The use of oils based on polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) is widespread, since these synthetic liquids are very stable, non-corrosive and virtually non-inflammable.

Because of this, they are excellent thermal and insulating agents.

Although the first synthesis of oils based on PCBs dates from 1881, it was not until 1929 that industrial production was undertaken. Since then, they have been found to have numerous applications and more particularly in electrical equipment.

The insulating and cooling liquids based on PCBs used in electrical equipment are known by the generic name of "askarels".

Askarels can be distinguished from mineral oil by their strong pungent odour, their density heavier than water (1.3 to 1.7), their more viscous consistency and their colour ranging from transparent to pale yellow.

However, when they are contaminated by residues or humidity, they become cloudier or darker in appearance.

For many years, scientific reports on the toxic effects of PCBs, published from time to time in the various medical reviews, have not aroused any particular interest.

It is only recently that international public opinion has been alerted to the series of accidents that have happened and have shown that PCBs, when they undergo incomplete combustion can give rise to dioxins or furans which are very toxic substances.

The dangers associated with PCBs are of two types: those caused by pollution in the cold (the case of a leak or spill) and those caused by pollution at high temperatures (in cases of explosion or fires of electric equipment spreading to PCBs).

Although PCBs in the cold have a low toxicity towards human beings, on the other hand, repeated exposure to small quantities of PCBs can cause liver, neurological and immune diseases.

They can furthermore constitute powerful tumour-causing agents.

In the case of pyrolysis, askarels decompose into trichlorobenzene, polychlorodibenzodioxins and polychlorodibenzofurans.

Trichlorobenzene produces hydrochloric vapour which is corrosive for respiratory and ocular mucus.

Effects range from respiratory discomfort and coughing to acute oedema of the lungs.

Dioxin produces chloracne, hair loss and melanosis. It is hepatotoxic, tetratogenous and carcigenous. It can also provoke neurological disturbances, emotional instability, difficulty in concentration, excessive cholesterol and hyperthyroidism.

I. MEASURES TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ASKARELS

Algeria, in common with the rest of the international community, uses electrical equipment with askarels (5,000 transformers at the last count).

Because of this, numerous incidents associated with the use of this equipment have been reported.

These incidents, which have occurred in every part of the country, have happily not had serious consequences, neither on the environment nor on the health of the population.

In view of the dangers connected with askarels, our country has undertaken a series of actions to tackle this problem.

Given the intersectoral character of these actions, the responsibility for this issue has been entrusted to an interministerial group set up for that purpose in July 1986.

This interministerial group was composed of representatives of the sectors concerned (public health, light industry, heavy industry, energy and petrochemical industries, home affairs and the environment).

This interministerial group, led by the sector responsible for the environment, has undertaken a series of actions to tackle this problem in all its aspects, as follows:

(See table in annex)

Every effort has been made, targeting business people, local cooperatives and the public at large, to inform and make them aware of the risks connected with electrical equipment using askerels, the dangers arising from accidental spills of oils based on PCBs and the way of dealing with accidental pollution by these products.

The main actions are as follows:

Among these possible disposal procedures, the interministerial group opted for surface storage in the first phase, then high temperature incineration as a final solution in the long term; surface storage presents numerous advantages in the sense that it is a simple and effective method, is not expensive and can be carried out using local resources.

This method does not, however, allow for the final disposal of these wastes, and the risks entailed would have to continue to be managed.

High temperature incineration is the final solution to the problem. definitively. This method is very costly however and requires technology not yet introduced into the country.

Before the publication of the decree, regulatory measures were put in place by a series of circulars, as follows: (10 September 1985):

- A technical instruction from the Ministry of Health, aimed at medical personnel, on what to do in the case of accidental contamination by PCBs;

- Interministerial circular No.121 CAB of 4 December 1985, which invited the owners of electrical equipment using askarels to make themselves known, prescribes safety regulations, applicable to electrical apparatus in service and defines the regulations regarding the handling, transport and storage of askarels and askarel wastes;

- Circular from the Ministry of Light Industry, aimed at industrial units of this sector, giving preventive and intervention methods in the case of an accidental spill;

- Technical instruction from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the protection of civil defence personnel.

A decree relating to oils based on PCBs, electrical equipment containing them and material contaminated by this product was prepared and published on 18 August 1987 (Decree No.17-182).

This was a decree which, on the one hand, banned the importation, fabrication, installation, purchase, sale or transfer of electrical equipment using askarels and, on the other hand, defined the safety regulations for the use of equipment in service. It also set out the management regulations for the storage of wastes contaminated by PCBs and the regulations that are to be observed following an accidental spill of oils based on PCBs.

Beside the interministerial group, it was decided to set up technical committees at provincial levels whose mission would be to establish an inventory of electrical equipment using askarels and askarel wastes, and to set up the arrangements, at provincial level, for intervention on the case of accidental spills of oil based on PCBs.

This specific form of organization on the one hand provided for an exhaustive inventory to be drawn up of electrical equipment using askarels and, on the other hand, provided for the rapid mobilization of local resources for intervention in the case of pollution by PCBs.

In order to concentrate all PCB wastes countrywide in one place, so as to be able to guarantee their safety and to manage them in a sounder manner from a financial and environmental viewpoint, the interministerial group prepared a study on the establishment of a national storage centre for PCB wastes.

