Edmonton charged after stadium lights leak PCBs

The City of Edmonton is facing nine enviromental charges over the release of PCBs at Commonwealth Stadium during the 2001 IAAF World Champisionships in Athletics.

It is alleged that five stadium lights failed during the games, causing oil containing PCBs to drip into the upper seating area of the stadium. It’s believed that the lights overheated and exploded after being on for extended periods during the games.

The 60,000-seat stadium in the downtown area, home to the Edmonton Eskimos football team, was built in 1976. Nearly all light fixtures produced in the mid-1970s contained PCBs as a conductor, until they were outlawed from manufacturing as carcinogens in 1980.

Each offence for the release of PCBs carries a maximum penalty of $500,000