Contamination of food crops by unintentionally released PCB 47, PCB 51 and PCB 68 in the vicinity of silicone production sites and their relevance for human health assessment.

Since it was shown that silicone rubber production can unintentionally release PCBs, these production sites have become a focus of investigation. The use of the cross-linking agent bis(2,4)-dichlorobenzoylperoxide (2,4-DCBP) can lead to emissions of the PCB congeners PCB 47, PCB 51 and PCB 68 into the environment and cause their accumulation e. g. in food crops. To determine the presence and extent of this uptake, we used the newly developed method dandelion screening. Samples were taken from wild dandelion plants near nine production sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and analysed for PCBs. In some cases, the regional orientation values for the maximum background level (OMB) were exceeded by up to nine times. Overall, background levels were exceeded at seven of the nine sites investigated and mitigation measures were initiated at the production sites. In order to validate the dandelion screening results, kale was exposed, which allowed for a health assessment. A wide-ranging consumption recommendation was then issued in four out of nine study areas. At this point in the investigations, risk reduction measures had already been implemented at all production sites investigated, so it can be assumed that the exposures at sites not yet in focus are significantly greater. This is a globally relevant problem, as 2,4-DCBP is used in many countries.

Significant release of unintentionally produced non-Aroclor polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners PCB 47, PCB 51 and PCB 68 from a silicone rubber production site in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Silicone rubber production using bis(2,4)-dichlorobenzoylperoxide (2,4-DCBP) as cross-linking agent was recently found to emit significant amounts of the non-Aroclor PCB congeners PCB 47, PCB 51 and PCB 68 into ambient air. Emissions were reported initially to be associated with flue gas condensate flakes deposited in the direct vicinity of the production site. These flakes were mainly composed of 2,4-dichlorobenzoic acid and were contaminated with PCBs in the range of 150-300 mg/kg. Analysis of ambient air proved that also substantial gaseous emissions of the specific PCB congeners occur. The PCB congeners PCB 47, PCB 51 and PCB 68 were also found in bulk deposition samples, bio-indicators (dandelion, kale) and soil samples in the vicinity of the production site. Substitution of 2,4-DCBP by other cross-linking agents and mitigation measures led to a significant decrease of environmental impact.

Polychlorinated biphenyls in the surrounding of an e-waste recycling facility in North-Rhine Westphalia: Levels in plants and dusts, spatial distribution, homologue pattern and source identification using the combination of plants and wind direction data.

During this study the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the surrounding of an e-waste recycling facility in North-Rhine Westphalia was analysed. PCB levels were analysed in curly kale, spruce needles, street dusts and dusts. Conspicuously high PCB concentrations in curly kale and spruce needles were found directly northwards of the industrial premises. Furthermore a concentration gradient originating from the industrial premises to the residential areas in direction southwest to northeast was evident. Homologue patterns of highly PCB contaminated dusts and street dusts were comparable to the homologue patterns of PCB in curly kale and spruce needles. This corroborates the suspicion that the activities at the e-waste recycling facility were responsible for the elevated PCB levels in curly kale and spruce needles. The utilization of multiple linear regression of wind direction data and analysed PCB concentrations in spruce needles proved that the e-waste recycling facility caused the PCB emissions to the surrounding. Additionally, this evaluation enabled the calculation of source specific accumulation constants for certain parts of the facility. Consequently the different facility parts contribute with different impacts to the PCB levels in bioindicators.