Linking polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) measurements in air to historic and modern sources

Although production of the environmental toxins polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was banned over 40 years ago, PCBs continue to be produced today through some manufacturing processes. It is unclear however, if these modern PCBs get into air where we can breathe them in and if they can be identified in air samples. This work identified the PCBs found in and emitted from various modern sources. One such source were paint colorants. I found that PCBs are emitted from paint colorants after just one day of application, and emissions can lead to environmentally relevant concentrations in room air. Another modern source is the sealant on cabinets which emit PCBs to air.

I evaluated the sources of PCBs to various schoolrooms looking for signals of historic and modern sources. While the main source to the rooms was the historic Aroclor 1254, there were also significant contributions from modern sources. One room, painted green, was found to contain PCBs associated with green colorants in its air. Similar sources were identified in outdoor air when I evaluated atmospheric PCBs in Chicago. Aroclors 1254 and 1016/1242 are the dominant contributors but there are also contributions from Aroclor 1260 and modern sources. I found evidence of highly localized modern sources including the production and/or application of green paint and a signal associated with PCBs emitted from neighboring Lake Michigan. This work has measured PCB emissions from modern sources and has found they contribute to total PCB concentrations in indoor and outdoor air.