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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Disposing of PCB's
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Randy Stankey
Film God
Posts: 6539
From: Erie, Pennsylvania
Registered: Jun 99
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posted 04-20-2003 10:21 PM
Does your town have a "Haz-Mat Amnesty Program"?
My town does. Any hazardous material that people find in their houses can be brought to a designated location for proper disposal. 90% of things you bring... Old paint, mercury thermometers, antifreeze, solvents and chemicals, etc will be disposed of for free -- No questions asked.
There have been stories of people who have just bought homes and found some "strange and wonderful things" in the attic or basement when they were cleaning out the place. Over the years I have seen a few newpaper articles about people finding old hand grenades and and junk like that in the backs of closets. Almost always, they turn out to be duds. On one occasion, a guy turned in a mortar shell (or something like that) and it turned out to be LIVE! They actually had to call in the bomb squad on that one.
Still, the township wants to encourage people to get this hazardous junk OUT of people's homes where it could cause damage or kill somebody. As long as the person is acting in "good faith" they will just take the stuff and have it incinerated. (or whatever they have to do to it.)
I suppose if they would incur some extraordinary expense in handling or disposing of your hazardous material they could make you pay for it. (Tax $$$ pay for it ordinarily... You have to show proof of residence.)
If you are a business/industrial entity or if you have a large amount of material you WILL have to pay.
Thus, if your town has an amnesty program and you didn't have a huge amount of PCB to dispose of, both you AND the radio station could benefit:
Provided the containers are still sealed and can be moved safely, you get the equipment you are after and they get their hazardous materials problem taken care of for free (or at low cost.) You just go to the disposal location with a car load of junk and say something like, "I found this stuff in my basement and I want to get rid of it... My friend told me that I sould bring it here because it might be hazardous. He said something about 'clorinated phenols' or some such thing." Play innocent, doncha' know!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-20-2003 10:37 PM
Polychlorinated Biphenyl is a significant health hazard and is present in many capacitors made before 1997. Some television and radio receivers may contain these capacitors, unmarked with any safety warning.
PCB is non-biodegradeable and is persistent in the environment. It can be absorbed through the skin, causing a skin rash called chloracne, liver damage and an increase of the fat in the blood. Appropriate protective clothing must be warn when handling equipment containing PCBs, also when subject to high temperature PCB can produce potychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and, in the presence of tri- or tetra-chlorobenzene some polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) can be formed too. Some of these substances are extremely toxic - much worse than PCB - thus PCBs involved in a fire can produce long-lasting contamination of buildings.
Capacitors containing PCBs fall into two categories, according to size. Small capacitors were used in fluorescent and other discharge luminaires and with fractional horse-power motors of the type used in domestic and light-industrial electrical equipment. They were not labelled as containing PCBs, although they were normally date-coded, Generally speaking, it must be assumed that capacitors manufactured before 1976 contain PCBs. As a precaution, operatives involved in replacing these capacitors should wear polythene or PVC gloves (not rubber), and these should be put, together with the capacitors and any waste wiping material used to clean the appliance, in a sealed polythene bag. Where large quantities of small capacitors are involved, they should be disposed at in the same way as large capacitors or transformers.
Large capacitors were used for power factor correction and similar duties. More recently manufactured capacitors were labelled as containing PCBs, but it should be assumed that capacitors manufactured before 1976 do contain PCBs.
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-21-2003 01:58 PM
I was searching to find out how serious the human safety aspects are of PCB's, and how much was considered to be toxic over how long of a time period. The only thing I found was supposedly "significant". Define significant. Is it a kinda-sorta thing, or do you have to take a bath in it before the toxic effects develope.
I bring this to your attention because I (along with countless people) have been exposed to PCB's for years on end with no ill side effects. Countless people who have been exposed to PCB's from the 1930's up to the persent day seem to be very healty for their age. I remember back in 1960 in the old "G-51" radar days (and more recently the "Q-124" in 1973) we handled PCB's regulary when changing magnetrons and pulse transformers. Often our hands were in contact with PCB's when replacing said items. If we decided to take a break in the middle of the job, it was not uncommon for us to simply take a shop rag to wipe our hands off, stuff the rag in our back pocket or toss it on the bench and then eat a sandwich.
I have never heard of one of my co-workers die of PCB related illnesses. They just kicked the bucket due to old age, auto accidents, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, or were just plain killed in a stupid accident. Many old radio station engineers (many who are in the late '70's and early 80's) are just chugging along as happy as can be even at their age. I am sure that in their professional travels they were probably nailed just as bad (if not worse) with PCB absortion in their skin than I was.
I know that stuff is hell as far as enviromental damage, but one has to take into consideration that PCB use was started in the 1930's and was used in capacitors up to 1997. That's about 67 years now.....
Just about any chemical today will kill a person if they get enough dose of it, whether it be PCB's, Benzene, synthetic engine oils, or too much booze. So what the hell is the difference? Everything is bad for you if you had too much of it.
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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man
Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-21-2003 10:59 PM
Sam, wait until he tries to move that thing. It is like trying to move a 1,000-pound sleeping gorilla. I have a 1KW ITA at work as you know, and that thing is built like a brick shithouse. It weighs about 1,200 lbs. Just the back and front access doors of that beast must weigh at least 40 lbs each. The plate transformer, filament transformer, and filter chokes probably weigh in at about 400 lbs total.
About two years ago, we scrapped out a 1KW RCA transmitter at Moses Lake. That transmitter was so heavy that two of us had all we could do to shuffle it across the floor.
So, we just shoved it over on it's side with the assistance of a chain and a 3/4-ton pick-up truck. When the transmitter toppled to the floor, it felt like an earthquake. We then re-attached the chain and dragged the transmitter out of the building with the truck, leaving screech paths in its wake. I robbed it of all the bottles and the power supply filter choke. I was going to get the plate transformer, but it weighed too much for the little Honda I had to carry it.
Besides, it smelled very badly from about 10 years of mouse shit and snake shit that found its way into the cabnet. Practically made us gag our brains out.
As far as I know, the transmitter is still laying there in the field. A boom would be needed to pick it up and load it in a truck to haul it off.
Not related to the topic at hand, but I found out why gorillas sleep. It is because nobody has the balls to wake it up.
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At least you wouldn't have to foot the bill. If they are friends with the power company linemen, maybe they'll simply take it off their hands as a courtesy jesture. 
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