School districts and building owners have to be aware of potential sites of contaminated PCB-laden caulking. PCB-laden caulk can come in different colors - brown, black, tan, white, etc.

PCB-laden caulking can be around windows, doors, vents and possibly on sidewalks.

It is the legal responsibility of school districts to protect children and workers from hazardous materials. If your school building was built prior to 1980, it may contain PCB-laden caulk.

PCB-laden caulk can leach PCBs and contaminate the indoor air, soil and masonry!!

Under federal law, PCB-laden caulk must be removed upon discovery. PCB-laden aulk is considered hazardous material and must be properly abated and properly disposed of.

School districts and building owners are fully responsible for where hazardous materials end up. Noncompliance can result in stiff fines by regulatory agencies.

Toxic Substance Control Act 761.1(b)(3)

Under Toxic Substance Control Act 761.1(b)(3) Most provisions in this part apply only if PCBs are present in concentrations above a specified level. Provisions that apply to PCBs at concentrations of < 50 ppm apply also to contaminated surfaces at PCB concentrations of ≤ 10 μg/100 cm 2. Provisions that apply to PCBs at concentrations of ≥ 50 to < 500 ppm apply also to contaminated surfaces at PCB concentrations of
> 10/100 cm 2 to < 100 μg/100 cm 2.

Provisions that apply to PCBs at concentrations of ≥500 ppm apply also to contaminated surfaces at PCB concentrations of ≥ 100 μg/100 cm 2.

Please study the following photos

Deteriorated caulking between wall and cement floor in back of French Hill Elementary School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Year 2005

Since the school building was bult in 1969 and contains masonry PCB-laden caulk, all caulk on the building should be considered hazardous material; unless proven otherwise.

Notice chalk mark on caulk. Children are unknowingly coming in contact with caulk.

Children can pick at the caulking with their fingers, and contaminate themselves, if caulk has PCBs.

This would be a violation of state law.

Contaminated PCB-laden caulk around air conditioning vents at the French Hill School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Year 2005

Caulk in the rear of the French Hill Elementary School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Year 2005

Since the school was built in 1969 and contains PCB-laden masonry caulk, all caulk on the building should be considered PCB-laden and hazardous material; unless proven otherwise.

Notice chalk marks made by young children next to caulking.

Based on the history of the presence of PCB-laden window caulk on the building, one must assume that the caulk around the windows inside the front entrance of the French Hill Elementary School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. also contains PCBs. Year 2005

Under Federal Law, PCB-laden- caulk is unauthorized and illegal, and must be removed!!

Outside areas of caulk at the French Hill Elementary School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Year 2005

Since the school contains PCB-laden masonry caulk, all caulk on the building, along doors and sidewalk has to be considered hazardous material; unless proven otherwise.

Column contains PCB-laden caulk.

Front area of the French Hill Elementary School, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
Year 2005

Chalk marks made by children touching caulking.

Since the school contains PCB-laden masonry caulk, all caulk on the building, along doors and sidewalk has to be considered hazardous material; unless proven otherwise.

PCB contaminated caulk on brick column in front of the French Hill Elementary School in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Year 2005

Children were touching and writing on the PCB contaminated caulk.

Caulk contained 60,000 ppm of PCB (Aroclor 1254 and 1260)
Caulk is 6.0% PCB

Wipe sample of caulk yielded 22,700 ug/100 cm2.

According to school's consultant, "magnitude of PCBs justified encapsulation
He never saw such high wipe readings.

PCBs migrated/ leached to the top surface of caulk.

Link to French Hill PCB Report

Old sidewalk caulking at the front of the French Hill Elementary School in Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
(New sidewalk was put in 2007.)

Since the school was built in 1969 and has PCB-laden masonry caulk on the building, one should assume that the sidewalk caulk also contains PCBs.

Test for PCBs; especially prior to renovation.

School districts and building owners are fully responsible for where hazardous materials end up. Noncompliance can result in stiff fines by regulatory agencies.

PCB-laden expansion joint caulk on the exterior wall of the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Lakeland School District in Westchester New York.
Year 2006

Caulk contains 19,500 ppm of Aroclor 1254.

See Sampling report.

PCB contaminted expasion joint caulk at the Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Westchester N.Y. Year 2006

Caulk contains 19,500 ppm of Aroclor 1254.

See Sampling report.

School built in the late 1960's.

School buidling will be renovated in the near future.

PCB-laden caulk on exterior wall on the Putnam Valley Middle School in Putnam, N.Y. Year 2006

Caulk contained 10,000 ppm of Aroclor 1260

Link to Sampling Report

Garage 1 in Coop City in the Bronx, NY. undergoing renovation. Year 2006

PCB-laden caulk in front of garage.

65,000 ppm of Aroclor 1254

Sample Report

PCB-laden caulk along door frame at the Pablo Casals Elementary School (PS 181) in Co-Op City, Bronx N.Y. Year 2007

Caulk contained 6180 ppm of Arolcor 1254

Sample Report

Contaminated caulk on ground outside Seneca Hall at the State University of Owsego. Year 2005

Caulking on ground as a result of window renovation.

Soil is also contaminated.

See Sample results.

Oswego SUNY Caulk Sample ... 14,000 ppm of Aroclor 1254 and 3,000 ppm Aroclor 1268

Oswego SUNY Soil Sample

Soil had 86 ppm of PCBs

Burlington High School in Burlington, Massachusetts
Year 2006

Masonry caulk had 106,611 ppm of Arolcor 1260

Sampling Report

Lowell Police Station in Lowell, Massachusetts
Year 2006

Masonry caulk had 607 ppm of Aroclor 1254

Sampling Report

Gordon Hall in Boston, Massachusetts
Year 2006

Masonry caulk had 337,256 ppm of Aroclor 1254

Sampling Report

Lawrence Catholic High School in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Year 2006

Masonry caulk had 290 ppm of Aroclor 1248 and 428 ppm of Aroclor 1254

Sampling Report