Polychlorinated naphthalenes

Within the UNECE region, the information on substitution and alternatives is extremely limited, as PCN are not in use anymore. The only available information is that, since the production of PCN has stopped in the 1970s and 1980s, PCN have been substituted by other chemicals. These chemicals have not been identified and described (UNECE 2007).

Note that following information is extracted from the risk management evaluation document (UNEP-POPS-POPRC.9-13-Add.1)

Hayward (1998) reports that production of PCN began to decline with the advent of plastic substitutes for insulation and the use of PCB for dielectrics in transformers (Hayward,1998). This indicates that PCN have been replaced by PCB as dielectrics and by plastics as insulating material. PCBs are nowadays largely substituted by other alternatives. No requests have been received, nor particular needs identified for specific exemptions on PCN. No additional information on alternative chemicals being used to substitute PCN was provided by parties within the Annex F questionnaire.

If you have any information or suggestion for alternatives to polychlorinated naphthalenes, please contact the Secretariat.

For further information, please refer to:

  • UNEP/POPS/POPRC.5/10/Add.1 – General guidance on considerations related to alternatives and substitutes for listed persistent organic pollutants and candidate chemicals
  • Risk profile ArChEnFrRuSp (PDF)
  • Risk management evaluation ArChEnFrRuSp (PDF)