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Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:45 -0600
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: John Larson <jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**FS.FED.US>
Subject: Re: Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
In-Reply-To: <48A020E1942E024DB0F2A6B68A1312440783A5EDEC**At_Symbol_Here**XEDAMAIL2.ex.ad3.ucdavis.edu>
Without more details as to what types of chemicals/materials are used in
the room I wouldn't hazard a guess either way as to whether the latex and
such is absorbing chemicals and degrading(acids or VOC's perhaps), or are
outgassing VOC's due to environmental conditions and degrading. A quick
web search found this paper that may be a starting point for further
investigation.
Good Luck!
http://www.eaglabs.com/files/papers/PA035.pdf
John T. Larson
Chemist
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Northern Research Station
1831 E. Hwy. 169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744-3399
Phone: 218-326-7113
E-Mail: jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**fs.fed.us
"Debbie M. Decker"
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11/18/09 02:05 PM
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[DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
Please excuse the cross-postings:
I?m working with a group that works in a secured, containment facility.
The supply air is one pass, the exhaust is HEPA filtered and air change
rates are in the 10-15 ACH. Rubber bands, latex gloves, the gloves on a
glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade very quickly in this building ? a
matter of months. This causes consternation among my building occupants ?
?if latex degrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me??
I have done the following: datalogged temperature, %RH, CO and CO2 twice,
at different times of year, for a week. First set showed extremely low
humidity ? below 20%rh ? all other measurements within customary. Second
round showed %rh in a more normal range ? 35-40%rh. Magnetic fields were
at or below background. No radioactivity was detected. The building
doesn?t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion. The
mechanical system is working as designed, filters in place and without
high pressure drop, coils clean, etc., according to my building engineers.
People complain of headaches and stuffy noses, general malaise after
working in the building for some period of time. Someone has suggested
Chinese drywall might be a culprit but I don?t know as it quite fits.
Whaddya think? All ideas welcome, at this point.
Thanks,
Debbie
--------------------
Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy
Without more details as to what types
of chemicals/materials are used in the room I wouldn't hazard a guess either
way as to whether the latex and such is absorbing chemicals and degrading(a
cids
or VOC's perhaps), or are outgassing VOC's due to environmental conditions
and degrading. A quick web search found this paper that may be a
starting point for further investigation.
Good Luck!
http://www.eaglabs.com/files/papers/PA035.pdf
John T. Larson
Chemist
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Northern Research Station
1831 E. Hwy. 169
Grand Rapids, MN 55744-3399
Phone: 218-326-7113
E-Mail: jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**fs.fed.us
"Debbie M. Decke
r"
<dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**UCDAVIS.EDU>
Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List <
;DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu>
11/18/09 02:05 PM
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| [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low hum
idity,
Chinese drywall? |
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Please excuse the cross-postings:
I’m working with a group that wor
ks in
a secured, containment facility. The supply air is one pass, the
exhaust is HEPA filtered and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH. R
ubber
bands, latex gloves, the gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degra
de
very quickly in this building – a matter of months. This causes
consternation among my building occupants – “if latex degrades
so quickly,
what is this building doing to me?”
I have done the following: datalo
gged
temperature, %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times of year, for a week.
First set showed extremely low humidity – below 20%rh – a
ll other
measurements within customary. Second round showed %rh in a more
normal range – 35-40%rh. Magnetic fields were at or below backg
round.
No radioactivity was detected. The building doesn’t have
any
weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion. The mechanical
system is working as designed, filters in place and without high pressure
drop, coils clean, etc., according to my building engineers.
People complain of headaches and stuffy
noses, general malaise after working in the building for some period of
time. Someone has suggested Chinese drywall might be a culprit but
I don’t know as it quite fits.
Whaddya think? All ideas welcome,
at this point.
Thanks,
Debbie
--------------------
Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety
Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com
and join the conspiracy
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