Ppm PCBs Research Articles

Japan's ban on the production or import of organic pigments with >50 ppm PCBs

Under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) II, the EU will phase out the use of palm oil for biodiesel feedstock. Environmental concerns are the main reasons for the EU to implement this initiative. This study analyzes the economic and environmental impact of EU import ban to Indonesia at provincial level, using 2 scenarios (a direct and direct-indirect import ban). The analysis is performed using a global-subnational Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) with environmental extensions. This study shows that a direct (combined) import ban of palm oil by the EU will reduce Indonesia's GDP by −0.2 % (−0.26 %) and employment by −0.12 % (−0.54 %) from baseline. At provincial level, Riau, North Sumatra, Lampung, Central Kalimantan and South Kalimantan experience the highest impact on their domestic product (more than −0.5 %). Under a direct import ban, job losses mostly happen in outside Java (96.26 %) and in the oilseeds sector (75.21 %). Low and middle skilled jobs decline more than high skilled jobs and count for 95 % of the total loss. This study also shows that a direct (combined) import ban reduces national GHG emissions by −0.19 % (−0.24 %) and total land use by −0.48 % (−0.6 %). Potential carbon sequestration can be 34.55 (42.27) million tons C equivalent to 149.74 (182.67) million tons CO2e under assumption a full rewilding from the reduction of land use in oilseed. Our study shows that an EU import ban on Indonesian palm oil has relatively small economic and environmental impacts at national and provincial level. Yet, this policy can create potential carbon sequestration that can absorb CO2 by vegetation and soil.

Dosing via gavage or diet for reproduction studies: a pilot study using two fat-soluble compounds—hexachlorobenzene and Aroclor 1254

The choice of a dosing route for in vivo toxicological tests is often dictated by practical constraints. Reproduction studies are particularly challenging in this regard since the determination of no-effect levels and allowable daily intakes from reproduction data encompasses exposure of the dam to the test xenobiotic prior to pregnancy, during gestation and during lactation. The fetus/infant can be exposed to the xenobiotic as well as the dam's metabolic products of the test xenobiotic during gestation and lactation. We initiated a series of two-litter, pilot reproduction studies with Sprague–Dawley and Fischer 344 rats to specifically ascertain the amount of xenobiotic and its metabolites ingested by the nursing neonate on lactation days 4, 7, 12, 17 and 21, when its dam received the xenobiotic via its diet or by gavage. The xenobiotics studied in this initial series of experiments were hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and Aroclor® 1254 (polychlorinated biphenyls; PCBs). The dams were dosed for 28 days, mated to untreated males and then remated approximately 2 weeks after weaning their first litter to a second untreated male. Dietary levels of 10 ppm HCB or 10 ppm PCBs, and gavage doses of 0.9 mg HCB or 0.8 mg PCBs/kg body weight/day were chosen and resulted in similar doses of HCB and PCBs per unit of the body weight of the dam during the premating period. There were no apparent toxicological effects regarding the dam nor were any of the reproduction parameters (feed consumption, dam weight, litter size, pup weight, external anomalies and day 4 viability index) significantly different from control values. Following impregnation, the body weight of the dam increased appreciably during gestation, but its feed consumption increased only slightly. During lactation, the dam's feed consumption increased markedly while its body weight increased slightly. Consequently, when dams received the xenobiotic in their diet they consumed slightly less xenobiotic per unit of body weight during gestation when compared to the gavaged dams, whereas the situation was dramatically reversed during lactation. While the greater consumption of xenobiotic by the dietary-dosed dams during lactation did result in more HCB ( P⩽0.0001 for both litters) and PCBs/metabolites (litter one: P=0.05; litter two: P⩽0.0001) in the suckling neonate's stomach contents in both generations, there was no evidence of any differences between the two litters when each sampling date was assessed separately, except for the day 4—HCB results when the litter one pups had more HCB in their stomachs ( P=0.018). For the PCBs, the F344 neonates were found to have more PCBs in their stomachs (litter one P=0.0015; litter two P=0.002) than the Sprague–Dawley neonates. In addition, the amount of HCB, PCBs and fat in the neonates' stomachs decreased during lactation, as the pups age increased ( P⩽0.035). These preliminary results suggest that analogous amounts of HCB and PCBs given via diet or gavage may not result in similar lactational exposure by the suckling neonate.

