Condominium associations and their property managers have shown that, like  owners of other types of buildings, they are eager to do their part to be good  stewards of the health of the planet, as well as the health of the occupants of  their buildings.  

 They have implemented recycling programs, installed energy-saving compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), added insulation  and replaced weatherstripping on their buildings, and swapped out old appliances for newer energy-efficientmodels. These types of actions help us all to do our part to reduce our impact  to the natural environment. In most cases these practices, either directly or  indirectly, also increase our potential for living healthy lives by reducing  our exposure to pollution and associated contaminants.  

 But for some buildings, there is another source of contamination that is  currently unknown to the owners and occupants. This contamination source, discovered by environmentalindustry experts only in recent years, threatens the health of owners and users  of these buildings.  

 So what is the source of this contamination that condominium owners and their property managers need to be aware of? It’s an old caulking material that was applied to buildings during their  construction or renovation.

 Caulk Banned by EPA

 Prior to the early 1980s, caulk that was used to seal window frames, door  frames, and masonry control joints commonly contained high levels of  polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which manufacturers added to caulk to give it  elasticity. Based on evidence suggesting that PCBs are developmental toxins, and due to their other toxic effects, PCBs were banned in the United States in 1977. The Environmental  Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that exposure to PCBs can adversely affect a  person’s immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. In addition, PCBs are considered tobe a potential cause of cancer in humans.

 Condominiums that were constructed or refurbished prior to the late 1970s and  even into the early 1980s (due to excess inventory of caulk) have a good chance  of containing PCB caulk, especially those constructed with brick, concrete  block, or other masonry materials. For example, if a condominium building was  once an old mill that was renovated for residential unitsor office suites in the 1970s, there is a good chance that PCB caulk was applied  throughout the building at the time of the renovation.  

 For these buildings, studies have shown that PCBs can leach out of the caulk and  contaminate the adjacent building material (such as concrete and brick) and the environment surrounding the building, including soil, sediment, and water bodies. Once in  the environment, PCBs can be contacted, ingested, or inhaled in dust. Studies  have also shown that PCBs originating from caulk can be released into a  building’s indoor air and be inhaled by the building occupants. Obviously, this is a  concern to parents of children living in the building, butalso to adult residents, visitors, and pets.

 The Harvard School of Public Health and other researchers have confirmed the presence of high levels of PCBs in building caulk in a number of buildings in the Boston area and internationally. Thus, occupants and workers in buildings with PCB  caulk risk exposure to PCBs. Contractors working on or in these buildings may be at risk, particularly if they come in contact  with PCB-contaminated building materials during construction or other work activities. There-fore, if remediation of PCB-contaminated materials in your condominium buildings and the surrounding environment is planned, it must be done thoughtfully and carefully to avoid exacerbating the  situation.  

 Disposal of the more heavily PCB-contaminated caulk and associated impacted  building materials must be handled as hazardous waste in accordance with federal regulations. However, not all of the PCB-contaminated caulk or building  materials fall into this category.  

 Proper characterization and remedial alternatives evaluation are critical to classifying the waste appropriately, thereby minimizing investigation and remedial costs. A sampling protocol needs to be developed to ensure proper characterization of potentialPCB-contaminated material. In some cases, soil and sediment in the environment  adjacent to buildings that contain PCB-contaminated caulk and concrete may be  contaminated at levels requiring remediation to prevent unacceptable human  health and environmental risks.  

 Again, proper characterization of the environment around these buildings is  critical to controlling costs and a proper evaluation of remedial alternatives  is important to selecting an appropriate cleanup method.  

 Clearly, the implications for condominiumproperties impacted by PCBs resulting from contaminated caulk can be serious. It  is important to engage qualified professionals to characterize: 1) the presence  and concentrations of PCBs in the interior and exterior areas of these  buildings; 2) the potential environmental and human health risks; and 3) the  financial liabilities associated with eliminating the PCB contamination and associated risk.  

 If sampling reveals elevated levels of PCB are present, your qualified  professional can then determine what type of method is most appropriate to  safely and efficiently remediate the PCB-contaminated material in accordance with federal and state regulatory requirements, with minimaldisruption to building occupants.

 Remediation Can Cost Thousands

 For most buildings, depending on the size, type of construction, age, and use of  the property, the cost for the initial assessment and sampling program to  determine if PCB caulk exists and, if so, at what levels, can range from a few  thousand dollars to $10,000 or more.  

 If the sampling program indicates PCB caulk is present and remediation is  warranted, the remediation costs can range from tens of thousands to well into  the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The actual cost to remove and/or  remediate PCB-contaminated caulk and associated material will depend on the  quantity of material and the level of PCB contaminationidentified during the sampling program.

 Insurance companies started excluding pollution coverage from their standard  property insurance packages in the mid 1980s. However, if your condominium  association has a Pollution Legal Liability policy to insure against  unanticipated pollution losses, coverage for PCB remediation may be available. In addition, if  you can produce records showing that the insurance policy which was in place at  the time PCB caulk was applied to the building(pre-1980s) did not include the pollution exclusion language, insurance could be  available via the former policy.  

 By undertaking proper assessment of condominium properties potentially impacted  by PCBs, currently undiscovered health risks and liabilities may be able to be identified. If you feel your condominiumbuilding may be a candidate for contamination from PCB caulk, have your  association consider retaining an environmental consultant with expertise and  experience in this area to determine if your property is contaminated with  PCBs, expedite proper remediation of the PCB caulk and other areas it may have  contaminated, and reduce your liabilities associated with this  recently-discovered health threat.