PCBs in Building Materials:PCBs in Building Materials:An Emerging Health Issue inAn Emerging Health Issue in

SchoolsSchools

Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHOACS NERM

October 9, 2009

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OutlineOutlinePCB BackgroundHealth ConcernsReactionsBuilding MaterialsRemoval StrategiesCase StudyConclusions

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What Are PCBs?What Are PCBs?Polychlorinated biphenylsA group of man-made chemicals

209 combinations (congeners)Different degradabilityToxicity variesDifferent abundances

Very stableNo known natural sources

Nearly everybody has traces in bodyCommonly known to be used in electrical equipment, industrialprocesses, and manufacturingBanned from production in 1976

Nonpolar/hydrophobicDo not easily dissolve in waterBinds strongly to sediment particlesFat soluble and stored in an organism's fatty tissue

dep.state.ct.us/wst/pcb/pcbindex.htm www.epa.gov/pcb/www.trwnews.net/isdioxindangerous.htm

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Structure of Polychlorinated Biphenyl

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Boronic AcidBromo- or Iodobenzene Boronic AcidBromo- or Iodobenzene

SynthesisSynthesisCommercial products mixtures

Aroclors most common in USVarious methods

Chlorinate biphenylModified Suzuki coupling reaction

Kania-Korwel I, Parkin S, Robertson LW, Lehmler HJ. “Synthesis of polychlorinated biphenyls and their metabolites with a modified Suzuki-coupling.” Chemosphere. 2004 Aug;56(8):735-44

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Properties of PCBsProperties of PCBs

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Brief HistoryBrief History1881: First Synthesis1914: Measurable amount in bird feathers1927: PCBs first manufactured in Alabama (Swann)1930’s: First worker health problems & studies1935: Monsanto bought Swann1947: GE began using PCBs in electrical equipment1950’s: Toxicity of PCBs of concern but not fully acted on1960’s: Increasing awareness of PCB hazards1968: 1300 Japanese residents ate rice contaminated with PCBs1970’s: Increased study into PCBs toxicity1970’s: Government gets involved1979: EPA issues final regulations banning manufacture of PCBsLate 1980’s: Companies cleanup and stop using PCBsEarly 90’s: EPA declares PCB carcinogens, endocrine disruptors, and

reproductive toxins2000: United Nations Environment Program committee ban on PCBs

Adapted from: “Lake Michigan Mass Balance Study - PCB Modeling Report” Ronald Rossmann, Editor, EPA-600/R-04/167 December 2006

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PCB UsesPCB Uses

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Health ConcernsHealth ConcernsPCBs cause a variety of adverse health effects

CancerAnimals

Immune systemReproductive systemNervous systemEndocrine system

Affects children through PCB-exposed mothersPhysical and mental

The toxicity of PCBs varies considerably among congenersCoplanar PCBs, non-ortho, generally are most toxic congeners

Health effects may be interrelatedAlterations in one system may have significant implications for theother systems of the body

www.trwnews.net/isdioxindangerous.htm

emedicine.medscape.com/article/1093801-overview www.foxriverwatch.com/jointdisease.jpg

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Health ImpactHealth Impact

Image 1: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/sites/springvalley/exposure_pathways.gif Image 2: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Health_effects_of_pollution.png

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RegulationsRegulationsEPA 40 CFR part 761 (§761)

MarkingManufactureProcessingDistributionUseStorageDisposal

PCBs in caulking and sealant materials was neverauthorized by EPA

Use is not authorizedHighly unlikely to be authorized

Caulk containing 50 ppm PCB must be removedTesting “may be advisable” (EPA Nov. 2003)

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Media CoverageMedia CoverageDoherty High Worcester MA

2 incidentsYorktown School District PCB Contamination

French Hill Elementary SchoolBen Franklin Elementary School

New York CityCitywide concern

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Building MaterialsBuilding Materials

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StructuresStructures

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Remediation StepsRemediation Steps1. Identify suspect PCB material

Physical inspectionIdentify pre-1980 constructionReview of architecture plansReview construction and remodeling history

2. Sample and TestSuspect materialsAdjacent materialAirSoil

3. Determine exposure levelHow often people interact with material?How could people interact with material?

4. Determine method to minimize exposureRemovalBarrier

5. DisposalVerify PCB material left is below allowable concentrationUnregulated wasteRegulated waste

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Harvard StudyHarvard StudyJuly 2004 – HSPH Press Release24 Buildings Tested1/3 or 8 of 24 Exceeded 50 ppmPCBUp to 50,000 ppm PCBCaulk Unrecognized andWidespread Source of PCBsRecommends Routine Testing ofCaulk

Robert F. Herrick, Michael D. McClean, John D. Meeker, Lisa K.Baxter, George A. Weymouth. “An Unrecognized Source of PCBContamination in Schools and Other Buildings.” EnvironmentalHealth Perspectives. 2004, 112 (10), 1051.

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Boston GlobeBoston Globe –– Sept. 2009Sept. 2009

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UMASS AmherstUMASS Amherst LederleLederle BuildingBuildingProject began as exteriorweatherization

13 story buildingContractor hired, pulled PCBsample leading to initialidentificationResulted in almost 2 year delayon projectChange order for the contractor$2 million3 consultants involvedWork completed under self-implementing remediation plan

some coverage of caulk joints dueto still high PCB

Soil removal required

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BronxBronx –– Sept. 2009Sept. 2009A news investigation 17 months agorevealed dangerous levels of potentiallycancer-causing PCBs in the windowcaulking of schools across the city builtbefore the material was banned in 1977City has yet to remove itLawsuit to require the city to

Test for PCB caulk in at-risk schoolsForce the removal of all tainted material

PCB levels2,000 times the legal limit of 50 parts permillionAnything over 50 ppm is deemed toxic underfederal law

In response to The News' investigationEducation Department scrubbed the schoolsRemoved contaminated soil

Did not remove the toxic caulkingCity concluded that air tests showed low riskof exposure

Ongoing discussions with the EPA todevelop a plan to address the issue

“We're starting another schoolyear, and the city still has donenothing about this problem,”said Gonzalez, whose daughterEmelina, 6, attends PublicSchool 178 in the Bronx.

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Case StudyCase Study –– OverviewOverviewProject to demolish existing school buildings

LibraryAttached building

A consultant tested for PCBs after project bid but prior to fulldemolitionMixed PCBs results

Extreme highs and lowsTests showed almost all caulking on both buildings >50 ppm PCBs

West Elevation: Baxter Building.North Elevation: Darling Library (left) and BaxterBuilding (right) showing connector.

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Case StudyCase Study –– First StepFirst StepFuss & O’Neill requested to assist with removal of caulking tofacilitate demolitionBuildings needed to be demolished before start of school

About 2 monthsContractor caulk samples needed further characterization

Possible cross contamination of samplesCaulk in both buildings was resampled

Proper decontamination was performedAlso sampled adjacent porous surfaces to determine PCB concentration

ResultsMany areas contained no PCB caulkingLibrary had no PCB caulking

Allowed demolition

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Case StudyCase Study –– RemovalRemovalBids received

Company selected to perform workWork on exterior was performed on enclosed lifts

Control dust emissionsMaterials adjacent to caulk cut or removed

Brick, concrete, and limestoneWhole sections for some structuresDisposed of as TSCA waste >50 ppm PCBs

SamplesVerification samples collected every 5 linear feet (§761 subpart O)Four samples were composited to decrease analysis costSeveral locations failed initial verification sampling

Additional removal of adjacent substrates was performedContractor tried using cleaning product Capsur® to washsurfaces where cutting had occurred

Used due to extreme depths into substrate not observed in initialsamplingResulted in passing verification samplesDid not require further cutting into substrates in most locations

Next slide shows some of the locations after removal

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Case StudyCase Study –– PicturesPictures

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Case StudyCase Study –– ResultsResultsSoil adjacent to buildings also had elevated PCB content andwas removed.All waste disposed as TSCA regulated waste containing >50ppm PCBs as required under a performance based removalproject.Demolition schedule was essentially maintained and buildingswere demolished.

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CaulkCaulkCaulk is a suspected PCB-containing material andshould be routinely tested for PCBs prior todisturbance.Caulk is a significant PCB exposure risk.PCB-containing caulk must be removed and disposedof as PCB waste upon discovery.State agencies and private businesses have begun todevelop guidelines for testing and removal of PCB-containing caulk.Currently testing caulk for PCBs is not required bylaw but “may be advisable.”

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Project ImplementationProject ImplementationEach project is site specific

Concentration levelsMaterials presentHistory of the building.

Which plan depends onTimeBudgetLogistics

Area occupied?

Time for completion is weeks to months to yearsAlthough not required to test, addressing the probleminternally can avoid bad public relations.Once one contaminated area is remediated, other areas shouldbe considered.

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www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulkwww.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk//

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ContactContact

Craig Calvert146 Hartford RoadManchester, CT 06040(860) 646-2469 x5571

ccalvert@fando.com

Questions?