PCBs Emitting from Building Materials in Schools: The Reality

The Hidden Source of Indoor Pollution

Your child's school might be leaking toxic chemicals into the air every single day. A 2026 study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are still actively emitting from common building materials in schools built before 1980.

Researchers measured emissions in 98 rooms across 16 schools. They found PCBs leaching from expansion joint caulking, glass block windows, and fireproof coatings on steel columns. Some of these materials emitted up to 830,000 ng m-2 d-1 of pollutants. These chemicals were banned decades ago, yet they remain trapped in the infrastructure of thousands of buildings across the country.

What This Means for Health

The study highlights an excess lifetime cancer risk for school staff and students that significantly exceeds state safety targets. These chemicals are not just sitting in the walls. They are off-gassing into the air that children breathe for hours every day. The presence of these materials creates a constant, low-level exposure that accumulates over time.

While you cannot renovate your child's school overnight, you can control the environment inside your own four walls. Start by auditing the materials in your home to ensure you aren't adding to the toxic load. We have curated a collection of non-toxic home alternatives to help you replace outdated, synthetic materials with safer, tested options. Your home should be a sanctuary, not a source of chemical exposure.

Source: Hua JBX, Marek RF, Jones MP, Erb TD, Owen SC (2026). Environ Sci Technol.