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English Summary 

The group of chemicals PCB was used in substantial amounts in Denmark, particularly in capacitors and other electrical equipment. This investigation, conducted by COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, has included more than 1,300 of the most probable holders of PCB containing equipment. The investigation showed that only modest amount of PCB-containing equipment was in use. A small amount is probably still in use, however, mainly in capacitors for power factor correction and in fluorescent lamp fittings and may be a transformer which has escaped notice.

Background and objectives

By the end of 1998, the Danish EPA has released a new regulation on PCBs. Hence the EPA desired an updated status of the amounts of PCB currently in circulation with electrical equipment in the Danish society.

The history of PCB

PCB is a group of chlorinated organic chemicals, the so-called polychlorinated biphenyls. They are not formed naturally, but have been synthesised industrially since the first decades of this century. No production has taken place in Denmark, though.

In Denmark, like in the rest of the world, PCB has been used for a number of technical purposes. PCBs are highly stabile compounds, good heat conductors, and excellent electrical isolators (dielectrics). Furthermore they are fire retardants, all in all making them technically suitable for use in electrical equipment prone to be overheated in use or in case of malfunctioning. PCB for technical uses has only been produced and sold as oil-like liquid mixtures.

PCB has been used in Denmark in capacitors of virtually all sizes, as well as in large oil-cooled transformers for high voltages. Additionally quite some PCB has been used as a plastizicer in paints, sealant for houseconstruction, sealant for sealed glazing units, plastics, etc. Even in carbonless paper, PCB has been used for a period.

PCB is bioaccumulated in the environment; in other words it is concentrated through the food chains. Because of its chemical stability, its degradability in nature is very low. PCB has been classified "probably carcinogenic to humans" by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC: 2A). Furthermore, it is toxic for humans and in the environment. Another disadvantage is the possible formation of the highly toxic compounds chlorinated dibenzofuranes, when PCB is burned.

Since the mid 1970'ies, the use of PCB has therefore been restricted in Denmark. In 1977 the so-called "open" applications of PCB was banned; that is the uses in paints, sealant, carbonless paper etc. In 1986, this was followed by a total ban of the sale of PCB and PCB-containing products in Denmark. Existing equipment could be used in a transition period (ending in 1995 for the most important equipment types). In the new regulations of December 1998, deadlines on the disposal or decontamination of existing equipment with PCB have been posed. For transformers and large capacitors, the deadline was January 1 2000.

This investigation

This investigation is based on data from the literature and interviews with technical experts in the area, as well as on questionnaires sent to most probable owners of PCB transformers and capacitors. The investigations and the reporting has been carried out in 1998 and 1999 by Jakob Maag and Carsten Lassen, COWI Consulting Engineers and Planners AS, for the Danish Environmental Protection Agency. The work has been reviewed by a steering committee with representatives from The Danish EPA and COWI.

The investigation covers PCB in electrical appliances only. Uses in paints, sealant, etc. are not described.

Main conclusions

Questionnaires send to more than 1,300 holders of transformers and large capacitors show that PCB containing equipment is no longer in use in the power distribution network. In total 23 consumers of electricity answered that they were holders of PCB-containing equipment or equipment that may hold PCB. All 23 have subsequent to the inventory disposed of the equipment to Kommunekemi.

It cannot be excluded that a small amount of PCB-containing large capacitors and maybe a few PCB-containing transformers are still in use by enterprises. It would be practical impossible to further identified this equipment. However, electricians should still be aware of PCB-containing equipment and take care that it is disposed of as hazardous waste if it emerge.

Some PCB may still be in use in capacitors in ballasts of old fluorescent lamps and in white goods of more than 20 year.

Results

Information on the historical consumption based on an investigation initiated by the Danish EPA in 1983 is shown in Table 1. At that time the sales of PCB equipment had virtually stopped in Denmark.

Electrical appliances originally contributed with about half of the total accumulated turnover of PCB in Denmark (estimated at 600-1100 metric tonnes PCB of a total of 1100-2000 tonnes). The rest was used with paints, sealant, carbonless paper etc.

PCB has only to a small extent been used for transformers in Denmark and only for high voltage purposes in the power distribution network, as well as for a few other purposes such as foundries and cranes. Smaller transformers in electrical devices, machines etc. has been dry transformers, meaning not oil-cooled. On the basis of this investigation it is deemed that only a few, if any, PCB-transformers remain.

Table 1
Estimated added up consumption of PCB with electrical and electronic products in Denmark 1950-1983.

Estimated added up consumption of PCB in Denmark, tonnes ¹⁾

450-750

175-325

30-100

?? ³⁾

655-1,175

All available information on large capacitors indicate, that a limited volume of PCB may still be in use in capacitors for power factor correction, but it is not possible explicitly to point out where they are.

Power factor correction is a measure to limit the effects on the power distribution network of the so-called "blind current" generated by electromotors, transformers and (other) capacitors. Power factor correction is obligatory for large-scale industrial consumers, and as such, it has resulted in the wide distribution of PCB capacitors in the Danish society. Among many other places, they have been used in foundries, in other metal industries, in the fish processing industries, in sawmills and other large woodprocessing industries, in plastic processing, industrial laundries, lighting systems of stadiums, hospitals, waste water treatment plants, etc.

The maximum number of large PCB capacitors in use in Denmark in the beginning of the 1980'ies was estimated at around 50.000. The use of large capacitors has been prohibited in Denmark by January 1 1995, and the equipment has to be disposed of by January 1 2000. Following a major information campaign launched by the Danish EPA and the Danish Institute of Fire Technology (among others) in the mid eighties, and a continuing search by the suppliers of capacitors, the majority of the PCB capacitors are substituted today. In modern capacitors for power factor correction, the isolator is a thin plastic foil, instead of the former PCB-soaked paper.

In the present inventory 19 consumers of electricity has answered that they were holders of PCB-containing capacitors. The inventory covers more than 1,300 of the most probable holders of the equipment and the result indicate that only a small amount of PCB-containing large capacitors are still in use.

In three rounds in total 1,310 questionnaires have been send to enterprises of the power distributing network, harbours, waste treatments plants, institutions and industrial enterprises. About 92% has answered the inquiry. It should be noted that by the first round the enterprises had no obligation to answer the inquiry and by the second and third round they only had the obligation if the answer was affirmative.

The total PCB volume identified by the inventory is 3.3 tonnes. Of these a single enterprise holding both PCB-containing transformers and capacitors accounted for 2.5 tonnes.

Only little information is available regarding the content of PCB in electronics. The available information indicates however, that PCB is by and large out of the turnover of electronics today.

Information obtained from the national Danish hazardous waste treatment plant, Kommunekemi, seem to confirm that virtually all high voltage PCB transformers seem to have been disposed of today, whereas a limited amount of PCB capacitors is still delivered for treatment. In 1999 about 50 large capacitors were delivered for treatment. The main part of these is presumed to be equipment identified in this inventory.

The majority of small PCB capacitors in fluorescent light ballasts etc. is deemed to have been disposed of in the regular solid waste streams, ending up in landfills and waste incineration plants. In 1998 a new Statutory Order on treatment of waste of electric and electronic products coming into force by December 1 1999 was adopted. The Statutory Order has brought along that the municipalities today are active in informing the public that all waste of electronic and electric equipment has to be separately collected. Consequently it must be expected that any PCB containing components of fluorescent lamps and electronics that may arise from now on will be treated separately.

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