INDOOR AIR QUALITY - MOLD For the Western Colorado Regional Air - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY - MOLD For the Western Colorado Regional Air - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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1 INDOOR AIR QUALITY - MOLD For the Western Colorado Regional Air Quality Collaboration January 14, 2014 Laura Shumpert Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment 2 January 14, 2014 What is Indoor Air Quality The air

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY - MOLD

For the Western Colorado Regional Air Quality Collaboration Laura Shumpert Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

January 14, 2014

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What is “Indoor Air Quality”

  • “The air quality within and around buildings and

structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.”

▫ The building itself – construction and materials ▫ The area around buildings – nature and neighbors ▫ Building occupants – activities and product usage

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“Health and Comfort”

  • These two words encompass a huge number of

variables:

▫ Health

– Specific symptoms related to time spent in a building – SBS

▫ Comfort

– Temperature, relative humidity, lighting, noise and so on

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Diagnosing IAQ Issues

  • Often extremely difficult to pinpoint the problem

▫ May be more than one issue ▫ Resolution may be by trial and error

  • May be expensive to fix

▫ May not be economically feasible

  • Even more difficult to change people’s behavior

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IAQ and “Mold”

  • The issue may or may not be mold

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What are Fungi?

  • Molds, mushrooms, mildews, and yeasts are all

classified as fungi.

  • They grow best in warm, damp, and humid

conditions, and reproduce and spread by making spores.

  • There are thousands of species of fungi.

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  • Fewer than 500 fungal species have been

described as human pathogens.

  • Exposure to fungi can cause symptoms such as

nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.

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Difficulties dealing with Fungi

  • Fungi are, at the same time, everywhere and

nowhere.

  • Fungi secrete enzymes that digest the material in

which they are imbedded and absorb the released nutrients.

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Sampling

  • Air sampling

▫ Normally not recommended

  • Bulk sampling

▫ EMLAP

  • Who can do sampling?

▫ No required training or certification

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The real problem is Moisture

  • Fungi need two things to grow – a source of food

and a source of moisture.

  • What is food?

▫ Most things organic

– Wood – Paper/cellulose – Non-synthetic fabrics – Organic materials in dust or dirt

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Eliminate the Source

  • Potential sources:

▫ Leaks

– Pipes – Roof

▫ Condensation/Temperature Differential ▫ Humidity ▫ Seepage

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So you have a Moisture Issue…

  • Building materials get wet.
  • There is a window of opportunity to remove

water and dry materials before fungal growth

  • ccurs.
  • There may still be growth…

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Dealing with Fungi

  • Start the drying process, try to keep humidity in

the building below 40 - 50%.

  • Reduce the moisture in the air with

dehumidifiers, fans and open windows or air conditioners, especially in hot weather. DO NOT use fans if fungal growth is present; a fan will spread the spores.

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Remove Wet or Moldy Materials

  • DO NOT neglect other environmental issues:

▫ Asbestos ▫ Lead

  • Protect workers

▫ OSHA Safety Information Bulletin on Mold at https://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib101003.html

  • Isolate the area
  • Ventilate
  • Reduce dust

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Clean

  • Hard surfaces can be cleaned with soapy water

and a stiff brush.

  • Cleaning vs. Disinfection

▫ Bleach ▫ Biocide ▫ Ozone

  • Consider having the air ducts cleaned if you

suspect mold exists on the inside surfaces.

  • Upgrade and change HVAC filters frequently.

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When are you done?

  • The area should be:

▫ Clean and free of dust and debris ▫ No visible mold ▫ No “musty” smell

  • There are no regulatory standards for airborne

fungal spore counts.

  • Materials must be dry.

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Dry, dry, dry….

  • It may take weeks of active drying before you

rebuild.

  • Routinely check potential problem spots for

moldy odors or signs of visible growth.

  • Test for moisture not mold.

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Preventing Growth

  • Prevent seepage of water from outdoors into your
  • house. Gutters needs to drain away from the house.

Ground around the house needs to slope away to keep the basement and crawl space dry.

  • In moisture-prone areas, choose non-organic

materials with non-porous surfaces.

  • Add ventilation if needed and use it.
  • Reduce potential for condensation on cold surfaces

by insulating.

  • Be vigilant about leaks.

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Resources

  • http://www.epa.gov/mold/
  • http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/

eoha/pdf/fema_factsheet_cleaning_flooded_bldg.pdf

  • http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/

eoha/pdf/fema_initialrestorationfloodbldg.pdf

  • EPA’s “Introduction to Mold and Mold Remediation for

Environmental and Public Health Professionals"

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Contact us

  • CDPHE has regulations covering some of the

activities we covered today such as disturbing materials that could contain lead-based paint or asbestos, but more importantly, information and guidance for someone who is performing these activities.

  • 303-692-3100
  • cdphe.iaq@state.co.us
  • cdphe.asbestos@state.co.us
  • cdphe.lead@state.co.us

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