Document gaZyGNKdbq421GD7DRyx7pqoq

ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS OF PCB'b Doris J. Ruopp Vincent J. DoCarlo U.S. Environmental Frotection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 -' ABSTRACT Since . the 1966 discovery in Sweden that chlorinated biphenyls were widely dispersed In the environment their environmental. levels have been the subject ' of nany studies with the results indicating that TCB's can have udverse ecological and toxicological effects. However, a well planned ' national approach to environmental sampling has not been attempted thus hindering making a national asccsscent of the PCB problem. This paper reviews the levels that are currently being found in. the environment. The data from the national surveys show that a great deal of effort has been expended and continues to be expended but that the data are very limited. Chi examination, all States ate believed Co shcu some level of l'CB contamination. In Table 2 Stales which had significant levels in at least one medium are listed with their reported PCB levels for surface and ground water, bottom sediments and fish. In Table 3, a number of localized studies are listed Along with the reported environmental data. In all these studies the most extensive measurements have been in fish. . TABLE 1 INTRODUCTION . ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES OF PCB's Since the 1966 discovery in Sweden that chlorinated biphenyls were, widely dispersed in the environment, their levels hove been the subject of many studies both abroad and in the United Staten. Extensive laboratory and environmental measurements indicate that PCB's can have adverse ecological and toxicological effects, are very resistant to environmental degradation and are being discharged by many different sources. . This paper will focus on the current TCB data base in an effort to assess the TCB levels in the SOURCE PAPER MILLS Wisconsin WASTE PAPER MILLS Wisconsin INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS California2 2 Wisconsin Ohio2 Michigan " . EFFLUENT HATER CON^ CE?< fRATIONS (ppb) 0.1 - 18.5 18.5 0- .04 0- .1 - 76 0.25 17 7000 environment on a national basis. MUNICIPAL WASTE ,WATER TREATMENT PLANTS - EKVIK0HMFKTA1, TCB SOURCES Before, the ECU data base is examined, it would be of Interest to review how these chemicals get into the environment. The major sources contributing to the enviror.Ker.tnl levels of FCB'e are industrial effluents, manufacturing processes, consumer end industrial waste materials, sewage treatment facilities and accidental spills. Lacking extensive air end soil data from these sources, available water Michigan ^ Wisconsin Ohio2 California CAPACITOR AND TRANSFORMER FACILITIES , . New York ^ Massachusetts3 PCB MANUFACTURING FACILITY East St. Louis 0.5 .05 - 10 0.16 - 17.0 17 76 2800 42.5 ' ,87 data arc shown in Table 1. lhe 5 major PCB spills In- SPILLS Variable 1973-75 all involved transformers. In 4 of those Incidents, the PCB's were spilled on soil while in the 1. Kloincrt, S. J., Environmental Status of fifth the transferror was dropped on a pier and the PCB in Wisconsin, May 8, 1975, Wisconsin contents were spilled into the water. In the letter Department of Natural Resources. incident, 283 gallons were spilled and it was 2. PCB's and the Environmental, Report of the estimated that only 70-90 gallons ware recovered. Interdepartmental Task Force on PCB's, In all eases the material that could be recovered National Technical Information Service, 1972. vas drummed up and entombed at a cost approaching 3. Statement of Concerns of the Lake Michigan - $2.3 million. Toxic Substances Committee Related to Poly chlorinated Biphenyls, June 1975. Prepared by ' Karl F. Bremer, USETA, Chicago, 111. REVIEW OF Ti!E TCP DATA BASE 4. Unpublished Data - Royal J. Nadeau and Robert P. Davis, Investigation of Polychlorinated To assess the scope and extent of PCB'a in the environment, all national surveys and national data boars maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ETA) were examined, including STORE!, the national water quality storage and 5. Biphenyls in the Hudson kiver, Hudson FallsFt. Edward Area, August 1974. Field Sampling and Analysis of Toxic Pollutants Interim Report, Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, August 1974, " retrieval system, the Nscional Soils Monitoring Program dor Pesticide Residues and the Human Monitoring 'Program. In addition, data from special data basca maintained by the United States Geological Survey and Abe open literature were also examined along vlth available data, saps unpublished reporta. Using these were constructed showing the DSW 029742 concentrations of PCB'a in urban soils and tba aquatic environment. - * ) STLCOPCB4013704 vvrf-R On . the basis of the national aquatic trtirlronrfieotal 'data collected in 1971-1972 and in a continuing widespread accumulation of PCB's In voter, Bediment and fish appears to bo occurring. However, no trend analysis is possible vith tho available measurements. For example, whole water measurements have been token throughout most of the country but- those state* reporting non rero readings are few in relation to the number of states showing r.ero concentrations. Tills is due both to the low solubility of PCB's and to the usual analytical procedure that limits detectability to the 0.1 ppb level. More meaningful water concentrations were obtained in tho Lake Ontario* and Orange County, California^ studies where concentrations in water at the ppt (ng/1) level were measured. At these levels, changes in PCB concentrations could be fouad with distance and time and could be related to other measurable parameters such as TCB concentrations in sediment, flora and fauna. SEDIMENTS . Since PCB* s are relatively insoluble, it is not surprising that bottom deposits have shown aipni fiennt concentrations. Although 30 states collected samples in the 1974 study, 15 had less than 4 atation* reporting and showed r.ero readings. Of the remaining 15, vith at least 4 reporting Station*, 13 shoved detectable concentrations. Since the 13 states involved were not necessarily the iioe lo both studies, only o very broad comparison stay be made, l.r., five states had lower concentrations, four states were higher and four did not anmple again.3 V'e may conclude, then, that in thope states with any monitoring effort in the 1974 strut)', PCIt's are present in bottom deposits end the levels ate not any lover than in the 1971-72 study. Considering the persistence of PCIl'c, a significant proportion of the nation'a waters are now affected and will continue to be. . directions. PCB's were detected in soils at both sampling locations. Concentrations ranged fton the detection Unit of 0.001 ppm to over 20 ppm The distribution of nil rCB's analyzed appears higher near the plant site and generally decreases with distance from the sitc.A Details of the sampling sites and the concentration levels measured are shown in Figure 1. TABLE 2 . SELECTED STATE DATA ON ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS OF PCB's State Surface and Cround Water Mg/1 Bottom Sediment Wg/kg Fish3 ppm AL Alt CA CO err FL CA IL . XA ' KD MA MI Id MS HB NJ NY OH 0.1 0.3 0.1-0.2 0.1-2.1 0.1 0.2 0.1-0.3 0.1 0.1-4.0 20-2,400 20-190 5-3502 5-3,200 10-1,300 10-1,200 1.53-5.48 1.69-3.88 2.16-5.34 0.10-1.25 0.52-1.18 1.21-11.3 0.35-1.41 0.56-1.31 50-170 3-8002 3-13,0002 4.00-11.7 0.44-1.09 0.47-4.58 0.10-4.00 2.68-9.50 1.73-8.07 Rons OR 