Reductive dechlorination of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds in supercritical carbon dioxide

Polychlorinated biphenyl mixtures (Aroclor 1242 and 1248) are dechlorinated efficiently (but not quantitatively) with heated columns of zero-valent metal or bimetallic mixture in a continuous process. Supercritical carbon dioxide transfers the substrates through the reactor and cumulative ten minute fractions of eluate are trapped in hexane during 1 h of continued operation. The extent of dechlorination is influenced appreciably by the identity of the zero-valent (ZV) metal (Fe0 > Ni0 > Zn0 > Cu0), by the temperature (400 » 300 > 200 °C) and pressure (⩽4500 psi) within the reactor column(s) and especially by the composition of the feedstock. Although water is both unnecessary and detrimental to the dechlorination yields, the inclusion of methyl ketone(s) in the feedstock solution appreciably improves the extent of the dechlorination. Two columns (25 × 1 cm) of Ag0/Fe0 or Ag0/Ni0 bimetallic mixture result in a virtually quantitative dechlorination of substrate Aroclor 1242 (≡28 mg min−1). Moreover, during 1 h of continued operation, the dechlorinations are very repeatable. In preliminary treatments of 30% (v/v) acetone–hexane extracts (ca. 600 ppm PCBs) of a spiked sandy loam soil, no chlorinated organics could be detected in the PCB eluting region by GC-MS.

MULTIGENERATIONAL STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMPTION OF PCB-CONTAMINATED CARP FROM SAGINAW BAY, LAKE HURON, ON MINK. 3. ESTROGEN RECEPTOR AND PROGESTERONE RECEPTOR CONCENTRATIONS, AND POTENTIAL CORRELATION WITH DIETARY PCB CONSUMPTION

Mink (Mustela vison) were fed diets containing ocean fish (control diet, 0.0 ppm polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs) or Saginaw Bay carp to provide 0.25, 0.5, or 1.0 ppm PCBs to examine the effect of PCBs on homeostasis of binding sites for ovarian steroid hormones. Ranch-raised mink fed Great Lakes fish contaminated with PCBs, or treated with PCBs directly, have demonstrated reproductive impairment including anovulation, fetal resorption, delayed ovulation, increased gestation, and decreased litter size. Previous studies have demonstrated that estrogen and progesterone levels are unaltered in mink treated with PCBs, suggesting that the effect of PCBs on reproduction is not medi ated through alterations in hormone homeostasis. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the most likely means by which PCBs exert antiestrogenic ability is through a downregulation of the estrogen receptor in normally estrogen-responsive tissues such as liver and uterus. Hepatic and uterine estrogen binding site concentrations were measured in female mink consuming diets containing PCBs for up to 18 mo at up to 1 ppm. Hepatic estrogen binding site concentrations generally decreased with increasing dietary PCB concentrations. Uterine estrogen binding site concentration did not decrease in these animals. Uterine progesterone receptor concentration also did not change with increasing PCB consumption. In total, the response of hepatic and uterine estrogen and uterine progesterone binding sites in mink fed diets containing Saginaw Bay carp suggests that concentrations of PCBs available to uterine tissue may not have been sufficient to decrease uterine estrogen receptor, despite their effect on hepatic estrogen receptor.

Hmong Fishing Activity and Fish Consumption

We examined the fishing activity and fish consumption of Hmong residents of Green Bay, Wisconsin to determine whether their fishing activity was similar to other Wisconsin residents. Previous studies have raised concerns that higher fish consumption by minority groups living in urban areas may increase their health risks from consuming contaminated fish. Using data from a random sample of households representing nearly half of the local Hmong population, we determined that members of 60 percent of Hmong households participated in fishing activity and often traveled to fishing locations 30 to 40 miles beyond their local community. One quarter of the households reporting fishing activity consumed fish at least once per week. The most commonly reported species caught, white bass, was captured twice as often as the next most frequently reported species. Since contaminant levels in white bass vary widely (0 to 4.8 ppm PCBs in 1992) depending on the fishing location, some Green Bay Hmong residents may be consuming fish in excess of recommended state health advisories.

Survey and evaluation of contaminants in earthworms and in soils derived from dredged material at confined disposal facilities in the Great Lakes Region

Soils derived from dredged material were collected, together with earthworms from nine confined disposal facilities located in the Great Lakes Region. These samples were analyzed for 18 elements, 11 organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and 24 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The concentrations detected in earthworms were evaluated in terms of their potential hazard to wildlife, which for the sake of the evaluation were assumed to prey entirely either on earthworms or on other soil invertebrates having similar concentrations. The soil concentrations (dry wt.) of the contaminants of greatest concern were <1.9 to 32 ppm Cd, <0.053 to 0.94 ppm Hg, 4.6 to 550 ppm Pb, and <0.1 to 1.0 ppm PCBs. The concentrations in earthworms (dry wt., ingested soil included) were as high as 91 ppm Cd, 1.6 ppm Hg, 200 ppm Pb, and 1.8 ppm PCBs. Based on laboratory toxicity studies of relatively sensitive species, and on concentration factors calculated from the earthworm and soil data, we estimated that lethal or serious sublethal effects on wildlife might be expected at concentrations of 10 ppm Cd, 3 ppm Hg, 670 ppm Pb, and 1.7 ppm PCBs in alkaline surface soils derived from dredged material. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in earthworms were well below those in soil.

