The one in my yard leaked once about 3 years ago and 'Osha' came out and cut all the limbs off my apple tree, sprayed my wooden fence down with something and removed all the grass about 20' around. Now I'm wondering if the apples from that tree might be contaminated from the ground.
2007-11-06 16:35:35 · 5 answers · asked by La Cicada 4 in Environment ➔ Other - Environment
I had my blood analyzed for toxins and they found a high percentage of 'cadmium'..just wondering where I picked it up.
2007-11-07 13:01:53 · update #1
The Transformer in the metal can steps voltage down from about 70,000 volts (whatever it may be by the time it reaches your house) to the 120 volts you use in your house. The heat generated from the "step-down" is pretty high, so they put the transformer in a type of oil to disburse it. The oil is not a flammable type, but I wouldn't eat it.
You do have to take into consideration that a lot of vegetation was removed to minimize exposure and contamination. Also, the ground (and the tree) there filtered out much of it. I really doubt your apples are contaminated enough to worry about. At least no more than a tree that gets directly sprayed with pesticide and then the apples sold at market.
If the oil was that bad, your tree would have died.
Most people don't give good old mother earth credit for what she can do in short periods of time.
2007-11-06 16:51:47 · answer #1 · answered by Christopher 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's a transformer, used to "step-down" power so you can use it in your house. To keep it cool, it's filled with oil. If you had an older one (late 80's on back), the oil may have contained PCB's (Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls - bad stuff).
Since the release was sudden rather than over time (I'm assuming OSHA cleaned the oil in a timely manner), then it's unlikely that the oil had time to get to the roots of the tree.
2007-11-07 09:24:57 · answer #2 · answered by bdempseyjr 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had to refill one of these suckers in Nome, Alaska (resources were minimal).
We used 10 weight oil. the same crap you put in an engine. I think we had Penzoil on hand.
It'll do more harm to the ground water.
2007-11-07 01:14:33 · answer #3 · answered by wroockee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A transformer. Older ones could contain PCBs.
2007-11-07 00:38:50 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes there are two and one is regular and one is decaf coffee for when the line workers are up there on break.
2007-11-07 00:50:47 · answer #5 · answered by kevin s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