On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:46:32 +0000 (UTC), bz
wrote:

wrote in
:

On Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:09:21 -0400, Ecnerwal
wrote:

In article ,
"Kalarama" wrote:

I would really worry about inhaling/handling the slightest amount of
PCBs. Especially if the unit was manufactured before the '70s.
(@_@)

Then you'd be somewhat less than brilliant. No mention of transformer
oil was involved, and nobody is likely to uncan an oil filled
transformer in their living room. A dry, varnished/lacquered transformer
has no oil, so no PCBs.

It ain't necessarily so.

Start with this for current US regulation:

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text...cfrbrowse/Titl
e40/40cfr761_main_02.tpl
.

More useful for answering questions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl

While it gives good background on PCBs it does not inform on the
regulatory situation. Moreover some of the background is missing,
like the presence of PCBs in varnishes and potting compounds used for
ballasts and transformers. Also regulation wise very nearly all uses
of PCBs are now banned.