There is growing evidence that PCB exposures, in both vapor and particulate matter form, emanate from PCB-containing products in the building environment. Additionally, secondary sources of PCBs, including materials that have become contaminated due to absorption from direct contact with PCB sources, or through adsorption of PCBs in the air that have been emitted by primary sources, such as caulk or light ballasts, can contribute to the overall exposures. In most cases, the building owners and occupants are not even aware of the existence of these materials and their potential hazards. It is not clear what the risk from these PCB-containing building materials is when compared to other PCB exposures (e.g. diet), due to a lack of data on potential exposures from sources in the built environment.
The purpose of this white paper is to 1) provide an overview of currently available information pertaining to PCBs in construction materials; 2) evaluate the exposure potential for building occupants, maintenance and construction personnel; and 3) identify gaps in the current knowledge base that would help occupational and environmental health professionals to better understand the risk to public health from PCBs in building materials. AIHA’s findings and recommendations will be updated as new information becomes available.
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