READ: Evaluation of Contaminants in Indoor Air & Groundwater

READ: Evaluation of Contaminants in Indoor Air & Groundwater

(1 RC) - In 2019, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center requested that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry review the results of indoor air, soil, and surface water samplings from a groundwater plume beneath the East Side Springs section of Salt Lake City, UT. The plume and homes associated with the contaminated groundwater… (ATSDR, Oct 2024)

Read More

READ: Anesthetic Gas Exposure at a Veterinary Hospital

READ: Anesthetic Gas Exposure at a Veterinary Hospital

(4 RC) - In February 2022, employees at a veterinary hospital requested the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to conduct a health hazard evaluation because they were concerned about waste anesthetic gas exposure (WAG) and possible health effects. The requestors wanted to better understand their exposure to WAGs and learn how to protect themselves … (CDC HHE, May 2024)

Read More

READ: Occupational Exposure and IEQ in an Underground Cavern

READ: Occupational Exposure and IEQ in an Underground Cavern

(3 RC) - An employer representative of a warehouse facility, located in a former underground limestone quarry, requested a health hazard evaluation concerning employees’ exposures to carbon monoxide, wood dust and other airborne particles, noise, and radon. The employer also wanted to know what the fibrous material and oil-like residue were on some of the cavern walls of the warehouse workspace… (CDC HHE, Aug 2023)

Read More

READ: ATSDR - Analysis of Contaminants in Drinking Water and Indoor Air

READ: ATSDR - Analysis of Contaminants in Drinking Water and Indoor Air

(4 RC) - The purpose of this public health consultation is to evaluate the public health significance of exposures to contaminants in drinking water and indoor air in homes and commercial buildings in this community. ATSDR used drinking water data collected by the City of Martinsville Water Utility and air data collected by EPA in January, July and September 2016, and January 2017 to make this determination… (ATSDR, Mar 2019)

Read More

READ: Evaluation of Silica Exposures During Drywall Sanding

READ: Evaluation of Silica Exposures During Drywall Sanding

(2 RC) - Management from a drywall finishing company requested a health hazard evaluation concerning employee exposure to respirable crystalline silica during drywall-sanding activities. Crystalline silica is a common mineral in construction materials. When it becomes airborne in dust, it can harm the lungs… (CDC - HHE, Apr 2024)

Read More

READ: CDC - Evaluation of a Medicinal Cannabis Manufacturing Facility

READ: CDC - Evaluation of a Medicinal Cannabis Manufacturing Facility

(4 RC) - The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a union representative for a medical cannabis facility with an indoor and outdoor grow operation. The representative was concerned about the potential occupational and safety hazards associated with the harvesting and processing of cannabis. We evaluated chemical and microbial hazards, conducted medical interviews with employees about their health concerns, collected air samples for volatile organic compounds… (NIOSH, CDC Aug 2019)

Read More

READ: WHO: Indoor Airborne Risk Assessment in the Context of SARS-CoV-2

READ: WHO: Indoor Airborne Risk Assessment in the Context of SARS-CoV-2

(4 RC) - In 2019, a new world threat emerged with SARS-CoV-2, a virus that has affected the entire world, every country, every family. The incredibly rapid spread of this virus that transmitted efficiently between people through the air renewed the important risks related to the quality of the air we breathe. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been the subject of considerable debate throughout the pandemic… (WHO, Apr 2024)

Read More

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Grand Prairie, TX

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Grand Prairie, TX

(4 RC) - The former Delfasco Forge facility is in Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas. The facility operated as a munitions manufacturing and forging facility from 1980 to 1998. Former facility operations used chlorinated solvents containing trichloroethylene (TCE) and other chemicals to degrease metal. These operations contaminated on-site soil and groundwater. The groundwater contamination has spread to the adjacent residential area where an estimated 157 occupied homes… (CDC ATSDR, Apr 2024)

