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Chemical health risks
Published in Blanca Jiménez, Joan Rose, Urban Water Security: Managing Risks, 2009
Inés Navarro, Francisco J. Zagmutt
Some chlorinated organic compounds are associated with specific risks to health, because of their persistence and lipophilicity, or as result of their genotoxic or carcinogenic effects. For example, chloromethanes have a central anaesthetic effect, some chlorinated ethanes, chlorinated ethenes and propenes are reported to be carcinogenic (Henschler, 1994), and some chlorinated ethenes are genotoxic. While many chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons, including hexachlorobenzene, PCBs and dioxins, have been classified as nongenotoxic carcinogens (Swindoll et al., 2000).
Environmental Health
Published in Lorris G. Cockerham, Barbara S. Shane, Basic Environmental Toxicology, 2019
Camille J. George, William J. George
PCBs are chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons with the basic structure C12H10−xClx. The number of chlorine substituents on the biphenyl molecule can range from 1 to 10, thereby producing 10 forms of PCBs. There are two hundred and nine theoretical PCB isomers with molecular weights ranging from 154 to 494 Da. The number of chlorine atoms in each isomer determines the classification and nomenclature (Durfee, 1975).
Bentonite addition to a PCB-contaminated sandy soil improved the growth and phytoremediation efficiency of Zea mays L. and Alternanthera sessilis L.
Published in International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2020
Maryam Salimizadeh, Mehran Shirvani, Hossein Shariatmadari, Mohammad Seddiq Mortazavi
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons used in a variety of industries because of their excellent dielectric properties and resistance to heat and chemical degradation (Erickson and Kaley 2011). Despite the ban on the production and application of PCBs in many countries since the early 1970s, the total global production of PCBs has already exceeded 1.3 million tons (Breivik et al. 2002). A significant amount of PCBs has been released into the environment worldwide due to spills and improper transport, storage, and disposal of PCB-containing products or wastes (Nogales et al. 1999). For example, it has been estimated that one-third of the total USA production of PCBs (∼1.4 × 109 lb) has been released into the environment (Hutzinger and Veerkamp 1981). PCBs are also currently released into the environment from poorly maintained landfills containing PCB waste materials and products, municipal and industrial incineration of refuse and wastes, improper dumping of PCB materials into open areas, and leaks from electrical transformers (USEPA 2014). PCBs are extremely persistent in the environment and potentially toxic to humans and other organisms (Carpenter 2006). Exposure to PCBs can contribute to the induction of a variety of adverse health effects in animals and humans, including neurological disorders, immunotoxic effects, reproductive anomalies, and auditory deficits (Powers et al. 2009).
Coupling of bioaugmentation and phytoremediation to improve PCBs removal from a transformer oil-contaminated soil
Published in International Journal of Phytoremediation, 2018
Maryam Salimizadeh, Mehran Shirvani, Hossein Shariatmadari, Mahnaz Nikaeen, Seyedeh Leili Mohebi Nozar
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons that have been manufactured for the use in a wide range of industrial and commercial applications, particularly as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment. PCBs are extremely persistent in the environment and potentially toxic to humans and other organisms (Rahuman et al.2000; Carpenter 2006). Many countries, therefore, have prohibited the production and use of PCBs since 1970s. It has been reported that more than 1.5 million tons of PCBs have been produced world-wide (excluding the USSR and China) between 1929 and 1988 (Koppe and Keys 2001), a significant amount of which has been released into the environment and accumulated in soils and sediments (Sericano et al.1995; Nogales et al.1999). PCBs may be released into the environment through accidental spills, leakage from the old electrical equipment, and improper storage, disposal, and incineration of the products and materials containing PCBs (Ross 2004). Growing concerns over the potential health and environmental risks related to PCBs have highlighted the need for effective clean-up measures of PCB-contaminated soils and sediments.