PCBs in Building Caulk: A Hidden Problem Surfaces

A possible health risk to building occupants from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is coming back into the news; and this can be particularly bad news for building owners. It turns out that the caulking material used to fill seams, cracks and void spaces in buildings in the past often contained high concentrations of the persistent environmental contaminant PCBs. The concern is heightened for buildings constructed, repaired or added on to in the period between about 1950 and 1978; PCBs were banned after this time.

Scientific studies conducted over the past 10 years have demonstrated a relationship between the presence of PCBs in caulk and low concentrations of PCBs in the indoor air inside of buildings. No one has yet shown that these very low concentrations of PCBs in air actually pose a health hazard, but in a number of cases EPA has taken the adamant position that any exposure to PCBs in air (particularly inside of schools) is hazardous to human health, and therefore the material must be removed.

For more information see this article (.pdf 2.44 mb) by OTO principal Jim Okun.

Recent Projects

Continuing its involvement with high profile western Massachusetts construction projects, OTO is now a key team member on the "Hospital of the Future" construction project now underway by Baystate Health in Springfield, MA. Lead OTO Principal Mike Talbot, PE said "This $259 Million hospital renovation and construction project demonstrates Baystate Health’s continuing commitment to the health and well-being of the citizens of western Massachusetts. It is an honor to work with the outstanding professionals at this great institution".

OTO Sponsors NOVA on WGBY

This fall OTO decided to provide funding for the local sponsorship of the award winning science show NOVA on Springfield’s public TV station, WGBY. According to OTO executive committee member Valerie Tillinghast: “After our sponsorship of the Ken Burn’s National Parks special, we were looking for an opportunity to extend our relationship with WGBY. The positive feedback we received from the National Parks sponsorship was very gratifying. Continuing on with NOVA was an easy decision for us. The success of science education in our country is central to our business. NOVA stimulates the scientific curiosity of children and adults; some of the young people who get turned on by NOVA will go on to become tomorrow’s engineers and scientists, and OTO is going to need them.”