Warning: Found toxic ballasts while swapping out old store lights

I was helping a buddy rewire a small shop built in the 60s, and we started pulling down the fluorescent tubes. One of the ballasts had a oily leak and a weird smell. Got curious and looked up the codes on it, turns out it's packed with PCBs. Those chemicals are bad news and can stick around in your body for years. We had to suit up and bag everything special for hazardous waste. It added a full day to the job and extra cost, but cutting corners with this stuff is dumb. Always check for those old ballasts before you tear into anything, especially in older places. A quick look can save you a huge headache and keep you safe.

3 comments

3 Comments

sagemurphy1mo ago

Wait the ballasts were from the 60s and still leaking that crap? That's wild they can last that long. Scary how that poison just hangs around in buildings and your body forever.

elizabethh631mo ago

Reading this honestly freaks me out. Here I am trying to help people get fit, but my own body is probably full of that old poison from just breathing in buildings. It's crazy how that junk never really goes away. Makes me wonder if all my healthy habits are even worth it. Tbh, I bet my cells are more toxic than a gym locker room.

sarahm181mo ago

People lived in those buildings for decades and turned out fine though.