ポリ塩化ビフェニル 化学特性,用途語,生産方法
解説
ビフェニルの塩素置換によって得られる有機化合物.化学物質の規制や環境汚染などに関する法律用語では,ポリ塩化ビフェニルという.塩素原子数や置換位置の異なるものの総称.PCBと略記される.熱に対して安定で,電気絶縁性が高い.かつて熱媒体,トランス油,コンデンサー,ノーカーボン紙に用いられた.人体に対する毒性が高く,症状は皮膚への色素沈着,皮膚障害,消化器障害,肝障害などであるが,PCBは脂肪組織に蓄積し,症状は長期にわたる.わが国では1972年に製造が中止された.
説明
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the most widely
studied environmental contaminants, and many studies in
animals and human populations have been performed to
assess the potential carcinogenicity of PCBs. PCBs are mixtures
of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds (known as
congeners or chlorinated hydrocarbons), which are no longer
produced in the United States, but are still found in the environment.
Exposure to PCBs includes acne-like skin conditions
in adults and neurobehavioral and immune alterations in
children. PCBs are carcinogenic to animals, and they have been
found in at least 500 of the 1598 National Priorities List sites
identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PCBs (US trade name Aroclor) have no known natural sources,
are either oily liquids or solids that are colorless to light yellow,
and can exist as a vapor in air. PCBs typically do not exhibit any
smell or taste.
The US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted by
the US Congress to control the distribution, use, and disposal
of harmful chemicals, including PCBs. PCBs have been
demonstrated to cause a variety of adverse health effects.
Studies in humans provide supportive evidence for potential
carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic effects of PCBs, and based
on the weight of the data, it is suggested that PCBs are probable
human carcinogens.
使用
Before 1974, PCBs were used in the United States for both enclosed applications, such as transformers, capacitors, and heat transfer and hydraulic fluids, and open applications, such as inks, flame retardants, adhesives, carbonless duplicating paper, paints, plasticizers, wire insulators, metal coatings, and pesticide extenders (IARC 1978, ATSDR 2000). After 1974, all uses of PCBs were limited to enclosed applications (transformers and capacitors), and after January 1979, no PCBs were used in the manufacturing of transformers or capacitors. The only remaining permitted uses of PCBs are as a mounting medium in microscopy, as an immersion oil in low-fluorescence microscopy, as an optical liquid, and for other research and development purposes (ATSDR 2000).
調製方法
PCBs are synthesized by the chlorination of biphenyl
and the resulting products are designated according
to their percent (by weight) chlorine content (2). For
example, Aroclors 1221, 1242, and 1260 contain 21,
42, and 60 wt% chlorine. The commercial Aroclors
were produced by the Monsanto Chemical Corp. and
similar PCB mixtures were manufactured worldwide
by other chemical companies. Over 600 million kg
of commercial PCBs were produced in the United
States and the estimated worldwide production is
approximately double this quantity (Table 1). Properties
of the commercial PCBs varied from highly fluid liquids
(Aroclor 1221) to viscous liquids or solids. All of these
preparations contained a complex mixture of isomers and
congeners and as the degree of chlorination increased
there was a corresponding increase in the relative
concentrations of the more highly chlorinated congeners.
There are 209 possible PCBs and the properties of
these commercial mixtures and the individual PCBs
have been extensively investigated. More recent studies
indicate that the commercial PCBs contained 132 different
compounds (18).
安全性プロファイル
Confirmed carcinogen
with carcinogenic and tumorigenic data.
Moderately toxic by ingestion. Some are
poisons by other routes. Experimental
reproductive effects. Like the chlorinated naphthalenes, the
chlorinated diphenyls have two distinct
actions on the body, namely, a skin effect
and a toxic action on the liver. This hepato-
toxic action of the chlorinated diphenyls
appears to be increased if there is exposure
to carbon tetrachloride at the same time.
The higher the chlorine content of the
diphenyl compound, the more toxic it is
liable to be. Oxides of chlorinated diphenyls
are more toxic than the unoxidmed
materials. In persons who have suffered
systemic intoxication, the usual signs and
symptoms are nausea, vomiting, loss of
weight, jaundice, edema, and abdominal
pain. If the liver damage has been severe the
patient may pass into a coma and die.
Combustible when exposed to heat or
flame, When heated to decomposition they
emit highly toxic fumes of Cl-. See also
specific compounds.
職業ばく露
Several studies have reported relatively high levels of PCBs in the serum or adipose tissues of occupationallyexposed individuals, e.g.,>3000 ppb in the serum (57 58). Not surprisingly, after these exposures were terminated, the PCB serum concentrations tended to decrease (59 61). Chloracne and related skin problems have been observed in several groups of workers and it was suggested that the air concentrations of commercial PCBs > 0.2 mg/m3 were associated with this effect (62). It was also reported that after occupational exposure to PCBs was terminated there was a gradual decrease in the severity and number of dermatological problems in the exposed workers, and this paralleled a decrease in their serum levels of PCBs (61). The effects of occupational exposure to PCBs on the concentrations of several serum clinical, chemical, and hematological parameters have been reported (58). Mildly elevated SGOT and γ -glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) suggest some liver damage and induction of hepatic monooxygenase enzymes; these results are similar to those observed in animal studies. In one study, it was reported that as PCB serum levels decreased over time the GGTP serum levels also decreased to normal values.
発がん性
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals. Not all PCB mixtures caused tumors in experimental animals.
環境運命予測
Before being banned and before the US Clean Water Act
regulated wastewater discharges, PCBs could be found, often at
high levels, in wastewaters from industries handling PCB
equipment. These wastewaters either were discharged directly
to surface waters or sent to municipal sewage treatment plants.
Urban industrial areas are more likely to have higher PCB
contamination than rural areas. While not highly volatile,
PCBs, especially the less chlorinated ones, will partition into
the air. Atmospheric transport is the most important mechanism
for dispersion of PCBs.
Those PCBs with a high degree of chlorination are much
more persistent in the environment than those with lower
degrees of chlorination because they are more resistant to
metabolism. Microbial metabolism is the most important
mechanism for the removal of persistent organic pollutants as
the PCBs from the environment. Anaerobic dehalogenation of
the highly chlorinated PCBs in aquatic sediments is a major
mechanism for their elimination by generating lower chlorinated
congeners that are more readily metabolized by aerobic
enzymes. As a consequence, the environmental levels of PCBs
are slowly decreasing with time.
ポリ塩化ビフェニル 上流と下流の製品情報
原材料
準備製品