WHATAREPCBSPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)areindustrialchemicalsthatareodorless,cleartoyellowincolour,andarehighlytoxictoorganicorganisms.ProductionofPCBsinNorthAmericabeganin1929andendedinthelate1970s.Theyweremainlyusedinelectricalequipmentasadielectricforcapacitors,butalsousedinvariousotherproducts suchas coolants, adhesivesandpaints. PCBswerediscontinued fromproduction inNorthAmericawhen itbecameapparentof theirhightoxicity to livingorganisms.Theycaneasilypenetratetheskin and natural rubbers, including latex gloves. PCBs are very stable compounds and require extensivechemicalprocessestobecompletelydestroyed.
CANADIANLEGISLATIONCanadahasneverproducedPCBs,howevertheywerewidelyusedinthiscountry.CanadianlegislationallowsownersofPCBequipmenttocontinueusingPCBequipmentuntilitisnolongeroperational.PCBsarenotallowedtoleaveCanadaandmustbedestroyedinthiscountry.IfPCBwastecannotbe destroyed immediately, they are allowed to be stored in a restricted area. Environment Canada requires PCB equipment to be labeled withgovernmentserializedlabelstotracktheuseanddisposalofPCBmaterial.
HOWTOIDENTIFYPCBCONTAININGMATERIALSCommonPCBcontainingelectricalequipmentareCAPCITORS,BALLATSandHIGHVOLTAGETRANSFORMERS.PCB’sweresoldinNorthAmericaunderthe name AROCLOR. Following the name AROCLORwas a 4‐digit code, where the last two digits indicated the percentage of chlorine by weightcontainedinthePCBproduct.Forinstance,aPCBproductwith40%PCBcontainingmaterialmighthaveread,AROCLOR3040.
HighVoltageTransformerscontainingPCBsweresoldunderavarietyoftradenames.Seetablebelowforreference.
Apirolio(Italian) Aroclor Asbestol Askarel ChorextolChorinol Clophen(German) Diaclor DK(decachlorodiphenyl) DykanolElemex Eucarel Fenclor(Italy) Hyvol Inerteen
Kaneclor(Japan) Montar NoFlamol Phenoclor(France) PydraulPyralene Pyroclor Saf‐T‐Kuhl SantothermFR(Japan) Sorol
TherminolFR
Also,a“TypeNumber”beginningwiththeletter“L”indicatesthatatransformerisPCBcontaminated.Forexample:LFAF,LFAN,LFWN,LNAF,LNWN.
PROPERPROTECTIVEEQUIPMENTOnlytrainedindividuals inhandlingPCBcontainingmaterialsshouldhandlethischemical.ExtremecautionshouldbetakenasPCBseasilyentertheskin.ThereforewhenworkingwithPCBsallskinmustbeprotectedbywearingnitrilegloves,boots,disposablecoveralls,apronsandeyeprotectionasnecessary.
LABELLINGANDSTORAGEOFPCBMATERIALAllPCBmaterialshouldbeproperlylabeledwhileitisin‐serviceorisinsafe,controlledstorageattheUniversityofWindsor.TherearefourdifferentlabelsforPCBequipment.SerializedlabelsissuedbyEnvironmentCanadaareusedtotrackPCBcontainingmaterials(Figure1–LargeItemandFigure‐2 ‐Smaller Items). Inaddition,generalwarning labelsareused towarn individualsof thepresenceofPCBs (Figure3)orcontaminatedequipment(Figure4). TheUniversityofWindsorhas aPCB storage facility locatedatMaintenanceServices (2601UnionStreet).Only trainedandauthorizedpersonnelareallowedaccesstothePCBstoragefacility.
PCBSPILLRESPONSEAllPCBspillsaretobereferredtotheChemicalControlCentre,pleaseseecontactinformationatthetopofthisdocument.
REFERENCEUniversityofWindsor’sManagementofPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)(PolicyEHS‐2008‐01)
Any suspected PCB contaminated material at the University of Windsor is to be referred to the Chemical Control Centre’s EnvironmentalProtectionService.AsuitableandcomplimentarytestwillbeconductedtodeterminethepresenceofPCBs.
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