Our building contains HID lighting fixtures, but does not have other fixtures that may contain PCBs. HID lights are located in very limited portions of buildings, such as gyms, auditoriums, or shop rooms. The DOE will replace all HID fixtures installed before 1980 unless construction records verify that these fixtures were replaced. All of the replacements will be completed by December 31, 2016.
While we understand concerns regarding the presence of materials containing PCBs in the school building, the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has advised that, based on a pilot study of DOE schools, there is no immediate health concern and that health effects from long term exposure to the air in school buildings are unlikely to occur at the PCB levels seen in the NYC schools. Please visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/epi/pcb.pdf for more information on PCBs and to address any questions about health concerns
Sincerely,
Robert A. Gentile
Principal