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

Not necessarily, I noticed over the years that latex gloves exposed to only fluorescent lights in labs without windows degraded faster than gloves kept in lab drawers. But I only observed it, I didn't do any testing to verify it. On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 3:14 PM, AL CLANCY wrote: > 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 > degradation of latex, and the headaches. Low humidity (<40%) for MY nose > could 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 > > wrote: > >> Have you checked to ensure 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:* 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? >> > > > Please excuse the cross-postings: > > > > I=92m 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 - > =93if latex degrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?=94 > > > > 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. Se cond > round showed %rh in a more normal range - 35-40%rh. Magnetic fields we re at > or below background. No radioactivity was detected. The building doesn =92t > have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion. The mechanic al > 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=92t 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.comand join the conspiracy > > > > > > >

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 3:14 PM, AL CLANCY <al.clancy**At_Symbol_Here**sbcgl obal.net> wrote:

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>
Subject: Re: [DCHA S-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?

To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Date: Thursday, November 19, 200 9, 11:18 AM

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?
=A0

Carol Lentz

Michigan State University

=A0

On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 11:04 AM, Laurence Doeme ny <ldoemeny**At_Symbol_Here**cox.n et> wrote:

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

=A0

From:< span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Debbie 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?

=A0

Please excuse the cross-postings:
=A0
I=92m working with a group that works in a secured, containment facility.=A0 The supply air is one pass, the exhaust is HEPA fi ltered and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH.=A0 Rubber bands, latex gl oves, the gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade very quickly in this building - a matter of months.=A0 This causes consternation amon g my building occupants - =93if latex degrades so quickly, what is this b uilding doing to me?=94
=A0
I have done the following: =A0datalogged temperature , %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times of year, for a week.=A0 First s et showed extremely low humidity - below 20%rh - all other measurements within customary.=A0 Second round showed %rh in a more normal range - 35 -40%rh.=A0 Magnetic fields were at or below background.=A0 No radioactivity was detected.=A0 The building doesn=92t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion.=A0 The mechanical system is working as designed, filters in place and without high pressure drop, coils clean, etc., accordi ng to my building engineers.
=A0
People complain of headaches and stuffy noses, gener al malaise after working in the building for some period of time.=A0 Someon e has suggested Chinese drywall might be a culprit but I don=92t know as it quite fits.
=A0
Whaddya think?=A0 All ideas welcome, at this point.
=A0
Thanks,
Debbie
--------------------
=A0
Debbie M. Decker, Ca mpus Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
Universi ty of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA=A0 95616
(530)754 -7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Cons pirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.c om and join the conspiracy
=A0
=A0

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