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THE OLD IS NEWKathleen Norlien

MN Dept. of Health

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)• Gasses emitted from certain solids or liquids• May cause short or long-term adverse health effects• Indoor concentrations up to 10Xs higher than outdoors

Health effects- dependent on “dose” and sensitivities• Need to look at each specific chemical for health effects• Irritants (eye, nose, throat, lungs, skin)• Headaches, dizziness• Central Nervous System (CNS) effects• Some are carcinogens

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Manage your environment& protect yourself!1. Eliminate source of pollutant

Don’t use the chemical/productRemove/reduce pollution sourceControl harmful gases

2. VentilationUse outdoor venting fansOpen windows or doorsMaintain HVAC equipment and appliances

3.If still needed, purchase an air cleaner/purifier (may help)Use Use ““HEPAHEPA”” filter-type! filter-type!Ok to use electro-static typesOk to use electro-static typesDonDon’’t use ozone producing (ionizing) air cleanert use ozone producing (ionizing) air cleaner

3.Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for certain tasks

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Use low irritancy, low toxicity products

• Use labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to identify preferable products

• Choose low Volatile Organic (hydro) Carbon (VOC) emitting products

• No fragrance products

• Proper use and storage

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Safety Precautions• Read and follow directions– “the label is the law”• Read and heed any Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)• Maintain good ventilation- fresh air while applying, drying,

curing products• Toss unused containers• Keep kids and pets away from materials

• Most common hazard- ethylene glycol (antifreeze/radiator fluid)• Most common place child poisoning occurs- grandparents home

• Never mix household cleaners/products unless directed on the label

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Chemical Biocides

• May be used to kill bacteria and/or fungus in flooding situations

• Initially may “clean” and disinfect, however, long-term effect against mold recurrence becomes problematic (not a substitute for proper building construction, maintenance, use, management and other appropriate water control methods)

• Used to control legionellae in water-cooled, heat transfer equipment

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Chemical Biocides (cont.)

• Over 1,000 antimicrobial pesticide products registered with EPA with mold and/or mildew claims• Alcohols• Aldehydes (formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde)• Halogens (“bleach”– chlorine, bromine, iodine, fluorine)

• Heavy metals• Peroxides (hydrogen peroxide)• Phenols (Lysol)• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (“Quats”)

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Eliminate source of pollutant

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Chemicals

• Hobbies and crafts• Storage of chemicals over winter

• Air fresheners• Cleaning supplies• Pools and hot tubs• Building renovations• Decorations and new furnishings

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Classes of Chemical Products To Be Addressed by the State of CA

• Air Care• Air freshener• Odor removers/eliminators

• Automotive Care• Motor vehicle wash• Tire/wheel cleaners• Windshield water repellant

• Cleaners & Degreasers• Pressurized gas duster• Dusting aids

• Fabric care• Dry-cleaned clothing• Fabric softener• Fabric protectants• Carpet cleaners• Spot removers

• Lubricants/Penetrants

• Personal Care• Aftershave• Astringents• Personal fragrance products

• Sealants/caulking

• Waxes and Polishes• Floor maintenance products

• Future• Nail care products• Paint thinners• Greenhouse gases

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California Air Resources Board

• Research: ozone producing air cleaners• Four models of ozone generators tested• All exceeded 0.08 ppm• None would have passed the FDA standard of 0.05

ppm for medical devices

• Laws and standards• Formaldehyde: Regulate wood products used in

cabinets wall and floor materials Examples: particleboard, plywood, medium-density

fiberboard (MDF)

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CARB (cont.)

• Consumer products regulation• Reduce 30-40 tpd VOCs by 2014• Limits must be commercially and technologically

feasible• Cannot eliminate a product form• Prohibit use of perchloroethylene, methylene chloride,

and trichloroethylene

• Education• Fragrance policies• Climate change– Early action measures (incentives)

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Paint removerMethylene Chloride CH2CL2

USE ONLY OUTSIDE– WELL VENTILATED AREAS

Methylene chloride is metabolized to formaldehyde and carbon monoxide

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What is formaldehyde?