The study considered the choice of site before starting, specified the safety measures necessary for the development and use of the centre and assessed the financial implications of this operation.

The conclusions of this study enabled a data sheet to be prepared, which is annexed to the present report (Annex 3).

In 1989, in order to choose the site prior to opening the centre, the interministerial group undertook fact-finding missions for five provinces in the highlands (M'sila, Setif, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Tiaret and Djelfa) and chose a site in the commune of Naama (Province of Tiaret) which presented numerous advantages from the viewpoint of finance and also environmental safety. The interministerial group has currently set out provisions concerning the setting up of the sites. Each province must therefore be responsible for its own storage area, with a view to minimizing the risk associated with transport and to avoid other risks.

It is clear that the issue of electrical equipment using PCBs can only be finally settled when all the equipment is eventually replaced by other electrical apparatus not using oils based on PCBs.

It is not possible to envisage the replacement in one operation of all the electrical equipment using PCBs that is actually in use, because of the excessive cost of such an operation.

The interministerial group proposed that the replacement should be done gradually. This would mean a first phase of replacing all electrical equipment using PCBs in places open to the public, such as universities, educational establishments, health care centres, public buildings, residential buildings, etc. ...

The interministerial group also proposed that this priority replacement programme should also apply to industrial units of the agrofood sector where there are risks of the pollution of food products.

The number of transformers involved in this priority programme is around 1100 units.

Most of these transformers (880) can be replaced by transformers fabricated in Algeria using mineral oil.

In regard to transformers using PCBs installed within the buildings (220), their replacement should be by so-called "dry" transformers, or reasons of safety in the event of explosions or fire. These transformers are not manufactured in Nigeria and it would be necessary to import them.

A detailed proposal regarding this priority replacement programme was made, in the form of a data sheet annexed to the present document.

II. CONCLUSION

The measures to be taken consist, on the one hand, in establishing a storage centre for askarel wastes and, on the other hand, undertaking a priority replacement operation for electrical equipment using askarels located in places frequented by the general public.

As far as the undertaking of a storage centre for PCB wastes is concerned, it should be remembered that is a question of putting in a safe place large quantities of wastes that are highly dangerous and which are currently stored in poor conditions by their owners.

The location proposed for this is a site in the commune of Naama (Province of Tiaret).

Since this is an operation of public interest, the funding of this centre should be provided by the State.

In regard to the management of the centre, for the time being, this should be entrusted to the host Province, pending finalization of a global formula for the management of all toxic wastes, which was the subject of a communication from the Government during the fourth quarter of 1989.

It is understood that the central environmental services will provide all the necessary assistance for the establishment and operation of this centre according to professional standards.

Lastly, for the final disposal of PCB wastes, the only solution is high temperature incineration. A feasibility study of the plant for the specialized incineration of this type of waste must be made.

The centre could also deal with all toxic wastes having the same characteristics as PCB wastes.

INVENTORY OF EQUIPMENT USING PCBS

Following the promulgation of the Ministerial Order banning the sale and use of organochlorines, all imports of pesticides are subject to frontier checks, in accordance with the regulations in force, authorizing refusal of entry of any pesticide not on the approval list for Algeria.

Also, all quantities of organochlorines and banned products such as Aldrin, Dieldrine and Heptachlor discovered in the survey initiated by Circular No. 1372/DGE/4083/PES of 14 September 1994, of outdated pesticides, were put under seal by the pesticide brigade under the authority of the Ministry of Agriculture.

3. Are POPs exported from your country? ¨yes ¨no ¨don't know

Are POPs used in your country? x yes ¨ no ¨ don't know

Have alternatives been chosen? x often ¨occasionally    ¨seldom ¨never

Reasons why they have not been chosen ¨cost ¨effectiveness   ¨other

Name of substances:PCB Approx. quantity:

Have alternatives been chosen? ¨often ¨occasionally ¨seldom ¨never

Reasons why they have not been chosen: ¨cost ¨effectiveness ¨other

Name of substances:Organo Pesticides Approx. quantity: 190 tonnes

Have alternatives been chosen? ¨often ¨occasionally ¨seldom ¨never

Reasons why they have not been chosen: ¨cost ¨effectiveness ¨other

Name of substances: Approx. quantity:

Have alternatives been chosen? ¨often ¨occasionally ¨seldom ¨never

Reasons why they have not been chosen: ¨cost ¨effectiveness ¨other

4. Are POPs stored in your country? x yes ¨ no ¨ don't know

Are the storage areas known? x yes ¨ no

5. Are POPs released into the environment? ¨ yes x no ¨ don't know

Released into: ¨water ¨ air ¨ ground

Origin of release: ¨industrial activity

¨ crop treatment

¨ vector control

¨ Others

6. Are people exposed to POPs? ¨ yes ¨ no ¨ don't know

¨ professional exposure    ¨ consumer exposure

¨ residential area exposure ¨ accidents and poisoning

¨ ambient/air ¨surface water ¨groundwater

¨ emission sources ¨biological

8. Are there legal restrictions on the use of POPs?    x yes ¨ no ¨ don't know

¨ Health standards or regulations ¨ optional programme

¨ Environmental standards or regulations

¨ Directives

¨ Other:

• Decree No 87-182 of 18 August 1987