United States Region 10
. Environmental Protection 1200 Sixth Avenue
Agency Seattle WA 98101
Arr & Toxics Division
Em PCBs in
Fluorescent
Light
Fixtures
A Fact Sheet
-------
Introduction
The purpose of this brochure is to provide some basic
information on PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)
and guidelines for handling PCBs in fluorescent light
fixtures. Although the precautionary actions described
In this fact sheet may seem extreme, or suggest to
some that cleanup of a small PCB spill is personally
hazardous, this is not generally so. For example, if
you should get a small amount of PCB on your skin
during cleanup, it is highly unlikely.that you would be
harmed. However, given the nature of PCBs and the
fact that much is still unknown about the effects of
Ring structure of a PCB Molecule
minor exposures, no absolute guarantees or
reassurances can be given. For that reason, EPA
has chosen to describe a conservative approach
which minimizes personal hazard. It is EPA's hope
that this information will inform you rather than alarm
you.
What Are PCBs?
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) belong to abroad
family of organic chemicals known as chlorinated
hydrocarbons. PCBs are produced by the
combination of one or more chlorine atoms and a
-------
biphenyi molecule. Virtually all PCBs in existence
today have been synthetically manufactured.
PCBs range in consistency from heavy oily liquids to
waxy solids. Prior to 1979, PCBs were widely used
in electrical equipment such as transformers,
capacitors, switches, and voltage regulators for their
"cooling" properties because they do not readily burn
or conduct electricity, and only boil at high temperature.
Also, PCBs do not readily react with other chemicals.
They were also used in mining equipment, heat
transfer and hydraulic systems, carbonless copy
pap£r, pigments, and microscopy mounting media.
Why Are PCBs Harmful to Human
Health and the Environment?
When released into the environment, PCBs do not
easily break apart and form new chemical
arrangements (i.e., they are not readily
biodegradable). Instead, they persist for many
years, bioaccumulate, and bioconcentrate in
organisms. Laboratory data show that PCBs cause
cancer in animals. Although there are no actual data
showing that PCBs cause cancer in humans, EPA's
policy is to consider animal carcinogens to be possible
human carcinogens. Animal studies show adverse
reproductive and developmental effects from repeated
exppsure to PCBs. In addition, it has been shown that
PCBs are toxic to fish at very low levels of exposure.
The; survival rate and the reproductive success offish
can be adversely affected by the presence of PCBs.
EPA believes there may be similar cause for concern
when humans are exposed to large doses of PCBs.
Exposure to PCBs can cause chloracne (a painful,
disfiguring skin ailment), liver damage, nausea,
dizziness, eye irritation, and bronchitis.
Note: Liver damage can occur from dermal contact and
inhalation, not just from ingestion. Most PCBs are
readily absorbed through the skin.
How Does EPA Regulate PCBs?
EPA regulates PCBs through rules issued pursuant
to the federal Toxic Substances Control Act of
1976. These regulations generally control the use,
marking, storage, records, and disposal of PCBs.
There are millions of pieces of equipment in operation
in the U.S. which were manufactured prior to these
regulations and which contain PCBs.
Small Capacitors in Fluorescent Light Ballasts
Light ballasts are the primary electric components
of fluorescent light fixtures and are generally located
within the fixture under a metal cover plate. The
ballast units are generally composed of a transformer
to reduce the incoming voltage, a small capacitor
(which may contain PCBs), and possibly a thermal
cut-off switch and/or safety fuse. These
components are surrounded by a tar-like substance
-------
This islthe ballast portion of a typical fluorescent light fixture.
that is designed to muffle the noise that is inherent in
the operation of the ballast. This tar-like coating
covers the small capacitor. When a ballast unit fails,
excessive heat can be generated which will melt or
burn ;the tar material, creating a characteristic foul
odor.:
In considering causes of ballast failure, some privately
conducted tests have indicated that operation of
power-saving lamps (i.e., tubes) with a standard
ballast or standard lamps with a power-saving
ballast tends to significantly increase the ballast
operating temperature and decrease its normal
life-span. It appears that ballasts will fail less
frequently if standard lamps are used only with
standard ballasts and power-saving lamps with power-
saving ballasts. Fluorescent lamps/tubes should
be changed in pairs; new lamps should not be
used with old lamps.
Does Your fluorescent Light Ballast
Contain PCBs?
Before EPA banned the manufacture of PCBs in
1978; PCBs were commonly incorporated in the
manufacture of fluorescent light ballasts. The use of
PCBs in ballasts manufactured prior to 1978 is not
regulated by EPA. All light ballasts manufactured
since' 1978 which do not contain PCBs should be
marked by the manufacturer with the statement "No
PCBs." For those manufactured prior to that
-------
Once you have removed the fluorescent tubes and the central cover,
you will be able to easily locate the ballast(s). Note the gloves and
goggles worn to prevent possible personal contact with PCBs.
timei, or for those ballasts which contain no
statement regarding PCB content, you should
assume that they do contain PCBs.
If the ballast does contain PCBs, they are located
inside the small capacitor. There would be
approximately 1 to 114 ounces of PCBs in the capacitor
itself, If the ballast fails, the capacitor may break
open, allowing the PCBs to contaminate the
surrounding tar-like material and drip out of the
fixture. The capacitor does not always leak when
the ballast fails but when it does, measures should be
taken to limit or avoid personal exposure.
i
What Should I Do if My Light Ballast
Leaks?
EPAihas these recommendations for anyone with a
fluorescent light ballast leaking PCBs:
1. Vacate the room or area immediately and
open any windows to ventilate the room to
the outside. If the incident occurs in a room
which cannot be vented, the person replacing
the failed ballast and cleaning up can reduce
exposure by wearing a chemical cartridge
respirator equipped with an organic vapor
cartridge.
