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Applications of polychlorinated biphenyls

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Abstract

Background, aim, and scope

In the 50 years or so that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were manufactured in the USA and elsewhere, they were widely used in numerous applications because of their desirable properties. The purpose of this paper is to review and summarize in one place the factual information about the uses of PCBs, as well as to correct some misconceptions that have arisen over the years. The focus is on applications in the USA for which there is ample documentation. However, use patterns were probably similar worldwide.

Materials and methods

Review.

Results

PCBs were used primarily as electrical insulating fluids in capacitors and transformers and also as hydraulic, heat transfer, and lubricating fluids. PCBs were blended with other chemicals as plasticizers and fire retardants and used in a range of products including caulks, adhesives, plastics, and carbonless copy paper. In the USA, PCBs were manufactured from 1929 through mid-1977, although many products remained in service for decades after the manufacture of PCBs was terminated. This article reviews the historic uses of PCBs in the USA and discusses, where possible, the relative sales volumes. Especially with smaller volume, military, and third-party uses, documenting a use and/or differentiating between a commercial use and an experimental test batch is not possible.

Discussion

A major contribution of this paper is to differentiate reported commercial applications of PCBs that can be documented from those which cannot. Undocumented uses may include actual minor uses as well as reported applications that are unlikely ever to have been commercialized.

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Notes

  1. All succeeding mentions of Monsanto Company refer to the “old” Monsanto Company, now known as Pharmacia. The company now known as Monsanto was chartered in 2000 and is a manufacturer of agricultural products.

  2. Unreferenced Aroclor and other Monsanto product information (Section 2.4) is derived from personal knowledge, RGK.

  3. For example, http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/aroclor.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyls. Accessed April 2010.

  4. Note that “askarel” is not a trade name and is not capitalized.

  5. The term “trichlorobenzene” is used generically herein for various combinations of tri- and tetrachlorobenzenes used in askarel fluids.

  6. Cumar is a trade name for “Coumarone-indene resin. Can be used in adhesives. Exhibits good resistance to alkalis, dilute acids, and moisture.” http://www.specialchem4adhesives.com/tds/Cumar-LX-509/Neville/529/index.aspx; http://www.nevchem.com/index.asp?pid=02_00_01&pcat=70&prodID=4050 (websites accessed April 2010). There appear to be multiple formulations and there is no implication here that current Cumar formulations contain PCBs.

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Acknowledgment

We wish to thank our wives, Colleen Erickson and Julie Kaley, for giving us the space to pursue this interest. Barbara McKenzie has provided endless research. John H. Craddock has provided extensive insight over the years. We also acknowledge the contributions of the myriad people involved in PCB regulation, research, consulting, remediation, and litigation who make this article timely.

Both authors have consulted for and/or have testified on behalf of various parties in regulatory or litigation matters in which PCBs were at issue. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not represent the views of, nor endorsement by, our current or former employers. No funding was provided from any source.

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  1. New Providence, NJ, USA

    Mitchell D. Erickson

  2. St. Louis, MO, USA

    Robert G. Kaley II

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  1. Mitchell D. Erickson
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Correspondence to Mitchell D. Erickson.

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Responsible editor: Ake Bergman

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Erickson, M.D., Kaley, R.G. Applications of polychlorinated biphenyls. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 135–151 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0392-1

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