PCBs and the new Canadian federal PCB regulations

WHAT ARE PCBs?

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of synthetic, organic substances that are non-flammable, stable over a wide range of temperature and physical conditions, not soluble in water, unaffected by acids, base or corrosive chemicals, inert and persistent in the environment.  Discovered in 1881, they were first commercially used in 1929 and because of their high dielectric capacity and low flammability were in great demand for use in electrical transformers and capacitors. They were also used as coolants, fire retardants and as insulation and in a number of other commercial applications including carbonless copy paper, dust suppressors for roads, hydraulic fluids, plasticizers and lubricating oils and heat-transfer applications. 

PCBs IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Because of their stability, the wide range of uses and their affinity for fatty tissues, PCBs have become widely dispersed and bioaccumulate in tissues of animals and humans.  People and animals are exposed through food and water.

PCB TOXICITY

PCBs have been shown to cause a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system and other health effects.  PCBs are considered probable carcinogens. 

REGULATION OF PCBs

After an incident in Japan in 1968 where PCB containing oil became mixed with rice oil from a leak in a heating and cooling system at a rice oil manufacturing plant, people became sick, exhibiting skin rashes (chloracne), nausea, swelling of the extremities, and liver disorders.  In 1972, the manufacturer, Monsanto, restricted sales to closed uses and in 1977 ceased all production of PCBs. 

In Canada, development of regulations concerning the storage and use of PCBs has been an ongoing process. The Chlorobiphenyl Regulations (1991) defined the allowed uses in Canada for PCBs and the Storage of PCB Material Regulations which came into force in 1992 required those who stored PCBs to report quantities stored.  The new PCB Regulations (which came into force in September 2008) replace these two regulations and bring Canada into closer compliance with commitments internationally to North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) PCB Regional Action Plan and United Nations agreements on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)..

Specifically, the new PCB Regulations have the following provisions (note: this is not an inclusive list of provisions):

• Analysis of PCBs must be done by an accredited laboratory using accredited methods
• Prohibition of release into the environment (Section 5) in concentrations of  
  - Greater than 2 mg/kg of liquid
  - Greater than 50 mg.kg for a solid
  - No greater than one gram from equipment that is in use or has been granted an extension
• Prohibited activities include (Section 6)
  - Manufacture, export or import PCBs or a product containing greater than 2 mg/kg
  - Sale ofl PCBS or a product with greater than 50 mg/kg
  - Process or use PCBs or a product containing PCBs
• Permitted activities (manufacture, export, import, offer for sale, sell, process and use PCBs or products containing PCBs) for (Sections 7-15)
  - Laboratory analysis
  - Research into the effects of PCBs
  - For transportation purposes aircraft, ships and other vehicles that contain PCBs only in communication, navigation or electrical control equipment or cables
  - Can offer for sale, sell and use an electrical capacitor if it is an integral part of a consumer product that is fusion sealed and is inoperable and irreparable without PCBs
  - Other exceptions include colouring, cables, pipelines and equipment such as electrical capacitors, electromagnets and heat transfer equipment and so on. 
• However, electrical capacitors and other electrical transformers, electromagnets and heat transfer equipment and other equipment containing PCBs must be removed from service on the following schedule (Section 16):
  - Those with greater than 500 mg/kg by December 31, 2009
  - With 50-500 mg/kg, if used in a sensitive area by December 31, 2009, otherwise by December 31, 2025
  - If equipment has greater than 50 mg/kg PCBs and is light ballasts or pole- top electrical transformers, they can be used until December 31, 2025.
  - Liquid containing 2 mg/kg or more of PCBs that is in equipment can be used until the day the liquid is removed.
  - A process to apply for extensions is provided in the regulations (S 17)
• Products that contain PCBs at 50 mg/kg or greater (that are not processed or used daily, pipelines or cables) must be either sent for destruction or to a PCB storage site. The regulations specify limitations to how long storage is permitted and the storage requirements with stricter requirements for those near sensitive locations.

The government has stated that the deadlines for ending the use and storage of PCBs are expected to result in the removal of 90% of PCBs still in use and 100% currently in storage by the end of 2009. The remaining PCBs (i.e., in equipment with less than 500 mg/kg of PCBs) will be eliminated by 2025. 

The regulations also specify how products must be labelled.

PCB regulation http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/regulations/DetailReg.cfm?intReg=105

Health Canada link – http://www.chemicalsubstanceschimiques.gc.ca/interest-interet/pcb-bpc_e.html

Environment Canada link -http://www.ecoinfo.org/env_ind/region/cormorant/pcbs_e.cfm