waste stocks are temporary sinks for PCBs in the anthroposphere and relevant sources of PCBs to the global physical environment. After a sufficiently long period of time, PCBs either permanently disappear from lifecycle and waste disposal phases or enter the physical environment. In addition, the anthropospheric dispersal is more efficient than the environmental dispersal in driving the global dispersal of PCBs. The role of the international trade of technical mixtures is more prominent than that of other trade flows.
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