• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2013

Objective: This study was carried out in order to estimate atmospheric Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations using pine needles as a passive air sampler (PAS) in urban, semi-rural and rural regions. Methods: One-year old pine needles were collected to analyze their PCBs concentrations ($C_p$, pg/g dry) at the end of December. PCBs concentrations in ambient air ($C_a$, $pg/m^3$) were calculated with the $logK_{oa}-log(C_p/C_a)$) model. Results: PCBs concentrations in ambient air ($C_a$) were high in the order of urban, semi-rural and rural regions. The lower-chlorinated PCBs showed a higher concentration in ambient air. However, the distribution of PCBs congeners was similar in all three regions. Correlation between $C_a$ and the population density of the three regions was significant ($R^2$=0.9834, p<0.001). Conclusions: It was concluded that although the production and use of PCBs was banned in the1970s, PCBs are currently being produced unintentionally by human activities.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.179-188
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• 2009

The dry deposition fluxes of particulate polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured along with their mass size distributions at Seoul and Incheon in fall in 1999. The dry deposition fluxes of PCBs were in the range of $16.7{\sim}62.2ng/m^2/day$. The ambient concentrations of particulate PCBs were in the range of 0.07 to $0.20ng/m^3$. Generally, the mass size distribution of particulate PCBs shows bi-modal distribution. The mass fraction of PCBs in the fine particle fraction ($D_p<2.1 {\mu}m$) was over than 55% of the total PCBs concentrations. It was found that Seoul and Incheon were not the major source of PCBs emissions in Korea. Based on the comparison with the measurement data in summer, 1999, it is likely that both the dry deposition fluxes and ambient particulate PCBs concentrations were not site-specific.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.272-281
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• 1995

The residual Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) in the sediment of the Kumho River basin were measured because the Nakdong River was considered to be affected by the environmental quality of Kumho River. PCBs in the sediment were chlorinated and converted into Decachlorinated biphenyl(DCB) which showed the single peak in the GC-ECD chromatogram. The detectable concentrations of PCBs was 0.5ng/g in the sediment. PCBs in the 21 sediment samples was of Kumho River located at 7.5km from conjunction of Nakdong River were not detected from 100 samples. 49% of samples was showed lower than 50ng/g, and 9% did more than 400ng/g. The mean of PCBs concentrations was 131ng/g. The means of COD and organic carbon were 14.5mg/g and 3.41%, respectively. The relationship between PCBs were concentration and the distance from conjunction with Nakdong River was not significant. The concentration of PCBs were varied with the depth of the sediment down to the 250cm depth. The concentrations of PCBs in the depth 0-20cm and 50-90cm were higher than the mean concentration of PCBs. Along the cross of the stream, the concentrations of PCBs were 142ng/g at the center and 126 and 131ng/g at the river sides.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.E1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2006

Ambient particle size distributions of PCBs and their dry deposition fluxes were measured at a site in Seoul to quantify dry deposition fluxes of PCBs and size characteristics of PCBs in the air, and to estimate ambient concentrations of gaseous PCBs and dry deposition fluxes. The dry deposition plate was used to measure dry deposition fluxes of particulate mass and PCBs and a cascade impactor and rotary impactor were used to measure ambient particle size distributions for small ($D_p<9{\mu}m$) and large ($D_p>9{\mu}m$) particles, respectively. Six sample sets were collected from April to July 1999. The fluxes of particulate total PCBs (the sum of 43 congeners) ranged from 160 to $607ng\;m^{-2}day^{-1}$. The size distribution of total PCBs was bimodal with two peaks in small particle size ($D_p{\sim}0.6\;and\;6{\mu}m$, respectively) and, thus, mass concentration being dominant in small particles. The mean particulate PCBs concentration was $6.9{\mu}g$ PCBs/g. The concentrations of PCB homologues in the gas phase were estimated based on the particle/gas partition coefficient ($K_p$) with the measured values of particulate PCBs in this study and they were comparable to those observed in other previous studies. Dry deposition fluxes were estimated by calculating dry deposition velocities.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.1499-1507
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• 2011

Practical disposal of transformer insulation oil laden with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) by a chemical treatment has been studied in field work. The transformer insulation oil containing PCBs was treated by the required amounts of PEG (polyethylene glycol) and KOH, along with different reaction conditions such as temperatures and times. The reaction of PEG with PCBs under basic condition produces arylpolyglycols, the products of nucleophilic aromatic substitution. Removal efficiencies of PCBs in insulation oil before and after chemical treatment were examined. The removal efficiency of PCBs was very low at lower temperatures of 25 and $50^{\circ}C$. Under the reaction condition of PEG 600/KOH/$100^{\circ}C$/2hr, removal efficiency of PCBs was approximately 70%, showing completely removal of PCBs containing 7~9 chlorines on biphenyl frame which appear later than PCB IUPAC Number 183 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptaCB) in retention time of GC/ECD. However, when increasing the reaction temperature and time to $150^{\circ}C$ and 4 hours, removal efficiency of PCBs reached 99.99% without any formation of PCDDS/PCDFs during the process. Such reaction conditions were verified by several official analytical institutions. In studying the reaction of PEG with PCBs, it confirmed that the process of chemical treatment led to less chlorinated PCBs through a stepwise process with the successive elimination of chlorines.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.1 s.88
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• pp.46-52
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• 2006

