PCBs Testing

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, August 3, 2023

In June, the Attorney General of Vermont announced she had filed a lawsuit against a chemical manufacturer to protect and restore Vermont’s natural resources and schools affected by PCB contamination. The suit requests financial compensation for past, present, and future costs to investigate, assess, analyze, monitor, remediate, restore, and/or replace natural resources or Vermont schools.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic chemicals that persist in the environment and can bioaccumulate in living organisms. They are a major health concern as the chemicals are listed as a probable human carcinogen. PCBs are also believed to have non-cancer effects on the immune system, reproductive system, and endocrine system.

The lawsuit seeks recovery for PCB contamination in schools on a statewide basis and is the first of its kind in the United States. According to the complaint, PCBs from construction materials leach and off-gas, resulting in indoor air contamination. It also states that numerous Vermont schools have tested at high levels of concern for PCB contamination.

“PCBs in schools is not just a Vermont issue,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has previously stated that there was potentially widespread use of PCB-containing building materials in schools and other buildings built or renovated between about 1950 and 1979. The agency warns that PCB-containing caulk may be present inside and on the exterior of the building as well as in surrounding surfaces. PCBs have been used in paints, mastics and other adhesives, fireproofing materials, and in the manufacture of some ceiling tiles and acoustic boards, among other products. The chemicals may also be present in high intensity discharge (HID) lamp ballast capacitors and the capacitors of fluorescent light ballasts (FLBs) manufactured before 1979.”

To help identify PCBs and mitigate exposure risks, the environmental, material, and industrial hygiene testing experts at EMSL Analytical offer PCB testing services, sampling supplies and personal protective equipment. Several years back, EMSL even sponsored an educational video about PCBs in building materials that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/o-e5o86u0mk

To learn more about PCB testing from bulk materials, dust, soil, air, water, or other sources, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.