Emissions and Remediation of Airborne PCBs in Schools

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

SUMMARY: Project 3 – Emissions and Remediation of Airborne PCBs in Schools Aroclors are mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) purposefully added to some school building materials, including caulking, sealants, and fluorescent light ballasts, prior to the ban of Aroclor sales in 1979. Recent studies have shown that PCBs are released as gases from surfaces where Aroclors are present. Once in air, PCBs are inhaled and may pose a significant health risk, especially to children and adolescents. The overall vulnerability of children to these chemicals and the frequent diagnoses of attention deficit and metabolic syndrome, two health conditions linked with PCB exposure highlight the critical need to identify sources of PCB contamination and reduce their levels in schools. Our long-term goal is to understand the relationship between observed concentrations of PCBs in the air with their specific sources and identify the remediation necessary to reduce PCB exposure to sensitive populations. We hypothesize that airborne PCBs and detailed metadata collected through ISRP collaborations with Vermont schools will predict airborne concentrations and children’s exposure to PCBs nationwide; that emissions from PCB-containing solid materials are a function of the physical-chemical properties of PCB congeners and the solid; and that targeted removal of PCB-containing materials is effective in reducing children’s PCB exposure in school. To test our hypothesis, we will conduct laboratory, field, and in silico studies to measure and predict PCB emissions from solid building materials found in schools and determine the cost effectiveness of targeted remediation. The rationale for our study is that accurate, precise, and reproducible measurement of emissions and airborne PCB congener concentrations will enable cost-effective decisions for their removal. We will utilize our existing partnerships with the state of Vermont and form an Advisory Board for Community of Practice (ABCoP) to carry out the three Specific Aims: First, we will identify the factors that predict high airborne PCBs in schools. We will use a newly available dataset of airborne PCBs measured in more than 1000 Vermont school rooms and extensive metadata to examine the factors that predict high airborne PCBs. Second, through laboratory studies and studies conducted in school rooms, we will determine the mechanism by which PCBs are emitted from building materials. Third, we will measure the effect of targeted materials remediation through measurements conducted in school rooms before and after remediation. We design and deploy novel samplers that directly measure emissions of PCBs from building material surfaces. Collectively, Project 3 will provide unprecedented information about the levels of airborne PCBs in schools, uncover primary and secondary sources of PCBs, and describe strategies for targeted remediation and the costs and effectiveness of these approaches, which will be translatable to schools across the U.S.