1-5-140 0.71-3.62 PA 0.2 6-7002 1.94-2.4S The Mational Soils Monitoring Program Is a snail sampling effort studying only 5 urban areas each year. However, rCB's were detected ir> three of the fivo cities sampled in each of the years for vhicti data are available, 1971-73. Of the 22 positive readings 17 of them were below 1 ppm. Of the cities sampled in 1973, Pittsfield, Mass., van of particular interest because it has a large transformer and condenocr plant using large quantities of' PCB's. SI* different sampling sites within one mile of the plant show no detectable PCB- residues. In contrast, the soil surrounding another facility in Illinois using PCB1a in the manufacture of investment casting waxes was recently measured for. PCD content. Samples taken in an '.pxea one-quarter mile radlua around the plant ranged i!n value from 0.77-5.2 ppm. The PCB's identified were mixtures of Aroelor 1260 and dccachlorobiphenyl. Levels up to 1.8 ppm Aroelor 1260 trace found at 1-1/4 miles from the plant. Samples were collected .from this facility as part of a study being conducted for the Office of Toxic Substances at sites suspected to have PCB Concentrations. Other cites campled in March of 1975 veto in the vicinity of on investment casting company In Michigan aqd the PCB manufacturer in Illinois. Surface soil samples were collected at each aite up to a distance of approximately one mile iron the plant boundary*' at 1/4 mile intervals In all PR sc TX irr VA w. WI 0.1 0.1-3.0 0.1 t 30-200 7,9-290 5-80 10 0.10-7.3 0.10- -22 0.15-2.14 0.31 1.20 1.24-14.8 1. All data in this column taken from Hans J. ' Cruup-Wicsncr, Herman K. Felcz and Marvin L. Yates, A Study of the Distribution of Poly chlorinated Biphenyls in the Aquatic Environ ment, Jour. Research U.S. Gcol. Survey .1, ' 603 (1972, unless otherwise noted. 2. USGS Sediment data, 1974. 3. All data In this column taken from Crosuell Henderson, Anthony Inglis and Veiidcll L. Johnson, Organochlorine Insecticide Residues in -Fish Fall 1969 National Pesticide Monitoring Program, . Pesticide Monitoring Journal 5_, 1(1971). O DSW 029743 2- STLCOPCB4013705 T/.BLE 3 ' SELECTED PCB STUDIES LAIJ.S Lake Ontario-1? 2 Lake Erie3, A Lake Superior6 Lake Huron6 Lake Michigan6! 9 Cayuga LaUciO Lake St. Clair16 RIVERS Iowa HisslGGlppl River11 Texas Brazos River12 Utah Green River12 Kew York Hudson Michigan Saginaw River6 Kalamazoo River7 Portage Creek7 Wisconsin Milwaukee 6 . Fish (ppm) .0.14 - 9.17 0.2 - 7.6 0.3 - 5.6 0.16 - 11.0 0.1 - 165.3 3.4 - 9.7 tr - 3.8 Water 0.035 - 0.097 Sediment (ur./kp.) 43 - 245 0.1 - 0.2 3.72 - 636 Plankton (ppm) 3.4 - ii.8 . . C] //' . 0.9 - 5.5 7 - 350 6.9 - 165.3 <0.01 - 164.56 0.1 0.5 0.1 1.0 - 2800 0.1 0.1 0.1 - 0.21 - 0.45 - 0.48 .02. - 2.17 6.6 - 6,700,000 ' 100 - 560 10 - 475,400 u 1 T mar ike environment Atlantic Ocean1!> 16 Bay of Fundy17 Culf of Mcxico/Cnrib- beon Sea76* 71 Southern California72 0.038 - 0.190 0.07 - 1.54 0.032 - 0.059 0.04 - 6.6 0.0009 - 0.0036 0.001S - 0.019 -` 0.157 - 1.055 1. Clarence L. llnile, Cilnwn Veilh, G. Fred Lee find 13: Unpublished data - Royal J. Kadcau and Robert P. Willian C. Boyle, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Davis, Investigation of Polychlorinated Bi the Lake Ontario Ecosystem, F.PA-660/3-75-0C2, phenyls in the Hudson River (Hudson Falls - Ft. June 1975, b.S. E.P.A., Corvallis, Oregon. Edward Area, August 1974. 2. Klaus L. Kaiser, Kircx, An Unrecognized Contami 14. Unpublished data - John I.. Hesse, Monitoring for nant of Fishes from Lake Ontario, Science 18, Polychlorinated Biphenyls in the Aquatic Envi . 523 (1974). ronment, Kny 1973. 3. Richard L. Carr, Charles E. Finstcrvalder and 15. Unpublished data - Michigan Water Resources Com Hichael J. Sehibi, Pesticides Mouitoritig Jour mission, Evaluation of the Aquatic Environment, nal 6:23 (1972). of the Kalamazoo River Watershed, Kay 1972. 