Dataset for PCB Emissions from Paint Colorants

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known human carcinogens that are byproducts of pigment manufacturing and found in colorants used to tint consumer paints sold in the United States and elsewhere. This dataset contains the measurements of PCBs found in colorants and the PCBs emitted from colorants into air. 9 separate colorants (7 from 2018 and 2 from 2009) were examined. To quantify the gas-phase emissions of ∑PCBs, we used polyurethane foam (PUF) to capture emissions from freshly applied colorants. After six weeks, all PCBs found in the colorant were also found on the PUF. All 209 congeners were measured but some coelute and some are used as analytical standards (14, 166, and 204) leading to 170 individual data points for each sample. This data shows PCBs are emitted from paint colorants and can be detected in air.