Basic knowledge of PCB

　Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are artificially made and mainly oily chemicals.
　The characteristics of PCBs are chemically stable, such as hard to dissolve in water, high boiling point, hard to decompose by heat, non-combustible, and high electrical insulation.
　Due to its properties, it was used in various applications such as insulating oil for electrical equipment, thermal media for heat exchangers, and non-carbon paper.
　Its toxicity has been revealed, and both manufacturing and importing are currently prohibited.　

　Due to the nature of being soluble in fat, it has been reported that chronic intake gradually accumulates in the body and causes various symptoms.
　In 1968, in the process of manufacturing edible oils, an incident in which PCBs were taken up significantly.
　There is a case of Kanemi oily disease that caused health damage by mixing PCBs used as heat media.
　Kanemi oily disease is a food poisoning incident caused by rice oil (rice bran oil) that occurred over a wide area, mainly in West Japan in October 1968.
　Poisonous symptoms include pigmentation of nails and oral mucosa, acne rash (chlorinated acne), deformation of nails, and swelling of eyelids and joints.

　Typical electrical equipment that uses PCBs include transformers, condensers, and ballasts. Mainly old factories and buildings
　It was used in apartments, apartments, etc. If you have the relevant building or equipment, please investigate immediately.
　　→How to determine whether PCB is contained

　Waste that uses PCBs is subject to the Special Measures Law Concerning the Promotion of Proper Treatment of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Waste.
　The deadline for disposal is fixed, and the disposal period for low-concentration PCB waste is until March 31, 2027.
　In addition, it is designated as a specially controlled industrial waste and must be stored and disposed of in an appropriate manner.
　　→How to store and dispose of PCB waste

※The disposal period for high-concentration PCB waste has ended by March 31, 2023. If you find high-concentration PCB waste, please contact the City of Yokohama, Resources and Waste Recycling Bureau Business Waste Management Section (Phone number: 045-671-2513) immediately.

　Special Measures Law Concerning the Promotion of Proper Treatment of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Waste (outside site)
　Waste Disposal and Public Cleansing Law (outside site)