| Comments | Sydney NS, May 25, 1994. An explosion and fire of a PCB transformer at a steel factory threatened to cause a major toxic discharge; the surrounding residents were alerted by the noise, pungent, thick smoke, and simultaneous electrical black-out; 500 residents downwind of Witney Pier were evacuated to at least 10 km away; analysis of the soil in the residential area did not reveal contamination by PCB, dioxin, nor furan; a five-week clean-up by specialised contractors was carried out, producing 15 barrels of hazardous waste requiring authorised disposal. |