Environment & Energy
Related: About this forumOil leaked into Hudson River after fire at nuclear reactor near NYC
Oil leaked into the Hudson River on Sunday after a transformer fire and explosion a day earlier at the Indian Point nuclear plant north of New York City, and Governor Andrew Cuomo said he was concerned about environmental damage.
Cuomo visited the plant for a briefing on Sunday. The governor, who in the past has called for the plant to be shut down because of its proximity to densely populated New York City, also visited the plant on Saturday.
When the transformer exploded, it released oil into a holding tank, which then overflowed, sending oil onto the ground and into the river, Cuomo told reporters on Sunday after he was briefed by emergency and plant officials.
He said crews were working to contain and clean up the oil spill but it was not clear yet how much oil had been released.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/oil-leaked-into-hudson-river-after-fire-at-nuclear-reactor-near-nyc/ar-BBjyYCa?ocid=ansnewsreu11
mackdaddy
(1,520 posts)these are a big problem, and a know carcinogen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polychlorinated_biphenyl
madokie
(51,076 posts)a long time ago. I don't have a link to that but I do know its been decades since they've used pcb's in the transformers
mackdaddy
(1,520 posts)The pole mounted one at my parents house is 45 years old.
madokie
(51,076 posts)mackdaddy
(1,520 posts)My Dad built their house about 1967, and they are still there (dad is 83 now). I am pretty sure the transformer that was installed at that time is still on the pole. It could have been replace, but I do not think so. Since they are in a rural area, and the transformer only services their house so it would not be stressed and be used below its capacity. It could therefore still be their original transformer.
From what I can tell, they stopped putting PCB oil in transformers about 1979 in the US, after it was shown how toxic it was.
FBaggins
(26,696 posts)When the previous unit in that same location failed.
http://pbadupws.nrc.gov/docs/ML0716/ML071620122.pdf
mackdaddy
(1,520 posts)They stopped using the PCB stuff by 1980 in new units.