Indoor Air Quality

Building Innovation 2014 Symposium

Marilyn Black, Ph.D., LEED AP

Underwriter’s Laboratories

Can you Imagine?

HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS

• Important Factors of IAQ and Indoor Pollution • Societal, Environmental, and Health trends affecting IAQ • Advancement of Building Practices, Materials, and Behavior leading

to Safer Living, Working and Learning Environments

Indoor Air Quality

Air pollutants 2-5 (sometimes 1,000)

times higher than found outdoors

Homes 2-3 times higher than

commercial spaces

Carcinogens

Reproductive toxins

Neurotoxins

• Molds and allergens

• Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)

• Formaldehyde

• Particles (dust and UFP)

• Carbon monoxide

• Carbon dioxide

• Ozone

Most Common Indoor Pollutants

Common VOCs in the Air

VOCs Sources Are Numerous… Wallcovering, floor

covering

Paints, adhesives, sealants, cleaners

Cabinetry, furniture

Computers, printers

Hobby/repair supplies

Bedding

Mold VOCS

6

3242 48

65

5

25

45

65

85

Outdoor Offices

Schools Residences

Manufactured Homes Home-1

Airborne Levels - Formaldehyde

pp

b

Indoor Air Pollution Leads to Health

● Asthma and allergies

● Cancer

● Reproductive / developmental defects

● Cardiovascular disease

● Respiratory disease

● Irritation

● Autism

● Neurological Disease

Importance of IAQ to Health

• Issues today are complex

• Climate Change

• Weatherization/Reduced Air Changes

• Children spend 88-94% indoors

• Many synthetic products and global supply chain

• Health concerns over low does chemical exposure

• Health and productivity, illness rate and productivity, are affected by IAQ

Children’s Health • Young children and

expectant mothers especially vulnerable

• Per CDC, widespread exposure in human systems

• Persistent and Bioaccumulative chemicals

• Average of 200 industrial chemicals in babies cord blood

Consider the Facts

• Chemicals are the “DNA” of the environment, all biological systems, all environments, and all manufactured products have them – we cannot do without them.

• We need be educated and have reasonable processes to assess the risks and minimize the human health hazards through elimination, reduction, safer alternatives, or manufacturing control.

Chemicals in General • WWF estimated that since WWII global production of

man- made chemicals increased from 1-600 million tons each year world wide

• In the US alone, over 80,000 industrial chemicals are used to manufacture products today and only a small % have been evaluated for their human health impact

• On average 700-800 new chemicals are introduced each year for industrial use

• Scientific studies found over 300 industrial chemicals in umbilical cord blood in sampling of babies – carcinogens, neurotoxins, and reproductive toxins

• Global use growing exponentially

Chemical Key Terminologies •What is a BPT? ─ Persistent or long – lived in the

environment

─ Bioaccumlative – build up to high levels in food chain and body tissues

─ Toxic- harmful to life

• What is an endocrine disruptor?

─ Affect the normal ability to reproduce and develop normally

─ Some are obesagens

•What are CMRs? ─ Carcinogens

─ Mutagens

─ Reproductive hazards

Emerging Pollutants of Great concern

• Phthalates

• Metals (organo)

• Pesticides

• Combustion VOCS

• Ultrafine particles

• Flame Retardants

• Siloxanes

and More Specifically “Chemicals of Concern”

• BPA – Bisphenol A

• Benzidene Dyes – PBTs

• HBCD – Hexabromocyclododecane – PBT

• MDI – Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate

• TDI – Toluene diisocyanate

“Chemicals of Concern” Continued

• NPEs – Nonyl phenol ethoxylates – PBTs

• PFCs – Long-Chain perfluorinated Chemicals – PBTs

• BBDEs – Polybrominated diphenyl ethers- PBTs

• SCCPs – short-chain chlorinated paraffins - BPTs

COC - Use of Flame Retardants

• Furniture, textiles, insulations

• Electronics – plastics, wire and cables, circuit boards, etc.

• Clothing, cars, aircraft materials

• Heat resistant coatings for materials

What Do We Know About the Health Impact of Flame Retardants?

