2 ОРГАНИЗАЦИЯ И МЕТОДИКА РАБОТ - Courrier international

Commercial production of PCB began in 1929 in the US by Monsanto Company. They are oily
liquids that are non-flammable, do not conduct electricity but conduct heat easily. PCB are resistant
to acids and alkalis. Commercial mixtures of chlorination of diphenyl were marketed as Aroclor,
Piranol, Inerteen (Monsanto, Westinghouse in USA), Clophen (Bayer, Germany), Fenclor (Caffaro,
Italy), Kanechlor and Sibanol (Kanegafuchi, Japan),. Phenoclor and Piralen (Prodolec, France),
Delor (Czechoslovakia).
Commercial products based on PCB were widely used as dielectrics transformer and condenser
oils, as cooling liquids in heat-exchange systems (coolants), hydraulic liquids, lubricating and seal
oils as well as admixtures of herbicides. PCB were included in the composition of plasticizers for
insulation materials and plastics and used as admixtures of paints, varnishes, adhesives and color
paper for copying.
In the former USSR and Russia, polychlorinated biphenyls were produced from 1934 through 1995.
They were produced under trade marks of Sovol, Sovtol and Geksol. The main producers of Sovols
were PA "Orgsteklo" (Dzerzhinsk), PA "Orgsintez" (Novomoskovsk) and VNITIG s (All-Union
Research Institute of Herbicides, Ufa) experimental plant.
The oils containing PCB mixtures was used in KSK condensers, which had been produced by SPA
Kondensator" (Serpukhov) before 1988; and in power, high-voltage, pulse and other transformers to
be produced in many places in Russia.
Intake of polychlorinated biphenyls in the environment is associated with accidental leaks from
controlled close systems such as commercial transformers, condensers, heat exchangers and
hydraulic devices and also with uncontrolled release due to burning of production and domestic
waste. During a long period of intensive use of PCB in industry in many countries of the world,
huge amounts of these compounds have been released into the environment, and now the
contamination with these xenobiotics affects the whole biosphere. PCB s physico-chemical
properties provide a long life (years and decades) in abiotic environments and the capability to
accumulate in bottom sediments, soils and fatty tissues of wildlife. Along with organochlorine
pesticides, PCB are the most wide spread products contaminating water in natural water bodies. It is
considered that PCB concentration in non-polluted fresh waters should not exceed 0.5 ng/l, while in
moderately polluted waters 50 ng/l.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) belong to the group of persistent organic pollutants (POP), the
monitoring of which is obligatory in the industrially developed countries due to their high
environmental and health hazard. Persistent organic pollutants (POP) are a group of organic
compounds having toxic properties and are persistent and biologically accumulable and able to be
transported for a long distance in different environments to lead to negative consequences for
human health and the environment.
PCB hazard for human health is, in the first place, that they impair immune system function
( chemical AIDS). In addition, PCB intake in human organism leads to the development of cancer
injury of liver, kidneys, nervous system and skin (neurodermatitis, eczemas and rashes). Penetrating
into baby/fetus organism, PCB may cause congenital deformities (developmental delay, decrease in
immunity and impairment of hematogenesis). However, the most hazardous PCB impact on human
health is the mutagenic effect, which is detrimental to future generations.
Heavy metals
FINAL REPORT for Contract No. CS-NPA-Arctic-13/2009 of December 01, 2009 within the framework of pilot project Development of
Technology of clean up of the area of Decommissioned Sites of The Russian Federation Ministry of Defense in the Arctic by the
Example of Alexanra Island of Franz Josef Land Archipelago from Hazardous Waste
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