US EPA

22437 

Journal Article 

Surface and indoor air levels of polychlorinated biphenyls in public buildings 

Oatman, L; Roy, R 

1986 

Yes 

Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
ISSN: 0007-4861
EISSN: 1432-0800 

SPRINGER VERLAG 

NEW YORK 

NIOSH/00164237 

37 

3 

461-466 

English 

3091120 

10.1007/BF01607789 

WOS:A1986D696700023 

The level of polychlorinated-biphenyl (1336363) (PCB) exposure occurring in public schools and office buildings was determined. Surface wipe samples and air samples were taken in five state owned buildings and two elementary schools. Of the state owned office buildings, four were connected by an underground tunnel system, three contained PCB transformers, and one housed a laboratory that once used PCBs. Analyses of samples were conducted with a gas chromatograph device equipped with an electron capture detector. Collection efficiency ranged from approximately 79 to 104 percent. Airborne PCB detection limit was 20 nanograms/cubic meter, while surface wipe detection limit was 10 micrograms (microg)/100 square centimeters (cm2). In buildings with PCB transformers, mean airborne PCB level was nearly twice that detected in buildings without transformers. Excluding laboratory surface wipes, mean surface wipe levels in buildings with PCB transformers were not significantly different when compared to average levels in buildings without transformers. However, if one building which had been previously cleaned and sealed due to a PCB transformer leak was eliminated, a significant difference in mean surface wipe levels between buildings with and buildings without transformers was noted. Of 45 samples collected from the office building which housed a laboratory, 34 had PCB concentrations below the background level; a few of the samples had doubled background levels. The authors conclude that using a background PCB level of 0.5microg/100cm2 as the upper limit for wipe samples is acceptable for establishing post space clean up levels, but that airborne PCB levels vary widely.