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DESIGNATIONS
CAS No.: 1336-36-3
Registry name: Polychlorinated biphenyls
Chemical name: Polychlorinated biphenyls
Synonyms, Trade names: PCB, Apirolio, Aroclor, Ascarele, Clophen, Delor, Fenclor, Inerteen, Kanechlor, Phenoclor, Pyralene, Pyranol, Pyroclor, Sovtol and many others
Chemical name (German): Polychlorierte Biphenyle
Chemical name (French): Polychlorure de biphényle
Appearance: The pure mono- and dichlorobiphenyls are colourless crystalline compounds; PCBs with more than 3 chlorine atoms are colourless liquids with moderate to high viscosity. All industrial mixtures are liquids.
Note: The group of polychlorinated biphenyls consists of 209 isomeric and homologous compounds.
BASIC CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL DATA
| Empirical formula: | C12H10-nCln n=1-10, mainly n=2-7 |
| Rel. molecular mass: | 189-499 g |
| Density: | 1.2-1.6 g/cm3 |
| Boiling point: | 320-420°C |
| Vapour pressure: | 0.2-133 x 10-3 Pa |
| Solvolysis/solubility: | only slightly soluble in water soluble in most organic solvents and in fat |
| Note: | Polychlorinated biphenyls have a low vapour pressure, high viscosity, minimal water solubility, high dielectric constant, high thermal stability and resistance to chemicals. |
Note:
Polychlorinated biphenyls have a low vapour pressure, high
viscosity, minimal water solubility, high dielectric constant,
high thermal stability and resistance to chemicals.
ORIGIN AND USE
Usage:
PCBs are used as coolants and insulating materials, transformer
oils and hydraulic fluids, as plasticisers for synthetics and as
impregnation agents for wood and paper. They possess almost ideal
properties for electrical purposes and are likewise highly
resistant to ageing.
In the European Community, the use of PCBs has been restricted to closed systems by regulation in 1976. In the USA the production of PCBs has been prohibited since 1977, in Germany since 1983.
Origin/derivation:
The chlorination of biphenyls with iron and iron chloride acting
as catalysts produces an isomeric mixture which is subsequently
distilled.
Production figures:
| D (1980): | 7,400 t | (BMI, 1985) |
| D (since 1983): | no production | (BMI, 1985) |
| France (1980) | 6,500 t | (LORENZ & NEUMEIER, 1983) |
| Spain (1980): | 1,250 t | (LORENZ & NEUMEIER, 1983) |
Toxicity
| Mammals: | ||
| General: | TDLo 325 mg/kg | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Aquatic organisms: | ||
| Rainbow trout: | LC50 2 mg/l (96 h) | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Micropterus salmoides: | LC50 2.3 mg/l (96 h) | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| American minnow: | LC50 7.7-300 mg/l (96 h) | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Catfish: | LC50 8.7-139 mg/l (30 d) | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Blue perch: | LC50 84-400 mg/l (30 d) | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Gammarus spec.: | LC50/EC50 10-73 mg/l | acc. UBA, 1986 |
| Green algae: | 0.1-300 mg/l inhibited growth | acc. UBA, 1986 |
Characteristic effects:
Humans/mammals: The toxicological effects of PCBs on humans still have to be fully established. The Chemicals Law in the Federal Republic of Germany classes PCBs as being of low toxicity despite their proven carcinogenic and teratogenic effects in animal experiments (supposed to be carcinogenic for humans). As a general rule, the toxicity level increases with the chlorine content; the same effect is produced by the oxidation products of PCB which may be far more toxic than PCB itself. The risk of poisoning due to inhalation is normally slight on account of the low vapour pressure. On the other hand, skin contact and oral intake can have serious consequences. The main points of attack are the liver and the enzyme system. The usual symptoms of chronic poisoning are nausea, vomiting, weight loss, oedemas and pains in the lower abdomen; if the liver is seriously damaged, coma or even death may result.
Plants: PCB reduces the cell division rate and the CO2 fixing of algae. There is overall inhibition of growth. Population shifts are encountered with concentrations greater than 0.1 m g/l (phytoplankton and invertebrates) [LORENZ & NEUMEIER, 1983].
ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOUR
Water:
PCBs ingress into surface water from various sources and by
precipitation from the atmosphere.
Air:
PCBs are released into the atmosphere by evaporation, favoured by
higher temperatures. They condense on aerosol particles and are
thus widely spread. The evaporation rate for soil - as a function
of soil texture - is greater than for water.
Soil:
Accumulation in humus layer with little mobility; following
sorption, mobility by way of vapour phase. There is very little
degradation; the persistence increases with the degree of
chlorination.
Degradation, decomposition products:
Degradation due to hydrolysis is not to be expected since
PCBs are stable even in the presence of strong alkalis and acids.
Oxidative degradation involves considerable energy. Biotic
degradation by microorganisms only occurs under aerobic
conditions. Adsorption and/or transition to anaerobic areas
totally inhibits degradation in soil. Mineralisation is possible
under strong UV radiation.
Metabolites are hydroxy compounds, metafission products and chlorobenzenes. The degradation process ends in CO2 and HCl.
Food chain:
Some 25% of the PCBs assimilated by humans are taken in by
inhalation and 75% through foodstuffs (UBA, 1986). Animal
products are the main source, with fish supplying between 4 and
5% of the amount absorbed. The intake with drinking water is
minimal.
PCB is stored in fatty tissue, milk and the liver.
ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS
| Medium/acceptor | Sector | Country/organ. | Status | Value | Cat. | Remarks | Source |
| Water | Surface | D | (G) |
0.014 mg/l |
Freshwater | acc. UBA, 1986 | |
| Air: | Refer to information sheets 164-166 as regards environmental standards for air | ||||||
| Foodstuffs: | CDN | G |
0.2-1.0 pg/(kg·d) |
ADI | acc. CRINE, 1988 | ||
| NL | G |
4 pg/(kg·d) |
ADI | acc. CRINE, 1988 | |||
| USA | G |
0.06 pg/(kg·d) |
ADI | EPA | acc. CRINE, 1988 | ||
The production of polychlorinated biphenyls has been banned in the USA since 1979; the use of concentrations > 500 mg/kg for transformers and electromagnets has been banned since 1985 (LORENZ & NEUMEIER, 1983).
Comparison/reference values
| Medium/origin | Value | Source |
| Air | 5-30 ng/m3 | acc. BMI, 1985 |
| Air | 0.1-20 ng/m3 | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Water: | ||
| Rain/snow | 0.1-200 ng/l | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Seawater | 0.25-100 ng/l | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Surface water | 0.1-3000 ng/l | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Soil/sediment | 1-1000 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Soil | 0.05-0.1 mg/kg | acc. BMI, 1985 |
| Sludge | 1-100 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Plankton | 0.01-2 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Fish | 0.01-25 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Birds | 0.1-1000 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Aquatic mammals/amphibious creatures | 0.1-1000 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
| Human beings (fatty tissue) | 0.1-10 mg/kg | acc. PEARSON, 1982 |
Assessment/comments
PCBs are characterised by a high persistence and widespread use. Disposal is particularly problematic. Thermal decomposition in waste incineration plants at insufficient temperatures can cause considerable amounts of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins to escape into the environment. In addition, the question whether PCBs can be completely decomposed at high temperature remains to be fully clarified. Therefore, the use of PCBs must be restricted or limited to utilisation in closed systems. Sufficient substitute materials are already available.
Special sources: HUTZINGER, SAFE & ZITKO (1974); CRINE (1988).