Description |
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Abstract:
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were present in construction materials used in schools
from the 1950s to the 1970s. The discovery of PCBs in a school produces various
difficulties including costly remediation and disruption of operations. This thesis
evaluated data from building materials and media collected in a school to determine the
nature and extent of PCB contamination and to ... read moredetermine the effectiveness of remediation
in reducing surface and indoor air concentrations. Spatial variability and the effect of
indoor air temperature on air concentrations were also evaluated. Results indicated that
various building materials contained PCBs and that the compounds had migrated into
nearby media. Post-remediation samples showed a reduction in indoor air concentrations
and a significant (p=0.001) reduction in median surface concentrations. Significant
spatial differences in indoor air concentrations were shown between two areas of the
school (p= 0.05). Indoor air PCB levels were not found to be correlated with indoor
temperature.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University,
2013.
Submitted to the Dept. of Civil
Engineering.
Advisor: Anne Marie
Desmarais.
Committee: David Gute, and Mark
Woodin.
Keywords: Environmental science,
Environmental engineering, and Environmental health.read less
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