Reproduction and Organochlorine Contaminants in Terns at San Diego Bay

-In 1981, we studied Caspian Terns (Sterna caspia) and Elegant Terns (S. elegans) nesting at the south end of San Diego Bay, California. Randomly collected Caspian Tern eggs contained significantly (P<0.05) higher mean concentrations of DDE (9.30 ppm) than did Elegant Tern eggs (3.79 ppm). DDE may have had an adverse effect on Caspian Tern reproduction but the relationship between hatching success and DDE concentration was not clear. We found an unusually high incidence of chicks (4.6%) that died in hatching. Caspian Tern eggs that broke during incubation or contained chicks that died while hatching had shells that were significantly (P<0.05) thinner than eggs collected before 1947, and DDE was associated with reductions in shell thickness index (i.e., lowered eggshell density). Fish brought to Caspian Tern chicks contained up to 3.0 ppm DDE and 1.1 ppm PCBs. Organochlorine concentrations in brains of terns found dead were not high enough to suggest such poisoning as a cause of death.

Development of a process for PCB removal from triarylphosphate hydraulic fluids by vacuum distillation

A method of separating PCBs (Aroclor 1242) from a triaryl phosphate ester based hydraulic fluid that yields a fluid suitable for reuse in an aluminum die casting foundry was identified in a laboratory study. Experiments were done to determine the separation efficiency and product qualities resulting from the use of vacuum, steam, and azeotropic distillation, solvent extraction, foam fractionation, filtration, and adsorption techniques. Vacuum distillation was found to remove over 98% of the PCBs with recoveries of fluid, containing less than 50 ppm PCBs, of 90% at 5 mmHg vacuum, and 85% at 30 mmHg vacuum. The PCBs (bp 225-365/sup 0/C) were distilled from the hydraulic fluid (bp>400/sup 0/C). The product met industry standards for acid number and viscosity required for reuse. The data needed to design a 5 gallon/min pilot plant for the vacuum distillation of PCBs from hydraulic fluid in storage at an aluminum die casting foundry were also obtained.

Predictability of PCBs in carp harvested in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron.

Samples of carp flesh were analyzed for PCBs, dieldrin, and DDT using a gas chromatograph equipped with a Ni/sup 63/ electron capture detector. Of 211 carp obtained commercially from Saginaw Bay, none exceeded the current tolerance of 5 ppm PCBs in edible fillet. Prediction equations were calculated which accounted for 68-90 percent of PCB in many groups. The carp from 2 to 4 kg were less predictable as to their level of PCBs as were female carp or those caught in the fall. The percentage fat was an important component of these prediction equations. Length of fish correlated better for fish 4 to 5.5 kg. Correlations were highest for spring and summer catches and for males. Thus size alone could be a reasonably good predictor of PCBs caught during the spring and summer but is less so the rest of the year.

Correlation of PCB body burden with behavioral toxicology in monkeys

Eight monkeys fed 2.5 ppm PCB in their daily diet conceived, delivered and nursed five infants, three of which survived past weaning at four months of age. PCB residues in fat in the surviving infants at 8, 10 1 2 , and 23 months of age declined linearly when plotted as log concentration versus time (first order clearance), and these functions extrapolated to presumed peak PCB levels of 21, 114, and 123 μg/g fat (ppm) at 4 months of age. Behavioral tests on these three infants and four normal controls revealed hyperlocomotor activity at 6 and 12 months of age correlated with peak PCB body burdens. Higher peak PCB body burdens also were correlated with increased errors in five of nine learning tasks conducted between 8 and 24 months of age. Point estimates of zero-effect levels of PCB body burdens ranged around 21 ppm, although it was clear that even the monkey carrying only 21 ppm PCBs at four months of age exhibited some behavioral deficits persisting through the final testing at 24 months of age.

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Cetaceans

DDT, PCBs, chlordane, and dieldrin levels were measured in blubber of 18 cetaceans, including humpback, sperm, dense-beaked, Atlantic, and Pacific pilot whales, and five species of dolphins. All had significant residue levels, ranging from 1.1 to 1023 ppm ΣDDT (wet weight basis), and 0.7–147 ppm PCBs. These levels are high enough to justify efforts to reduce PCB contamination of the oceans and a continued ban on widespread use of DDT.

Residues of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Some Commercially Produced Canadian Marine Oils

Herring oils produced in the late 1960s from Gulf of St. Lawrence fish generally contained 7–17 ppm DDT complex, 0.1 ppm dieldrin, and up to 11 ppm PCBs. In spring, oils were richer in residues than in autumn. Seal oils contained up to 8 ppm DDT complex, and about 4 ppm PCBs, but no dieldrin. Residue levels showed no marked change from the mid-1950s to mid-1960s. North Atlantic whale oils contained up to 40 ppm DDT complex, and (in a few samples only) about 7 ppm PCBs; no dieldrin was found. Some Antarctic whale oils produced about 1950 contained 0.1 ppm DDT complex and no detectable PCBs.