Region 8
Serving Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming and 27 Tribal Nations
PCBs
NEW: Press release: EPA Announces Guidance to Communities on PCBs in Caulk of Buildings Constructed or Renovated Between 1950 and 1978
For more info, visit EPA's PCBs in caulk web site.
View a large, informative "PCBs, Mining and Water Pollution" poster
This informative poster includes PCB properties and uses, consequences of abandonment, health and environmental effects, proposed solutions, and more.
On this page:
Introduction
Due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, and electrical insulating properties, polychorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were used as dielectric fluid in various types of electrical equipment including heat transfer systems, fluorescent lamp ballasts, television sets, and numerous other kinds of electrical appliances. In addition, PCBs were used as plasticizers in paints, plastics and rubber products, in pigments, dyes, carbonless copy paper and many other applications.
However, it has been discovered that PCBs are also toxic substances that are a hazard to human health and the environment. PCBs have been demonstrated to cause a variety of adverse health effects. PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals as well as to cause a number of serious noncancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. Studies in humans provide supportive evidence for potential carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs, including negative effects on the intellectual development of children and adults.
Concerned about industrial chemical toxicity and persistence in the environment, Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (Public Law 94-469, October 11, 1976), which included prohibitions on the manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of PCBs. Under TSCA, Congress mandated the regulation of PCBs from manufacture to disposal, or from "cradle to grave" throughout the U.S. PCBs are absorbed or bioconcentrate from ocean water into phytoplankton which is the basis of the ocean food chain and produce about 50% of the world's oxygen.
Although TSCA prohibited further manufacture, processing and distribution of PCBs, many products containing PCBs are still in use (i.e. PCB-containing electrical equipment). EPA authorizes these uses to continue as long as the equipment is properly monitored and maintained.
To learn more about EPA's rules and regulations regarding the PCB program, visit the EPA Headquarters´ PCB website or please do not hesitate to contact us.
PCB Publications
Note: the documents are below Adobe PDF files (about PDF files)
PCBs, Mining and Water Pollution
Following are two versions of "PCBs, Mining, and Water Pollution" by Dan Bench, Region 8 PCB Coordinator.
- The paper presented at the Mine Design, Operations and Closure Conference hosted by Montana Tech in May 03 - written for the general public. [PDF document, 530 kB]
- A shortened version of the paper, as it appeared in the London UK Mining Environmental Management, July 03 - tailored for the mining industry. Note: VERY LARGE PDF: 4.87 MB. Reprints are available on request.
Additional papers:
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Identification, Management, and Proper Disposal of PCB-Containing Electrical Equipment used in Mines
This paper was presented at the Perumin 29 Convencion Minera in Arequipa, Peru, September 2009; it was hosted by the Instituto de Ingenieros de Minas del Peru -
Short Course on PCBs In Mines
This is an abridgement of the above paper.
EPA PCB references
Region 8 PCB Contacts
Dan W. Bench
Region 8 PCB Coordinator
U.S. EPA Region 8 (8P-P3T)
999 18th Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202-2466
303-312-6027 or 1-800-227-8917 ext. 6027
Email: bench.dan@epa.gov
Other contacts include:
Francis Tran, Email: tran.francis@epa.gov, (303) 312-6036
Kim Le, Email: le.kim@epa.gov, (303) 312-6973 (Enforcement)
