The Environmental Protection Agency has found high levels of the toxic chemical PCB in the lighting fixtures of another public school in the city. P.S. 306 in East New York is now the sixth building tested by the federal agency this year.
In January, the city's Department of Education found high levels of PCBs in a seventh school on Staten Island. The department said its policy is to replace all lighting ballasts with confirmed leaks.
The EPA has been urging the city to replace all of its older lighting ballasts because they're likely to contain the chemical, which can leak into the air.
Last week, the city announced a 10-year strategy for inspecting and replacing ballasts at nearly 800 affected schools. The EPA has said its reviewing the city's plan and timeline, and will respond soon with its own recommendations.
Beth Fertig is WNYC’s Contributing Editor for Education. She previously covered politics, which included City Hall during the Giuliani administration, and the U.S. Senate campaigns of Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton. She also covered transportation and infrastructure.
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