Editing Polychlorinated biphenyl (section)

===United States===
In 1976, concern over the toxicity and persistence (chemical stability) of PCBs in the environment led the [[United States Congress]] to ban their domestic production, effective January 1, 1978, pursuant to the [[Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976|Toxic Substances Control Act]].<ref>United States. Toxic Substances Control Act. {{usc|15|2605}}. Approved October 11, 1976.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Summary of the Toxic Substances Control Act |date=2019-09-10 |publisher=United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-toxic-substances-control-act}}</ref> To implement the law, EPA banned new manufacturing of PCBs, but issued regulations that allowed for their continued use in electrical equipment for economic reasons.<ref>{{cite web | vauthors = Auer CM, Kover FD, Aidala JV, Greenwood M | url = http://www.epaalumni.org/hcp/toxics.pdf | title = Toxic Substances: A Half Century of Progress | work = EPA Alumni Association | date = March 2016 }}</ref> EPA began issuing regulations for PCB usage and disposal in 1979.<ref>{{cite web |title=EPA Bans PCB Manufacture; Phases Out Uses |date=1979-04-19 |id=Press Release |publisher=EPA |url=https://archive.epa.gov/epa/aboutepa/epa-bans-pcb-manufacture-phases-out-uses.html}}</ref> The agency has issued guidance publications for safe removal and disposal of PCBs from existing equipment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Policy and Guidance for Polychlorinated Biphenyl |url=https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/pcbs/policy-and-guidance-polychlorinated-biphenyl-pcbs_.html |date=2016-12-01 |publisher=EPA}}</ref>

EPA defined the "maximum contaminant level goal" for [[public water system]]s as zero, but because of the limitations of water treatment technologies, a level of 0.5 parts per billion is the actual regulated level ([[maximum contaminant level]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=National Primary Drinking Water Regulations |url=https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations |date=2020-02-14 |publisher=EPA}}</ref>