Indoor Air and Molds

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Indoor Air and Molds

• PRESENTED BY
• STEVEN C. STRAYER, CIH, CSP, REHS, RS
• COCCIARDI AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
• [phone]
• sstrayer_at_cocciardi.com

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REGULATORY AGENCIES AND WANNA BES

• REGULATOR WANNA BE
• OSHA/MOSHA NIOSH
• HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ATSDR
• EPA/DEP ASHRAE
• TREND ? RISK ASSESSMENTS

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY
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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

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UNDERSTANDING IAQ

• HEALTH EFFECTS vs. COMFORT
• CAUSITIVE AGENTS
• SOURCES
• CONTROL METHODOLOGIES

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HEALTH EFFECTS
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS) VS BUILDING
RELATED ILLNESS (BRI)
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HEALTH EFFECTS

• SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
• A PERSISTENT SET OF SYMPTOMS IN gt 20
• CAUSE(S) NOT READILY RECOGNIZABLE
• COMPLAINTS/SYMPTOMS RELIEVED AFTER EXITING
  BUILDING

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HEALTH EFFECTS

• SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
• EYE, NOSE, OR THROAT IRRITATION
• HEADACHES
• FATIGUE
• REDUCED MENTATION
• IRRITABILITY

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HEALTH EFFECTS

• SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS)
• DRY SKIN
• NASAL CONGESTION
• DIFFICULTY BREATHING
• NOSE BLEEDS
• NAUSEA

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HEALTH EFFECTS

• BUILDING RELATED ILLNESS (BRI)
• MORE SERIOUS THEN SBS
• AGENT DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR A DIAGNOSABLE
  ILLNESS
• Ex. ASBESTOS, LEGIONELLA

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COMFORT ISSUES

• ASHRAE Criteria
• CO2
• Humidity
• Temperature (summer vs. winter)
• Others CO, dust, etc. (NAAQS)

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CAUSITIVE AGENTS

• INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANT TYPES
• COMBUSTION PRODUCTS (heating, cigarettes, etc.)
• VOLATILE CHEMICALS MIXTURES
• RESPIRABLE PARTICULATES
• RESPIRATORY PRODUCTS
• BIOLOGICS BIOAEROSOLS
• RADIONUCLIDES (Radon)
• ODORS (TOXIN OR NUISENCE)

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CAUSITIVE AGENTS

• COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
• CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
• OXIDES OF NITROGEN (NOX)
• OXIDES OF SULFUR (SOX)
• CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
• POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAH)
• TOBACCO SMOKE COMPONENTS

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CAUSITIVE AGENTS

• RESPIRABLE PARTICULATES
• METALLIC DUSTS
• LEAD
• ORGANIC DUSTS
• PAPER DUSTS
• POLLEN

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Causitive Agents

• ODORS
• ODORS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY INDOOR AIR CONTAMINANT
  TYPE
• INDEPENDENTLY
• IN COMBINATION

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CONTROL METHODOLOGIES

• PREVENTING IAQ PROBLEMS
• SOURCES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
• HUMAN ACTIVITIES
• BUILDING COMPONENTS FURNISHINGS
• OTHER SOURCES
• VENTILATION SYSTEMS
• BIOLOGICAL/WATER

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CONTROL METHODOLOGIES

• SOURCES OUTSIDE THE BUILDING
• POLLEN, DUST, FUNGI
• INDUSTRIAL POLLUTANTS (NOX, O3, etc.)
• GENERAL VEHICLE EXHAUST
• EXHAUST RE-ENTRAINMENT
• SEWER GAS

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Control Methodologies

• HUMAN ACTIVITIES
• HVAC Modification
• Odor Masking
• Food Storage
• Amazon Decor
• Smoking
• Open Chemicals
• (janitorial staff)
• Pesticide Application

• Dirty Conditions
• Copying
• Respiration
• Construction/Renovation
• Storage
• Air Cleaners

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Control Methodologies

• Building Components
• Asbestos
• Lead-Based Paint
• New Material/Paint
• Off-gassing (formaldehyde, acetic acid, VOCs,
  etc.)
• Exhaust/Intake Locations
• Lighting
• Fibrous Glass
• Mercury Switches

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Control Methodologies

• OTHER SOURCES
• ACCIDENTAL EVENTS
• SPILLS
• FLOODING
• FIRE DAMAGE (PCBS)
• SUBSURFACE CONDUITS (i.e. sewers)
• RADON VENTILATION

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Control Methodologies

• HVAC
• Maintenance (filters, condensate pans, etc.)
• Balance
• Energy conservation compromise
• Additional diffusers/returns
• dead air
• Humidification / dehumidification

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CONTROL METHODOLOGIES

• Biological/Water
• Animals/Insects/Plants
• Minimize water infiltration
• Microbials

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MICROBIAL CONTAMINANTS

• NO REGULATORY CRITERIA
• DECISION MAKING/CHARACTERIZATION
• REMEDIATION
• NYC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
• U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

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I. DESCRIPTION

• Kingdom Mycota (Mold, mildew, yeast, mushrooms,
  etc.)
• Produce sexually and asexually
• Physical Appearance black, green, brown, gray,
  white, etc. fuzzy, slimey Spores, Hyphae,
  Mycelium
• Likes organic material (your building) and
  water/moisture Poor construction, HVAC
  management and maintenance

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DESCRIPTION

• Dislikes lack of moisture and ventilation
• e.g. Water Activity Constant lt 0.8 Primary
• Colonizers (i.e. Penicillium)
• Colonizers 0.8 0.9 - Secondary
• Colonizers (i.e. Cladosporium)
• Colonizers gt 0.9 - Tertiary
• Colonizers (i.e. Stachybotrys)

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WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, HEALTH, AND
PROPERTY

• Mycotoxins Defense mechanism (endo or exo-)
• Irritation, respiratory disease, cancer, and
  immune disorders (i.e. Aspergillus, Aflatoxins
  Penicillium, Stachy and Fusarium Macrocyclic
  trichothecenes)
• VOCs Metabolites (Musty smell)
• Chemical sensitivities and effects associated
  with alcohols, ketones, hydrocarbons, and
  aromatics
• Spores and Fragments Allergies/
  Hypersensitivity
• 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

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III. Causes

• A. Spores
• B. Food (your building)
• C. Moisture in materials/air (gt 60 rlt)
• 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

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IV. IDENTIFICATION

• 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.

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APPROACH POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS

• Professional Remediator Proper
• Professional Evaluator (See Above)
• Specifications Clean-up Criteria
• 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

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VI. LITIGATION AND INSURANCE ISSUES

• Limited coverage
• 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.

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VI. LITIGATION AND INSURANCE ISSUES

• Examples
• 350,000 against homeowners association (chronic
• water damage)
• 2. 900,000 against residential builder (leaking
  roof)
• 3. 545,000 against homeowners association
  (leaking pipes)
• 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)

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