PCB-silver+class+'09

Ricky Pham & Kai Farrelltoc

=Abstract= PCB is an acronym for Polychlorinated Biphenyl and the chemical formula for PCB is C12H10-xClx. The appearance of PCB can be an odorless, tasteless, and clear to almost pale- yellow appearance. PCB is commonly used as a dielectric fluid and capacitors; it’s also an ingredient that is used in common items. Some items that contain PCB would be pesticides, cutting oils, paints, and a handful of other things but those are just some basic stuff that we use that contains PCB.

Humans can get PCB from some animals if they eat it, because the animals have been able to have PCB in them. Also health effects in people that have contact with PCB would be rash and Chloracne. As well as change in blood and urine with some liver problems. Some ways in which it can specifically affect the human body are that it can cause Chloracne which is pretty much acne but it can be on the cheek, behind the ears, near the armpit region, and as well as the groin region. PCB is also related with specific kinds of cancer like liver cancer and biliary tract. A human body processes that is affected by this chemical is if PCB interacts with AhR (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor) then it may disrupt the cell function by altering the transcription of genes.

Some of the environmental implications of PCB are that it can be, and has been in the past, released into rivers, when this happens, it kills many of the fish and other aquatic life. Many people who live in the states where this happens who eat fish get to be very sick. When PCB degrades it forms byproducts such as Viton, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, and Neoprene. It does not really degrade the way most other chemicals do. It is a very stable compound. It can be destroyed by chemical, thermal, and biochemical processes, but it is very difficult to totally destroy it. It can be combusted under extreme and carefully controlled conditions. The current regulations require that PCBs are burnt at a temperature of 1200°C for at least two seconds, in the presence of fuel oil and excess oxygen. Products that contain PCB are various, like paint, cutting oils, and pesticides. So those products are mainly just chemicals mixed together in a bottle, so in a nutshell it’s just a bunch of chemicals in a bottle.

My opinion (Kai’s opinion) about PCB is that it is quite dangerous and should not be used. If it is not easy to dispose of it than it is defiantly not safe. It has made to many people sick and dead in the past and if something is not done about it, it will continue to do this to people. I remember learning that in the United States chemicals do not get banned until they are proven dangerous and in other countries chemicals stay banned until they are proven safe. I think that America should use that system as well because with the system that it uses now it can be too late for people when the chemical gets banned. I always say “It’s better to be safe than sorry.” = = =Background Info= We use it from the various items it’s held in. We use it when we’re using caulking to repair a bathroom or so. Even when we put antifreeze in a car, we’re using PCB. Specific products that it’s in include paint, cement, coating of electrical wiring, caulking, etc. Has various reasons, it is a antifreeze for cars and also is found in caulking. PCB is used in a bunch of items that are commonly used today. It is used pretty much all over the world.

=Health Implications/Synthesis= Some dangers associated with this chemical are that humans can get this from some animals if they consume the animal, because the animals have been able to have PCB in them. Also health effects in people that have contact with PCB would be rash and Chloracne. As well as change in blood and urine with some liver problems. It can cause Chloracne which is pretty much acne but it can be on the cheek, behind the ears, near the armpit region, and as well as the groin region. PCB is also related with specific kinds of cancer like liver cancer and biliary tract. A human body process that is affected by this chemical is that if it interacts with AhR (Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor) then it may disrupt the cell function by altering the transcription of genes. Human systems that are affected by this chemical are mainly just the health system generally, PCB can cause cancer and Chloracne but that doesn’t specify which or where it may hit. So just generally, it can damage your health. This chemical is made/refined by merely mixing the correct chemicals to get the product needed like paints, cutting oils, hydraulic fluids, and sealants. Well products that contain PCB are various, like paint, cutting oils, and pesticides. So those products are mainly just chemicals mixed together in a bottle, so in a nutshell it’s just a bunch of chemicals in a bottle. Chemical reaction: C12H10-xClx

=Environmental Implications= One way in which this chemical has specifically interacted with the environment was that it was once released into the Hudson River, when this happened, it killed many of the fish and other aquatic life in this river. Many people who were living in the state of New York who were eating fish were getting very sick. When this chemical degrades it forms byproducts such as Viton, polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, and Neoprene. PCB does not really degrade the way most other chemicals do. It is a very stable compound. It can be destroyed by chemical, thermal, and biochemical processes, but it is very difficult to totally destroy it. It can be combusted under extreme and carefully controlled conditions. The current regulations require that PCBs are burnt at a temperature of 1200°C for at least two seconds, in the presence of fuel oil and excess oxygen.

=Summary= PCBs can be used as coolants and insulating fluids for transformers and capacitors, plasticizers in paints and cements, stabilizing additives in flexible PVC coatings of electrical wiring and electronic components, pesticide extenders, cutting oils, reactive flame retardants, lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids, sealants, adhesives, etc. Most of these things are overall inexpensive. However, the prices do vary. Everybody has these things in their homes and when they get disposed of, all of that PCB just gets released into the world. That’s how it ends up in places like rivers. There is always an alternative for these things and why not use the safer kind. In other countries chemicals stay banned until they are proven safe. I think that America should use that system as well because with the system that it uses now it can be too late for people when the chemical gets banned. PCB mostly causes sickness and death.

=PSA=

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