I asked MABEP member, Clough Toppan, to review some recent material on the potential threat posed by the existence of PCBs in insulating caulk.  What follows are Clough's comments and links to material from the US Environmental Protection Agency.  FYI, Clough spent a career in environmental health for the State of Maine before retiring and joing to foot soldiers in the war on energy inefficiency.
Bob Howe

Hi Bob:

I had a chance to look at this more. There was an early article in the Boston Globe after the EPA Administrator brought this up last fall. Dozens and dozens of almost identical articles followed with no one suggesting anything, except that EPA did suggest schools could be tested for PCBs.

The EPA announcement seems to reflect more toward schools which is one of their big agenda items, especially with regard to air. Not that this couldn’t be a potential problem, but I think my thoughts from my earlier email are still sound. I did speak to Bill Flanders from MeChips. Bill had an earlier career with an electric utility where he developed, implemented, and supervised compliance with PCB handling and disposal procedures.  He has also served as expert witness at a federal superfund site trial, spending one and one-half days on the stand. You may know that the PCB issue came up with transformer coolant and deep well coolant, so it is well known.

My recommendation for Wx crews, due to the generation of airborne particulates (from insulating, sanding, sawing, scraping, cutting, etc.) it is wise to wear an N-95 mask anyway, if not to only help resist coughing.

Clough

And now, an email from a consultant to OSHA which contains links to the EPA articles:

From: David Shore [mailto:DShore@eheinc.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 4:29 PM
To: Michaels, David - OSHA
Subject: Comment on Green Job Hazards

Dear Dr. Michaels,


PCB-Containing Caulk - Hazards to Weatherization Contractors and Building Occupants

Last month, EPA issued an advisory on the potential PCB exposures in buildings constructed from 1950 - 1978.

Link: http://www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/

With the Cash for Caulkers weatherization program underway, this program poses a high exposure risk for installers, contractors, and home residents as well as posing a significant threat to the environment with improper disposal of PCB-containing caulk.

Recently, John McCarthy, Sc.D., briefed the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality (CIAQ) on the known hazards and call for research associated with PCB caulking. His presentation is located here: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ciaq/EH_E_PCB_Briefing_10-21-2009.pdf

We'd be pleased to brief OSHA on this developing occupational risk area. I may be reached in our Needham offices at (800) 825-5343.

Congratulations on your appointment  and best wishes for a safe and happy new year.

Sincerely,

David

David M. Shore
Director, Client Services
Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc.
117 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494
Toll-free: 800.825.5343
FAX: 781.247.4300
Mobile: 617.201.3048
Web: www.eheinc.com