PCBs (polychlorinated biphenols)
Chemical symbol/abbreviations:
PCBs
Solubility in water:
PCBs are non-polar and are insoluble in water. PCBs are transferred into aquatic environments on the surfaces of particulates typically.[i]
Related constituents:
Adverse human impacts:
Adverse impacts on the environment:
| Freshwater – Aquatic Organisms (Total Recoverable; pH 6.5-9.0) | Saltwater– Aquatic Organisms | Human Health for the consumption of | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acute (µg/L) | Chronic (µg/L) | Acute (µg/L) | Chronic (µg/L) | Water + Organism (µg/L) | Organism Only (µg/L) |
| na | 0.014 | na | 0.03 | 0.000064 | 0.000064 |
Background:
Bioaccumulation also plays a transport mechanism within the food-chain.
Polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) in Stormwater FAQs
PCBs describe a broad range of man-made industrial products and chemicals used for hundreds of industrial and commercial products. PCBs are non-polar and are relatively insoluble in water.[v]
PCBs are released into the environment by the improper handling and disposal of wastes containing PCBs. Because PCBs are highly insoluble in water, they are typically transferred into aquatic and terrestrial environments through surface water flows attached solid particulate matter.[ix] Contaminated soils and debris can then be ingested by wildlife, causing bioaccumulation to be a transporting mechanism within the food-chain. Due to its extreme toxicity to humans, it has been banned in the U.S. for production since 1979. Prior to it being banned, it was primarily used in electrical, heat transfer, and hydraulic equipment and had varying appearances from thin, light-colored liquids to black waxy solids.[viii]
PCBs should be removed from stormwater discharge because they are highly carcinogenic. The most carcinogenic components of PCB mixtures tend to bioaccumulate in fish and other animals and bind to sediments.[vi] Humans ingest PCBs through the consumption of contaminated fish and other animals. In humans, PCBs can cause skin changes, thymus gland problems, immune deficiencies, reproductive and nervous system difficulties and increase the risk of cancer.[iv] PCBs have been shown to also cause cancer in animals, in addition to serious effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system, and other health effects.[v]
Enhanced, passive media filtration and advanced polishing can be used to effectively remove PCBs from stormwater prior to discharge. If further reduction is necessary to remove PCBs, advanced polishing technologies can be used. Both types of BMPs combined in a treatment train will remove PCBs from stormwater prior to discharge to help facilities meet benchmarks or NALs. The Aquip passive media filter and the Purus polisher combined offer an advanced level of PCB removal from stormwater. Learn more about our stormwater media filtration and polishing technologies.
Stormwater Treatment to Remove PCBs
The Aquip® industrial stormwater filtration system uses an innovative enhanced media filtration process to effectively remove soluble and insoluble aluminum and other metals as well as oils, suspended solids, organics and nutrients from industrial stormwater runoff.
The Purus® Stormwater Polishing System provides the most advanced level of stormwater treatment and is designed for challenging stormwater conditions or targeted pollutant removal.Footnotes
[i] N. K. Nagpal, British Columbia Ministry of the Env’t, Water quality criteria for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): forms and transformations in the environment (1992) available at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality (last visited July 25, 2019).
[ii] U.S. EPA, Dioxins and Furans, https://www.epa.gov/dioxin (last visited July 25, 2019).
[iii] U.S. EPA, Dioxins and Furans, https://www.epa.gov/dioxin (last visited July 25, 2019).
[iv] U.S. EPA, List of Contaminants and Their MCLs, http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html (last visited July 25, 2019).
[v] U.S. EPA, Health Effects of PCBs https://www.epa.gov/hw (last visited July 25, 2019).
[vi] U.S. EPA, Health Effects of PCBs https://www.epa.gov/hw (last visited July 25, 2019).
[vii] U.S. EPA, National Recommended Water Quality Criteria, https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/water-topics (last visited July 25, 2019).
[viii] U.S. EPA, Basic Information – Polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) https://www.epa.gov/pcbs (last visited July 25, 2019).
[ix] N. K. Nagpal, British Columbia Ministry of the Env’t, Water quality criteria for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): forms and transformations in the environment (1992) available at https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality (last visited July 25, 2019).
[x] U.S. EPA, Basic Information – Polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) https://www.epa.gov/pcbs (last visited July 25, 2019).