Cal Iaq

SPECIAL PRESENTATION:

Indoor Environmental Quality and Sustainability, Are They Compatible? By Hal Levin.

Hal Levin, a research architect in Santa Cruz, CA, gave an informative and provocative presentation, discussing indoor environmental quality in the larger context of building life cycle assessment (LCA). He started with an examination of the definitions of "sustainable design" and "healthy buildings." He presented a summary of data he developed on the overall environmental impacts of buildings. He went on to discuss appropriate targets for sustainability and looked at LCA as a method to evaluate building environmental performance. His concluding remarks evaluated the need to integrate indoor environmental quality and LCA of building materials. Presentation materials from the presentation are available, and these can be obtained from Jed Waldman (). Mr. Levin can be reached at .

AGENCY REPORTS ON CURRENT IAQ ACTIVITIES

1. American Lung Association of Los Angeles County (ALA-LAC) -- David Berger ()

• Tools for Schools Mentor Workshop. ALA-LAC held a workshop on August 25-26 to train volunteers serving as IAQ Tools for School Mentor. The workshop was attended by 22 persons, including 12 mentors who will serve with Los Angeles County schools for 1 year period. U.S. EPA staff from DC & Region IX conducted the training, while LAUSD provided the school site for walkthrough training. School districts in El Segundo, Pasadena, East Whittier, Long Beach, Lynnwood and LAUSD agreed to select pilot sites. We are awaiting decisions from Montebello (Bell Gardens), Hawthorne, Rancho Palos Verdes, Compton, Carson and Burbank.
• ALA of California State Air Quality Conference. The ALA of California held its annual conference in San Diego at the end of August. The four-day annual meeting was attended by affiliates from around the state, as well as the National ALA. On the first day, a Clean Air Summit was held to develop recommendations for addressing the most important air quality issues in California.

• Toxic Air Contaminant Program. In August, the Board identified diesel exhaust particulate matter as a Toxic Air Contaminant. ARB's Indoor Program used the California Population Indoor Exposure Model, which includes activity pattern data for Californians, to estimate Californians' indoor and total exposure to diesel exhaust particles. Both the model and the activity pattern data were developed under contracts to ARB.

• Volatile Organic Compound Emissions Study Report. The draft final report on the Carpet, Paint, and Vinyl Flooring Study by Al Hodgson at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was submitted to ARB's external Research Screening Committee for review in September. This study quantified VOC emission rates for 24 consumer products in a small chamber. It also measured the effectiveness of practical measures for reducing exposures to high-emitting products, using a large, furnished test room under different mitigation scenarios. This study's findings confirmed the importance of selecting low-emitting products, including carpet pads, to reduce VOC emissions and exposures of consumers during new home construction and remodeling. In addition, airing out the carpet and pad before installation effectively reduced VOC exposures. For VOCs from paint and carpet, ventilating the room at high rates for as long as practical (at least several days) should lower occupant exposures. A final report should be available in early.

• In-Vehicle Study Report. A draft report on CARB's In-vehicle Exposure Study was submitted by the contractor, Research Triangle Institute. The Research Screening Committee review of this report has been postponed until further revisions have been made. The final report is expected to be available in the spring of.

• American Association of Aerosol Research Annual Conference. Tom Phillips attended this conference in May 998?. The conference included a special symposium on PM2.5 research needs identified in the recent National Academy of Science report to Congress. The symposium featured several sessions and plenary speakers that addressed the state of the art in health effects, exposures, and monitoring and speciation of PM2.5. The NAS report listed ten major recommendations for improving EPA's research plan to develop supporting data for the national outdoor air standard for PM2.5 -- human exposure measurement and assessment were included in several of the recommended research priorities. The conference covered many rapidly developing areas. Current health effects data indicated the association of PM2.5 with acute and chronic health effects, but the mechanism of toxicity and critical component of PM are still unknown. Several presentations on personal and indoor PM s confirmed the importance of indoor sources such as cooking, house dust, and other human activities. Presentations on newer monitoring methods for real-time particle size and speciation indicated the explosive growth in these powerful technologies, including even real-time quantification of biological aerosols. .DNA technology is also becoming more widely used in research studies, e.g., the unambiguous identification of mold particles and of heritable traits for resistance to the health effects of ultrafine PM (~0.1 microns and less). Biological pollutants drew some attention in presentations. Endotoxins from bacteria were found to have a synergism with the health effects of ultrafine PM. A Stanford study found enriched cat allergens in PM10 vs. PM2.5. Karin Foarde at RTI found that the typical remediation procedure of drying out a moldy area would actually stimulate the mold to release spores.

• Marilee Courtright of DGS Building and Property Management (EHSS) is retiring in October, after 32 y of state service. (Editor: We wish her all the best!).

• Training for Pediatricians. On June 11, Sandy McNeel and Debra Gilliss gave a 30-minute presentation on toxic indoor molds to pediatricians at an Alameda County hospital. Hospital physicians requested an update on this topic after occurrence of water damage and mold contamination in several classrooms of a local elementary school. Drs. McNeel and Gilliss briefly discussed current knowledge of toxic fungal ecology, human health effects associated with exposure and clinical diagnostic methods (or lack thereof).
• Other Presentations. Sandy McNeel presented information on health effects associated with many types of indoor air contamination as part of the U.S. E.P.A.'s Orientation to Indoor Air Quality workshop in Los Angeles on June 15. On June 20, Sandy McNeel participated in a panel discussion of toxic indoor molds in Roseville, CA, which was organized by a private citizen. Dr. McNeel described the current role of local and state health departments in California in providing information and assistance to homeowners, renters, office workers and schools with indoor biocontaminant problems. Debra Gilliss will speak at the upcoming annual meeting of the California Conference of Directors of Environmental Health (Sept. 22). This presentation will discuss the roles of the local and state environmental health professionals regarding indoor biocontaminants, particularly mold growth. Topics to be covered include ways in which local agencies can best coordinate efforts to assist all concerned citizens, especially those who rent their homes and decision makers in local school districts.

• Moisture Intrusion Video. Sandy McNeel is working with a private commercial enterprise in the production of a videotape which describes how recent trends in construction have affected moisture intrusion into buildings with concrete slab-on-grade foundations. Dr. McNeel answered questions about health effects which can occur as a result of abnormally high building moisture. Department of Health Services will be receiving a copy of the final videotape for its own educational uses.

• New Internet IDs. The DHS-IAQS staff have new e-mail addresses under the domain: These accounts and web site (www.cal-iaq.org/) are maintained by the internet service provider, The staff's old e-mail accounts () are still operative. Check with the staff for their preferred address.

• DHS Richmond Laboratory Facility. DHS-IAQS staff attended the groundbreaking for the DHS Richmond Laboratory Facility construction (August 12). Phase I is funded and underway. Phase II (which will include the DHS-IAQS labs) is still in the design stage. Bidding for this (larger) component is scheduled to be completed by early. The new facility is expect to be ready for full occupancy in.
• Controlled Environment Chamber: Leon Alevantis is designing the ventilation system for a newly (re)constructed, controlled environment chamber at the DHS Laboratory. The chamber will be initially used for the EHLB's vacuum cleaner testing program for a HUD grant (see below). In the near future, DHS-IAQS will start to run protocols for VOC emissions testing of building materials, as part of IAQ modeling for the DHS Richmond Laboratory Facility under construction.
• ETS Discovery. The State is being sued by Tobacco Companies regarding its Smoking Law, and various research groups at DHS have been asked to provide Tobacco Company attorneys with information from the files on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) research. The DHS-IAQS project files on ventilation effectiveness for ETS control in public building were reviewed in August as part of ETS discovery in the law suit.
• Spanish Version of Mold in My Home: What Do I Do? The Spanish translation for the DHS-IAQ Info Sheet on mold (¿Moho en Mi Casa: Que Hago?) is available. It will be posted, along with the English version, on the new web site. For now, requests for it can be made through the DHS-IAQS assistance line: .

• Unvented Gas Heater - Standards Development. Despite a period of uncertainty about continuation of funding for the technical consultant working with DHS-IAQS on this project (per SB 798), the program was given a green light to continue contract activities (at the 11^th hour). The consultant, Greg Traynor of T. Marshall & Associates, is expected to complete a detailed assessment and proposed standard's recommendation by the end of.
• Staff Presentations. Janet Macher was a guest lecturer on Health effects of bioaerosols (chapter from ACGIH book) for Scott Robinson's IH for Physicians class (March 11). She gave a 4-hour forum at the American Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exhibit on Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (May 11) and a 2-hour tutorial at the American Association for Aerosol Research: Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control (June 22).
• Expert Panels. Kai-Shen Liu served on U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board's Integrated Human Exposure Committee Meeting to review the Disproportionate Impact Analysis Methodology. Jed Waldman served on the Clean Air Summit expert panel, sponsored by ALA of California. Drs. Liu and Waldman served on a peer-review panel for the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Criteria Document for Carbon Monoxide.
• Research Grants & Proposals. Janet Macher is a co-investigator on a Children's Health Initiative Center: Community Partnership for Evaluating and Preventing Pesticide Exposures to Young Children (component: Development of asthma in children in Salinas Valley), PI: Brenda Eskenazi (funded). Kai-Shen Liu is co-investigator on a HUD grant: Evaluation of Household Vacuum Cleaners in the Removal of Settled Lead Dust from Hard Surface Floors, PI: Larrie Lance (funded). Jed Waldman is a co-investigator on an NCI grant: Regional variations in breast of cancer rates in California (pending). Dr. Waldman is also co-investigator on a Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program project, Reducing Tobacco Exposure in High Risk Pregnant Populations, PI: Martin Kharrazi (pending).
• Local Assistance. Jed Waldman, along with OHB staff, provided a technical review of IAQ investigations and remediation plans for a county building in which employees have been making health complaints. Janet Macher provided guidance and in some cases equipment to help local agencies address problems of biocontamination:

--Provided loaner SAS and Andersen air samplers to a local hospital's infection control program to assist sampling in their positive-pressure isolation rooms, to determine if cases of aspergillosis may be attributable to exposure in the hospital.
--Provided guidance on protocol for environmental monitoring of Coxiella burnetii and provided midget impingers and sampling pumps at a sheep farm in CA, so that air samples could be collected for infectivity assay to accompany PCR tests.
--Reviewed and commented on a test method for the International Electrotechnical Commission to assess the potential for and effect of mold growth on equipment.
• Staff Publications.

