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Buildings constructed or renovated before the 1980s are prime candidates for restoration, but a hidden health hazard may be lurking. Whether unearthed during renovations, repairs or while replacing a window, this dangerous chemical is known to cause a variety of ad­verse health effects, including cancer. From the 1950s to 1978, when their use was banned in the United States, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were used to add strength and flexibility to an important but easily overlooked building material: caulk. Unfortunately, caulk is usually used in precisely the part of the building most likely to experience high rates of wear and tear over the years: windows and door frames. The EPA has adopted strict health, safety, environmental and regulatory requirements for the management of PCBs, including those in caulk and other building materials, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 

With a lifespan of 20 to 40 years, caulk containing PCBs installed before 1978 is most likely now due for replacement. More importantly, caulk that is peeling, brittle, cracking or deteriorating visibly has the highest potential for release of PCBs into the air, and is something for which builders should be on the lookout. In addition to potentially causing cancer, the presence of PCBs can adversely affect one’s immune, endocrine, reproductive and nervous systems. To ensure the safety of workers and building occupants – and adherence to EPA regulations  – it is important to understand the dangers of PCB-containing caulk and how to determine whether your site is at risk, when to request PCB testing, and the solutions for safely removing it. 

Does the Site Contain PCBs?

The first step in finding out whether the site may be at risk of PCB exposure is to confirm with the facility manager the age of the structure and timeframe of any past renovations or repairs. Don’t forget to consider that portions of the building may have been constructed or renovated during different periods of time. Take these steps to determine whether your construction site may be at risk:

• Confirm whether the building was built or renovated between 1950 and 1980. If so, the chances that the facility contains PCB-affected caulk are high.
• Learn when major renovations, construction or additions took place.
• Inspect the interior and exterior of the building. Consider that caulk is used in a variety of places throughout the building – windows, door frames, masonry columns, stairways, elevator shafts, exterior joints and where the building meets the ground. It is also possible that PCBs have impacted the ground surrounding a building – particularly under the affected windows – including soil or paved areas.
• Identify and make note of caulk that is peeling, brittle, cracking or deteriorating visibly.
• Once you have assessed the building with respect to the above criteria and determined the potential that PCBs may be present, short- and long-term steps can minimize exposure and meet regulatory requirements. Additionally, to ensure the safety of construction workers and building occupants, you should take steps to have the caulk tested by an environmental services company.

Testing for PCBs

PCBs in caulk may be regulated under federal (TSCA), state and local regulations. If materials containing PCBs are found in or surrounding a building, they must be properly tested and thoroughly removed and disposed of by a qualified environmental services company. Under no circumstances should workers at­tempt to remove the hazardous materials themselves. Consider consulting an environmental services firm to discuss the following options to ensure the construction site is properly evaluated for the presence of PCBs:

• Testing the caulk: Samples of chipping or flaking caulk should be sent to a certified laboratory for analysis to determine whether PCBs are present and what their concentrations may be.
• Testing indoor air: Air in the building should be sampled and analyzed to determine whether PCB levels in the air exceed EPA’s safety thresholds.
• Test surrounding materials: PCBs in caulk can affect the building materials it surrounds, such as brick, concrete or wood. To ensure these materials do not contain PCBs, they should be tested, specifically before embarking on renovation projects. Soil beneath PCB caulk-containing building materials also should be sampled and tested to determine whether it has been impacted by PCBs in chipping or flaking caulk. 

If any of the above testing indicates the caulk contains PCBs, it is important to make certain PCB-containing caulk and any affected surrounding materials are removed in the most thorough, effective manner. In the short-term, the hazards associated with PCBs can be mitigated by preventing contact with materials by covering them in tape, sealing them or even repainting the surfaces. These are not long-term solutions, however, and you should talk to the facility manager about hiring a professional firm to remove the caulk. 

When contracting a firm to remove PCB-affected caulk from the building, consider these criteria:

• Conduct research to identify an experienced environmental services firm that will guide you through the entire process – from walking you through the EPA’s regulations and consulting on the most cost-effective way to conduct the removal, to ensuring all hazardous waste is properly removed and disposed of with minimal exposure.
• Confirm all hazardous waste will be transported and disposed of in an environmentally sound way, in accordance with all of the applicable state and federal regulations.
• Ensure that as part of the clean-up, surrounding impacted building materials and soil are tested and removed, as appropriate. To make certain that all hazardous materials are removed from the premises, it’s important for project managers to know that this additional step and care are taken.
• Request that the effectiveness of the cleanup will be documented by collection and laboratory analysis of samples from surrounding building materials, soil and indoor air.
• Request a summary report that describes the initial assessment and subsequent removal, conveys the results of confirmatory environmental sampling and analysis, and documents the proper off-site disposal of all waste.

As with any other contractor you hire for a project, it is important that you trust in the experience and knowledge of your environmental services provider. The safety and health of your workers and the building’s occupants depend on the ability of your environmental services provider to properly advise and guide you through the process. By taking the necessary steps and working with the right firm, you can avoid the dangers of PCB-affected caulk. 

Geoffrey A. Brown, Ph.D., vice president, has worked at ENPRO since 1997. Dr. Brown specializes in the assessment and remediation of complex oil and hazardous material release sites. He has more than 20 years of experience in the environmental field, with environmental consulting/contracting firms and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Brown holds a Ph.D. in soil science from Cornell University, an M.S. in environmental pollution control from Penn State University and a B.S. in environmental science from the University of New Hampshire. For more information, contact him at 

978-225-1177 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .