Path: utzoo!dciem!bpd
From: bpd@dciem.dciem.dnd.ca (Brian P. Dickson)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: Attikamek-Montagnais Protest PCB Plan
Message-ID: <2484@dciem.dciem.dnd.ca>
Date: 6 Sep 89 15:40:18 GMT
References: <2324@yunccn.UUCP> <620791816.24086@telly.on.ca> <1989Sep5.173937.24977@utzoo.uucp> <8328@looking.on.ca> <28908@watmath.waterloo.edu>
Reply-To: bpd@dretor.dciem.dnd.ca (Brian P. Dickson)
Organization: NTT Systems, Inc., Toronto, Canada
Lines: 31

In article <28908@watmath.waterloo.edu> sccowan@watmsg.waterloo.edu (S. Crispin Cowan) writes:
>In article <8328@looking.on.ca> brad@looking.on.ca (Brad Templeton) writes:
>>Are PCBs that dangerous?  I have read that they are quite inert -- that's
>>why they were used in transformers.  According to what I heard, they are
>>only dangerous if burned improperly, upon which they are carcinogenic.
>>
>>Seems to me there are a tremendous number of substances far more dangerous
>>than that, or have I heard wrong?
>>-- 
>
>They are massively carcinogenic on contact.  They have on 'no effect
>level', i.e. concentrations in the body so small that they are hard to
>detect (parts per billion) still seem to statisticly induce cancer.  On
>the other hand, the "PCBs" being discussed are really PCB-laden oils,
>not just pure PCBs.

I am afraid you are quite wrong. There is another chemical which has
rightly gained a bad reputation: dioxin. Dioxin will cause cancer on
contact, and is considered hazardous in any detectible concentration.
There is no acceptable level for dioxin - it is dangerous even at
one part per quadrillion (!). On the other hand, PCB's are an environmental
hazard, but not considered dangerous to individuals. They do not cause
cancer, even when ingested. They *do* bio-accumulate, and sufficient
quantities will cause problems for certain internal organs (liver,
kidneys); this is considered a "mild toxicity". I.e. consuming several
kilograms will kill you eventually; a few grams will in all likelyhood
have no effect at all.

--
Brian Dickson
NTT Systems Inc., Toronto.