Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of persistent organic pollutants with the ability to cause adverse impacts on human health and the environment. This study describes the indiscriminate use of PCB-contaminated transformer oil as a coolant in informal welding shops in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. Sixty-three welders, one each from a convenience sample of 63 welding workshops participated in the study. We administered a questionnaire and observed work practices. Sixty-two (98%) workplaces used transformer oil as the coolant in the welding equipment, 60 (95%) claiming that it was the only one available. Sixty-two (98%) did not use any protective measures when refilling coolant oil, while none of them safely disposed of the empty coolant oil containers. Only four (6%) were aware of the possible health effects of PCB-contaminated coolant oil. Health and safety measures in the work places studied were very poor. Coolant oil samples from a sub-sample of 30 welding workshops were tested for PCBs; 19 (63%) were positive. PCB-contaminated coolant oil is widely used by the welders in Kalutara without adequate precautions or safety measures.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/1077352512Z.00000000012 | DOI Listing |
ACS Omega
October 2024
Colloids and Polymers Research Group School of Chemical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632014, India.
This paper proposes a new class of novel 2D layered structured materials, such as MXene (MX), for the synthesis of innovative nanofluids as coolants to evaluate the convective heat transfer performance of a double-pipe heat exchanger (DPHE). Convective heat transfer experiments were successfully conducted in lab-scale fabricated DPHE using low-concentration MXene nanofluids by varying the volume concentration of MXene nanoparticles (0.01-0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource & Environment, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China.
Hypothesis: Perfluorocarbon is commonly used as a coolant, chemical reaction carrier solvent, medical anti-hypoxic agents and blood substitutes. The realization of non-contact complex manipulation of perfluorocarbon liquids is urgently needed in human life and industrial production. However, most liquid-repellent interfaces are ineffective for the transport of ultra-low surface tension perfluorocarbon liquids, and struggle to maintain good durability due to unstable air or oil cushions in the surface.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolymers (Basel)
April 2024
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universidad del Valle, Cali 760032, Colombia.
The lifespan of an electrical transformer, primarily determined by the condition of its solid insulation, is well known under various operating conditions when mineral oil is the coolant in these machines. However, there is a trend toward replacing this oil with biodegradable fluids, especially esters; therefore, an understanding of the ageing of solid insulation with these fluids is essential. Currently available data do not allow for the selection of the best ester among those available on the market, as each study applies different conditions, making it impossible to compare results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
March 2024
High Voltage Laboratory, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece.
The surge endurance of natural ester oil-based nanofluids against surge events is investigated experimentally. The focus of this work is the examination, through dielectric spectroscopy measurements, of the alteration of the real and imaginary parts of the complex relative permittivity of iron oxide nanofluids as a result of an accelerated degradation test employing a sequence of repetitive current impulses produced via a 12 kV/6 kA combination wave generator. The target is the exploration of a possible implementation of nanofluids as multipurpose liquids that act, in addition to insulation and coolants, as surge absorption media.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHeliyon
February 2024
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Asir-Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia.
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