Environmental and health hazards from recycling PCB sources

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980 · Pestic. Monit. J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6691922

Greichus, Y A; Dohman, B A

Soil, corn plants, foliage, earthworms, and small rodents from areas surrounding two electrical salvage companies involved in reconditioning old transformers had unusually high levels of PCB's. Levels decreased as distance from the factories increased. PCB's were dispersed into the air through incineration of waste oils; water and soil contamination was caused by runoff from the factories. PCB's found to be present in the contaminated areas and in the waste oil closely resembled Aroclor 1260. Soil samples taken from depths of 2-4 in showed degradation of some PCB isomers. PCB concentrations in corn cobs and kernels were 0.05 ppm, whereas leaves contained PCB levels of up to 2.2 ppm. PCB levels in earthworms and small rodents collected near the factories were considerably higher than levels in the same types of animals collected from other areas. (10 references, 2 tables)

• Research Organization: Rocky Mounain Geochemical Corp, Calif; South Dakota State Univ
• OSTI ID: 6691922
• Journal Information: Pestic. Monit. J.; (United States), Vol. 14:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AROMATICS
TOXICITY
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
RECYCLING
HEALTH HAZARDS
RECYCLIN
TRANSFORMERS
RECYCLI
WASTE OILS
RECYCL
WASTE WATER
ELECTRIC UTILITIES
POWER TRANSMISSION
RUNOFF
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT
HAZARDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
MASS TRANSFER
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PUBLIC UTILITIES
WASTES
WATER
510200* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)