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Health and environmental aspects of contamination due to old PCB containing sealants

Health and environmental aspects of contamination due to old PCB containing sealants. Eero Priha, Tiina Rantio, Beatrice Bäck, Riitta Riala, Helena Kontsas and Sannamari Hellman* Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 486, 33101 Tampere, Finland E-mail: eero.priha@ttl.fi

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Health and environmental aspects of contamination due to old PCB containing sealants

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  1. Health and environmental aspects of contamination due to old PCB containing sealants • Eero Priha, Tiina Rantio, Beatrice Bäck, Riitta Riala, Helena Kontsas and Sannamari Hellman* Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, PO Box 486, 33101 Tampere, Finland E-mail: eero.priha@ttl.fi *Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 527, 33101 Tampere

  2. PCB in sealants • PCB-containing elastic polysulfide sealants used in Finland between 1960-1975 in prefabricated concrete buildings estimated use of PCB 220 tons in over 10000 buildings

  3. Quality and quantity of PCB • PCB content of sealant typically 10-20 % ! • Mainly highly chlorinated PCB, Aroclor1260, sometimes Aroclor 1254 • Concentration of dioxin-like PCBs low • Large prefabricated buildings may contain 100 kg PCB, normally 25-40 kg

  4. Situation today 2003 • About 85 % of old sealant replaced with new PCB-free material Soil near buildings contaminated with PCBs Instructions given by authorities how to treat old sealant and contaminated soil

  5. Exposure of workers • About 150-300 workers involded in removal of old sealants in Finland Grinding of old seam exposes workers to high concentrations of PCB containing dust

  6. Protection of workers

  7. Soil sampling - PCB • Over 100 top soil samples taken from yards of 5 apartment buildings (sealant removed 1-3 years ago) Grid sampling plan was applied, combined samples

  8. PCB concentration in soil vs. distance from wall

  9. PCB in soil / summary • Average concentration 6,8 mg/kg soil at 0-2 m from wall Average concentration 0,52 mg/kg at distance of 3-10 m PCB exceeds the Finnish limit value 0,5 mg/kg recommended by the Finnish Environment Agency ---> risk assesment needed

  10. What should be done ? • PCB not an immediate health risk and long-term risks are low. However, PCB will stay in yard soil for tens of years. • Some recommendations or guidelines needed to reduce exposure!

  11. Recommendations by Finnish environment authorities • Playgrounds/sandboxes should be moved from the vicinity of the walls (< 5 m) to other places • Gardening of edible fruit prohibited near walls • Other vegetation (decorative bushes/trees) recommended

  12. Earlier guidelines 1999 • Sealant from houses built between 1959-1980 should be studied for PCB content • If sealant contains PCB over 50 mg/kg, should be treated as hazardous waste • Removal of old sealant should be done following strict rules (windows should be closed, soil covered with plastic etc.)

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