PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

<p>Electrification in Kathmandu valley had started in 1911 and the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) probably started since 1940s (Devkota, 2005). This research work was undertaken to find out the degree and extent of PCBs contamination in transformer oil and to explore its impacts on oc...

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Main Authors: Laxman K.C., Bhupendra Devkota
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Progressive Sustainable Developers Nepal 2014-12-01
Series:International Journal of Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://nepjol.info/index.php/IJE/article/view/11727
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author Laxman K.C.
Bhupendra Devkota
author_facet Laxman K.C.
Bhupendra Devkota
author_sort Laxman K.C.
collection DOAJ
description <p>Electrification in Kathmandu valley had started in 1911 and the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) probably started since 1940s (Devkota, 2005). This research work was undertaken to find out the degree and extent of PCBs contamination in transformer oil and to explore its impacts on occupational health and safety issues of the workers and on the environment. The research was focused on Distributions Centers of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in the Kathmandu valley, NEA Lainchaur workshop and welding workshops of the Kathmandu valley. The samples of transformer oil were collected, safely stored and analyzed using L2000DX Chloride Analyzer, PCBs contamination at &gt;50 ppm level was found in 184 distribution transformers with total volume of PCBs contaminated transformer oil to be 67566.3 Kg. The knowledge on impacts of PCBs contaminated transformer oil on human health and environment was better among NEA employees than among employees of welding workshops, though not satisfactory. Due to very low awareness, the workers come in contact with the transformer oil regularly and many health impacts such as eye problems, skin related complication, weakness and respiratory problems might be due to this exposure; however, exact impacts could not be verified scientifically.</p><p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i4.11727">http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i4.11727</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>International Journal of Environment</strong></p><p>Volume-3, Issue-4, Sep-Nov 2014</p><p>Page : 12-23</p><p>&nbsp;</p>
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spelling doaj.art-63ebbc2b34a846a09a8617655659b35c2022-12-22T01:11:49ZengProgressive Sustainable Developers NepalInternational Journal of Environment2091-28542014-12-0134122310.3126/ije.v3i4.117279294PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, NepalLaxman K.C.0Bhupendra Devkota1College of Applied Sciences – Nepal, Tribhuvan UniversityCollege of Applied Sciences – Nepal, Tribhuvan University<p>Electrification in Kathmandu valley had started in 1911 and the use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) probably started since 1940s (Devkota, 2005). This research work was undertaken to find out the degree and extent of PCBs contamination in transformer oil and to explore its impacts on occupational health and safety issues of the workers and on the environment. The research was focused on Distributions Centers of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in the Kathmandu valley, NEA Lainchaur workshop and welding workshops of the Kathmandu valley. The samples of transformer oil were collected, safely stored and analyzed using L2000DX Chloride Analyzer, PCBs contamination at &gt;50 ppm level was found in 184 distribution transformers with total volume of PCBs contaminated transformer oil to be 67566.3 Kg. The knowledge on impacts of PCBs contaminated transformer oil on human health and environment was better among NEA employees than among employees of welding workshops, though not satisfactory. Due to very low awareness, the workers come in contact with the transformer oil regularly and many health impacts such as eye problems, skin related complication, weakness and respiratory problems might be due to this exposure; however, exact impacts could not be verified scientifically.</p><p>DOI: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i4.11727">http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i4.11727</a> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><strong>International Journal of Environment</strong></p><p>Volume-3, Issue-4, Sep-Nov 2014</p><p>Page : 12-23</p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://nepjol.info/index.php/IJE/article/view/11727Distribution CentresPersistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)Sub StationsTransformers
spellingShingle Laxman K.C.
Bhupendra Devkota
PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
International Journal of Environment
Distribution Centres
Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Sub Stations
Transformers
title PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
title_full PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
title_fullStr PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
title_full_unstemmed PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
title_short PCBs Contaminantion of Transformer Oil and its Occupational Health and Safety Status in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
title_sort pcbs contaminantion of transformer oil and its occupational health and safety status in the kathmandu valley nepal
topic Distribution Centres
Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs)
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Sub Stations
Transformers
url http://nepjol.info/index.php/IJE/article/view/11727
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