4. John R. K. Kelso and Richard Frank, Organochlorine 16. Michigan Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Residues, Mercury, Ccppf.r and Cadmium in Yellow Consumer Protection, 1973 Great Lakes Environ Perch, White Boss and Snallmouth Bass, Long mental Contaminants Study. . Point Bay, Lake Erie, Trans. Araer. Fish. Soc., 17. X. F. Bidlcnan and C. E. Olr.cy, Chlorinated Hyrdo- . 103:577 (1974). . carbons in the Sargasso Se^ Atmosphere and Sur .' 5. Unpublished data. Gilman 0. Vcith and G. E. Gloss, face Water, Science 183:516, 1973. ( PCB's and DDT in Fish from Western Lake Superior, 18 Ceorgc R. Harvey, Helen P. Kiklas, Vaughan T. Bowen ( U.S. E.P.A., Duluth, Minnesota. and William C. Steinhauer, Observations on the 6. Unpublished Data - John L. Hesse, Bureau of Water Distribution of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Management, Michigan Department of Naturol Re Atlantic Ocean Organisms, Journal of Marine Re sources, June 1973. . search 32:103 (1973). ( 7. Unpublished data - State of Michigan Water Re 19. V. Zltko, 0. lltttzingcr and P.M.K. Choi, Concar.in- sources Commission, Polychlorinated Biphenyl Sur ation of the Bay of Fundy - Gulf of Maine Area vey of the Kalamazoo River nnd Portage Creek in with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Polychlorinated the Vicinity of the City of Kalamazoo, 1972. . Terphcnyla, Chlorinated Dibcnzodioxina and Di- 8. Cl loan D. Vcith and Fred G. Lee, Chlorohiphenyls I in the Milwaukee River, Water Research, 1971. ' benzofurans, Environmental Health Perspectives, 1:47 (1972). I 9. Unpublished data - Schacht 1974, ETA 600/3-74-002. 20. C. S. Clam, A. R. Hanks, R. L. Richardson, U. M. 10. Carl A. Bnchc, James W. Serum, William D. Youngs Sackett and M. K. Wong, DDT, DDE, and Polychlor- and Donald J. Link, Polychlorinated Biphenyl. lasted Biphenyls in Biota from the Culf of Kcx- Residues: Accumulation in Cayuga Lake Trout ico and Caribbean Sea - 1971. Pesticides Moni . with Age, Science 177:1191 (1972). 11 Lauren C. Johnson and Robert L. Morris, Chlorin toring Journal 6:139 (1972). 21. C. S. Clam, M. K. Wong, A. R. Hanks, W. M. Sackett. t ated Insecticide, Residues in the Eggs of Soma and R. L. Richardson, Chlorinated Hydrocarbons Freshwater Fish, Bulletin of Environmental Con la Plankton from the Culf of Mexico and Northern tamination and Toxicology 11:503 (1974). California, Bulletin of Environmental Contam 12. Joan A. Schulze, Douglas B. Kanigold and Freeman ination and Toxicology 9:376 (1973). ' L. Andrew's, Pesticides in Selected Western 22. The Ecology of the Southern California Bight: . Streams 1968-197.1, Pesticides Monitoring Jour . Implications for Water Quality Management, nal 7:73 (1973). Southern California Constal Water Research Pro I ject, 1500 East Imperial Highuay, El Scgumio, . .1973 DSW 029744 STLCOPCB4013706 Figure 1 Concentration of TCD's in Soil vilh Distance (ppm) I T* \ V* Aroclor 1260 Investment Casting Company Aroclor 1260 Xnvcstoent Casting Wax Manufacturer dccaeliAorobiphenyl Investment Costing Wax Manufacturer decachlorobiphcnyl FC8 Manufacturer OSW 029745 STLCOPCB4013707 7 AIR PCB measurements in air along with the rclnted transport studios are practically none* latent. llarvcy and Steinhnuer^ hove reported lcvole ranging from 3.9 - 5.3 ng/tn3. Air measurements by Bidlemnn and Olney for Rhode Island ranged from 2.1-9.4 ng/m3 and from 0.21 - 0.G5 ng/m3 ,1 Bermuda. 