1 / 20

New York City Transit Environmental Conference 2006

New York City Transit Environmental Conference 2006. PCBs in Caulk – An Unrecognized Source By Tom Gibbons, CHMM. Introduction. Background on PCBs What are PCBs? What are the Historic Uses? What are the Health Risks? Harvard Study on PCBs in Caulk Findings & Developments in US

florrie-morris
Télécharger la présentation

New York City Transit Environmental Conference 2006

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. New York City TransitEnvironmental Conference 2006 PCBs in Caulk – An Unrecognized Source By Tom Gibbons, CHMM

  2. Introduction • Background on PCBs • What are PCBs? • What are the Historic Uses? • What are the Health Risks? • Harvard Study on PCBs in Caulk • Findings & Developments in US • Findings & Developments in Europe • Regulatory Agency / Industry Responses

  3. Mixtures of Synthetic Organic Chemicals with Similar Structures and Properties Chlorine + Biphenyl + Heat = PCBs What are PCBs? Molecular Structure =

  4. What are PCBs? • Properties of PCBs • Non-Flammable • Chemically Stable • High Boiling Point • Electrically Insulating

  5. Historical Uses of PCBs • Electrical Equipment • Heat Transfer Equipment • Hydraulic Equipment • Plasticizers • Caulks and Plastics • Rubber Products • Pigments, Dyes and Paints • 1.5 Billion Pounds / 1977

  6. Health Effects of PCBs • Causes Cancer in Animals • Probable Human Carcinogen • Liver Cancer / Melanoma • Suppresses the Immune System • Reproductive System • Reduces Birth Weight and Conception Rate • Suppresses Neurological Development • Disrupts the Endocrine System – Retards Growth

  7. Harvard School of Public Health • July 2004 – HSPH Press Release • 24 Buildings Tested • 1/3 or 8 of 24 Exceeded 50 ppm PCB • Up to 50,000 ppm PCB • Caulk Unrecognized and Widespread Source of PCBs • Recommends Routine Testing of Caulk

  8. Recent Studies & Findings • California – 1995 • Local Watershed Contaminated • Sediments in Creek 500 ppm PCB • Dunsmuir Reservoir Caulk 15%-20% PCB

  9. Recent Studies & Findings • University of Rhode Island – 2000 • PCBs in Soil Traced to Building Caulk • PCBs in Caulk 600x above EPA Limit • EPA Mandated Clean-up Program • Over 1-year and $3M to Clean-up

  10. Recent Studies & Findings • Westchester County Schools – 2005 • French Hill School – Soil > 1ppm PCB • EPA Mandated $300K Clean-up of Soil and Window Caulk • News Channel 4 PCB Report May 22, 2006

  11. Recent Studies & Findings • 2-year Study – Confidential Client - 2005 • 291 Facilities • PCBs found in Caulk at 40% of facilities • 10% over 50 ppm

  12. Recent Studies & Findings • Montana – 2005 • Fish Contaminated with PCB • Bozeman Hatchery Caulk with PCBs

  13. Recent Studies & Findings • Colorado – 2005 • Marston Water Treatment Plant – PCB in Caulk • Caulk Removed but Underlying Concrete Contaminated - 1000 ppm PCB

  14. European Studies • Finland • Established Link to Elevated Levels of PCB in Worker’s Blood • Removal of ALL PCB Caulk Mandated • Germany • Established Link to Elevated Air Born Concentrations • Established Link to Elevated Levels of PCB in Teacher’s Blood • Sweden • Preparing Requirements to Abate PCB-containing Caulk

  15. Federal Response • EPA Region 2 – November 3, 2005 Letter • “Testing of caulk may be advisable . . .” • “PCB containing caulk is not an authorized use and is illegal.” • “Potential for exposure may be significant” • “PCB-containing caulk must be removed upon discovery” • Removal and Disposal per 40 CFR Part 761 • ATSDR – Aroclor 1254 is a Common Ingredient in Caulk

  16. State / Local Response • Willis Stephens, NYS Assemblyman • Preparing Bill to Require Testing of Caulk in Schools Constructed or Renovated Prior to January 1978. • Michael Kaplowitz, Westchester County Legislator 5/06 • “Now that PCB contamination is being discovered in more and more schools, we need to take a closer look and step up our efforts to get the EPA to appropriately regulate testing and remediation.”

  17. State / Local Response • State University Construction Fund • Requires Testing for PCBs in Caulk Prior to Disturbance • State Education Department • Drafting Guidelines on PCB-containing Caulk • Con Edison • Requires Testing Prior to Facility Closure • 1 Glazing and 1 Caulk / Elevation / Building

  18. Conclusions • Caulk is a suspected PCB-containing material and should be routinely tested for PCBs prior to disturbance. • Caulk is a significant PCB exposure risk. • PCB-containing caulk must be removed and disposed of as PCB waste upon discovery. • State agencies and private businesses have begun to develop guidelines for testing and removal of PCB-containing caulk. • Currently testing caulk for PCBs is not required by law but “may be advisable.”

  19. For More Information Please Contact: Thomas Gibbons, CHMM Client Program Manager Thomas.Gibbons@shawgrp.com 212-290-6098 646-529-3641

More Related