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[quote=Anonymous]Why So Many Schools in Connecticut Probably Have Toxic PCBs – But Aren’t Being Tested

"For nearly three decades across the U.S., toxic polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, were widely used in school construction and renovation work. A WNPR investigation has found that two-thirds of schools in Connecticut could be contaminated.

Despite a 1979 ban on PCBs -- a synthetic chemical -- and their classification as a known human carcinogen by the World Health Organization, there’s no state or federal law that requires testing for the presence of PCBs in schools.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that much like asbestos, undisturbed PCBs don’t pose a health risk. But a growing body of research disputes that position. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that PCBs can pose a long-term inhalation risk for workers, and a more serious risk in the case of a fire.

About 66 percent of public schools in the state were built or renovated between 1950 and 1979, when PCBs were commonly used.  The chemicals are likely to be in adhesive or caulk inside the walls, or sealing the windows -- in fireproofing, flooring, or paint. The EPA recommends testing to be sure."
Without testing, schools undergo standard renovations, risking the release of PCBs. The toxic materials can end up in the surrounding air, dirt, or soil, said Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany

from NPR http://wnpr.org/post/why-so-many-schools-connecticut-probably-have-toxic-pcbs-aren-t-being-tested#stream/0[/quote]

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