A link to that Runway lights theft .

In the UK most transformers no longer have PCB oil in - new ones never had and a great many many in not all of the older ones have been drained and refilled, mainly to reduce the hazard should there ever be a leak, and the risk to workers installing and maintaining the things. Some of the modern transformer oils are very safe biologically, and ridiculously good insulators as well. There are fully synthetic oils but for the eco-concious also soy bean and canola oils can be used. Since 2000 in the UK all PCB oil filled items have to be formally registered

It makes you wonder for Kenya if adding purple dye and bitrex would help reduce the rate of theft, or at least the poisonings

Mike

Back in the 1980s I was sorting out the spares cupboard in the Radio Room of a ship (built 1978) and my hands got covered in oil leaking from a metal cased capacitor. The transmitter had a an HT of 3 kV and likely a paper and oil insulated capacitor. I contacted Cunard's Liverpool  Office for info and if I remember correctly was told to dispose of any contamination in an environmentally friendly manner. Their reply could have been worded better..

Clive