METHODS USED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A PCB EMISSIONS INVENTORY

Methods for Canadian Estimates | Methods for U.S. Estimates

Methods Used for Developing a PCB Inventory for the United States

In order to quantify the extent of PCB contamination within the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes Basin, UIC first identified the environmental media affected by PCBs. These environmental compartments serve as both sources and sinks for PCBs:

• Contaminated sediments
• Land-based sources (e.g., landfills)
• Water (surface and groundwater)
• Airborne sources (e.g. volatilization from storage tanks)

From 1929 until they were banned in 1977, Monsanto produced 99% of the PCBs used by U.S. industry [ATSDR, 2000]. Although PCB production has been banned for 25 years, the use of PCB-containing equipment has been allowed by U.S. EPA for the remainder of the useful life of the machinery [CDEP (a), 1999]. Sources of PCBs in equipment include [EPA Region 8, 2001 and CDEP (b)]:

• Electrical Components (e.g. Transformers, Capacitors, Motors, Heat Transfer Systems)
• Fluorescent lamp ballasts
• Television sets
• Electrical appliances
• Paint plasticizers
• Pigments
• Dyes
• Carbonless paper
• Air conditioners
• Copy machines
• Dehumidifiers
• Mercury vapor lamps
• Microwave ovens
• Oil-filled space or portable heaters (the oil itself)
• Submersible well pumps
• Clothes dryers
• Fans
• Refrigerators
• Stoves
• Washing machines
• Others

The contribution of PCBs to the environment from these sources is not known.

UIC researched the available data sources to conduct a multi-media analysis of the extent of PCB contamination within the Basin. These sources included:

1. The Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) - a public-access database that is maintained by U.S. EPA that allows the user to query the system regarding a contaminant of concern. The system will return facility information and chemical reports, which tabulate air emissions, surface water discharges, releases to land, underground injections, and transfers to off-site locations [TRI, 2001].
   
   
2. STORET (short for STOrage and RETrieval) - a repository for water quality, biological, and physical data that is used by state environmental agencies, U.S. EPA and other federal agencies, universities, private citizens, and many others [STORET, 2001].
   
   
3. Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) - IADN was established in 1990 by the U.S. and Canada for conducting air and precipitation monitoring in the Great Lakes Basin. There is one major station in each of the five Great Lakes, supplemented by several satellite stations [U.S. EPA GLNPO (c), 1998].
   
   
4. Regional Air Pollutant Inventory Development System (RAPIDS) - RAPIDS was developed as the principal component of the Great Lakes Regional Air Toxics Emissions Inventory Project. It is a multi-jurisdictional project designed for use by local agencies to manage emission information for criteria air contaminants, air toxics, and green house gasses for stationary, mobile, and area sources. The system can also manage information on solid waste streams and effluent discharge [Wagemekers, et. al., undated but post-1999].
   
   
5. Permit Compliance System (PCS) - similar to TRI, the PCS is a public-access database maintained by U.S. EPA. A query of the system will return selected data from the database in Envirofacts regarding facilities holding National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits [PCS, 2000]. It should be noted that there was difficulty in submitting and retrieving queries regarding discharge of PCBs into Great Lakes waterways. UIC subsequently submitted a Freedom of Information Act Request to U.S. EPA requesting summary data from the PCS system regarding PCBs discharges into Basin waterways from 1970 to the present.
   
   
6. National Response Center (NRC) - the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) requires that all releases of hazardous substances (including radionuclides) exceeding reportable quantities, be reported by the responsible party to the National Response Center. Transportation accidents and releases of hazardous materials must also be reported [NRC, 2002]. The NRC maintains a public-access database that can be queried for listings of incidents in the U.S.
   
   
7. PCB Transformer Inventory - the U.S. EPA maintains an inventory of all in-use PCB transformers in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The amount of PCBs in each listed transformer is provided. In October, 2001 the EPA released the newest version of the Inventory [U.S. EPA (b), 2001].
   
   
8. EPA Binational Toxics Strategy --On April 7, 1997 the "Canada-United States Strategy for the Virtual Elimination of Persistent Toxic substances in the Great Lakes Basin" (the Binational Toxics Strategy, or BNS) was signed by the environmental administrators of the U.S. and Canada. The strategy targets many toxic substances for virtual elimination, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). While this draft report states "do not cite or quote," it is publicly available on the U.S. EPA GLNPO website [BNS (b), 1998].
   
   
9. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) website - this website summarizes Great Lakes Lakewide Management Plans and other reports, Areas of Concern, monitoring data, and sediment data, among a wealth of other material [U.S. EPA GLNPO (b), 2001].
   
   
10. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program - this program supports national, regional, and local information needs and decisions related to water-quality management and policy [Rheaume, et. al., 2001].

A summary of the sources from which quantitative data and the media affected were analyzed is provided in the table below.