A practical and efficient disposal method for chemical dechlorination of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in transformer oil was evaluated. The transformer oil containing PCBs was treated by the PEG 600 (polyethylene glycol 600) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) along with different reaction temperatures(25, 50, 100 and 150oC) and times(30, 60, 240 and 480 min). The best disposal efficiency of PCBs in transformer oil was attained under the experimental conditions of PEG 600 (2.5 w/w%)/KOH (2.5 w/w%)/150oC/4 hrs, showing completely removal of all PCBs containing 3-9 chlorines on two rings of biphenyl. In studying the reaction of PEG/KOH with PCBs, it confirmed that the process led to less chlorinated PCBs through a stepwise process with the successive elimination of chlorines.

A comprehensive quality survey for heavy metals, organophosphorous and organochlorine residual pesticides, and coplanar PCBs in samples such as water, sediments and soils as well as spiders has been implemented. The samples were undertaken at nine stream sites and their vicinity in August 2006, representing different surrounding environments. The levels of PCBs were expressed as concentrations and WHO-TEFs. Among 12 coplanar PCBs as target compounds in this study, 2,3',4,4',5-PentaCB (IUPAC # 118) was the congener with the highest concentration. The total concentrations and TEF values of coplanar PCBs in Siheung stream sediment (heavy industrial complex site located in Ansan city) were 3915.50 pg/g and 0.8366 pg-TEQ/g on a dry weight basis, respectively. Such levels were around 40 times higher compared to sediment from Gapyung stream (green site located in the upper of Myunggi mountain). It is probably due to the direct input of PCBs from PCBs treatment materials. Organophosphorous (EPN, dementon-s-methyl, diazinon, parathion, and phenthoate) and organochlorine (alpha-BHC, aldrin, 4,4'-DDT, 4,4'-DDE, endosulfan alpha and etc.) pesticides were not detected above 5 ppb of detection limits. The concentrations of Cu and Cd in water and sediment samples from Siheung stream were 44.11 and 0.17 ug/㎖ and 713.42 ㎍/g and 3.73 ㎍/g, respectively, which contained 20～40 times higher concentrations than those from Gapyung stream. In addition to the water and sediment samples, the levels of heavy metals in spider from designated sampling sites were also determined. Heavy metals in spider collected near Siheung stream was appeared to be equivalent and/or a little higher levels with respect to other spiders. Furthermore, the ratio of relative heavy metals (Cu, Cd, and Pb) in spider from each stream site showed a correlation as similar as that of heavy metals in soil samples.