Press Releases at EMSL

Recently, media reports have stated that environmental consultants have found elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at a middle school in New Canaan, Connecticut.  The PCBs were found in floor paint in the school’s auditorium during renovation activities.

Concerns over the presence of PCBs in some of the nation’s schools made headlines last year when supermodel Cindy Crawford pulled her children from a California high school after tests there found elevated levels of PCBs.  In that instance, the PCBs were believed to be coming from old window caulking in some of the school’s classrooms.

PCBs are man-made toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and can bioaccumulate in living organisms. PCBs were manufactured in the United States up until the late 1970’s when their production was banned due to health and environmental concerns.  In the past, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications. The chemical compounds were used in such building materials as some paints, mastics, sealants, adhesives, caulking, specialty coatings and fluorescent light ballasts. These PCBs can persist in old materials and contaminate surfaces, dust, soils and the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a structure.

“Studies have shown that PCBs cause cancer in animals and have non-cancer effects on the immune system, reproductive system and endocrine system,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc., one of the nation’s leading PCB testing laboratories. “To help prevent exposure to PCBs, EMSL offers air, wipe and bulk material testing services.  These services can identify locations that could create exposure risks for building occupants and renovation contractors so that proper procedures can be implemented to safely remove these hazardous chemical compounds.”

EMSL has released an educational video about PCB testing services that can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hpV_8JgAlE.

To learn more about PCB testing in paint, caulk, air, dust or other materials, please visit www.PCBCaulk.com  or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.