Guidance documents on PCBs

General information on PCBs

This section contains general information on the chemical proprieties of PCBs.

 

 Document EnglishFrenchSpanish
PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS. An Assessment Report on: DDT Aldrin Dieldrin Endrin Chlordane Heptachlor Hexachlorobenzene Mirex Toxaphene Polychlorinated Biphenyls Dioxins and Furans IPCS - L. Ritter et al.124.35 K 116.87 K 275.5 K 159.83 K 185.06 K 202.16 K
 
 
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Information on toxicity, environmental fate and transport, use and alternatives of the twelve initial POPs

Inventory of PCBs

These documents provide guidance on identifying and inventorying equipment and liquids containing or contaminated with PCBs

 

 Document ArabicChineseEnglishFrenchRussianSpanish
Guidelines for the identification of PCBs and materials containing PCBsUNEP Chemicals  289.01 K 309.55 K  
 
 
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Guide on identifying PCBs and materials containing PCBs providing information on known names, characteristics and uses of PCBs, as well as on sampling and analysis techniques to indicate their presence

PCB Inventory FormUNEP Chemicals107.5 K 109.37 K  202 K 57.4 K 219 K 169.93 K  254 K 169.2 K
 
 
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Inventory of PCB-Containing Equipment. Form to assist countries in the preparation of PCBs inventories for use during site visits.

PCBs Elimination Network (PEN) magazineSSC7.79 MB 9.78 MB 4.17 MB 7.45 MB 8.52 MB 7.77 MB
 
 
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Urs Wagner on inventories | Regional features

PEN members contact list | The fight of the PCBs

Environmentally sound management of PCBs

These documents provide information on all aspects related to the environmentally sound management of PCBs, including inventories, national PCB plans, regulatory frameworks, handling, transport, storage and disposal, as well as advice on potential funding mechanisms for PCB management and disposal.


 Document ArabicChineseEnglishFrenchRussianSpanish
Preparation of a National Environmentally Sound Management Plan for PCBs and PCB-Contaminated Equipment - Training ManualBasel Convention  5.52 MB 2.35 MB  6.14 MB
 
 
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Training manual on various practical elements of PCB management, including inventories, national PCB strategies, regulatory frameworks and draft regulations on PCBs, technical safety measures, transport and storage, as well as advice on funding mechanisms for PCB management and disposal.

Updated technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated terphenyls (PCTs) or polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs)Basel Convention285.5 K 247.23 K 248.5 K 256.36 K 200.5 K 85.66 K 324.5 K 63.98 K 399 K 328.3 K 207.5 K 199.36 K
 
 
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Technical guidelines on POPs waste developed by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. Contains general information on environmentally sound management of POPs and should be used in conjunction with the specific Basel Convention guidelines on PCBs.

Updated general technical guidelines for the environmentally sound management of wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs)Basel Convention785.5 K 647.41 K 679 K 541.61 K 613.5 K 420.98 K 610.5 K 416.87 K 880 K 855.49 K 723 K 390.02 K
 
 
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Technical guidelines on PCB management developed by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. Contains information on all aspects related to the environmentally sound management of persistent organic pollutants that are specific to PCBs and should be used in conjunction with the general Basel Convention technical guidelines on POPs.

Framework for the management of PCBsInternational Forum on Chemical Safety  71.35 K   
 
 
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Short guidance on various elements of PCB management, such as involvement of stakeholders, preparing PCB inventories and selection treatment options, prepared by the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety in 2001.

PCB Transformers and Capacitors - From Management to Reclassification and DisposalUNEP Chemicals  298.15 K 629.82 K  721.93 K
 
 
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Guide to the safe management and disposal of PCB transformers and capacitors including practical information on the reclassification, taking out of service and disposal of PCBs transformers and capacitors.

Disposal of PCBs

These documents provide specific information on the disposal of PCBs, on the one hand available combustion and non-combustion technologies and on the other hand a training manual for hazardous waste project managers, which provides guidance on the selection of appropriate disposal technologies.

Available destruction technologies

 

 Document English
Inventory of World-wide PCB Destruction CapacityUNEP Chemicals2.23 MB
 
 
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Second edition of the survey carried out by UNEP Chemicals on the geographical distribution of facilities that treat PCB wastes, including applied technologies, accepted types of waste, pretreatment procedures, monitoring and control of releases, treatment costs and treatment capacity
Survey of Currently Available Non- Incineration PCB Destruction TechnologiesUNEP Chemicals1.41 MB
 
 
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Survey carried out by UNEP Chemicals in 2000 on available PCB destruction technologies other than incineration. More than 20 vendors that use chemical or physical processes to destroy PCB oils, transformers or capacitors have been identified.

Destruction and decontamination technologies for PCBs and other POPs wastes under the Basel Convention
A training manual for hazardous waste project managers. Secretariat of the Basel Convention

 

 Volume English
Volume A 1.89 MB
 
 
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Part I. Basic Principles and Background
Part II. Project Strategies
Part III. Technology Selection Process

Basic information on PCBs and steps leading up to the selection of technologies. Provides also information on various destruction technologies.

Volume B 3.66 MB
 
 
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Part IV. Implementation Process

Information on the preparation of tenders and contracts for destruction technology providers, including specifications, operating manuals on the environmentally sound management and sample tender and contract documents.

Volume C 2.25 MB
 
 
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Part V Technology Assessment Principles
Part VI Decision Support System
Part VII Technology Selection
Part VIII Technology Specification & Data Sheets (TSDS)

Advice on the planning and selection of appropriate technologies that suit the particular circumstances whilst complying with the need for environmentally sound management principles and the principles of sustainability.
Volume CAnnexes (Technology Overview and Data Sheets)3.21 MB
 
 
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Data sheets on the following destruction technologies: autoclaving, alkali-metal reduction, cement kiln co-processing, hazardous waste incineration, base catalyzed decomposition, gas-phase chemical reduction and plasma arc.

PCBs in open applications

This section provides information on the use of PCBs in open system applications.


 Document English
Open systems uses of PCBs; IPEN 2009IPEN1.81 MB
 
 
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Information on PCBs in open applications provided by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) in 2004. Also contains general information on PCB production, use, remaining stocks, treatment costs and current sources of emission.