EPA: Aging Caulk in Hundreds of Schools May Pose Cancer Risks

Old caulking around windows and doors in hundreds of school buildings around the United States may contain cancer-causing PCBs and pose a substantial cancer risk to millions of students, the Environmental Protection Agency is warning.

The EPA is advising schools and parents about the risks and urging them to test old caulk and remove it if necessary to abate PCBs found in substantial amounts.

PCBs – formally called Polychlorinated biphenyls – are toxic chemical compounds once used in hundreds of construction, electrical, and industrial products, particularly in machine coolants and fluids. The chemicals also were widely used in caulk to make the products more flexible.

While the use of PCBs was banned in the United States in the late 1970s, hundreds of older school buildings built before then may still be sealed with window and door caulk containing potentially hazardous PCBs, the EPA said.

Hundreds of Older Buildings May be Affected

The EPA said the risk to students from toxic caulk and the number of school buildings at risk is not exactly known. However, there is particular concern about possible exposure of students to PCB dust from chipping or flaking caulking, since that mode of exposure has not been widely studied.

“We’re concerned about the potential risks associated with exposure to these PCBs, and we’re recommending practical, common sense steps to reduce this exposure as we improve our understanding of the science,” Jackson said in a news release issued last week, according to an Associated Press report.

A New York City mother recently sued the city’s school district for allegedly exposing her daughter to PCBs in caulk at the girl’s school, the AP said.

EPA Offers Advice, Urges Testing

In light of the new concerns about PCB exposure from older caulk, the EPA is recommending testing for PCBs in all peeling, cracking, brittle, or deteriorating caulk in schools and other buildings built or renovated between 1950 and 1978.

Federal environmental safety officials also are recommending that school officials take the following safety tips to avoid exposure to PCBs in older window or door caulking:

• Don’t sweep with dry brooms or use dusters in places near caulk that might contain PCBs, and clean frequently with a wet or damp cloth.

• Clean air ducts, improve ventilation by opening windows and use exhaust fans and vacuums with high-efficiency air filters.

• Wash hands with soap and water often, especially before eating or drinking, and wash children’s toys often.

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