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Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:34:49 -0500
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: List Moderator <ecgrants**At_Symbol_Here**UVM.EDU>
Subject: 3 RE: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
From: James Saccardo
Date: November 18, 2009 7:31:36 PM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
Debbie,
I agree with Alan=E2=80=99s point and had this very thought when I first
read you message this afternoon. Don=E2=80=99t rule out sick building
syndrome. Do everything you can to prove that there is no underlying
conditions causing harm to anyone and if you find nothing, be tactful,
do just tell them it is in their head.
We have had the same problem in the past. Coughs, itches, headaches=E2=80=A6
We have very arid conditions in out facilities and rubber tubing and
dry box gloves deteriorate rapidly. What does you building engineer say
about the building humidification system. Does one exist? Is it still
functioning properly or is it bypassed?
You may have heard this, but the human body is not very original. It has
the same response to many stimuli:
Headache, fever, itchy eyes, runny nose. There are only a few responses
the body can make and many overlap.
One last thought =E2=80=93 perhaps you want to hire a consultant to do
testing and formulate a report on their findings so that when nothing is
found, there is not that conflict of interest. You don=E2=80=99t want
anyone to say you skewed results or are working for management (not that
you or any health professional would ever do something like that).
These are truly difficult issues. I wish you luck. Perception is
everything!
Be Well,
James F. Saccardo, CHMM=E2=80=A8Office of Environmental Health and
Safety=E2=80=A8The College of Staten Island=E2=80=A82800 Victory
Blvd.=E2=80=A8Staten Island, NY 10314
Office: (718) 982-3906=E2=80=A8Fax: (718) 982-3910
===
From: "David Bunzow"
Date: November 18, 2009 8:49:37 PM EST
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
a bit more information
Hi Debbie,
I might have missed it, but does your building have any active humidity
control? Are the occupants symptoms localized or random? How many
floors does the building have? Same symptoms/frequency on all
floors/area?
Several things you=E2=80=99ve checked could individually be responsible
(RH, CO and O3), but it might be a combination of several things at
different times of year=E2=80=A6
===
From: Christopher Suznovich
Date: November 19, 2009 12:26:17 AM EST
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
Based on the data collected and the symptoms reported that the people
are experiencing by the people, I would say they are due to the
extremely low humidity. Since the air is so dry, it is drying out the
sinuses causing the headaches and malaise, basically making them feel as
if they are sick.
Working in a controlled environment where our humidity must also be kept
controlled and is somewhat lower, we sometimes have similar complaints
especially in the office areas, and our lab/documentation area. We can
feel when the air is very dry, because you do get dried out (nose, eyes,
skin), stuffy, tired- basically like dry winter air and a cold. On one
of those days, we happened to check the %RH and it was <50%, I think it
was lower 40%. My allergy doctor also mentioned to me that stuffiness
may also be caused by dryness not just congestion. Some homes have a
humidifier/de-humidifier put in-line their forced air heating systems,
especially for the winter months to ensure the air is properly balanced.
My question though is when the air is =E2=80=98exhausted=E2=80=99 from
the room, is it just being pulled from the room, sent through the HEPA
filter and sent back into the room or during the exhaust is fresh air
from the outside being brought in and filtered and sent into the room?
If fresh air from the outside is not being brought in, breathing in
stale air can be an issue. Even though it is being HEPA filtered,
=E2=80=98stale air=E2=80=99 .
In this scenario, I would say these items are degrading unless there is
some chemical release into the room that is identified, but actual dry
rot. The low humidity is sucking the moisture out of the these products
causing them the to shrivel up or just loose their elasticity/softness
and begin to just crumble (like a dried out rubber band ).
There is no mention of what the room temperature was here or why there
was such a dramatic change in the humidity levels. Higher room temps
can also cause the fatigue. Also, CO2 levels were checked, but what
about other airborne contaminants? What were airborne levels of
reagents being used and what were their health affects checked? Are
there any windows in this room?
Chris Suznovich
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