Every day, Clark Seif Clark professionals are deployed across the nation helping both large and small customers resolve health & safety, industrial hygiene, environmental and indoor air quality issues.
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PCBs in Aging Fluorescent Light Ballasts a Potential Threat to Students and Other Building Occupants
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. They were domestically manufactured from 1929 until manufacturing was banned in 1979 in the United States. PCBs were once used in a number of products due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point and electrical insulating properties.
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Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
800.807.1118
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In fact, they were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications. One area of extensive use was as coolants in hydraulic systems and as dielectric fluids in electrical equipment. In building materials, PCBs were once an ingredient in some paints, mastics, sealants, adhesives, caulking and specialty coatings.
One area of concern that has made national headlines in recent years is the presence of PCBs in old fluorescent light ballasts (FLBs) that may leak and can still be found in some schools and buildings. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a 5-page information and reference fact sheet on the topic recently. In it, the agency reports any FLB manufactured before July 2, 1979, may contain PCBs and that these ballasts commonly contain pure PCB liquid in small (less than two ounces) sealed capacitor(s). PCBs have also been found in FLB potting material, which is a tar-like filling/packing material inside the metal ballast casing. FLBs containing PCBs are regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
“In California, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) goes so far as to recommend all school districts take preventative action by voluntarily surveying, inventorying and retrofitting fluorescent light fixtures that may contain PCBs in the light ballasts,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “At CSC, our industrial hygiene, environmental and IEQ professionals offer PCB and mercury consulting, testing, monitoring and training services to identify potential exposure risks from FLBs and other PCB-containing materials and mercury vapor in the fluorescent bulbs. These services protect workers, building occupants and the environment, while helping companies and institutions with regulatory compliance and liability issues.”
CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about PCBs and fluorescent light ballasts that can be seen below:
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To learn more about PCBs or other building science, occupational, air quality, environmental, health and safety testing services, please:
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Occupational Exposure Risks to Fiberglass and Other Synthetic Vitreous Fibers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports there are many workers across the United States that are exposed to fiberglass and other synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) in manufacturing and end-use applications.
SVFs are man-made fibrous materials used for thermal and sound insulating purposes and to reinforce other materials. They are found in insulation, roofing shingles, ceiling tiles, textile and fiberglass manufacturing, and weather proofing. These inorganic materials contain aluminum or calcium silicates, and are made from rock or stone, clay, slag or glass.
The three categories of synthetic vitreous fibers include:
- Glass fibers (fiberglass), including glass wool and continuous filament glass
- Mineral wool, which contains stone wool and slag wool
- Refractory ceramic fibers, used to insulate furnaces in lieu of asbestos
“Insulation and many building materials containing fiberglass, or other SVFs, can release fibers into the air when they are disturbed,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Workers who install or remove insulation, or those involved in building maintenance and repair activities, are some of the occupations with the highest levels of exposure to SVFs. The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) states that when SVFs are suspended in air they can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. If these fibers contact the skin, they may also cause irritation. As far as potential cancer risks are concerned, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that refractory ceramic fibers are possibly carcinogenic to humans. There are published occupational exposure limits for synthetic mineral fibers from OSHA, NIOSH and other state and professional organizations meant to protect workers.”
Workers exposed to SVFs should have training and access to personal protective equipment (PPE). Ventilation and other engineering controls, along with administrative actions, can also be essential for mitigating exposure. Helping companies meet these obligations and maintain regulatory compliance are the industrial hygiene professionals at CSC. Their experts offer onsite inspections, testing, monitoring, training and consulting services for SVFs and a wide range of chemical, microbial and radiological hazards. CSC has even sponsored an educational video about SVFs and potential exposure risks that can be seen below:
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To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.
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About Clark Seif Clark: CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.
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21732 Devonshire St., Ste. B,
Chatsworth, CA 91311
800.807.1118
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