WHATAREPCBSPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)areindustrialchemicalsthatareodorless,cleartoyellowincolour,andarehighlytoxictoorganicorganisms.ProductionofPCBsinNorthAmericabeganin1929andendedinthelate1970s.Theyweremainlyusedinelectricalequipmentasadielectricforcapacitors,butalsousedinvariousotherproducts suchas coolants, adhesivesandpaints. PCBswerediscontinued fromproduction inNorthAmericawhen itbecameapparentof theirhightoxicity to livingorganisms.Theycaneasilypenetratetheskin and natural rubbers, including latex gloves. PCBs are very stable compounds and require extensivechemicalprocessestobecompletelydestroyed.

CANADIANLEGISLATIONCanadahasneverproducedPCBs,howevertheywerewidelyusedinthiscountry.CanadianlegislationallowsownersofPCBequipmenttocontinueusingPCBequipmentuntilitisnolongeroperational.PCBsarenotallowedtoleaveCanadaandmustbedestroyedinthiscountry.IfPCBwastecannotbe destroyed immediately, they are allowed to be stored in a restricted area. Environment Canada requires PCB equipment to be labeled withgovernmentserializedlabelstotracktheuseanddisposalofPCBmaterial.

HOWTOIDENTIFYPCBCONTAININGMATERIALSCommonPCBcontainingelectricalequipmentareCAPCITORS,BALLATSandHIGHVOLTAGETRANSFORMERS.PCB’sweresoldinNorthAmericaunderthe name AROCLOR. Following the name AROCLORwas a 4‐digit code, where the last two digits indicated the percentage of chlorine by weightcontainedinthePCBproduct.Forinstance,aPCBproductwith40%PCBcontainingmaterialmighthaveread,AROCLOR3040.

HighVoltageTransformerscontainingPCBsweresoldunderavarietyoftradenames.Seetablebelowforreference.

Apirolio(Italian) Aroclor Asbestol Askarel ChorextolChorinol Clophen(German) Diaclor DK(decachlorodiphenyl) DykanolElemex Eucarel Fenclor(Italy) Hyvol Inerteen

Kaneclor(Japan) Montar NoFlamol Phenoclor(France) PydraulPyralene Pyroclor Saf‐T‐Kuhl SantothermFR(Japan) Sorol

TherminolFR

Also,a“TypeNumber”beginningwiththeletter“L”indicatesthatatransformerisPCBcontaminated.Forexample:LFAF,LFAN,LFWN,LNAF,LNWN.

PROPERPROTECTIVEEQUIPMENTOnlytrainedindividuals inhandlingPCBcontainingmaterialsshouldhandlethischemical.ExtremecautionshouldbetakenasPCBseasilyentertheskin.ThereforewhenworkingwithPCBsallskinmustbeprotectedbywearingnitrilegloves,boots,disposablecoveralls,apronsandeyeprotectionasnecessary.

LABELLINGANDSTORAGEOFPCBMATERIALAllPCBmaterialshouldbeproperlylabeledwhileitisin‐serviceorisinsafe,controlledstorageattheUniversityofWindsor.TherearefourdifferentlabelsforPCBequipment.SerializedlabelsissuedbyEnvironmentCanadaareusedtotrackPCBcontainingmaterials(Figure1–LargeItemandFigure‐2 ‐Smaller Items). Inaddition,generalwarning labelsareused towarn individualsof thepresenceofPCBs (Figure3)orcontaminatedequipment(Figure4). TheUniversityofWindsorhas aPCB storage facility locatedatMaintenanceServices (2601UnionStreet).Only trainedandauthorizedpersonnelareallowedaccesstothePCBstoragefacility.

PCBSPILLRESPONSEAllPCBspillsaretobereferredtotheChemicalControlCentre,pleaseseecontactinformationatthetopofthisdocument.

REFERENCEUniversityofWindsor’sManagementofPolychlorinatedbiphenyls(PCBs)(PolicyEHS‐2008‐01)

Any suspected PCB contaminated material at the University of Windsor is to be referred to the Chemical Control Centre’s EnvironmentalProtectionService.AsuitableandcomplimentarytestwillbeconductedtodeterminethepresenceofPCBs.