Fires threaten continued use of PCB transformers

Journal Article · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Electr. Light Power; (United States)

OSTI ID:7032553

Recent fires which generated toxins from incomplete combustion may cause the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban the use of transformers with more than 500 parts per million (ppm) of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The utility industry estimates that 40,000 PCB transformers and another 200,000 contaminated mineral oil transformers may come under the new rule. There are also about two million transformers with a 50-500 ppm in use. Combustion of PCBs raises health risks, and the industry, with research efforts at the Electric Power Research Institute, is seeking data on the nature and extent of these risks in order to respond to the demands from environmentalists that all PCB equipment be banned.

• OSTI ID: 7032553
• Journal Information: Electr. Light Power; (United States), Journal Name: Electr. Light Power; (United States) Vol. 62:5; ISSN ELLPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
200200* -- Fossil-Fueled Power Plants-- Waste Management
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
296002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Electric Power Transmission & Distribution-- (-1989)
AROMATICS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FIRE HAZARDS
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION NEEDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
RISK ASSESSMENT
TOXICITY
TRANSFORMERS