Air Monitoring to Evaluate Airborne PCB Levels

On August 6-7, 1999, Jeff Jackson, Senior Industrial Hygiene Consultant/Acting Regional Consultation Manager, conducted air monitoring at the Wilsonville Elementary and Bolton Elementary to evaluate airborne PCB levels. This paper explains the methodology and results of the air monitoring.

Methodology

Measurements of airborne concentrations of PCBs were made in fifteen rooms at Wilsonville Elementary and one outdoor sample was collected to determine background concentrations. Samples were collected in rooms where there was reported or suspected PCB ballast leaks based on teacher and custodial staff reports. Sampling was conducted for approximately 2.5 to 7 hours with the lights operating to simulate actual facility usage. Air monitoring was conducted under a variety of environmental conditions including no ventilation in the room and ventilation operating at normal settings to determine possible variabilities in exposure. Sampling was completed prior to extensive remediation to remove PCB surface contamination.

Bolton School was selected as a control for the sampling survey because the facility was still utilizing PCB containing light ballasts and both schools were constructed in the 1950s. Samples were collected in five rooms at Bolton including 807, 810, 831, 835, and 836. Sampling was conducted with the lights and ventilation systems operating.

Air monitoring was conducted in accordance with NIOSH Method 5503. Samples were collected on standard Florisil sorbent tubes proceded by a 15-millimeter fiberglass filter with calibrated vacuum pumps operating at 0.2 liter per minute. Analysis of the samples was performed by the Department of Environmental Quality Laboratory.

Results

The analytical results demonstrate that airborne exposure to PCBs was below the OR-OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure level (REL). In all instances the sample results are below the limit of detection for the analytical method. The limit of detection varies slightly for each of the six different PCB compounds analyzed by the laboratory. The limit of detection for Arochlor 1242 (primary PCB found in light ballast) was between 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m

) to 0.7 µg/m

, depending on the duration of the sample period.

The concentration of PCBs in the air is well below the 1000µg/m

OR-OSHA PEL for Arochlor 1242, based on an 8-hour time weighted average. In addition, PCB air concentrations are below the 1 µg/m

NIOSH REL, based on a 10-hour workday, forty hours per workweek. The NIOSH REL was established as a guideline to prevent possible health effects associated with PCBs including potential for cancer, skin, liver and reproductive effects and tumors of the liver and pituitary gland.

Further Information?

If you have any questions regarding the air sampling survey, please contact Jeff Jackson, Senior Industrial Hygiene Consultant with Oregon OSHA at (503) 229-5779 x305.

Air Monitoring to Evaluate Airborne PCB Levels

Local Navigation