Document Dvy4kNXpYLM7JedgzZ14mkQOa

\'i Use of askarei to stop when substitute gains acceptance Production of polychlorinated bi phenyl (PCB) dielectric insulating fluids will be terminated by the Mon santo Co. as soon as acceptable alter nate dielectric fluids have been ac cepted for use by the electrical industry, according to & recent an nouncement by F. J. Fitzgerald, man aging director of Monsanto Industrial Chemical Co. ` "' The PCB insulating fluid, com monly called askarei, has been em ployed in transformers, capacitors, and other closed electrical systems for indoor use because of its unique fire- resistant and dielectric character istics. However, in recent years the Environmental Protection Agency, other governmental departments, and independent researchers have concluded that the PCB material when released into the environment is a toxic contaminant that does not degrade. Instead, it builds up in the biological food chain to cause illness and death to birds, mammals and man. In response to this problem, Mon santo has established disposal proce dures for PCB fluid, and the Arm hat developed a special high-temperature incinerator that completely destroys the fluid by burning it at over 2000F. This service and other technical as sistance is available to their custom ers on a continuing basis. Additionally, the firm Has been working for a number of years on a replacement fluid that is nontoxic, with a view toward replacing the PCB materia] with a suitable substi tute product without creating an other hazard and without causing a reduction in electric power capabili ties. Other industrial Arms working on a suitable dielectric fluid replacement include Dow Corning, which has sev eral years of practical experience with a silicone fluid for transformers that they believe is a functionally adequate alternative to askarei. Along with other major chemical 19S producers, Dow Coming does not be lieve that the electrical industry can possibly make a change to an ecolog ically safe dielectric liquid overnight and proposes that the replacement procedure should be established in a series of logical steps. The flrst step would be a large-scale fleld qualification program, with transformers installed in many dif ferent geographical locations under many kinds of use and with differing environmental conditions. Such a wide-range testing program would provide the statistical data needed to assure the industry and government that no new risks are being incurred. The collective experience of many users would also provide a data bank for future transformer designs. The EPA, which made an abortive attempt to set tight PCB pollution rules in 1973, has stated that total elimination of PCBs would not be sought without considering the inter ests of consumers, industry business patterns, and related international competition. The near-term objective is to end production and importation of PCBs and products containing PCBs, and the immediate goal is to prevent the greatest number of PCB discharges into the environment- 25*6 ELECTRICAL CORSTKUCTIWU lUOTBIMICE MO. 65,400 MAY I cutho 1976 tgACOIft) HOMS 03 72 72