New York City Creates Plan to Remove PCBs in Schools

PCBs in NYC Schools

PCBs in schoolsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been conducting a pilot program since January to test for polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs in New York City schools when in 2010 tests found the presence of PCBs in schools. The EPA has found PCBs in light ballasts in every Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan school that was inspected.

According to an article posted on News Inferno, The EPA has now suspended the inspection of PCBs in schools as New York City has now come up with plan to remove PCB-tainted light ballasts from the buildings.

New York City announced a $708 million plan, which will take 10 years to remove light ballasts from 772 New York City school buildings. The city had previously resisted the EPA’s urging to clean up the PCBs in schools due to the cost, initially estimated at $1 billion.

“According to The Wall Street Journal, the city’s plan appears to have satisfied the EPA. A spokesperson for the agency said it doesn’t have any more inspections planned in the near future, but ‘we always reserve our rights to inspect.’”

PCBs were used in many materials, especially in construction materials and electrical products between the 1950s through 1978, when they were phased out and officially ban in 1979. Despite the ban, PCBs can still be found in many buildings today. Some common items that PCBs are found in include:

  • Other electrical equipment including voltage regulators, switches, reclosers, bushings, and electromagnets
  • Old electrical devices or appliances containing PCB capacitors
  • Fluorescent light ballasts
  • Cable insulation
  • Thermal insulation material including fiberglass, felt, foam, and cork
  • Adhesives and tapes
  • Oil-based paint
  • Caulking
Plastics
  • Floor finishes

PCBs health effects can be very serious as they do not easily degrade and can remain in a person’s body for many years. PCBs health effects include many life-threatening diseases such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and have been known to affect brain cell development, which may lead to developmental impairments. PCBs health effects can be dangers at even low levels as they can affect the ability to learn by damaging neuron components. These damaged neurons are linked to seizures, schizophrenia and autism.

If you or someone you love has been exposed to PCBs in schools, please fill out our online form or call 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) to discuss your case with a PCBs lawyer today.