Ralph Mowery wrote:

"rickman" wrote in message
...

The PCB is not really that toxic. The problem is that it almost does not
break down and gets into the food chain. You can touch it and even get a
small ammount in your mouth without any harm to you. I don't mean drink
it,
but say you get some on your hand and lick a drop or two off your finger.

Wow! What is your basis for saying that? Are you trying to say if it
doesn't kill you outright there is no danger?

PCB is often talked about like a few drops will kill you. Many things
around the house are much more toxic. Look at all the dangers listed on the
drugs they advertise on the TV.
While we don't want the PCP oil to get into the food chain, some tree
huggers just jumped on that and tried to make it sound like it would kill
you or cause brain damage or some such junk as that. While it will do that,
it takes more than a few drops and not many people are going to just drink a
glass of it.

Yes. It is not very poisonous, but it adds long term to the burden of
toxins the body has to deal with. If you have children or
grandchildren in the house you might want to avoid even a 1% increase in
the chance of them getting cancer or neurological damage in 50 years
time just so you can use a 70 year old capacitor. Or you might decide
it is a negligible risk. At a population level, it is probably sensible
to try to keep PCBs out of the environment. A hundred little things may
add up to a significant improvement in health in the next century. Why
not do them if the cost is not too great now?

--
Roger Hayter