University of Massachusetts works to remove PCBs from student housing complex

From The Boston Globe: The University of Massachusetts in Amherst is working to remove a contaminant discovered in the concrete and caulking around the university's largest student housing complex: the Southwest Residential Area. The contaminant PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, have to be removed by the fall to enable students to return safely to campus. PCBs were discovered in late May during renovations at the Southwest concourse, the open space that surrounds five high-rise, and 11 low-rise residence halls. Every academic year about 5,500 students, or 44 percent, of the residential student population, live in Southwest.