Polyurethane Foam Emission Samplers to Identify Sources of Airborne Polychlorinated Biphenyls from Glass-Block Windows and Other Room Surfaces in a Vermont School

Abstract

We hypothesized that emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from Aroclor mixtures present in building materials explain their concentrations in school air. Here, we report a study of airborne concentrations and gas-phase emissions in three elementary school rooms constructed in 1958. We collected airborne PCBs using polyurethane foam passive air samplers (PUF-PAS, n = 6) and PCB emissions from building materials using polyurethane foam passive emission samplers (PUF-PES, n = 17) placed over flat surfaces in school rooms, including vinyl tile floors, carpets, painted bricks, painted drywall, and glass-block windows. We analyzed all 209 congeners represented in 173 chromatographic separations and found that the congener distribution in PUF-PES strongly resembled the predicted diffusive release of gas-phase PCBs from a solid material containing Aroclor 1254. Concentrations of airborne total PCBs ranged from 38 to 180 ng m–3, a range confirmed by an independent laboratory in the same school. These levels exceed action levels for all aged children set by the State of Vermont and exceed guidance levels set by the U.S. EPA for children under age 3. Emissions of PCBs from the glass-block windows (30,000 ng m–2 d–1) greatly exceeded those of all other surfaces, which ranged from 35 to 2700 ng m–2 d–1. This study illustrates the benefit of the direct measurement of PCB emissions to identify the most important building remediation needed to reduce airborne PCB concentrations in schools.

Astrocyte Mitochondria Are a Sensitive Target of PCB52 and its Human-Relevant Metabolites

“…In the current study, we have assessed the mitochondrial toxicity of PCB52, a tetra-chlorinated biphenyl that is one of the most abundantly found lower-chlorinated biphenyl (LC-PCB) congeners in air, along with its human-relevant metabolites. , Exposure to LC-PCBs is a public health concern as they continue to be produced even today as byproducts of chemical manufacturing processes such as the paint and pigment production processes. , Serum levels of PCBs in populations exposed to PCBs without high dietary exposure had PCB levels ranging from undetectable to ∼650 ng/g lw . Total PCB levels in human brain samples from older adults ranged from 32 to 3050 pg/g ww, while those in neonatal brain samples ranged from undetectable to ∼2800 pg/g ww .…”

“…Several recent studies have explored the effects of PCBs on astrocytes and the role of astrocytes in PCB-induced neurotoxicity. − Previously, we have shown that the rat astroglial C6 cell line and primary astrocytes from rats and mice are susceptible to adverse effects via PCB exposure . PCB52 is an ortho-substituted, nondioxin-like, tetra-chlorinated biphenyl compound that is one of the most abundantly found PCB congeners in air samples contaminated with PCBs. , While previous work established the toxicity of PCB52 and its human-relevant metabolites for C6 cells and primary astrocytes, the cellular targets yielding the adverse outcomes were not identified.…”

“…16 PCB52 is an ortho-substituted, nondioxinlike, tetra-chlorinated biphenyl compound that is one of the most abundantly found PCB congeners in air samples contaminated with PCBs. 17,18 While previous work established the toxicity of PCB52 and its human-relevant metabolites for C6 cells and primary astrocytes, the cellular targets yielding the adverse outcomes were not identified.…”