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EPA Announces Guidance on PCBs in Caulk of Buildings Constructed or Renovated Between 1950 and 1978

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in September 2009, that there is evidence in which many buildings across the country constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1978 may have Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at high levels in the caulk surrounding windows and door frames, between masonry columns and in other masonry building materials. Although EPA has been dealing with PCB-contaminated building materials for several years, more data has become available recently, which demonstrates the high levels at which PCBs can be found in caulk.

PCBs are man-made chemicals that persist in the environment and were widely used in construction materials and electrical products prior to 1978. PCBs can affect the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system and endocrine system and are potentially cancer-causing if they build up in the body over long periods of time. As a result, PCBs have been banned from most uses for the past 30 years. However, high levels of PCBs can be found in buildings constructed prior to the ban.

No national survey of PCBs in caulk has been conducted so there is no precise information on the prevalence of PCB-containing caulk in schools and other buildings. Based on the small number of test samples gathered from different parts of the country and because of its excellent properties as a plasticizer, EPA believes that the presence of such caulk in schools and other buildings built or renovated in this period could be widespread. This is an issue that different EPA regional offices have been dealing with for years but, because there is now more data and experience, EPA leadership believes the time has come to provide guidance and technical assistance to schools and other buildings on a national basis.

PCBs have been detected in caulk in large scale apartment complexes, public buildings, and schools, with concentrations ranging from as low as 50 ppm to as high as 300,000 ppm. In some cases, PCBs were used in caulk with a concentration as high as 30%.  In addition, the soils surrounding these buildings can become contaminated with PCBs originating from building materials. PCBs have also been found in public drinking water basins in California and Colorado. In each case, the caulk was removed and replaced – and the water in these basins is now being regularly tested to make sure that there is no residual PCB contamination.

If facility administrators or building owners are concerned about the potential of PCB contaminated caulk, they should not only test for the presence of PCBs in the caulk but should also test whether the potential exposure will be dermal – either from inhalation or from ingestion. To determine if the caulk in your school or building contains PCBs:

• Review records about construction, if available
• Consider air testing to determine if PCB levels in the air exceed EPA’s
   safety thresholds
• Test chipping or flaking caulk by sending samples to a chemical analysis laboratory (such as Pace) to determine the presence and concentration of PCBs. (Nearby material (e.g., brick, cinder block, or wood) should also be tested to determine if it   contains PCBs because PCBs in caulk can migrate into surrounding material.)    
   

 There are several methods for determining the presence of PCBs in caulk. An analytical lab can test a sample of the caulk and the surrounding materials. The lab should follow the recommended approach for extraction and analysis referenced in EPA’s PCB regulations. Alternatively, you can screen for PCBs in caulk on site by use of a technique known as x-ray fluorescence, in which case, you do not need to remove the caulk. For determining the presence of PCBs in indoor air, EPA has two approved methods: Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air – Compendium Method TO-4A (high air volume) and Compendium Method TO-10A (low air volume).

For buildings constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1978, EPA recommends that PCB-containing caulk be removed during planned renovations and repairs (when replacing windows, doors, roofs, ventilation, etc.).   EPA regulations implementing the Toxic Substances Control ACT (TSCA) prohibit the use of PCBs at levels above 50 ppm, including continued use in caulk that is already in place.  While TSCA regulations do not require building owners to test caulk for PCBs, if testing shows PCB concentrations above the regulatory limit, then the regulations require the removal of those PCBs.  Schools that are planning renovations or repairs should take the opportunity to test for PCBs and remove caulk found above the regulatory limit.  EPA has not yet determined the effectiveness of encapsulation techniques to prevent the release of PCBs.

It is critically important to ensure that PCBs are not released to the air during replacement or repair of caulk in affected buildings. EPA is recommending simple, common sense work practices to prevent the release of PCBs during these operations. These recommendations can be found at www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk  and also by calling the EPA hotline: (toll free at 1-888-835-5372).

Research by the EPA to determine the full impact of PCB contaminated caulk continues. This research is being designed to identify and evaluate potential sources of PCBs in order to better understand exposures to humans and to improve risk management decisions. Research conducted by EPA and others will clarify three issues: 1) characterize potential sources of PCB exposures in buildings (caulk, coatings, mastics and adhesives, light ballasts, etc.); 2) investigate the relationship of these sources to PCB concentrations in air, dust, and soil; and, 3) evaluate methods to reduce exposures to PCBs in caulk and other sources. This research will result in additional EPA recommendations on how best to reduce risk and exposure from PCBs in schools and other buildings.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk.