Transcript NEIGHBOR CARE ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY …

Indoor Air and Molds
PRESENTED BY:
STEVEN C. STRAYER, CIH, CSP, REHS, RS
COCCIARDI AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
(717) 766-4500
[email protected]
REGULATORY AGENCIES AND
“WANNA BE’S”
REGULATOR
WANNA BE
OSHA/MOSHA
NIOSH
HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
ATSDR
EPA/DEP
ASHRAE
*TREND  RISK ASSESSMENTS
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
“TYPICAL” AIR QUALITY ISSUES
• POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY (SICK BUILDING
SYNDROME)
• MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION
• HAZARDOUS MATERIAL EXPOSURE (CO,
DIESEL EXHAUST, ALCOHOLS, ETC.)
• ASBESTOS
• LEAD BASED PAINT
• HEALTH EFFECTS vs. COMFORT
• CAUSITIVE AGENTS
• SOURCES
• CONTROL METHODOLOGIES
HEALTH EFFECTS
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
VS
BUILDING RELATED ILLNESS (BRI)
HEALTH EFFECTS
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
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A PERSISTENT SET OF SYMPTOMS IN > 20%
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CAUSE(S) NOT READILY RECOGNIZABLE
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COMPLAINTS/SYMPTOMS RELIEVED AFTER
EXITING BUILDING
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
–
EYE, NOSE, OR THROAT IRRITATION
–
HEADACHES
–
FATIGUE
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REDUCED MENTATION
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IRRITABILITY
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
–
DRY SKIN
–
NASAL CONGESTION
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DIFFICULTY BREATHING
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NOSE BLEEDS
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NAUSEA
HEALTH EFFECTS
BUILDING RELATED ILLNESS (BRI)
» MORE SERIOUS THEN SBS
» AGENT DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A
DIAGNOSABLE ILLNESS
Ex. ASBESTOS, LEGIONELLA
COMFORT ISSUES
ASHRAE Criteria
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CO2
Humidity
Temperature (summer vs. winter)
Others: CO, dust, etc. (NAAQS)
CAUSITIVE AGENTS
INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANT TYPES
–
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS (heating,
cigarettes, etc.)
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VOLATILE CHEMICALS & MIXTURES
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RESPIRABLE PARTICULATES
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RESPIRATORY PRODUCTS
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BIOLOGICS & BIOAEROSOLS
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RADIONUCLIDES (Radon)
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ODORS (TOXIN OR NUISENCE)
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
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CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
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OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOX)
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OXIDES OF SULFUR (SOX)
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CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
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POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBON’S (PAH)
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TOBACCO SMOKE COMPONENTS
CAUSITIVE AGENTS
RESPIRABLE PARTICULATES
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METALLIC DUSTS
• LEAD
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ORGANIC DUSTS
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PAPER DUSTS
–
POLLEN
ODORS
–
ODORS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY INDOOR
AIR CONTAMINANT TYPE
• INDEPENDENTLY
• IN COMBINATION
PREVENTING IAQ PROBLEMS
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SOURCES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
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HUMAN ACTIVITIES
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BUILDING COMPONENTS & FURNISHINGS
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OTHER SOURCES
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VENTILATION SYSTEMS
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BIOLOGICAL/WATER
CONTROL METHODOLOGIES
SOURCES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
• POLLEN, DUST, FUNGI
• INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS (NOX, O3, etc.)
• GENERAL VEHICLE EXHAUST
• EXHAUST RE-ENTRAINMENT
• SEWER GAS
Control Methodologies
HUMAN ACTIVITIES
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HVAC Modification
Odor “Masking”
Food Storage
Amazon Decor
Smoking
Open Chemicals
(janitorial staff)
• Pesticide Application
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“Dirty” Conditions
Copying
Respiration
Construction/Renovation
Storage
Air Cleaners
Control Methodologies
Building Components
• Asbestos
• Lead-Based Paint
• New Material/Paint
– Off-gassing (formaldehyde, acetic acid, VOC’s, etc.)
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Exhaust/Intake Locations
Lighting
Fibrous Glass
Mercury Switches
Control Methodologies
OTHER SOURCES
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ACCIDENTAL EVENTS
• SPILLS
• FLOODING
• FIRE DAMAGE (PCB’S)
• SUBSURFACE CONDUITS (i.e. sewers)
• RADON VENTILATION
Control Methodologies
HVAC
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Maintenance (filters, condensate pans, etc.)
Balance
Energy conservation compromise
Additional diffusers/returns
– “dead air”
• Humidification / dehumidification
CONTROL METHODOLOGIES
Biological/Water
• Animals/Insects/Plants
• Minimize water infiltration
– Microbials
• NO REGULATORY CRITERIA
• DECISION MAKING/CHARACTERIZATION
• REMEDIATION
– NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
– U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
I. DESCRIPTION
A. Kingdom – Mycota (Mold, mildew, yeast,
mushrooms, etc.)
B. Produce sexually and asexually
C. Physical Appearance: black, green,
brown, gray, white, etc. “fuzzy”, “slimey”
– Spores, Hyphae, Mycelium
D. Likes – organic material (your building)
and water/moisture – Poor construction,
HVAC management and maintenance
DESCRIPTION
Dislikes – lack of moisture and ventilation
e.g. – Water Activity Constant < 0.8 – Primary
Colonizers (i.e. Penicillium)
 Colonizers 0.8 – 0.9 - Secondary
Colonizers (i.e. Cladosporium)
 Colonizers > 0.9 - Tertiary
Colonizers (i.e. Stachybotrys)
II.
WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST
HUMANITY, HEALTH, AND PROPERTY
A.
Mycotoxins – Defense mechanism (endo– or exo-)
Irritation, respiratory disease, cancer, and immune
disorders (i.e. Aspergillus, Aflatoxins; Penicillium, Stachy
and Fusarium – Macrocyclic trichothecenes)
B.
VOC’s – Metabolites (“Musty” smell)
Chemical sensitivities and effects associated with
alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and aromatics
C.
Spores and Fragments – Allergies/ Hypersensitivity
D.
Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome (ODTS)
(i.e. Aspergillus/Penicillium)
Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms, eye/skin irritation,
red blotches, cough, runny nose, congestion, etc. –
possibly even death
III. Causes
A. Spores
B. Food (your building)
C. Moisture in materials/air (> 60% rlt)
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Leaks (wet greater than 48 hours)
No HVAC make-up air
HVAC humidifiers
Lack of vapor barriers
Tight construction and interference with natural circulation
(i.e. mulch, etc.)
Poor drainage
Improper kitchen/bathroom ventilation
Building trauma
IV. IDENTIFICATION
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Visible (often hidden in interstitial spaces)
Air Sampling (spores, metabolites, PCR, etc.)
Bulk (similar to air)
Wipe/surface (similar to air)
Medical evaluation
Recommend: Industrial Hygienist (certified),
Mycologist, Biologist, Microbiologist, etc.
V. APPROACH: POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
A.
Professional Remediator – Proper
B.
Professional Evaluator (See Above)
C.
Specifications – Clean-up Criteria
D.
Remediation by removal, dispose, and clean (HEPA Vacuum)
* Suggest segregation of area, if possible
* Find and repair source of moisture first
* PA Dept. of Health suggests following
New York City protocols
VI. LITIGATION AND
INSURANCE ISSUES
A.
Limited coverage
B.
Construction Issues – Primarily negligence
1. Property Damage – Typically repair costs or value
2. Personal Injury – pain, suffering, medical care, lost
wages, loss of earning capacity
3. Death – Loss of love, companionship, comfort,
affection, society, solace, sex, moral support,
physical assistance, financial support, etc.
VI. LITIGATION AND
INSURANCE ISSUES
Examples:
1. $350,000 against homeowners association (chronic
water damage)
2. $900,000 against residential builder (leaking roof)
3. $545,000 against homeowners association (leaking pipes)
4. $1,353,000 against seller (disclosure)
5. $6,000,000 against general/sub-contractors (4 year-old
courthouse w/leaks)
6. $14,200,00 against contractor and surety companies (Sick
Building Syndrome in three courthouse buildings)