Journal article
Room-to-Room Variability of Airborne Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Schools and the Application of Air Sampling for Targeted Source Evaluation
Environmental science & technology, Vol.55(14), pp.9460-9468
05/25/2021
DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08149
PMCID: PMC8427462
PMID: 34033460
Abstract
Airborne polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations are higher indoors than outdoors due to their historical use in building materials and their presence in modern paints and surface treatments. For some populations, including school children, PCB levels indoors result in inhalation exposures that may be greater than or equivalent to exposure through diet. In a school, PCB exposure may come from multiple sources. We hypothesized that there are both Aroclor and non-Aroclor sources within a single school and that PCB concentration and congener profiles differ among rooms within a single building. To evaluate this hypothesis and to identify potential localized sources, we measured airborne PCBs in nine rooms in a school. We found that schoolroom concentrations exceed outdoor air concentrations. Schoolroom concentrations and congener profiles also varied from one room to another. The concentrations were highest in the math room (35.75 ng m–3 ± 8.08) and lowest in the practice gym (1.54 ng m–3 ± 0.35). Rooms in the oldest wing of the building, originally constructed between 1920 and 1970, had the highest concentrations. The congener distribution patterns indicate historic use of Aroclor 1254 as well as modern sources of non-Aroclor congeners associated with paint pigments and surface coatings. Our findings suggest this noninvasive source identification method presents an opportunity for targeted source testing for more cost-effective prioritization of materials remediation in schools.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Room-to-Room Variability of Airborne Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Schools and the Application of Air Sampling for Targeted Source Evaluation
- Creators
- Moala K Bannavti - University of IowaJacob C JahnkeRachel F Marek - University of Iowa, IIHR--Hydroscience and EngineeringCraig L Just - University of Iowa, Civil and Environmental EngineeringKeri C Hornbuckle - University of Iowa, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Environmental science & technology, Vol.55(14), pp.9460-9468
- DOI
- 10.1021/acs.est.0c08149
- PMID
- 34033460
- PMCID
- PMC8427462
- NLM abbreviation
- Environ Sci Technol
- ISSN
- 0013-936X
- eISSN
- 1520-5851
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000066, name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, award: P42ES013661; DOI: 10.13039/100000082, name: Division of Graduate Education, award: 1633098
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/25/2021
- Academic Unit
- Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Iowa Superfund Research Program
- Record Identifier
- 9984079699602771
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