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The presence of elevated levels of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in K-12 schools has recently garnered nation-wide attention. PCBs have been linked to cancer and adverse effects on the nervous, immune, and reproductive systems. Current estimates indicate that approximately 50% of public schools in the US were built during the time period (late 1950s to 1970s) when PCB-containing building products were commonly used. PCBs in building materials of schools pose a significant environmental liability to school districts and municipalities.
In many cases, the news that PCBs are present in a school comes as a surprise to school administrators. They may be informed by a construction contractor, facilities staff member, or parent. Reaction is the only management option in this situation. Unanticipated discovery of PCBs in schools can lead to school closings, displaced students, concerns about health, and significant diversion of human and financial resources to emergency response. It is important to ensure that the response to a surprise discovery of PCBs is commensurate with the risk. EH&E’s PCB incident response services include rapid assessment of potential exposures, analysis of best short-term outcomes, and engagement of parents, teachers, and other stakeholders. After the acute phase of an incident, EH&E then assists its clients with identification of appropriate remediation strategies and recovery to normal conditions. EH&E recommends that the potential presence of PCBs in schools be managed proactively. This allows you to manage the issue and work within your scheduling needs rather than respond in a crisis mode to the discovery of PCBs. Our core proactive PCB-related services for school systems include: - Screening of property portfolios for buildings that may be constructed with PCBs
- Providing a relative ranking of buildings based on the potential presence of PCBs
- Characterizing exposures to building-related PCBs
- Assessing risks to health from PCB exposure
- Identifying appropriate remediation strategies, if warranted
- Managing interactions with federal and state regulatory agencies
- Communicating with stakeholders
EH&E has over 20 years experience in the areas of exposure and risk analysis, engineering, industrial hygiene, and hazardous waste disposal and has conducted groundbreaking work on several complex PCB-remediation projects. EH&E can develop a strategy to avoid regulatory mishaps, effectively control costs, and most importantly to maintain a safe and healthful building. For more information on EH&E’s PCB Services, contact us at 1-800-825-5343 or at contact@eheinc.com. |
