Question from HG
I recently read an article about a 2008 study conducted by the Silent Spring organization suggesting that floor finishes, particularly one called Fabulon, used in the 1950’s and 1960’s contained high levels of PCBs that continue to out-gas and contaminate home dust for decades. Do you know if it is possible to identify floors that could have been treated with finishings that had PCBs and if there is something people can do to mitigate this exposure pathway?
Debra’s Answer
Here’s the entire article from Environmental Health journal: “PCB-contiaining wood floor finish is a likely source of elevated PCBs in residents’ blood, household air and dust: a case study of exposure”. It says:
I don’t know how one would identify such a floor.
If you have a wood floor with a clear finish and your home is vintage 1950s or 60s, you might have a Fabulon finish. If you are concerned and want to remove any possible danger, put a layer of foil over it and put down an new floor.
