2,3',4,4',5,5'-Hexachlorobiphenyl

... Dry sand or earth should be spread on the leak, or spill area. ...

Survey reports six case histories employing EPA's hazardous materials spills treatment trailer are reviewed. The trailer's ... treatment system has three mixed-media filters and three activated carbon columns to remove suspended, precipitated, and organic soluble materials. Spills of PCB, pentachlorophenol, kepone, termide (chlordane), heptachlor, aldrin, and dieldrin, toxaphene, and dinitrobutylphenol were treated by the EPA trailer, which was generally successful in mitigating environmental effects by filtering and carbon-adsorption. 90% removal was achieved for 21 of 23 compounds.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

EXPERIMENTS ON THE COMBUSTION OF POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCB) IN 1 M-LONG TUBE FURNACE INDICATED THAT PCB CONTAINING APPROX 40% CL IS DESTROYED WITHIN 3-4 MIN AT 900-1000 °C USING 100% EXCESS AIR. TEMPERATURES GREATER THAN 1000 °C ARE REQUIRED TO DESTROY PCB CONTAINING APPROX 60% CL & DISTILLATION RESIDUES ARISING FROM PCB MFR. DOMESTIC WASTE INCINERATORS OPERATING AT 800-900 °C ARE UNLIKELY TO PROVE SUITABLE FOR INCINERATING WASTE CONTAINING TRACE AMT OF PCB. PYROLYSIS EXPERIMENTS AT 900 °C WITH NOMINAL RESIDENCE TIME OF 3.5 SEC GAVE 40-60% RECOVERY OF CL AS HCL FROM PCB.

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS CAN BE DESTROYED BY INCINERATION IF THE TRANSIT TIME IS LONG ENOUGH. DURING INCINERATION HEXACHLOROBENZENE IS FORMED; ITS RATE OF FORMATION INCR AT HIGH TEMP. IN ORDER FOR THE HEXACHLOROBENZENE TO BE DESTROYED, A TEMP OF 950 °C IS NEEDED. THIS RESULTS IN THE FORMATION OF A RESIDUE LESS THAN 100 MG OF HEXACHLOROBENZENE/KG. AT 800 °C & A TRANSIT TIME OF 2 SEC, A RESIDUE OF ABOUT 1200 MG/KG REMAINS.

Investigations were conducted of new and emerging technologies for the disposal of hazardous wastes, ... including molten salt combustion, fluidized bed incineration, high energy electron treatment of trace organic compounds in aqueous solution, the catalyzed wet oxidation of toxic chemicals, dehalogenation of compounds by treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light and hydrogen, UV/chlorinolysis of organics in aqueous solution, the catalytic hydrogenation-dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and ultraviolet-ozone destruction. Theory, specific wastes treated, and economics are discussed. The major technologies investigated in detail were molten salt combustion, fluidized bed incineration, and ultraviolet/ozone destruction. Among wastes treated by emerging technologies are PCBs, various dioxins, pesticides and herbicides, chemical warfare agents, explosives and propellants, nitrobenzene, and hydrazine plus its derivatives.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

Employees should wash their hands before eating, drinking and smoking ... and refrain from such activities in the polluted rooms. ...

... Workers should be provided with suitable protective clothing: long-sleeved overalls, boots, overshoes, and bib-type aprons that cover the boot tops, and gloves. ... Safety glasses with side shields ... for eye protection. Respirators should be used in areas with PCB vapors and during installation and repair of containers and emergency activities. ...

There are no specific treatments for PCB poisoning, since it is not usually recognized until after substantial chronic exposure. Only preventing further exposure and treating the observed symptoms can be done. Acute inhalation can be treated by administering oxygen. (L4)

The most common health effects of PCBs are skin conditions such as chloracne and rashes. Chronic PCB exposure has also been shown to cause liver, stomach and kidney, damage, jaundice, edema, anemia, changes in the immune system, behavioral alterations, and impaired reproduction. (L4)

The mechanism of action varies with the specific PCB. Dioxin-like PCBs bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which disrupts cell function by altering the transcription of genes, mainly be inducing the expression of hepatic Phase I and Phase II enzymes, especially of the cytochrome P450 family. Most of the toxic effects of PCBs are believed to be results of Ah receptor binding. Other PBCs are believed to interfere with calcium channels and/or change brain dopamine levels. PCBs can also cause endocrine disurption by altering the production of thyroid hormones and binding to estrogen receptors, which can stimulate the growth of certain cancer cells and produce other estrogenic effects, such as reproductive dysfunction. They will bioaccumulate by binding to receptor proteins such as uteroglobin. (A3, A4, A30, A66)

Nursing /by women exposed to PCB's/ ... should be discouraged because of the high amount of PCB's excreted with milk. ...

Food and Environmental Agents: Reported Sign or Symptom in Infant or Effect on Lactation: Polychlorinated biphenyls and polybrominated biphenyls: Lack of endurance, hypotonia, sullen, expressionless facies. /From Table 7/

/SRP 1988: THIS PCB, BEING FOUND IN CLOPHEN A30, A40, A50, AND A60 BUT NOT IN AROCLORS/ ... FROM MANUFACTURING PLANTS, DURING DESTRUCTION OF MANUFACTURED ARTICLES CONTAINING PCBS IN MUNICIPAL & INDUSTRIAL WASTE-DISPOSAL BURNERS, THROUGH GRADUAL WEAR & WEATHERING OF PCB-CONTAINING PRODUCTS, & THROUGH LEACHING FROM LAND-FILL DUMPS.

ISOMERICALLY PURE PCBS WERE TESTED AS INDUCERS OF HEPATIC DRUG-METABOLIZING ENZYMES IN THE RAT. THE CHLORINATED BIPHENYL ISOMERS CAN BE CATEGORIZED INTO 2 DISTINCT GROUPS OF INDUCERS, WHILE COMMERCIAL PCB MIXT HAVE CHARACTERISTICS OF BOTH GROUPS. BIPHENYLS CHLORINATED SYMMETRICALLY IN BOTH THE META AND PARA POSITIONS INCREASE THE FORMATION OF CYTOCHROME P448, BUT DECREASE THE AMINOPYRINE N-DEMETHYLASE ACTIVITY. BIPHENYL ISOMERS CHLORINATED IN BOTH THE PARA AND ORTHO POSITIONS INDUCE THE FORMATION OF CYTOCHROME P450 AND N-DEMETHYLASE ACTIVITY. ISOMERS WHICH ARE CHLORINATED IN ONLY 1 RING, OR ARE CHLORINATED IN BOTH RINGS BUT NOT IN THE PARA POSITIONS, HAVE VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY AS INDUCERS OF LIVER ENZYMES.

Commercial production of PCBs stopped in 1977 in the US; [HSDB]

PCBs were used as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical devices (such as fluorescent lights and refridgerators) produced before 1977. PCBs may contaminate the air and water near hazardous waste sites. In addition, PCBs bioaccumulate in the environment and may be found in fish, meat, and dairy products. (L4)

2,4,5-TRICHLOROANILINE IS COUPLED WITH 1,2,3-TRICHLOROBENZENE BY USING AN EXCESS OF THE LATTER REACTANT WHICH ALSO SERVES AS THE SOLVENT MEDIUM. THE COUPLING REACTION PROCEEDS SMOOTHLY AFTER THE ADDITION OF ISOAMYL NITRITE, AND THE PCB PRODUCT IS READILY ISOLATED AFTER A SERIES OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC PROCEDURES