title: Overview of in situ and ex situ remediation technologies for PCB-contaminated soils and sediments and obstacles for full-scale application.
abstract: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) are persistent organic pollutants used worldwide between the 1930s and 1980s. Although their use has been heavily restricted, PCB can be found in contaminated soils and sediments. The most frequent remediation solutions adopted are "dig and dump" and "dig and incinerate", but there are currently new methods that could be more sustainable alternatives. This paper takes a look into the remediation options available for PCB-contaminated soils and sediments, differentiating between biological, chemical, physical and thermal methods. The use of combined technologies was also reviewed. Most of them are still in an initial development stage and further research in different implementation issues is needed. There is no single technology that is the solution for PCB contamination problem. The successful remediation of a site will depend on proper selection, design and adjustment of the technology or combined technologies to the site characteristics.
authors: CENSE - Center for Environmental and Sustainability Research, Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. hrg@campus.fct.unl.pt
authors: Helena I
authors: HI
authors: Gomes
authors: Celia
authors: C
authors: Dias-Ferreira
authors: Alexandra B
authors: AB
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D012987:Soil; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls