DCHAS-L Archives Nov 19 2009 - Re: Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?

--0-1306750007-1258661659=:78732 Is the lighting-latex degradation connection about UV? --- On Thu, 11/19/09, Carol Lentz wrote: From: Carol Lentz Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall? To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 11:18 AM What about the quality of the lighting? It might explain the hasty degradat ion of latex, and the headaches. Low humidity (<40%) for MY nose could be t he culprit for stuffy noses. Perhaps it isn't just one thing? =C2=A0 Carol Lentz Michigan State University =C2=A0 On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:04 AM, Laurence Doemeny wrote : Have you checked to ensure that all traps in sinks and floor drains are not dry? =C2=A0 From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of De bbie M. Decker Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 11:35 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall? =C2=A0 Please excuse the cross-postings: =C2=A0 I=E2=80=99m working with a group that works in a secured, containment facil ity.=C2=A0 The supply air is one pass, the exhaust is HEPA filtered and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH.=C2=A0 Rubber bands, latex gloves, the g loves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade very quickly in this bu ilding =E2=80=93 a matter of months.=C2=A0 This causes consternation among my building occupants =E2=80=93 "if latex degrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?=" =C2=A0 I have done the following: =C2=A0datalogged temperature, %RH, CO and CO2 tw ice, at different times of year, for a week.=C2=A0 First set showed extreme ly low humidity =E2=80=93 below 20%rh =E2=80=93 all other measurements with in customary.=C2=A0 Second round showed %rh in a more normal range =E2=80 =93 35-40%rh.=C2=A0 Magnetic fields were at or below background.=C2=A0 No r adioactivity was detected.=C2=A0 The building doesn=E2=80=99t have any weir d smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion.=C2=A0 The mechanical system is working as designed, filters in place and without high pressure drop, co ils clean, etc., according to my building engineers. =C2=A0 People complain of headaches and stuffy noses, general malaise after workin g in the building for some period of time.=C2=A0 Someone has suggested Chin ese drywall might be a culprit but I don=E2=80=99t know as it quite fits. =C2=A0 Whaddya think?=C2=A0 All ideas welcome, at this point. =C2=A0 Thanks, Debbie -------------------- =C2=A0 Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer Environmental Health and Safety University of California, Davis 1 Shields Ave. Davis, CA=C2=A0 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 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 --0-1306750007-1258661659=:78732

Is the lighting-latex degradation connection about UV?

--- On Thu, 11/19/09, Carol Lentz <lentzcw**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL. COM> wrote:

From: Carol Lentz <lentzcw**At_Symbol_Here**GMAIL.COM>
Su bject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
T o: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 11:18 AM
< BR>

What about the quality of the lighting? It might explain the hasty deg radation of latex, and the headaches. Low humidity (<40%) for MY nose co uld be the culprit for stuffy noses. Perhaps it isn't just one thing?

Carol Lentz

Michigan State University

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:04 AM, Laurence Doemeny <ldoemeny**At_Symbol_Here**cox.net> wrote:

Have you checked to ens ure that all traps in sinks and floor drains are not dry?

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list .uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Debbie M. Decker
Sent: Wednesda y, November 18, 2009 11:35 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?

Please excuse the cross-postings:

I=E2=80=99m working with a group that works in a secur ed, 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 ve ry quickly in this building =E2=80=93 a matter of months. This causes consternation among my building occupants =E2=80=93 "if latex degr ades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?="

I have done the following: datalogged temperatur e, %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times of year, for a week. Fir st set showed extremely low humidity =E2=80=93 below 20%rh =E2=80=93 all ot her measurements within customary. Second round showed %rh in a more normal range =E2=80=93 35-40%rh. Magnetic fields were at or below bac kground. No radioactivity was detected. The building doesn=E2 =80=99t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion. T he mechanical system is working as designed, filters in place and without h igh 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. Someo ne has suggested Chinese drywall might be a culprit but I don=E2=80=99t kno w as it quite fits.

Whaddya think? All ideas welcome, at this point.

Thanks,
Debbie
--------------------

Debbie M. Decker, Camp us Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)75 4-7964/(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

< /BLOCKQUOTE>
--0-1306750007-1258661659=:78732--

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