PCBS IN SCHOOLS AN OLD HAZARD NEWLY RECOGNIZED. David O. Carpenter, MD Institute for Health and the Environment University at Albany

Transcription

1 PCBS IN SCHOOLS AN OLD HAZARD NEWLY RECOGNIZED David O. Carpenter, MD Institute for Health and the Environment University at Albany

2 History Relative to Schools PCBs were manufactured in the US between 1929 and Most were used as insulators in electrical transformers and capacitors, including ballasts in fluorescent lights. Other uses included as a solvent for paint and caulk. Old schools often have leaking fluorescent light ballasts and PCB-containing caulk and paint. Old PCB sources release PCBs into the air by volatilization.

3 PCBs in building materials Caulk PCBs were used as a solvent for caulk from the 1950 s until the late 1970 s. According to USDOE, 46% of all buildings in US constructed between 1947 and 1979 contain PCB caulk. The content of PCBs in caulk is often very high. Caulk was used around windows, door frames, and other masonry building materials (interior and exterior). The PCBs both volatize into air and migrate into masonry around the PCB-containing caulk. EPA believes that the use of PCB-containing caulk in schools and other buildings could be widespread. 3

4 EPA Standards for PCBs Use of materials containing PCBs at concentrations greater than 50 ppm in open uses like caulk is illegal and must be removed provided you know it is present. If you think it is there but don t test you don t legally have to remove it! EPA has no standard for PCBs in air, but has an advisory for schools of 100 ng/m 3 for students ages 3-6 and 300 ng/m 3 for students ages 6-12 years.

5 PCBs in Schools 2000: 151 teachers in a German school with PCB-containing sealants showed elevated blood concentrations of lower chlorinated PCBs from breathing the air. 2011: Similar finding of teachers in Boston schools. Elementary school in Lexington, MA torn down because it wasn t possible to remove all the PCBs. 2011: 772 NYC schools identified as containing old PCBcontaining light ballasts, some leaking. 2015: Clark Elementary School in Hartford, CT closed because of so much PCB contamination. All students were moved to other schools : Malibu, CA schools found by parents to contain PCB-contaminate caulk. Concentrations in caulk were as high as 570,000 ppm.

6 NYC Schools Many old NYC schools have both PCB light ballasts and caulk. Leaking ballasts appear to be the most serious concern in NYC. Some had PCB concentrations from ballasts as high as 670,000 ppm, and one leaked drops of pure PCBs directly on the head of a student. In four pilot schools 152 rooms contained caulk exceeding 50 ppm, some as high as 440,000 ppm. The Bloomberg administration proposed removing the old ballasts over a period of 10 years at a cost of $708 million, but EPA forced replacement over three years. EPA standards of 50 ppm and 300 ng/m 3 are based on prevention of cancer, not cognitive effects. PCBs reduce IQ. This is the last thing you want to have happen in a school!

7 Malibu Schools In 2011 soil samples outside Malibu schools were found to contain elevated concentrations of PCBs (over 200,000 ppm). In a search for the source, caulk PCB samples were collected from 17 classrooms in 2013 and exceeded the 50 ppm concentration, leading to air, wipe and bulk testing. The rooms with elevated PCBs were remediated at significant cost. The school board refused to test any additional rooms because if they didn t know they didn t have to remediate. Six of 55 teachers have thyroid cancer, a cancer known to result from inhalation of PCBs. Parents collected caulk to have it analyzed and were arrested by the school board for trespassing and stealing caulk! There in ongoing litigation to force the School Board to remove all caulk above the 50 ppm concentration.

8 How Great is the Problem? Most schools have not been tested and are unaware of the issue. The cost of remediation can be very large, and must be borne by the local community. It isn t just removing the caulk, since the PCBs migrate into the masonry. The issue isn t only schools, but is common in any older building that has not been remediated.

9 Neurotoxic Effects of Developmental PCB Exposure Decreased IQ Impulsivity Attention problems Poor school performance/ language processing Deficient social behavior Blurring of gender-specific behavior

10 Conclusions PCBs are dangerous chemicals that cause significant human disease. Of greatest concern in a school is that PCBs reduce cognitive function and ability to learn. PCBs also cause cancer. While the cancers may appear years after exposure there is already indications of elevated thyroid and melanoma cancers in teachers and students in Malibu. PCBs alter endocrine functions, including both thyroid and sex hormone function. Our research indicates that volatile PCB exposure is associated with increased risk of abnormal menstrual cycles and diabetes. We must protect students, teachers and staff from unnecessary exposure to PCBs.