Carbonyl group

H2CO

A gas– an irritantThe simplest of the aldehydes

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Health Effects: Formaldehyde

• Odor …………………………………..• Eye & nose irritation, nasal

stuffiness, lung discomfort (coughing, wheezing, bronchitis symptoms)…..

• NIOSH ceiling limit…………………..• ACGIH ceiling limit…………………..• OSHA STEL………………………….• Allergic reactions, worsening of

asthma symptoms……………………• Cancer……………………………

…..

50-500 ppb

40-500 ppb

100 ppb

300 ppb

2,000 ppb

Variable

No “zero risk” level

ACGIH estimates 10-20% population sensitized to “very low” conc. <250 ppb

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Historical Use

• UFFI: Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation• MDH legislation addresses this. Since 1985, Minnesota has

required that manufacturers of building materials made with urea formaldehyde provide a written disclosure.

• New furniture is not included in these product standards.

• No person shall remake or renovate any article of bedding unless all the material to be used…shall first be thoroughly sterilized and disinfected by the methods set out herein…• “Formaldehyde and sulphur concurrently in a moist atmosphere

for a period of not less than ten hours. Formaldehyde gas shall be generated from the use of one pint of formaldehyde solution, 37% to each 1.000 cubic feet of air space, or though the use of any of the high class commercial fumigators which generate an equivalent quantity of gas.” MN statutes 325F.28, 1929

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Minnesota’s Concerns:Mid 1980’s Spray Foam Insulation

Urea formaldehyde (UFFI)

Phenol formaldehyde

Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF)Emits isocyanates

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FEMA “Trailers”

HUD “Park Models”

Could be travel trailers, park models and mobile homes…<320 ft2

Minnesota’s FEMA

HousingThese were mobile

or manufactured homes

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Brazilian Blow Out (and other products)• Hair straightening treatment- “keratin treatments”

• NIOSH found that Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution, Formaldehyde Free Smoothing Formula contained 11% formaldehyde by weight

• Air levels exceeded NIOSH and ACGIH ceiling limits

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Brazil Blow Out (cont.)

•Formaldehyde (CAS 50-0-0) = methanal, methylene oxide, formalin, and methylene

glycol•Formaldehyde in water, a diol

(CAS 463-57-0)= methylene

glycol or methane diol

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Formaldehyde• Wood products • particleboard, plywood, medium-density fiberboard (MDF); often

used in cabinetry, wall and floor materials

• Coatings and furniture products• acid-catalyzed urea formaldehyde type finishes

• Consumer products• fingernail hardeners, nail polish, wallpaper, some other paper goods,

paint, coatings; often a preservative in these and other products

• Permanent press fabrics• clothing, linens, draperies

• Combustion appliances• wood stoves, gas appliances, kerosene stoves

• Smoking products• cigarettes, cigars

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Other Products

•Carpet pads and mastic (glue)•Latex paint•Photocopier toner•Perfumes, colognes, and essential oils

Environmental Health Perspectives

Charles Weschler

October 2006

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Indoor concentration depends on…

• Amount of formaldehyde emitted by products and number types of products present

• Extent of their use• Loading factor (m2/m3)–surface area relative to volume of indoor space

• Ventilation and fresh air provided• Temperature & Relative Humidity• Material age• Interaction effects

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How to reduce formaldehyde levels in the home

• Source control• Remove sources of formaldehyde in home • Reduce use of items that may emit formaldehyde• Restrict tobacco smoking to outdoors

• Ventilation• Bring more outdoor air into home• Consider installing whole-house fan or fresh air

ventilation system• Exhaust all combustion appliances directly to outdoors• Keep temperatures moderate (warm temperatures,

e.g., 50 raised to 90 degrees can double formaldehyde emissions)

• Keep relative humidity at 40-50% (or less)

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CLEARING THE AIRFilters, Scrubbers, Cleaners, Ozone Generators

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Smoking Statistics: American Indians and Alaska Natives

• Least likely of all racial and ethnic groups to

report having rule to protect themselves from

secondhand smoke in workplace or home

• 69.3% did not allow smoking at home

(compared with 79.1% of nation overall)

