NCJ Number
117397
Journal
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1988) Pages: 147-153
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) should be treated like any other severely toxic contaminant under the Environmental Protection Act in Ontario, Canada, rather than being addressed by the separate and more stringent regulation that deals with it currently.
Abstract
The regulation covering PCB represents a political reaction to popular demand and is not based on scientific evidence regarding actual hazards associated with PCBs. In fact, a well-publicized incident in which PCBs were originally thought to be the cause of illness in 2,000 people was in fact the result of contamination by another chemical, polychlorinated dibenzofuran. In addition, knowledgeable chemists and environmentalists agree that PCB is not particularly hazardous to human beings or animals. However, Ontario's Regulation 11/82 considers a PCB level of 5 parts per million (ppm) to be hazardous and a level above 50 ppm to require storage for eternity by the owner. This regulation should be rescinded, and the name polychlorinated biphenyls added to Schedule 3 of Ontario's Regulation 309, which has more realistic provisions. 9 references.