Feb 2, 2014

An article coauthored by SFEI staff on polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in caulking was recently published in Environment International. The study analyzed PCB concentrations in 25 caulk samples from the exterior of ten buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area. PCBs were detected in 88% of the caulk samples collected from the buildings and relatively high concentrations of PCBs were observed in concrete and masonry buildings built between 1950 and 1980. The authors estimated that 10,500 kg of PCBs remain in the interior and exterior caulk of the 10 buildings, equivalent to an average of 4.7 kg PCBs per building. The high concentrations of PCBs in the caulk suggest that building caulk may be an ongoing source of PCBs to the Bay Area environment.

Associated Staff: 
Programs and Focus Areas: 
Clean Water Program