• 68.4% where smoking at work not allowed

(compared with 75.3% of nation overall)

US Census Bureau- Tobacco Use Supplement 2006-07

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Other Sources of Particulate Pollution

• Inefficient wood stoves• Unpaved roads• Tribal populations at increased risk from proximity to emission sources• 82.3% American Indians and Alaska Natives live within 50 miles of major NOx sources

• 65.8% American Indians and Alaska Natives live within 25 miles of major PM10 point sources

National Tribal Air Association, Tribal Air Quality Status Report, 2009

US-EPA Region 10, Pacific NW, 1/12/2010

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Johns Hopkins SPH Image Library

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Morphology From EML-Lab

• Text

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Airborne Infectious Disease

New concerns after 9-11•3 primary routes of transmission

• Direct contact (fomites)• Large droplets MMAD >10 µm

- “social distancing” - 3 ft. from source

• Small droplet nuclei MMAD < 10 µm

• C = S (1-e –Iqpt/Q)

ASHRAE Position Paper on Airborne Infectious Disease 2009

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Equipment to “Condition” the Air • HVAC system- as part of home equipment*• Heating devices such as space heaters• Window air conditioners• Humidifiers*• Dehumidifiers*• HRVs–Heat Recovery Ventilators• ERVs–Energy Recovery Ventilators

Equipment to “Clear” the Air • Fans and filters• Air cleaning devices *

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Proper Maintenance of HVAC System

• Inspect, clean, repair home and equipment at regular intervals

• If you have forced-air system, use good quality pleated filter and change filter regularly–Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) non-commercial 1-12

–11-12 deep-pleated, electrostatically chargedOver time…

a) Electrostatic efficiency decreases

b) Filtration increases

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Proper HVAC Maintenance (cont.)

•Respond to minor problems before they become major problems

•Use equipment you have (fans)•Use safe practices for renovations

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U of MN

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Contact Information

Kathleen NorlienMinnesota Department of Healthkathleen.norlien@state.mn.us

651-201-4613www.retahome.org

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Household Equipment Needing Fans & Vents

• Boilers, furnaces, hot water heaters

• Fireplaces, wood burning stoves

• Clothes dryer–vent to outside and maintain clear opening

• Bathrooms–for moisture

• Kitchen ranges–especially gas burners

• Remove moisture, odors, grease• If gas oven or range, remove products of combustion such as CO, NOx• Must be vented to the outside• If it’s not reasonably quiet, many people won’t use it

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Air Cleaners or Purifiers1. Eliminate source of pollutant

• Remove/reduce pollution source• Minimize dust • Control harmful gases Aprilaire 5000 (whole

house) Friedrich C-90A (portable)

2. Ventilation• Maintain HVAC equipment and appliances• Use outdoor venting fans• Open windows or doors

3. If still needed, purchase an air cleaner/purifier—Check out Consumer Reports—

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Ozone Generators

• Produce ozone intentionally (to kill bacteria, viruses and other biological contaminants)

• Associated with “clean” odor • Like after a thunder/lightening storm

• Can lead to increased indoor levels of formaldehyde and ultrafine particles

• Ozone in our outdoor air regulated by EPA under National Ambient Air Quality Standards • 0.08 ppm for 8-hour standard• 0.12 ppm for 1-hour standard

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Health Effects of Ozone

• Inflammation and irritation of lung tissue

•Coughing, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing

•Can trigger asthma attacks•May lead to permanent lung damage in children

• Increased risk of premature death in susceptible populations

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Marketing• These types of air cleaners/purifiers are marketed to

individuals most susceptible to adverse effects of ozone• Families with young children• Asthmatics• The elderly

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If you must…• Choose whole-house or portable

• Whole house air cleaner will only work with forced air systems

• Correct size for area• Removal of particulate is specific to particle size or chemical concentrations

• Filtration-type air cleaner• Non-ozone generating• Pleated fabric-type• Charcoal• Filters may need to be replaced according to instructions;• Maintain equipment

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But always…• Use healthy home benchmarks

• Identify major sources of asthma triggers

• Provide low cost solutions where possible

• Vacuum• Damp dust

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