Photolytic transformations of polychlorobiphenyls

The review summarizes data on photolytic transformations of polychlorobiphenyls, which are persistent organic pollutants. The transformations of polychlorobiphenyls under ultraviolet and visible irradiation in the presence or absence of catalysts and/or sensitizers are considered. A critical assessment of a potential toxicity of the photodegradation products is given, and prospects for photolytic research involving chloroarenes are presented.