Monfredo: Discussion On A Solution to Pcb Plan Addressed at Burncoat

Sunday, December 04, 2016

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

Nationwide, including Worcester, there is concern within the schools of PCB’s becoming a health problem for students and staff members being exposed to unhealthy levels of toxic polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCB) through common building materials found in schools. It’s found in the caulking, fluorescent lights, and sealants to just name a few of the materials used in schools built between 1950 and into the late 1970’s. PCB’s are labeled probable carcinogens by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency which means that when a chemical is known to cause cancer in animals and where there is evidence that suggests that it causes cancer in humans but the evidence is not conclusive.

This column is a follow-up to last week’s story about what we are doing in the Worcester Public Schools about this health problem and the discussion that took place at Burncoat Middle School Friel auditorium this week. Brian Allen, the district’s Chief Financial Officer, told the audience made up mostly of Burncoat High teachers that the Worcester Public Schools has been most active in this issue. In a slide presentation he explained what work has taken place and that the district has spent over $50 million in the replacement of windows ballasts and caulking at the schools built in that time period. The Worcester Public Schools consultant firm of O’Reilly, Talbot and Okun has assisted the district with the approach as suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency in the renovation process.

Since 2004 the city has partnered with the Massachusetts School Building Authority providing approximately $260 million of investments into a number of schools through building replacement projects and accelerated repair projects. In 2010 the district created an Environmental Management System Committee to address all environmental materials in schools.

Then, in 2011 the district met with the EPA regarding plans to access buildings for the presence of PCB material. Thus, work at a number of buildings has been on-going as Best Management Practices went into effect in the Worcester Public Schools. Those practices included the removal of unlabeled ballasts in all of the schools, HVAC work to address air intake optimization and system balancing, targeted surface cleaning in all schools, as well as ongoing work in the weatherization of windows with caulking and glazing over existing material.

At the meeting the district called upon as an independent consultant Dr. Michael Feeney director of Air Quality from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to address the issue. He suggested that his team come into the two schools in question, Burncoat High and Doherty High, to conduct a thorough study by his team that would include interviews with staff, checking the air quality, and checking the caulking on the windows. The caulking on each window should be inspected for there has to be a plan to stabilize the problem so that the caulking is not breaking off and getting into the air so that staff and students breathe in the chemicals. I feel that this would be a good start in addressing the problem for the work could start as soon as January.

Regardless of whether PCBs are known to be present the EPA recommends that all schools built between 1950 and 1979 implement the following best management practices to minimize potential building occupant exposure to PCBs. That is to:

Remove all PCB containing Fluorescent light ballasts
Remove PCB containing caulk, paint and other PCB containing building materials during planned renovations and repairs
Conduct the following best management practices:
Ensure that ventilation systems are operating property and are regularly inspected and maintained according to system manufacturer instructions and guidelines
Clean inside schools to reduce dust using a wet or damp cloth to clean surfaces
Do not sweep with a dry broom or use cloths for dusting
Use vacuums with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters

It is also suggested those General precautions for teachers and students…

Wash hands with soap and water after performing cleaning activities and before eating or drinking
Wash children's toys regularly in pre-school
Keep children from touching caulk or surfaces near caulk
Report damaged caulking or leaking ballasts to the principal

The meeting was a good faith effort to address the problem but immediate attention needs to continue until a plan is in place. Quite frankly, I would like to see, as we have done in other schools in Worcester, to replace all of the windows in both schools as soon as possible. Both schools are on a list of being replaced but that will take many years so in the meantime let’s remove the materials causing the problems. Depending on the results of the study discussed earlier, the district will need to come up with a plan to resolve this issue sooner rather than later.

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Monfredo: Discussion On A Solution to Pcb Plan Addressed at Burncoat

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