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EPA Inspection for PCB-containing lighting ballasts
PS 68, Bronx, New York

On Saturday, January 29, 2011, EPA conducted an inspection at PS 68 to look at lighting ballasts that may contain PCBs and determine if they have leaked in the past or are currently leaking.  See below for a chart containing the results of samples taken during this inspection.

If a lighting ballast is leaking PCBs above a regulatory level of 50 parts per million, federal law requires the immediate removal and disposal of the ballast and disposal of any PCB-contaminated materials at an EPA-approved facility.

A total of thirteen samples were taken from eleven rooms.  Ten samples showed results above the regulatory limit. In nine of the eleven rooms where samples were taken, EPA found one or more results that were above the regulatory limit.

EPA continues to strongly recommend that the City of New York develop a plan for assessing and addressing leaking ballasts in its schools city-wide.

These recommendations are consistent with EPA’s national guidance recommending that schools take steps to reduce potential exposures to PCBs from older fluorescent lighting fixtures.

Over the past several weeks, EPA has also released results from three other schools that it has inspected, PS 53 in Staten Island, PS 11 and PS 13/PS 358 in Brooklyn.  In each space where samples were taken in PS 53, EPA found one or more results that were above 50 parts per million.  Twenty two of the total of 33 samples taken showed results above the regulatory limit.  In PS 11, 18 out of the total 28 samples taken showed results above the regulatory limit.  At PS 13/PS 358, EPA took a total of seven samples from five rooms and each showed results above the regulatory limit.

PS 68 Bronx
January 29, 2011 Sampling Results

Location	Fixture No.	Sample location	Sample Results  mg/kg (PPM)	PCB Aroclor	Old/New Ballast	Ballast leaking	Description of Material
Room 112	3	Ballast	34 68	1242  1254	Old	Yes	Oil Spot
Room 114	2	Ballast	U*		Old	Yes	Dried Tar
Room 109	2	Ballast	310	1016	Old	Yes	Oily Label
Room 109	3	Tray	U*		New	No	Dry Liquid Residue
Room 111	1	Ballast	35 670	1242 1260	Old	Yes	Oil Smear
Room 111	2	Tray	340 920	1248  1260	Old	Yes	Oil Pool
Room 211	1	Ballast	11 30	1242 1260	Old	Yes	Oil Drip
Room 208	1	Ballast	130	1260	Old	Yes	Dried Oil Drip
Room 206	1	Ballast	61	1242	Old	Yes	Dried Oil Drip
Room 306	1	Ballast	110	1242	Old	Yes	Oil Drips
Room 308	1	Ballast	86 260	1242 1262	Old	Yes	Oil Drips
Room 307	1	Ballast	320	1262	Old	Yes	Oil Film
Basement Storage	NA	Ballast	190	1242	Old	Y	Oil Seepage

*U = Non detect

 

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