PCB & THE ENVIRONMENT

Brad Davis Patrick McMullen

BACKGROUND INFO
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were a popular coolant or

insulator found in capacitors, fluorescent light fittings, paints and PVC.

PCBs are often found in tasteless, odorless and mostly clear

liquids.
The chemical formula for PCBs are C12H10xClx.

HISTORY
The first PCB was created in 1881 as a by-product of coal tar. By 1914, enough PCB was present in the environment to be found in

the wings of birds. In 1933, 96% of employees at a prominent PCB factory had developed severe skin ailments such as chloracne. GE began using PCB in its electrical equipment in 1947. In 1954, a paper company began making carbonless copy paper and dumped PCB-contaminated water into nearby rivers. A study in 1966 discovered that PCBs accumulate in the food chain. PCB is easily absorbed by lipids and the fat tissue of mammals. 1,300 people in Japan became sick after eating contaminated rice in 1968. 1970 the US alone produced 85 million pounds annually.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN
PCBs are harmful to both humans and the environment. The EPA reports that exposure to PCB can result in:
Cancer Toxic Effects

Immune System Reproductive System Nervous System

Endocrine System

Deficits in neurological development

Additional Human effects:

Elevated blood pressure Elevated cholesterol Decreased birth weight in babies

IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS
In 1976, the United States Congress banned the manufacture,

sale and distribution of PCB through the Toxic Substances Control Act.
The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

banned PCBs in 2001.

Chemical cleanup agents and processes (classified as

established by EPA) including but not limited to:

Super-Critical Water Oxidation (SCWO), Base Catalyzed Dechlorination

(BCD), Glycolate Dehalogenation (APEG Plus), Plasma Arc Centrifugal Treatment (PACT), Plasma Arc System (PLASCON), Plasma-electric Waste Converter (STARTECH), Molten Metal Pyrolysis, Chemical Reduction (ECO LOGIC)

SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS
Individual river dredging in specific rivers like the Hudson over 5

years time. Evacuate and shut down buildings that are still contaminated. Landfills for objects such as transformers, but most landfills are not designed to deal with PCBs and accidentally allow PCBs to be released into the atmosphere. Breed micro-organisms that can break down PCB.
Most solutions may reduce the harmful exposure to humans or

may reduce the toxicity, but none actually wholly remove PCB from the contamination site. PCBs take many years to degrade.

FUTURE CONTAMINATION
PCBs are largely no longer being manufactured, so the level of

contamination should not increase.

However, the PCBs that have accumulated in arctic places and

rivers continue to be present and take a very large amount of time to begin to break down.

OUR SOLUTIONS
If we breed a micro-organism that digests PCBs, we could

release them into severely contaminated rivers such as the Hudson.

Additional filters and chemical treatments in water treatment

plants.
Attempt to bury sealed objects like transformers to prevent

additonal atmospheric exposure.

THE BIOACCUMULATION OF PCB IN THE MARINE FOOD CHAIN

BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Health Effects| Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)| Wastes | US EPA." US Environmental

Protection Agency. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/effects.htm>. "History of PCBs When Were Health Problems Detected? 2." Fox River Watch. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.foxriverwatch.com/monsanto2b_pcb_pcbs.html>. "Organic pollutants World Ocean Review." World Ocean Review. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://worldoceanreview.com/en/pollution/organic-pollutants/>. "PCB Removal Solutions: Environmental Cleanup: PCB removal and PCB cleanup with alumina adsorbents ." PCB removal and cleanup with alumina adsorbents environmental cleanup of pcb pollution . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.pcbremoval.net/solutions.htm>. "Polychlorinated biphenyl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl>. Sullivan, Ned. "Hudson River PCB Dredging 2011 - Hudson River Cleanup Status - The Daily Green." Going Green, Fuel Efficiency, Organic Food, and Green Living - The Daily Green. N.p., 22 June 2011. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. <http://www.thedailygreen.com/livinggreen/blogs/easy-tips/hudson-river-pcb-dredging-2011>.