HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN

SCHOOLS? – WHAT? WHERE?

DOH FALL WORKSHOPS 2017

ERIC DICKSON, CIEC

INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST

NEWESD 101

What Kind of Materials?

Asbestos

Lead

Mercury

PCBs

Formaldehyde

Transportation Dept./Auto Shop waste

Radioactive materials

Lab Chemicals

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Asbestos

AHERA/EPA rules –

Is your AHERA management Plan current?

Do you know who your Designated Person is?

Good Faith Inspections prior to demolition,

remodel, or renovation

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Some Asbestos-Containing Materials

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(NOTE: This list does not include every product/material that may contain asbestos. It is intended as a general guide to show which types of materials may contain asbestos.)

Cement PipesPacking Materials (for wall/floor penetrations)

Electrical Panel Partitions

Cement Wallboard High Temperature Gaskets Electrical Cloth

Cement Siding Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops Electric Wiring Insulation

Asphalt Floor Tile Laboratory Gloves Chalkboards

Vinyl Floor Tile Fire Blankets Roofing Shingles

Vinyl Sheet Flooring Fire Curtains Roofing Felt

Flooring Backing Elevator Equipment Panels Base Flashing

Construction Mastics (floor tile, carpet, ceiling tile, etc.)

Elevator Brake Shoes Thermal Paper Products

Acoustical Plaster HVAC Duct Insulation Fire Doors

Decorative Plaster Boiler Insulation Caulking/Putties

Textured Paints/Coatings Breaching Insulation Adhesives

Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in PanelsDuctwork Flexible Fabric Connections

Wallboard

Spray-Applied Insulation Cooling Towers Joint Compounds

Blown-in InsulationPipe Insulation (corrugated air-cell, block, etc.)

Vinyl Wall Coverings

Fireproofing Materials Heating and Electrical Ducts Spackling Compounds

Taping Compounds (thermal)

It’s Back! #&%$!!!!

Check Product Labels

“Non asbestos” or “asbestos free”

NAFTA and CAFTA allowed free trade with no

restrictions

If it contains asbestos, label may read:

Chrysotile (or chrysotile fibers)

Mineral fibers

Natural fibers

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Check labels 6

Lead Paint

EPA’s RRP Rule for Lead Paint – Child-occupied

facilities with children under the age of 6 yrs old.

Mostly looking at childcare but we’re included with

some ECEAP and kindergarten programs

Buildings older than 1978

Prior to Demo of a building

Lead paint content

Cross section of demo materials for TCLP analysis

(for leach ability)

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Mercury

Elemental mercury

RCW 70.95.40 - A school may not purchase for use in a primary or secondary classroom bulk

elemental mercury or chemical mercury

compounds. By January 1, 2006, all primary and secondary schools in the state must remove and

properly dispose of all bulk elemental mercury,

chemical mercury, and bulk mercury compounds

used as teaching aids in science classrooms, not

including barometers.

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Mercury

https://www.doh.wa.gov/

DOH website has lots of information about

mercury including:

recycling programs

Disposal

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MercuryElemental bulk, thermometers, toys,

fluorescent lamps, Tartan flooring, etc.

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Mercury – Tartan Floors

3-M Tartan brand rubber-like polymer flooring

contained mercury from the 1960s to the 1980s.

It was used as a catalyst to help the flooring

mixture maintain its soft texture.

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Polychlorinated biphenyl

(PCB)

Added to fluorescent light ballasts until1979

If ballast doesn’t say “No PCBs”, or “Non-PCB” or

has a date after 1979 you must assume they

contain PCBs

Must dispose of as hazardous waste

PCBs also found in caulk in some buildings older

than 1979

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PCB Light ballasts 13

Formaldehyde

Sometimes off-gassed from new wood furniture

(particle board, etc.)

Was found in chemistry labs

Shouldn’t be there anymore but…..

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Lab Chemicals

Several “Rehab the Lab” programs over the years.

Used grant money to inspect labs and get rid of old

and unwanted chemicals

Some old-school teachers hoarded old

chemicals. Some may still be out there.

Seen chemicals stored alphabetically – yikes!

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Transportation

departments & auto shops

Waste oils, solvents

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Radioactive materials

Radioactive test kits from 1950s and 60s

Used with Geiger counter to demonstrate

radioactive properties. To get students interested in

the sciences during cold war days.

Samples of “yellow cake” from mining operations

Some chemicals to look for: uranyl chloride, uranyl

nitrate, uranyl acetate

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Ok, I’ve got it, now what

do I do with it?

Chemicals – Clean Harbors, Lucas Menendez,

(253) 638-3549.

They have the state contract for hazardous waste

pick up and disposal.

Lower cost than most contractors

Radioactive materials – Department of Health,

Radiation Safety. Steve Matthews, (360) 236-3226

Free for Public Schools (very expensive

otherwise).

Asbestos and Lead – abatement contractors

Recyclers – check you local area.

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Questions??

Eric Dickson

Industrial Hygienist

NEWESD 101

(509) 789-3518

edickson@esd101.net

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