diarylide yellow pigments are considered to be non-toxic. there is, however, evidence that these pigments degrade when exposed to temperatures above 200 °c to release 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, a carcinogen that is listed in the u.s. epa’s toxics release inventory. 3,3’-dichlorobenzidine is structurally similar to one of the polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, pcb 11 (3,3’-dichlorobiphenyl), and some evidence indicates that the use of diarylide yellow pigments introduces pcb 11 to the environment.