Sen. Edward Markey’s staff estimated that as many as 14 million students in the U.S. could be attending schools contaminated with toxic PCBs. PCBs were banned in the late 70s, but were used in light fixtures and caulking in schools built or renovated between 1950 and 1979. They’ve been listed as a known human carcinogen and have been tied to an assortment of health problems, such as delayed development and attention problems.

In a conference call with reporters, Markey says — at the rate the EPA is currently inspecting schools — it would take 32 years to check all of them for contamination.

“Most of the classrooms in schools in America, were built to educate the baby boomer generation. that group is now retiring. It’s time retire these toxic PCB chemicals from our schools as well.”

He notes that PCB policies and procedures vary widely from state to state. States in New England have reported the most cases of PCBs in schools, according to the report. Some parts of the country have found PCBs in schools but never reported it to the EPA. Markey says this is part of the problem.

“My report reveals that first, schools do not test for PCB hazards and are not required to do so. And when PCB contamination is found, no one has to report it to the EPA… To put it plainly, we have no real idea how many students are being exposed to PCBs in their classroom each and every day.”

Markey’s report, called the “ABCs of PCBs”, includes a sort-of report card for each state, rating them on the availability of PCB information on state websites. Connecticut was the only state in New England — and one of only two in the country — that received positive marks for each category. According to Markey’s report, Massachusetts is missing information on PCB reporting guidance; Vermont has no information on reporting or disposal; New Hampshire only has general information; Rhode Island only has a few links to information; and Maine has no information at all.

Another problem is how schools respond to PCB issues. Schools aren’t required to inform parents, students or teachers if a school has a PCB problem. Some parents have had to sue their school get rid of the PCBs. Harvard professor Robert Herrick has studied this problem for years.

“They’re leaking PCBs into the schools where the kids and the teachers inhale them, they get contaminated dust on their skin. Our research has shown that in the teachers, if you look at the PCB levels in their blood, they have higher levels than you find in the general population.”

As many as two-thirds of Connecticut schools could be contaminated with PCBs, according to a WNPR investigation.