• Exposure is significant – many showing up in household products, wildlife and humans

• Many are proving to be persistent and bioaccumulative – remain in environment for a long time

• Strong correlation between flame retardants and children’s health

Chlorinated Tris (TDCPP) • Most common

substitute for PBDE’s

• Proved carcinogenic along with TBPA and banned from children’s sleepwear in 1977

• Common in newer furniture foams and baby products

• NTP show that long term exposure results in animal tumors

• Prop 65 Listing

Energy Savings Dilemma

• Energy use • Tighter building • Less air change

• Discomfort perception • Air pollution • Static persistent pollution

Green Building Certification ● An important step in achieving a high performance sustainable Building

● But it must provide a healthy environment instilling a sense of well being

Green Built Environments Can Still Be Polluted - But Need to be Healthy!

Chemicals of

Concern

Most Frequently

Found

Ethylene glycol Toluene

Hexane Xylenes

Methyl propanol Undecanes

Benzene Phenol

Ethyl benzene Nonanes

Carbon disulfide Dodecanes

Tetrachloroethylene Decanes

Trichloroethylene Cyclopentasiloxanes

Methylene chloride Cyclohexanes

Naphthalene Ethyl benzene

Phenol Trimethylbenzenes

Styrene Acetophenone

Toluene Ethyl toluene

Xylenes Formaldehyde

Paramet

er

TVOC,

ug/m3

Recommend

ed Value

Median 1560 500

Average 1700 500

Range 1350 -

3240 500

Summary of TVOC Values

(Green Commercial

Construction)

Commonly Found VOCs in Green

Commercial Construction- a study

of 12 Certified buildings

Detection of U.S. and International Chemical Risk List Chemicals in

Emissions from Casegood Furniture Products (>45% Detection, n=191)

Compound

%

Detected ACGIH AIHA

Cal

Prop 65 MRL

Chronic

Rel

Acute

Rel

Cal

Air

Toxic IARC NTP AgBB

Formaldehyde 97.4 X X X X X X X X X

Acetaldehyde 94.2 X X X X X X X X

Hexanal 82.2 X

Pentanal 69.1 X X

Propanal 62.8 X X X X

Benzaldehyde 61.8 X X

Toluene 57.6 X X X X X X X X

2-butoxy

Ethanol 55.0 X X X X X X

Butanal 54.5 X X

Butyl Acetate 52.9 X X

1-Butanol 51.8 X X X

Xylenes (Total) 45.5 X X X X X X X

2,6-Di-tert-

butyl-4-

methylphenol

(BHT) 45.0 X X X

Green Case Study

• Laboratory/ office space

• Over 40 construction materials/ furnishing products studied

• No carcinogens, reproductive toxins

• Meet GREENGUARD Children and Schools – CA 1350

• No odorants

• Textiles, carpet, paints, furniture, drywall, insulation, adhesives, etc.

Survey – What Had They Done? • 100% IAQ verified for Low VOC • 100% Reduction energy use/ carbon footprint in

manufacturing • 92% Reduction petrochemical – less solvents • 76 % recycled components • 76% Supply chain management for toxics • 56% Design for the Environment • 42% Recyclability • 28% Regional Materials • 10% Microbial Resistant

VOC Air Data

GOAL

Leading to Product Innovation

“Multi-attribute change”

…but with disclosure

Can I make it more healthy?

What tools do I have?

Green Chemistry Safe Products By Design

• Design to reduce or eliminate the use and/or generation of hazardous substances

• Consider low toxicity and biodegradation with performance, cost, and technical feasibility

• Reduce intrinsic hazards of chemicals rather than managing exposure and risk after product is made

Tools are available to compare chemicals hazards

• USEPA Alternative assessments

• GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals

Transparency

The Market Key

Safer, resilient, durable Products for Buildings

New Tools in Development Will Help

• Smart Building Design, Monitoring and Feedback

• HVAC requirements • Material selection • Pollutants/allergens • Comfort/perception • Energy usage • Adjust for personal needs and occupant vulnerability

• Toxicity Assessment of chemicals

• Rapid assays • Comparative analysis across chemicals • Predictive toxicology

• Low Dose Exposure

• Mixtures and air chemistry reactions

Key Elements for High Performing IAQ

• Low emitting, toxin-safe products.

• Acceptable Ventilation with outdoor air

• Proper Air filtration (air cleaning)

• Integrate Design and Building Operation

• A step above minimum codes

Thank you Questions?

For more Information, please contact:

Dr. Marilyn Black

UL GREENGUARD

Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.

Founder GREENGUARD

678.444.4090

Marilyn.Black@ul.com