Indoor Air Quality
Particulate Matter
Endocrine Disruptors
Northwest Hazardous Materials Management Conference
Cheri Zehner,
MPH
June 2013
Toxicology
for
Blondes
WARNING:
May
Cause Dizziness
Indoor Air Pollutants
GASES
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Semi-Volatile Compounds
CO (Carbon Monoxide)
Combustion Products
PARTICLES
Asbestos
Organic Matter
Combustion Products
Heavy Metals
BIOLOGICALS
Dust Mites, Mold, Yeast, Bacteria, Plant Matter
RADIATION
Radon, EMFs
3
VOCs in the Spotlight
• Building Product Certifications
• Formaldehyde
• Occupational Awareness
4
PARTICLES
The Over-looked
Pollutant
•
Most airborne particles - 10-100 microns (μm),
– Settle on the FLOOR or
– Filtered out by the nose and trachea
•
PM10 - Particle matter < 10μm inhaled into lungs
•
PM2.5 – can reach the alveoli of the lungs
Indoor Dust Particles
• Stay suspended in air
• Build-up in carpets and furniture
• Re-suspended by activity such as walking, sitting,
vacuuming
• Pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs piggy-back on
particles
Intrinsic Nature of Buildings
• Reservoir or Sink
• Stack Effect
7
House Dust
Macro-composition
• Skin flakes (dander) from humans and
pets
• Plant and biological material
• Tracked-in soil
• Combustion by products
House dust is about 40 wt% organic matter
8
House Dust Contaminants
Fate & Transport
The Duwamish River Analogy
•
•
•
•
Hydrophobic - high octanol/water partition coefficient - Kow
•
Persistent organic contaminants are likely to bioaccumulate (EPA 2000).
Larger organic contaminant molecules
Less likely to biodegrade
More likely to adhere to sediment particles and sediment organic carbon
matter
9
Concentration of Metal Contaminants in Indoor Dust
A Multi-element Profile of House Dust in Relation to Exterior Dust and Soils in the
City of Ottawa, Canada
Science of the Total Environment 2001
10
Semi-volatile Compounds
Concern for persistence, bioaccumulation,
long-range transport, and toxicity
•
•
•
•
Pesticides
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Polybrominated diphenyl esters (PBDEs) – flame retardants
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – combustion byproducts
• Phthalate esters - plasticizer
• Nicotine – cigarette smoke
Semi-volatile Compounds
Environmental Exposures
Diisocyanates - Polyurethane (foam padding) - Bronchial irritation and
asthmagen
Halogenated flame retardants (PBDEs) - Polyurethane, in furniture, mattresses,
plastics (TVs, computers) - Endocrine disruptor
Perflurochemicals - Water repellents, stain repellents, non-stick coatings Endocrine disruptor
PAHs - coal, crude oil, gasoline, coal-tar pitch, creosote and asphalt - Cataracts,
kidney and liver damage, jaundice, skin irritation and cancer, Endocrine disruptor
PCBs - fluorescent light ballasts - Liver, kidney and nervous system,
reproductive effects, probable human carcinogen, Endocrine disruptor
Pesticides, organochlorines, - Soils, carpet, furniture - (Chlordane - probable
human carcinogen, liver and nervous system effects, Endocrine disruptor
Phthalates BBP, DBP - PVC Flooring, perfume fixative, “inert” ingredient in
pesticides- Endocrine disruptor, suspect correlation with autism
CAPE CODE
Breast Cancer Study
Eleven of 15 Cape towns were found to have breast cancer rates at
least 15 % higher than those of the rest of Massachusetts (1993).
67 Endocrine Disruptors in the Air and Dust
Homes averaged 19 for air 26 for dust
Environmental Science & Technology, 2003
silentspring.org
13
POPs found in Cape Cod Study
Rudel, Ruthann A; Camann, David E.; Spengler, John D.; Enviorn. Sci. Technol
Number of Analytes Found in Household Dust, Air and in Urine (n =
120)
Chemical
Group
Dust
Air
Urine
Pesticides
38
39
13
Alkyloids
7
7
-
Phthalates
10
9
8
PCBs, PAHs,
PBDEs
10
10
-
Parabens
(preservative)
3
3
-
Other
Estrogenic
phenols
18
20
14
VACUUM CARPETS
REDUCE DUST, LEAD, AND DUST MITES
MEDIAN SURFACE LOADING ON CARPET
CONTAMINANT
START
FINISH
% REDUCTION
Fine Dust
1.30 g/m2
0.102 g/m2
91%
Lead
147 ug/m2
86 ug/m2
82%
Dust Mites
282 ug/m2
0.28 ug/m2
90%
Reductions required 6 to 45 min/m2 of vacuuming - John Roberts,
1999
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
15
Microscopic ID
Airborne Nonfungal Dust Constituents
Residential Buildings
descending order
Particle
Median Level
N=133
% of Buildings
particles/M3
Amorphous
45,000
100
Crystalline
5,833
100
16,667
99
Paint spheres/chips
100
89
Charred wood fragments
100
83
Starch
95
77
Paper fibers
40
74
Tire fragments
53
64
Manufactured fibers
20
62
Dander
Copyright 2003, Healthy Buildings Inc.