8 Snow melt water data from Wisconsin ranged fron zero to 0.24 ppb. The suggestion has born made that atmospheric fallout may be the most significant source of PCD dicchargo to the waters of the state of Wisconsin. ^ TABLE 4 LAKE ONTARIO ECOSYSTdA FISH, vg/g Alcuife Smelt Slimy Sculpin WATER, ng/1 .14 - 4.36 1.40 - 3.49 1.58 - 9.17 38 ' - 97 SEDIMENT, ng/g NET PLANKTON, pg/g 43 - 245 3.4 - 11.8 FISH Fish have been studied on a nationwide basis by the Department of the Interior clnce 1967. In the 1969 study, PCI! levels were Identified in fish from 35 states. 8 Data from the nationwide sampling programs, 1970-1973, are currently but were not available for being this prepared report. Consequently, nationwide fish dstn are not available any more currently than 1969, with the exception of the isolated studies listed in Table 3. The 1969 national study showed l'CB levels generally vithin the FDA 5 ppm guideline. In the Great Lakes area, PCB levels in fish fron lake Michigan were so high, 7.6-10.9 ppm, that FDA seized shipments of coho aloon in Hay 1975.y Although transport mechanisms are not well known and would vary through different ecosystems, it i# interesting to consider the Lake Ontario Ecosystem Study ourmiavined in Tabic 4. From this study on estimate of biomagnificatiou is possible giving a sediment to fish ratio of 1:120. The FDA guideline 5 ppm in the edible portion of fish v .- rresponds to a sediment concentration of 41 ppb - a figure exceeded in all 13 states reporting through . USGS in 1974, 1. Haile, C. L., Velth, C. D., Lee, C. F., Boyle, W. C., Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in the Lake Ontario Ecosystem (IFYCL) June 1975. REFERENCES 1. Haile, C.L., Veith, G.D., Lee, G.F., Boyle, V.C., Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in the Lake Ontario Ecosystem (IFYGL), June 1975. 2. McDermott, D.J., and Hansen, T.C., Inputs of DDT, PCB and Trace Metals from Harbors, Coastal Water Research Project Annual Report, 1975. 3. U.S. Geological Survey. 4. Environmental Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination near Sites of Manufacture and Use, Environmental Science and Engineering, Inc., 1975. flUMAKS With PCB'* as widespread scroes various media as they arc, it Is expected that levels would be identified in humans as veil. The Human Monitoring Program, in 1972, found that 3035 out of 4102 samples from 31. Staten showed levels ranging from less tluin 1 Ppm to more than 3 ppm. In 1973, 964 out of 1277 samples from 28 States again showed levels in the same range. In both years approximately 75T of the adipose tissue analyzed contained some polychlorinated biphenyls. Unfortunately we do not know age, occupation or residential histories of the cases involved so it Is difficult to trace the levels back to the potential sources. CONCLUSIONS Although there arc many national and state groups collecting environmental PCB data, limitations in the current data base prevent one from nklng a uniform national assessment of PCB environmental levels. It appears that if a veil planned national approach to sampling were attempted, the data base could be Improved In a. very -hort period of time. 5. Harvey, G.R. and Sceinhauer, W.G., Atmospheric Transport of Polychlorinated Biphenyls to the North Atlantic, Alcosphcrit Environment, Vol. 8, 1974. 6. Bidlcnan, T.F., and Olney, C.F., Chlorinated Hydro carbons in the Sargasso Sea Atmosphere end Sur face Water, Science, Vol. 1S3, February 1974. 7. Kleincrt, S.J., Environmental Status of PCB'o in Wisconsin, May 8, 1975, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 8. Hondor*on, C., Xnglis, A., Johnson, W.L., Organochlorir.e Insecticide Residues in Fish - Fall 1969 National Pesticide Monitoring Program, Pesticides Monitoring Journal, Vol. 5, No. 1, June 1971. .9 Bremer, Karl E., Draft copy of "Statement of Con cerns of the Lake Michigan Toxic Substances Com mittee related to PCB's," June 1975. DSW 029746 STLCOPCB4013708