Polychlorinated biphenyls contamination

At a salvage yard in Anchorage, Alaska, the cost of treating 250 kg of lead- and polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil was 22,000. At a underground storage tank site at the Boston Central Arterial, 10 kg of soil contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbon was treated at a cost of 45 per ton (D10328W, pp. 8-16). 

Liang, Y., Wong, M.H., Shutes, R.B.E., Revitt, D.M., 1999. Ecological risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in the Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve, Hong Kong. Water Res. 33, 1337-1346. 

Petreas MX, Wiesmuller T, Palmer FH, et al. 1992. Aquatic life as biomonitors of dioxin/fiiran and coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls contamination in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Chemosphere 25(4) 621-631. 

Kennish MJ, Ruppel BE. 1996. Polychlorinated biphenyl contamination in selected estuarine and coastal marine finflsh and shellfish of New Jersey. Estuaries 19(2A) 288-295. 

Wickizer TM, Brilliant LB, Copeland R, et al. 1981. Polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of nursing mothers milk in Michigan. Am J Public Health 71 132-137. 

Connolly, J.P. 1991. Application of a food chain model to polychlorinated biphenyl contamination of the lobster and winter flounder food chains in New Bedford Harbor. Environ. Sci. Technol. 25 760-770. 

In Situ Vitrification of PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyl)-Contaminated Soils Final Report... 

During the past 40 years large quantities of chlorinated organic compounds have been manufactured for use worldwide. Some of these compounds, such as the pesticides DDT, Lindane and pentachlorophenol, were purposely Introduced into the environment to control various noxious or harmful plant and animal pests (1 ). Others, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, contaminated the environment through use or as waste from manufacturing processes ( ). Some, such as 2,3,7,8-TCDD, were unknowingly Introduced as contaminants of other compounds or preparations (1 ). 

Biphenyl dioxygenase B. xenovorans LB400 Family shuffling of bphA from polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated soil DNA Multiple mutations (variant SlOO) Attack on carbon 5 and 6 of 2,2 -dichlorobiphenyl new ability to oxidize benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene [22]... 

It is known that the brain is one of the most sensitive sites of action of steroids in utero, and recently there have been suggestions that EDs may affect normal brain development and behaviour. For example, it has been alleged that in utero exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) resulted in adverse effects on neurologic and intellectual function (memory and attention) in young children born to women who had eaten PCB contaminated fish in the USA." It has also been speculated that exposure to environmental pollutants with steroidal activity may be infinencing human sexual development and sexually controlled behavioiir." ... 

Until the 1970s the chemical used as the impregnating and dielectric medium for capacitor units was PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) liquid. It was found to be toxic and unsafe for humans as well as contamination of the environment. For this reason, it is no longer used. The latest trend is to use a non-PCB, non-toxic, phenyl xylyl ethane (PXE-oil), which is a synthetic dielectric liquid of extremely low loss for insulation and impregnation of the capacitor elements or to use mixed polypropylene or allpolypropylene (PP) liquids as the dielectric. A non-oil dielectric, such as epoxy resin, is also used. 

The major energy-related sources of water pollution are from thermal pollution, surface water pollution from oil spills, polychlorinated biphenyls, and groundwater contamination. 

Matta, M.B., Caimcross, C., and Kocan, R.M. (1997). Effect of a polychlorinated biphenyl metabolite on early life stage survival of two species of trout. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 59, 146-151. 

There is a vast range of aqueous organic pollutants with a wide toxicity profile. Some, e.g. polychlorinated biphenyls, certain herbicides, fungicides and pesticides, and organo-mercury compounds, are persistent and may bioaccumulate in the food chain. Trace contaminants such as sodium chloride, iron and phenols (especially if chlorinated) may also impart a taste to water. Typical consent levels for industrial discharges are provided in Table 13.10. 

Wu Q, DL Bedard, J Wiegel (1997a) Effect of incubation temperature on the route of microbial reductive dechlorination of 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-contaminated and PCB-free freshwater sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 63 2836-2843. 

Bushart SP, B Bush, EL Barnard, A Bott (1998) Volatilization of extensively dechlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls from historically contaminated sediments. Environ Toxicol Chem 17 1927-1933. 

The structural range of industrially important representatives of these groups is enormous, and includes chlorobenzenes (solvents), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (hydraulic and insulating fluids), and polybrominated biphenyls and diphenyl ethers (flame retardants). There is widespread concern over both the persistence and the potential toxicity of all these compounds, and sites that have become contaminated during their production represent a threat both to the environment and to human health. Pathways for the aerobic bacterial degradation of chlorobenzenes and chlorobiphe-nyls, and their brominated analogs have been discussed in Chapter 9, Part 1. 

Leigh MB, P Prouzova, M Mackova, T Macek, DP Nagle, JS Fletcher (2006) Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading bacteria associated with trees in a PCB-contaminated site. Appl Environ Microbiol 72 2331-2342. 

With the recent Increase In activity at hazardous waste sites where cleanup and remedial action are underway, there has emerged a need for rapid analytical methods for assessing contamination in water, sediment, and soil. Of special Interest, because of widespread use and disposal. Is the group of materials known as PCB s (polychlorinated biphenyls). 

Elliott JE, Machmer MM, Wilson LK, Henny CJ. 2000. Contaminants in ospreys from the Pacific Northwest. 11. Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and mercury, 1991-1997. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38 93-106. 

CRMs for Contaminants in Environmental Matrices For nearly two decades NIST has been involved in the development of SRMs for the determination of organic contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and chlorinated pesticides in natural environmental matrices such as fossil fuels (Hertz et al.1980 Kline et al. 1985), air and diesel particulate material (May and Wise 1984 Wise et al. 2000), coal tar (Wise et al. 1988a), sediment (Schantz et al. 1990, 1995a Wise et al. 1995), mussel tissue (Wise et al. 1991 Schantz et al. 1997a), fish oil, and whale blubber (Schantz et al. 1995b). Several papers have reviewed and summarized the development of these environmental matrix SRMs (Wise et al. 1988b Wise 1993 Wise and Schantz 1997 Wise et al. 2000). Seventeen natural matrix SRMs for the determination of organic contaminants are currently available from NIST with certified and reference concentrations primarily for PAHs, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and polychlorinated dibenzofiirans (PCDFs) see Table 3.11. 

In the past, mineral oil hydraulic fluids sometimes included additives such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to improve the thermal resistance or other properties of the resulting fluids. These additives may present more toxicity risks than the primary ingredients of the hydraulic fluids. While such uses of PCBs have been discontinued, PCBs may be encountered as components of hydraulic fluids at NPL sites contaminated by hydraulic fluids (ATSDR 1993b). 

The use and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are regulated by the TSCA. In addition to the RCRA used oil management standards, marketers and burners of used oil contaminated with any quantifiable level of PCBs are subject to the current TSCA requirements, which provide comprehensive management standards for such used oils. 

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