Results for the concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (total PCBs) and the PCB profile with different types of leaves from four coniferous trees (pine needles) at the same sampling site are presented. Concentrations of total PCBs detected in pine needles were very similar among them regardless of their different types of leaves, which means a possibility for bio-monitoring regional contamination of PCBs. Correlation coefficients(r) of PCB congeners between pine needles were very significant (r>0.97, p<0.001), which showed that PCB congener's patterns of each pine needle were similar. Profiles of PCBs detected in pine needles showed correlation with gaseous phase PCBs in air, otherwise not with particle phase PCBs in air. Therefore, it was estimated that dry gaseous deposition was a principal pathway of PCBs accumulation in pine needles. In addition, although we analyse a different types of leaves in pine needles at the same region, they can be used to identify regional contamination patterns of PCBs for larger regions.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.19 no.E1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

The soil concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured at 12 sites in Ansung, Kyonggi province, Korea. Correlation coefficient (r) between total PCBs and organic matter content (OM) was significant (r=0.562, p< 0.05). It suggests that organic matter may be a key factor of soil absorption of PCBs. The PCB concentrations of low chlorinated congeners with high vapor pressure were relatively abundant in air but high chlorinated congeners with low vapor pressure were mainly dominated by soil. The results indicated the influence of physicochemical properties of PCBs such as vapor pressure, octanol - air partition coefficient ( $K_{OA}$ ). The calculated soil/air fugacity quotients suggested that the soil may be a source of heavier molecular PCBs (>penta-CBs) to the atmosphere, where lighter molecular PCBs appear to be affected by a movement from air to soil, especially tetra-CBs. Therefore, PCB homologs with low vapor pressure might have been influenced by revolatilization from soil.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2001

Polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) are halogenated aromatic compounds with the empirical formula $C_{12}$ $H_{10-n}$C $l_{n}$(n=1~10), and are a mixture of possible 209 different chlorinated congeners. PCBs were widely used as dielectric fluids for capacitors and transformers, plasticizers, lubricant inks and paint addirives. Once released into the environment, PCBs persist for years because they are so resistant to degradation. In addition to their persistence in the environment, PCBs in ecological food chains undergo biomagnification because of their high degree of lipophilicity. In 1970s, the worldwide production of PCBs was ceased and the import of PCBs was prohibited since 1983 in Korea. In spite of these actions, many PCBs seems to be still in use. The environmental load of PCBs will continue to be recycled through air, land, water, and the biosphere for decades to come. This study was conducted to measure the concentrations of PCBs in the serum samples of 112 women by GC/MSD and GC/ECD. The main results of this study were as follows. 1. PCBs were detected in all samples. The mean $\pm$SD levels of PCBs in the serum were 3.613$\pm$0.759 ppb, and median were 3.828 ppb. 2. The correlation coefficients of the concentrations of 13 PCB congeners were from minimum, 0.7913 to maximum, 0.9985, and all was significant(p=0.0001). The correlation coefficient between the concentrations of PCBs and p,p'-DDE was 0.9641(p=0.0001). 3. There was a positive association between age and PCBs' concentrations (simple linear regression ; $R^2$=0.86, $\beta$=0.08023, p<0.001). 4. There was a positive association between total lipids in the serum and PCBs' concentrations (simple linear regression ; $R^2$=0.7058, $\beta$=0.00486, p<0.001). 5. For possible predictors of PCBs and p,p' -DDE levels in the serum, age adjusted model (Y=$\beta$$_{0}$+$\beta$$_1$age+ $B_2$X) was applied. For BMI, major residential area, wether to eat caught fish by angling, where to eat caught fish by angling(by parents in the past), fish consumption, meat consumption, meat consumption, and dairy consumption, there was no association. For total conception frequency and lactation frequency and lactation period, there was negative association.ion.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.201-211
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• 2008

The treatment efficiency of PCBs containing wastes has been investigated. The samples treated by electron beam and de-chlorination method were analyzed to verify the byproducts before treatment and after treatment. In the treated samples by electron beam irradiation, PCBs were not detected by comparing the peak matching using the Korean official waste test method. On the other hand, PCBs congeners were detected by analyzing individual isotope method using HRGC/HRMS. Most of PCB congeners in waste were decomposed to 3-chlorobiphenyls, lower chlorinated congener produced during the treatment of electron beam. In the chemical dechlorination treatment, it was found that the concentrations of PCBs in treated samples were lower than those of regulation criteria in Waste & POPs management law and the after treatment concentration were satisfied to the regulation criteria. Also, dioxins were not observed after the physio-chemical treatment processes of PCBs containing wastes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.49-54
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• 1997

PCBs are classified as B2 (Probable human carcinogen) based on the induction of hepatocellular carcinomas in rats and mice from IRIS (Integrated Risk Information System). About 20 years ago, PCBs were phased out for electrical use in Korea, but PCBs were continuously used in the other field. Lately, there has been increasing concern on possible effects of contaminated soil to the other environment and human health. The purpose of this study is to determine PCBs level in soil at some site and to assess the human exposure doses according to exposure routes for people living within sites which expected to be exposed to PCBs. Pollution level of PCBs on the site was monitored using gas liquid chromatography. To assess the transport of PCBs in soil to plant and to air, various transfer factors(diffusion coefficient, bioconcentration factor etc.) were considered in simple calculations. To calculate the residential exposure doses by routes, some equations were considered using assumption value, which define inhalation, ingestion (soil, plant) and derreal uptake pathway. Computated results will be used as risk assessment information for human health evaluation on contaminated soil.