{"id":2892,"date":"2025-09-18T21:55:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T21:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2030districts.org\/seattle\/?p=2892"},"modified":"2025-09-18T21:55:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T21:55:12","slug":"a-toxic-legacy-how-you-can-protect-your-investment-and-your-tenants-from-pcbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/2030districts.org\/seattle\/a-toxic-legacy-how-you-can-protect-your-investment-and-your-tenants-from-pcbs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Toxic Legacy: How You Can Protect Your Investment and Your Tenants From PCBs"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]There are a lot of harmful substances to be aware of these days. Many even sound the same and are easy to confuse: PFAS, PBDEs, PVC\u2026 It may feel like that list is being constantly updated with new acronyms and it can be overwhelming to find out about another hazardous toxic\u2014especially one that poses risks to both human and environmental health. However, there are just a few things you need to know about <\/span>polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs)<\/span><\/a> in order to feel confident to begin taking meaningful action to address this issue.<\/span><\/p>\n

What are PCBs and why were they included in many common building materials?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

PCBs<\/span><\/a> are a class of synthetic chemicals that are not found naturally in the environment. Developed by Monsanto, there are 209 different compounds within this class. The chemical properties of PCBs made them suitable for a wide range of industrial and <\/span>commercial applications<\/span><\/a>. They were designed to be chemically stable, have a high heat capacity\/boiling points, resist combustion, and have insulative properties. Thus, PCBs were intentionally added to paints and caulks among other building materials to add flexibility, durability, and improve adhesion. These materials were mainly used in industrial buildings rather than residential, single-family homes due to their prohibitive cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

PCBs were in use from the 1930s until 1980, but they were used most from 1950 to 1980. While the manufacture of PCBs was banned in 1979 by the <\/span>Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)<\/span><\/a>, they can still be found in buildings built or renovated before or around this time because many contractors still had a stockpile of PCBs-containing materials in their possession.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][image_with_animation image_url=”2893″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]\n

Where are PCBs and how do they travel?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

PCBs can be in either <\/span>liquid or non-liquid form<\/span><\/a> and may be present in:<\/span><\/p>\n