Indoor Environmental Quality

Presentation Generated by:

Hila Wright, CIH, MPH, CIEC
Clark Seif Clark, Inc.

Presented by:
Edith Ben-Horin, TreePeople

January 19, 2010

About Clark Seif Clark, Inc.
  Full service environmental
consultants
  Specialize in:
  Asbestos
  Lead
  Indoor Air Quality
  Industrial Hygiene
  Etc.
  Sister company, Targhee,
Inc., provides services in:
  Environmental Permitting
  Emission reduction
  Environmental site
assessments
  Etc.
About your presenters
Hila Wright
  12 years’ experience in
environmental field
  Master’s degree in Industrial
Hygiene (UCLA)
  BS degree in Applied Ecology (UCI)
  Board Certified Industrial Hygienist
  Board Certified Indoor
Environmental Consultant
  IAQ Dept. Manager at Clark Seif
Clark, Inc. (CSC)
Tel: 818-727-2553 ext. 1008
Edith Ben-Horin
  29 years’ experience as Hila’s sister
  MA degree in Urban Planning
(UCLA)
  BA in History/Art History (UCLA)
  Sensitive to toxic cleaning products,
and a lover of clean air
Tel: 818-623-4889,
or just stop by Yurt 1.
Agenda
  What is indoor environmental quality/
indoor air quality?
  Asbestos
  Lead
  Mold
  Other IEQ issues
What is indoor environmental
quality?
  “‘Indoor Environmental Quality,’ Some examples of
as the name implies, simply
refers to the quality of the air in issues that can
an office or other building adversely affect the IEQ
environments.” include:
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/
indoorenv/   Mold
  However, issues can affect the   Chemicals
indoor environmental quality of   Lead in paint and water
a building that may not affect
  Asbestos
the air quality
  Poor hygiene
  Poor ventilation
Asbestos
  Asbestos is a mineral composed
primarily of silica, magnesium and
water.

  It is an excellent thermal and sound

insulator, and has excellent tensile
strength. As such, asbestos has
been mined, milled, and used in
thousands of products in the US and
abroad

  It is known to cause lung cancer,

mesothelioma (cancer of the lining
of the lung) and asbestosis (a lung
fibrosis similar to emphysema.

  It is currently a regulated material in

the US.
Asbestos continued...
Some products found in
the built environment
that may contain
asbestos:
  Air conditioning ducting and
insulation
  Attic insulation
  Joint compound (for drywall)
  Cottage cheese ceiling
  Vinyl floor tiles
  Mastic for vinyl floor tiles
  Etc.....
What can we do about it
in our homes and at
work?
Before conducting any remodeling in a
 
structure built before 1980, the materials
to be disturbed should be tested.
  If you find building materials in poor
condition at home, have them tested.
  You can hire a consultant to do this for
you (e.g. CSC)
  You may collect a sample of the suspect
material yourself and bring it to a lab for
testing (e.g. CSC). Call if you need
directions.
  If a material to be disturbed or in poor
condition is asbestos-containing, US and
CA regulations apply to its handling.
  Incorrect handling can result in
aerosolization and exposure.
Lead
  A heavy metal
  Associated with a variety
of symptoms, including:
  Malnutrition
  Colic
  Anemia
  Hypotension
  Drop in IQ
  Improper central nervous
system development in
infants
  Reproductive &
developmental difficulties
  Etc.....
Lead
  In the built
environment, it is
commonly
encountered in:
  Paint
  Stained glass
windows
  Water pipes
  Fine crystal
  Painted ceramics.
How can we protect ourselves
from Lead?
  If you live or work in a
building built before
1980:
  Keep paint in good condition
  Obtain a lead survey before
conducting any major paint
disturbance
  Prevent children from chewing on
windowsills and other moldings
(lead tastes sweet)
  Remove dust deposits frequently
  Plant groundcover in the yard if
children present
  Run the tap or fountain for 5
minutes in the morning before using
water for drinking
  Don’t eat from lead-containing
ceramics or crystal
  If you suspect lead poisoning, ask
for a blood test
Mold: What is it?
  Microorganism
  The kingdom Fungi
  Several thousand species
  Major decomposer of organic
materials
  Eukaryotic, spore-bearing
organisms that obtain simple
organic compounds by
absorption.
  Have no chlorophyll
  They reproduce both
sexually and asexually.
Why do we care about mold
growth?
Allergy symptoms
Asthma
Infection
  Dermatophytes
superficial &
subcutaneous
(toenail fungus, ring
worms, athlete’s foot,
thrush, yeast infection)
  Systemic mycoses
(Aspergillosis,
coccidioidomycosis,
blastomycosis,
histoplasmosis)
3 basic requirements for mold
growth:

  1. Atmosphere (temperature, gasses)

  2. Nutrient Source (food)

  3. Water (the key to all life)


 Mold: What should we do
about it?
  Prevention is the name
of the game:
  Repair all leaks right
away and dry the area
  Surface growth (e.g.
from condensation from
showering) can be
wiped clean
  If you think you may
have a more serious
problem, contact a
consultant or
remediation contractor.
Other IEQ Issues
  Paint fumes
  Interior cleaning
chemicals
  Poor hygiene
  Poor/inadequate
ventilation
  Vapor intrusion
  Allergens
  Poor outdoor air quality
Other IEQ Issues
Vapor Intrusion
The air indoors will only be as
good as the air outdoors
Dirty or poor ventilation
system
What can we do about some
of these other IEQ issues?
  Paint: during project, create enclosure
with negative pressure ventilation of
paint area
What can we do about some
of these other IEQ issues?
  Cleaning chemicals: choose natural products of low toxicity.
Store away from occupied areas.
  Poor hygiene: clean more often!
  Dirty or poor ventilation system:
  Clean system every few years
  Obtain a good quality, properly-fitting filter
  Change filter in accordance with manufacturer recommendations (~ every
3-6 months). NOT more frequently.
  Allergens: Keep your quarters clean. Don’t own pets to which
you are allergic.
  Vapor Intrusion and Poor Outdoor Air Quality: Don’t live near a
freeway or industrial zone. Don’t live in urban China.
Questions?

Hila Wright
Clark Seif Clark, Inc.
818-727-2553 ext. 1008