J. Falandysz et K. Szymczyk, Data on the manufacture, use, inventory and disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Poland, POL J ENV S, 10(3), 2001, pp. 189-193
In Poland there were originally manufactured two technical PCB formulations
of moderate (40%) and high (63.6%) chlorine content. A moderate chlorinate
d PCB mixture called Tarnol (or Chlorowany bifenyl) was synthesized in 1971
-1976 and used as dielectric oil in home manufactured transformers, while t
he highly chlorinated mixture Chlorofen was used as a lubricant and hydraul
ic fluid mainly in mining equipment. There is no data available indicating
when materials and products containing PCBs appeared for the first time in
Poland. In Poland there were also originally manufactured two PCN formulati
ons of low (monochloronaphthalene) and high (tri- to octachloronaphthalene)
chlorine content. Due to historical reasons some materials and equipment c
ontaining PCB/PCT/PCN could reach the present country's territory before 19
45, ie. at the same time when they were available in neighbouring Germany.
Some foreign technical PCB mixtures as well as materials, products and equi
pment containing PCBs were imported from abroad after 1945. After World War
TI PCN formulations were synthesized in Poland. There is not yet a whole c
ountry-based register of materials, products and equipment containing PCBs,
PCTs and/or PCNs. Nevertheless, some preliminary inventory work was done i
n the mid - 1990s and includes the public electric power supply sector. It
has been assessed that roughly 35-50% of capacitors and 1% of transformers
still in use in Poland contain PCBs. An assessed total amount of PCB contam
inated oil in stock or service is up to 17500 t, i.e. 3500-5000 t in capaci
tors, 3000 t in transformers, and 8000-9500 t in other electromagnetic equi
pment such as breaker switches, choking coils, measuring transformers, star
ters, voltage regulators or other machinery. The up-to-date facilities for
safe disposal of PCB wastes are non-existant in Poland. Over the past two y
ears a strategy for management of hazardous wastes has been developed and i
ncludes development of the facilities for thermal decomposition. According
to schedule, environmentally safe PCB waste treatment facilities have to be
installed before 2010.