Read More

READ: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines Chapter 3

READ: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines Chapter 3

(4 RC) - The WHO air quality guidelines set goals for protecting public health on a worldwide scale. They were established through a rigorous process of revision and evaluation of scientific evidence on the health effects of air pollutants and, like other WHO guidelines, are not legally binding recommendations … (WHO Global AQG, 2021)

Read More

READ: Restoring Energy Efficiency Through HVAC Air Distribution System Cleaning

READ: Restoring Energy Efficiency Through HVAC Air Distribution System Cleaning

(2 RC) - This paper covers the specific topics of: A. How cleaning reduces HVAC energy consumption. B. How energy consumption can be calculated with pre‐cleaning and post‐cleaning measurements. C. Mechanical and other issues within HVAC systems that contractors encounter while inspecting and/or cleaning that can be reported and corrected to maximize HVAC energy efficiency… (NADCA, Nov 2016)

Read More

READ: Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws

READ: Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws

(4 RC) - This database includes laws that address a wide range of pollutants, practices and building types. The purpose of the database is not to indicate how many IAQ laws exist, but rather to provide examples of various types of policy strategies that states have employed. The following are general guidelines used to develop the database… (ELI, 2022)

Read More

READ: EPA updates its Indoor airPlus program

READ: EPA updates its Indoor airPlus program

(4 RC) - EPA regularly receives partner questions and comments regarding various aspects of the Indoor airPLUS program requirements. This Policy Record format will be used to provide regular updates on the resolution of future issues, including changes to program requirements and clarifications or refinements to the specifications. The primary purpose of this document is to allow stakeholders equal access to the latest policy issues and resolutions. This document also serves as an official program update… (EPA, Dec 2021)

Read More

READ: EPA Indoor airPlus requirements for low-emission products

READ: EPA Indoor airPlus requirements for low-emission products

(.50 RC) - The Low-Emission Materials requirements address composite wood products, interior paints and finishes, and carpets and carpet adhesives used in the construction of Indoor airPLUS qualified homes. Products meeting the referenced standards are generally widely available in the market. This document is intended to help builders, designers, and Raters identify and locate compliant products… (EPA, Oct 2015)

Read More

READ: EPA issues IAQ construction specifications

READ: EPA issues IAQ construction specifications

(1 RC) - These specifications were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recognize new homes equipped with a comprehensive set of Indoor Air Quality features. They were developed with significant input from stakeholders, based on best available science and information about risks associated with IAQ problems, and balanced with practical issues of cost, builder production process compatibility, and verifiability… (EPA, Feb 2008)

Read More

READ: Investigation of IEQ Practices During Renovation Projects

READ: Investigation of IEQ Practices During Renovation Projects

(.50 RC) - The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has conducted several Health Hazard Evaluations [NIOSH 2019] in workplaces with reported health concerns associated with construction and renovation in occupied buildings. During these evaluations, NIOSH investigators identified issues that could affect indoor environmental quality such as a lack of dust control, the use of high emission building materials…(NIOSH, Jan 2020)

Read More

READ: EPA Evaluates Residential Indoor Air

READ: EPA Evaluates Residential Indoor Air

(4 RC) - Possible exposure pathways associated with this site include inhalation of contaminated indoor air as well as dermal exposure to and incidental ingestion of contaminated soil, sediment, and surface water. The indoor air pathway was selected for evaluation first because of the potential for nearby residents to be exposed to volatile chemicals in their homes throughout the year… (ATSDR, Sept 2014)

Read More

READ: CDC Evaluates Indoor Air Sampling Methods

READ: CDC Evaluates Indoor Air Sampling Methods

(2 RC) - A soil­ gas data screening indicates that 1,4­ dioxane is a concern for vapor intrusion in a WI building occupied by workers and children. As 1,4­dioxane is highly soluble in water, it is possible that its presence in soil­ gas samples indicates the leading edge of the groundwater plume may be approaching the building. A complete indoor air investigation of the WI is necessary to evaluate the potential for current exposures… (ASTDR)

Read More