Case Histories

John W. Martyny, Ph.D., CIH

Tri-County Health Department

Case History #1

Building Characteristics Community college occupied in

October, 1986. 1 Building with 3 floors and about

1,000,000 sq.ft. Has had IAQ complaints since it was

occupied. Odors, stuffiness, upper respiratory complaints. Complaints have increased as of late.

Complaints are primarily from staff. Building has the following areas:

Registration area Teaching areas Automotive and diesel repair areas Veterinary Technician area Print shop area Chemistry laboratories Farm equipment repair area

Building layout is a 3 story main building with three 1 story wings.

See large drawing

What steps would you initially take?

Ventilation System Evaluation

Visual Inspection Cleanliness

Filter Replacement

Moisture

Damper Functioning

Ventilation Evaluation Results

Generally good condition Clean Good filters (return and outside) Fiberglass lining in good condition

Moisture Problems Moisture in drain pans Biocide use

What are your conclusions?

Carbon Dioxide Sampling

Actually a tracer gas method. Acceptable levels depend upon:

population density Outside levels Contamination (CO)

Generally accepted levels 1000 ppm 800 ppm

Carbon Dioxide Results

Ranged from 340 ppm to 637 ppm in all areas tested.

Outside levels were approximately 300 ppm.

Is there a problem?

Complaints Distributed to all staff in the staff room.

Take home questionnaire 90% return rate

Concerns: Congestion and stuffiness - 37% Too hot or cold - 35% Dryness - 44% Eye irritation - 30% Headache - 24%

Comparison Complaint Levels

NIOSH HEDGE School

Headache 25% 44% 24%

Congest. 22% 45% 37%

Eye Irrit. 33% 42% 30%

Fatigue 26% 46% 28%

Is there a problem?

Would you conduct sampling?

Tests Conducted at Building

Tracer Gas Testing Bioaerosol Testing Particulate Sampling Comfort Factors

Bioaerosol Results

Outside Levels 1200 - 1500 CFU/m3 Mostly Cladosporium

Inside Levels ND - 59 CFU/m3 Mostly Cladosporium Some Penicillium but low.

Particulate Levels Standards

None

Measurements Outside vs. inside Particle size - PM 2.5 and PM 10

Meaning of elevated levels Poor filtration Bioaerosols Particulate Source

Particulate Results

Highest levels in Rm 159 PM 2.5 = 9ug/m3 PM 10 = 14 ug/m3

Other Areas PM 2.5 = 0.5 - 3 ug/m3 PM 10 = 1 - 10 ug/m3

Meaning Activity and Processes

Temperature and Relative Humidity

Comfort Levels Stale air

Poor air movement

Humidity and microbes

Temperature and Humidity Results

Temperatures ranged from a mean of 70 degrees to a mean of 76 degrees.

Highest levels ranged from 70 to 78 Highest levels in 214 and 159 Chiller operation a problem

Humidity levels ranged from 47% to 79%. High humidity can cause microbial problems and

comfort problems.

Tracer Gas Sampling

Uses of Tracer gas Decay Studies Migration Studies

Methodology Sulfur hexafluoride Injection Results

Tracer Gas Results

Rm. 159 air exchange rates. 0.76 to 1.1 ACH Lowest in morning

Other Areas 1.27 to 1.9 ACH

Standards ASHRAE - 15 - 20 cfm/person Actual unknown

Tracer Gas Results

Migration Studies vet area studies

print shop areas

diesel areas

Conclusions

Need to clean air handlers, improve drainage, and take out biocides.

Improve outside air in some areas. Stop migration of odors. Control temperature and humidity.

Case History #2

Case History #2The Government Building.

Broken water lines due to freezing of Air handlers.

Extensive water damage Hot temperatures Moldy odors Visible mold

Question: Sample or Not Sample???

Case #2 Airborne Sampling Results

Room TotalFungi

Penicil.Sp.

Clad.Sp.

Outside 495 18 272B 147 36 12 18A 107 77 41 12B 122 89 24 30C 113 2915 2037 7D 107 259 41 42

Case #2: Bulk Sample Results

Bulk sample from one room contained

Stachybotrys chartarum.

Bulk samples indicated Penicillium and

Aspergillus sp. with fungal hyphae.

Questions

Was there a bioaerosol problem? Why? Was sampling beneficial? Why?

Lesson Learned

Sampling may or may not correctly answer the question.

Sampling may not support visual observations.

The more samples the better. The variability between samples may be

great.

Case #3: Same Place, Different Time

What were the results of the remediation?

All water damage was repaired. All water damaged material was removed. Ventilation system was repaired and observed. People were moved out of the facility.

Should sampling be conducted?

Case #3Airborne Sampling Results

Location Tot.Fungi

Aspergil.Sp.

Cladosp.Sp.

Outside 251 3 150

A127 356 238 53

A113 131 78 36

A117 148 0 106

A106 18 12 6

Question

Was there a bioaerosol problem? Why?

Blank Results

148 Aspergillus sp.

36 Penicillium sp.

Lessons Learned

Take lots of blanks.

Be sure of media source.

Take lots of samples.

Case #4Institution

Prison where workers had hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Workers worked in several areas. Old barn with sever pigeon use. Old slaughter house Potato storage area

Sample or not sample?

Case #4Airborne Sampling Results

Location Tot.Fungi

Penicil.Sp.

Aspergil.Sp.

Outside 813 80 0

Old Barn 1095 100 500

SlaughterHouse

85,760 85,760 0

Question

Is there a bioaerosol problem?

Where is the problem?

Lessons Learned

What you see is not always what is there.

Ask lots of questions.

Ask lots of questions.