PCBs In Schools Matthew Langenfeld USEPA Region 8 303-312-6284 .

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PCBsIn SchoolsMatthew
LangenfeldUSEPA Region 8303-312-6284.
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A Polychlorinated Biphenyl Molecule
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Health and Environment
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Health
Why dont fishermen read fish
advisories!!! Ive been eating PCB-containing
tiny fish and plankton for all of my life. Now
Im not sure if I am male or female and Im quite
loaded! Tag its your turn to have the PCBs.

• The major source of human PCB exposure is from
  eating contaminated fish.

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Health

• PCBs are fat and water soluble
• PCBs get into our food chain and bioaccumulate
• FDA has been compelled to issue tolerances for
  PCBs in
• Fish, meat, milk, eggs
• Soap
• Food packaging

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Environment
Simplified pathway for PCBs entering and
biomagnifying in The food web
Source Seattle Post-Intelligencer The Zone
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Potential Health Effects

• Immune deficiencies
• Reproductive or nervous system difficulties
• Increased risk of cancer

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PCBs in Schools

• PCBs have been found in caulk in schools
  renovated between 1950 and 1978
• PCBs can be in fluorescent light ballasts
  manufactured before 1979
• Removal and replacement can be a major and
  expensive undertaking

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Caulk
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What about adjoining materials?

• If caulk contains PCBs they may have migrated to
  adjoining materials

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How to identify PCBs in caulk

• Visually NO
• Simple test NO
• Sample YES
• Laboratory analysis YES
• Use method SW 846-8082
• 100

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Sampling and Testing

• Sampling and analysis (testing) are not required
• Sampling and analysis for PCBs are best done by
  professionals

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What should you do if you find out that caulk has
PCBs?

• Caulk with PCBs 50 ppm
• is an illegal use and should be REMOVED
• Contaminated adjoining materials
• 1 ppm PCB should be REMOVED
• Caulk with PCBs lt 50 ppm may REMAIN in place

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Immediate steps to reduce exposure

• Clean air ducts
• Improve ventilation
• Clean frequently to reduce dust
• Clean surfaces with a wet or damp cloth
• Dont use dry brooms or dusters
• Use vacuums with high efficiency particulate air
  filters (HEPA)

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Common sense

• Do not allow removed caulk to remain in the
  school or on the school grounds
• Caulk with lt 50 ppm does not have to be removed
  but may nevertheless pose a health hazard.

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Fluorescent Light
Ballasts
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• A fluorescent light ballast

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Removal and Disposal

• Removal is best done by professionals
• Dispose according to
• federal (PCB) regulations allow disposal in
  municipal waste landfills
• state regulations

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Be Aware

• disposers of fluorescent light ballasts that
  contain a PCB small capacitor should be aware
  that they could be subject to CERCLA liability if
  the municipal solid waste landfill becomes a
  Superfund site. This will apply to PCB
  containing caulk
• 63 Fed. Reg. 35383, 35404(June 29,1998)
•  

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Other sources of PCBs in Schools

• Paints
• Carbonless copy paper
• Transformers
• Capacitors

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Transformers
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Capacitors
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For Further Information

• epa.gov/pcbsincaulk PCBs in Caulk in Older
  Buildings, and
• epa.gov/pcbsinballasts Proper Maintenance,
  Removal, and Disposal of PCB-Containing
  Fluorescent Light Ballasts

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Dan W. BenchPCB Coordinator Region 8at 303
312-6027 or bench.dan_at_epa.gov