Are video display terminals a source of increased PCB concentration in the working atmosphere?

Abstract

In response to the question: „Are datascreen terminals a source of increased PCB concentrations in the working atmosphere?” a study of PCB emissions from video display terminals (VDT) was undertaken. Emissions of 2.4 to 8.1 ng PCB/h were observed from VDT located in a building (1) where the mean PCB level in the air was 46 ng PCB/m³ during the test period, whereas no PCB emissions were detected from VDT located in a building (2) where no PCB could be detected in the ambient air. However, both the air and the VDT from building 2 were found to be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We conclude that the observed PCB emissions from VDT are the result of the vapourization of PCB deposited onto the VDT from the PCB contaminated air and do not originate from the electrical components of the VDT.