A little less than a month after air testing at Burncoat High School revealed levels of polychlorinated biphenyls well below EPA levels of concerns for children adults, results for the same test at Doherty High School have revealed the same.



According to a press release from Worcester Public Schools Thursday, May 11, most of the 10 samples collected in an April 24 test by environmental consultant O'Reilly, Talbot and Okun were less than the detection limit of 10 nanograms per cubic meter. The highest reading, 156 nanograms, was still well under the EPA's target PCB goal of less than 500 nanograms.



�In our opinion these results are consistent with PCB air concentrations that are well below EPA�s recommended levels for PCBs in schools and thus they would not be expected to pose a health risk to students or staff,� James Okun wrote.



The PCB reading of 156 nanograms came from the Doherty auditorium. The next highest, 102, was in the main office.



At Burncoat, which was tested April 3, the highest PCB reading was 78.1 nanograms per cubic meter.



The testing was done amid concerns about the level of PCBs, labeled by the EPA as a probable carcinogen, in Burncoat and Doherty. The teachers union fought for, and ultimately won, the right to conduct independent testing (a judge rejected a School Committee appeal), but has not yet done so.



The school department and Mayor Joe Petty have touted a comprehensive plan to clean the schools, including adopting the EPA's best management practices in 2012, when caulking was encapsulated and other steps were taking to remove PCBs. Since December last year, the district has implemented accelerated cleaning and ventilation maintenance at both Burncoat and Doherty. The two schools are ultimately targeted for replacement.



�We're pleased with what the results are,� Brian Allen, chief financial officer for Worcester Public Schools, said of the Doherty testing. �Whether it was the result of best management practice, we're certainly pleased the results were well below the EPA level of concern.�



Allen noted the School Committee adopted Petty's management plan at its last meeting, and said annual air sampling would be done at Burncoat and Doherty.



The results, Allen said, have been shared with the EPA and with the Education Association of Worcester.



Walter Bird Jr. is editor of Worcester Magazine. He may be reached for comments and story tips at 508-749-3166, ext. 322, or by email at wbird@worcestermag.com. Follow him on Twitter @walterbirdjr and find him on Facebook under walterbirdjr. You can also watch Walter as a panelist on �Rosen's Roundtable� every week on Charter TV 194.