2. Turn off the light fixture at the switch and
disconnect electricity at the fuse or breaker
-------
box. Let the ballast unit cool for 20-30 minutes
before proceeding.
If the room is fully ventilated, the amount of
: PCB-contaminated particulate matter in the
air shouid decrease significantly enough to
make negligible any risk from breathing.
3. Since RGBs are readily absorbed through the
skin, you shouid wear rubber gloves that will
! not absorb PCBs (e.g., neoprene, butyl, or
i nitrile). Further, if you will be working directly
under the fixture, consider using additional
protective gear such as goggles (or a face
shield) and a rubber apron to help guard
against possible exposure from further
leaking or cleanup activities. Exercise caution
to avoid personal contamination (e.g., from
touching your face with a contaminated
glove).
During the cleanup or removal period,
smoking should be prohibited in the area
because smoking increases the inhalation
rate of contaminated air. In addition, you
may be using a flammable solvent in the
cleanup.
4. Remove the fluorescent lamps.
5. Recheck that the power is off at the fuse or
breaker box. Remove the metal cover over
the wiring and ballast unit; loosen the ballast
, unit by taking out the metal screws which
hold it to the end of the fixture; cut the
electrical wires going to the ballast and
, remove the ballast.
Mote: Wire connectors can be used when
installing a new ballast.
6. Proceed to clean up leaks using the following
guidelines:
PCBsthatleakonto nonabsorbentsurtaces
such as table tops and uncarpeted floors
should first be cleaned up by wiping with a
rag or paper towel or by scraping with a
putty knife if hardened. Avoid smearing
the PCB around. This would only
contaminate a larger area. Surfaces should
then be thoroughly cleaned twice using an
appropriate solvent or detergent. Only
certain solvents are effective in cleaning
i up spilled PCBs. These include mineral
spirits, deodorized kerosene, turpentine,
and rubbing alcohol. (Note, however, that
some of these solvents can damage certain
types of flooring andfloorfinishes.) Certain
! detergents containing trisodium phosphate
which are readily available at most large
groceries and retail home improvement
outlets may also be used. However, they
should be used only at full strength and
-------
applied with a damp rag rather than diluted
in a bucket, since the solution in the bucket
would become contaminated and could
not legally be disposed of in a sewer system.
Some other effective detergent products
are commercially available at industrial
supply companies or other retail home
improvement outlets.
For leaks onto absorbent materials such
as drapes and carpets, there is no reliable
way to clean and decontaminate the
material. In the case of rugs and fabrics,
the material should be cut away iin a six-
inch radius around the contamination
point(s). In areas where foot traffic has
spread contamination, the entire carpet
should be disposed of. Proper disposal
procedures for all such materials are
described in the following section.
Associated surfaces, such as IFiooring
under contaminated carpeting, should be
thoroughly cleaned with a solvent or
detergent as previously described.
7. Contaminated materials (ballasts, rags,
contaminated clothing, gloves, drapes,
carpets, efc.jshould be packed into crumpled
newspapers or other sorbent materials
(sawdust, kitty litter, vermiculite, soil, etc.)
and placed in a double thickness plastic bag.
This bag should be taken to one of the
transporters listed in the following section of
this fact sheet. There, the contaminated
materials will be packed in a drum approved
for PCBs by the Department of Transportation
and finally disposed of at an EPA approved
site.
(One might consider discarding the entire light
fixture instead of decontaminating the unit. This
would eliminate the chance of skin contact with
the PCBs while cleaning inside the light fixture.)
8. When you are completely through with the
cleanup process, and contaminated materials
and protective clothing have been packed
for disposal, you should wash your hands
thoroughly with detergent.
9. Continue to ventilate the room for 24 hours
before reuse.
How to Get Rid of Your PCBs
Arrangements may be made with various PCB
transporters or PCB commercial storers for shipment
of ballasts, PCB-soiled items, or fluorescent fixtures
containing PCBs to an EPA-approved chemical waste
processing site. You may wish to call more than one
transporter or commercial storer to compare prices.
Your EPA regional office can provide you with a list
of authorized PCB transporters and commercial
storers. These companies may also be listed in the
telephone yellow pages under "waste disposal."
There are several other potential options homeowners
may have to dispose of this material. We suggest the
following:
1. Check with your local health department to
determine if it has household hazardous waste
collection centers that can accommodate
fluorescent light ballasts containing PCBs.
2. Check with your local fire department to
determine if it schedules periodic collection of
.household hazardous waste and, if so, if it will
accept PCB light ballasts. Many of them do this
once a year.
For'farther'information, please call your
regional EPA contact. These are as
follow:
EPA Region 1 (Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island)
Boston, MA - (617) 565-3420
EPA Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto
Rico, Virgin islands)
New York, NY - (212) 264-2657
EPA Region 3 (Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, D.C.)
Philadelphia, PA - (215) 597-9800
EPA Region 4 (Tennessee, Kentucky, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama, Mississippi, Florida)
Atlanta, GA - (404) 347-4727
EPA Region 5 (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio)
Chicago, IL - (312) 353-2000
EPA Region 6 (New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Louisiana)
Dallas, TX - (214) 655-6444
EPA Region 7 (Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri,
Iowa)
Kansas City, KS - (913) 551-7000
EPA Region 8 (Montana, Wyoming, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado
Denver, CO - (303) 293-1603
EPA Region 9 (California, Nevada, Arizona,
Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam)
San Francisco, CA - (415) 744-1305
EPA! Region 10 (Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Alaska)
Seattle, WA - (206) 553-1200 or 1 -800-
424-4EPA
* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1993-792-549 May 1993
------- |