Nonfungal Airborne Dust Constituents
continued
Particle
Cotton fibers
Feather barbs
Mineral wool
Insect hair
Paper fragments
Algae
Soot
Pollen
Plant fragments
Rust fragments
Metal fragments
Insect frass
Dermestid hastiseta
Median Level – p/M3
% of Buildings
27
61
20
55
33
53
17
46
20
41
60
40
27
35
17
29
17
23
27
23
13
17
27
15
10 Copyright 2003, Healthy Buildings Inc.
13
Nonfungal Airborne Dust Constituents
continued
Particle
Median Level – p/M3
% of Buildings
Cenospheres
17
10
Gypsum
20,000
7
Hair, nonstriated
7
7
Moth scales
10
7
Spider webs
9
6
Glassy spheres
33
5
Hair
20
4
Mite exuviae
13
2
Wood Fragments
50
1
From Air-O-Cell samples collected in Northwest homes and offices by Healthy Buildings
Inc.
Lab analysis by Dr. George Muller at GML Labs, Mountlake Terrace, WA
Copyright 2003, Healthy Buildings Inc.
Particulate Sample from Spore Trap – Very Dusty Home
Dr. George Muller, GML Labs, Mountlake Terrace
Spore Trap Samples
Assist in Diagnosis of IAQ Problems
• High counts of glass fibers – might indicate
communication with walls, crawlspace, attic
• High counts of soot – might indicate communication
with built-in garage, faulty furnace, too many
candles
• High counts of crystalline particles indicates foot
traffic from outdoors and could indicate lead source
• High counts of amorphous particles might indicate
moisture intrusion, poor housekeeping, and lack of
air filtration & ventilation
Spore Trap, Particulate Counter,
& Q Trak for CO &CO2
Control is the Goal
Control contaminants in
•
•
Design & Product Selection
Construction
•
Operation and maintenance
Avoid – omit or remove from the building
Isolate or Seal - what you can’t avoid
Ventilate - add O2 and flush pollutants
Clean & Filter – clean carpets, filter air
How to Reduce Your Exposure
•
Remove shoes at the door
•
Minimize carpeting or consider replacing it. Vacuum at least 1/wk with a HEPA
vacuum (dust mask recommended) Use hot-steam extraction twice yearly
•
Don’t burn firewood – consider switching to a gas or electric insert
•
Don’t burn cigarettes indoors and consider quitting smoking for the health of
you and your family
•
Don’t burn candles or incense or if you do, do so infrequently
•
If you have an oil or gas furnace, have it inspected annually
•
Avoid pesticides
•
Don’t use plug-in air fresheners or oil sticks – they contain chemicals that may
harm you
•
Use fragrance-free cleaners and use baking soda and vinegar formulations for
house cleaning
•
Discard worn or frayed upholstered furniture and cushions
•
Use 3rd party certification for selecting home furnishings and building materials
23
Reduce Exposure
Reduce exposure to indoor dust
Reduce exposure to combustion byproducts
Reduce exposure to pesticides
Reduce exposure to synthetic fibers
Reduce exposure to fragrance
24
Third Party
Certification Programs
•
Collaborative for High Performance Schools - adhesives, sealants,
concrete sealers, acoustical ceilings, wall panels, wood flooring, composite
wood boards, resilient flooring (includes rubber) and carpet
•
FloorScore
•
Greenguard - for Certification for Children & Schools
finishes
•
Greenlabel Plus
•
- resilient flooring
- furniture & indoor
- Carpet & Rug Institute
Indoor Advantage Gold - wall coverings, systems furniture, casework,
insulation and other non-flooring interior products
- paints & coatings
•
Greenseal Certified Products
•
Pharos - membership required, extensive filter system
25
•
Chemical Safety Improvement Act of
2013
“Toxic Right to Know Law”
Require Safety Evaluations for All Chemicals
•
Protect Public Health from Unsafe Chemicals
•
Prioritize Chemicals for Review
•
Screen New Chemicals for Safety
•
Secure Necessary Health and Safety Information
•
Promote Innovation and Safer Chemistry
•
Protect Children and Pregnant Women
•
Give States and Municipalities a Say
26
Stop Using Humans
as Guinea Pigs
Apply the
Precautionary Principle
27
Thank You
Cheri Zehner, MPH
www.cherizehner.com
206.799.6382