CHICAGO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Region 5 officials met with the Park Ridge-Niles School
District 64 superintendent yesterday to discuss the most recent results of
PCB-testing in Park Ridge. EPA, in consultation with federal health experts
has determined that there is no risk to students, faculty or staff at any
of the schools. Test results will be explained at a public meeting at 7
p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, in the Washington School auditorium, 1500 Stewart
Ave., Park Ridge.
Nicor Gas Co., with EPA oversight, has been inspecting homes, schools
and a church in Park Ridge for PCBs in gas meters over the past couple of
months. EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry are
working closely with School District 64 to ensure that the health and
safety of students and school staff are protected. ATSDR is part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Air and wipe samples were taken over the past few weeks at Lincoln
Middle School, Washington Elementary School and Evergreen Presbyterian
Church. The results showed PCB levels below what is considered a human
health concern. These buildings were cleared by EPA and no further action
is needed. No detectable levels of PCBs were found at Emerson Middle
School, Field Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Jefferson
School and Roosevelt School.
Precautionary follow-up testing will be done this weekend at the
Carpenter Elementary School and the District 64 administration building
both in Park Ridge, after PCBs were found in samples taken in the boiler
rooms.
In June Nicor, the Park Ridge area gas utility, contacted EPA to report
the discovery of PCBs in gas meters at four Park Ridge homes. The company
had already replaced the meters and cleaned up the residences. EPA
inspectors did follow-up testing of the soil, indoor air and interior
surfaces. Small amounts of contamination were found in the soil outside two
of the homes. The contamination likely occurred from spills as Nicor
replaced the meters. After Nicor conducted a second cleanup of the soil at
the homes, EPA took follow-up samples to confirm that PCBs were no longer
detected. In all, Nicor tested 140 homes in Park Ridge.
PCBs are mixtures of synthetic chemicals ranging from oily liquids to
waxy solids which were used in a wide range of commercial products. Because
of evidence that PCBs persist in the environment and cause harmful effects,
domestic manufacture of commercial mixtures stopped in 1977.
For more information on the health effects, regulations and cleanup of
PCBs, go to http://www.epa.gov/pcb.
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