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10/06/2017 01:20 PMThis week, work got underway to clear the air of slightly elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) levels in the pool area and auxiliary gym at Walsh Intermediate School (WIS), the last two areas of the school which remain closed following some airborne PCB detection levels in August. WIS re-opened the other areas, the main gym and boys' and girls' locker rooms, on Sept. 27.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3 the district shared the results of a third round of air testing showing the main gym and locker rooms to now be well within federal guidelines. Also, in response to a request from parents, the district posted a report from Branford Public Schools' (BPS) medical advisor on known risks of PCB exposure (October, 2017).
As previoulsy reported, air-borne PCBs were first detected in the large gym and pool area in August during a pre-construction hazardous building material survey of the entire school building, conducted by the district's consulting team, Langan Engineering and Environmental Consulting Services. The levels were found to exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-recommended level for exposure of 300 nanograms per cubic meter (ng/m3) for children ages 6 — 12; but did not exceed recommended levels for those ages 12 and above (for which the EPA threshold is 500 ng/m3). At the time, air-borne PCBs in the large gym were detected at 407.2 ng/m3; and in the pool area, 328.7 ng/m3. Testing was also conducted for PCB levels in dust in all areas, with those levels being determined to be withing guidelines. Due to the auxiliary gym and locker rooms sharing air handling systems for the impacted areas, all of the spaces were closed as of August 25.
Work to re-open the large gym and locker rooms was undertaken first, overseen by Langan. The company continues overseeing the mitigation and testing process for the pool and auxiliary gym. Lower levels initially recorded during a second round of air samples in early September were confirmed by a third round of air samples done on Sept. 21. The third round results show the large gym level to be at 146.0- 144.7 ng/m3. Air samples from the boys' locker room show levels at 74.2 ng/m3 and levels in the girls' locker room at 85.2 ng/m3. All air sample results can be found in a chart posted as part of a letter sent by Langan and shared on Oct. 3 at www.walshschoolproject.com
Langan submitted air samples (including blanks and duplicates) for testing to Con-test Analytical Laboratory (East Longmeadow, MA). The lab is a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) and CT Department of Public Health certified environmental testing laboratory.
At www.walshschoolproject.com on Oct. 3, Branford Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez notified parents that repairs and maintenance to the auxiliary gym and pool area mechanical units were getting underway. Once complete, the same best management practices cleaning protocol, followed by air sampling, as well sampling pool water, will take place.
The district also posted a four-page report, "Medical Aspects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Exposure" prepared by BPS Medical Advisor Richard Young M.D. Young shares a 2014 Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry statement that "most individuals have low levels of PCBs in their blood since exposure to PCBs is nearly universal." While noting potential risks of low-level exposure to PCBs are complex and still need further evaluation, Young's report also points to a statement by CT Dept. of Public Health epidemiologist Brian Toal that, "...most likely, teachers and children in schools probably would not see any effects even if [federal PCB guidance levels] are exceeded." Read the entire report at www.walshschoolproject.com
Reporter's Note: This story has been updated with terms consistent with EPA specifications.