--Janet Macher is co-authoring with Harriet Burge the chapter on bioaerosol sampling for the 9^th edition of ACGIH's Air Sampling Instruments.
--First MW, Macher JM, Gussman R, Stuart D, Webb T,. Nebulizer characteristics for certification tests of biosafety cabinets with bacteria and simulants. J Am Biological Safety Assoc. 3:26-29.
--Hernandez M, Miller SL, Landfear DW, Macher JM. A combined fluorochrome method for quantification of active and inactive bioaerosols, accepted by Journal Aerosol Sci Tech.
--Liu KS, Paz K,Waldman JM, Flessel CP. Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Deaths from Residential and Other Nonvehicular Sources, submitted to Environmental Health Perspectives.

• See Attachment B (not on web site)for recent Cal/OSHA activities and regulations relating to IAQ. If you have any question, Les can be reached at

7. California Energy Commission - - Obed Odoemelam ()

• The Energy Commission is in the process of adopting changes in its compliance process to allow specific energy credits for ventilation reduction in the procedure used to demonstrate compliance with its building residential building standards. There is some concern about to the potential impacts on indoor air quality. A document was prepared in support of findings of no potentially significant indoor air quality impacts, provided the building is constructed to ensure compliance with ASHRAE's minimum ventilation standards. Questions regarding document (Initial Study and Proposed Negative Declaration for the Residential Alternative Calculation Method (ACM) Approval Manual Rulemaking Proceeding.) can be directed to Obed or to Don Kazama at .
• CEC is solicited ideas for energy-related indoor air quality research that should be funded by the Commission under its Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program.

• Flushout for the Elihu Harris State Building was started on June 10,. The flushout used 100% outside air without conditioning and 3 air changes/hour (ac/h) for 24 h per day. Lance Lister (DGS) arranged to take sets of 4-h air samples: (i) at the supply air register, (ii) return air register, (iii) Room 1203 on the 12th Floor, and (iv) in a cubicle on the north side on the 7th Floor. The sampling protocol required air samples to be taken before, during and after flushing of the building. However, the final set was omitted after the pre- and during flushing samples showed below-detection levels of formaldehyde and various VOCs levels. Reasons for the non-detect levels found include the short measurement time used and that the Elihu Harris State Building was "aired" 18 h/day for 4 weeks before the flushout was started. This airing out of the building started after the commissioning of the HVAC system and was necessary to provide ventilation for workers because of stuffy conditions inside the building.
• The following documents/notices of interest are available from OEHHA's home page: :
• Draft Hazard Identification documents on the carcinogenicity and reproductive and developmental toxicity of MTBE

• Draft Hazard Identification documents on the carcinogenicity of 2-aminofluorene and 4-amino-2-nitrophenol

• Draft Hazard Identification of the reproductive and developmental effects of benzene

• Arsenic and Cadmium Hazard Identification Documents

• Art and Crafts Materials Which Cannot be Purchased for Use in Kindergarten and Grades One Through Six (Updated 9/98)

• Proposed Identification of Diesel Exhaust as a Toxic Air Contaminant (also available in ARB's home page).

• Asthma/indoor Allergens. The EPA's Indoor Environments Division has funded a 12-mo project at the National Academy of Sciences to do a report on the relationship of Indoor Air Pollution to Asthma. "This project comprises an assessment of the possible contribution of elevated levels of indoor air pollutants (e.g., dust mite and cockroach allergens, animal dander, mold, environmental tobacco smoke and other irritants) on asthma prevalence and mortality. The assessment will evaluate the effects of indoor pollutants on sensitive populations, including children and low-income, urban residents. The project will also include an assessment of possible mitigation and prevention efforts aimed at these indoor air pollutants." A committee has been chosen; to view the committee membership, go to the NAS web site (), then click on "Current Projects," "Committee Membership Open for Public Comment" in the side bar, and "An Assessment of Asthma and Indoor Air Quality."

• Training. The University of Tulsa, EPA Region IX's training center, has scheduled for San Francisco a new workshop "IAQ for Facilities Managers and Bldg. Administrators" (Jan. 8), and an "Orientation to IAQ" adapted by Terry Brennan and Richard Shaughnessy for Residential sites (Jan 11-12). In Los Angeles, there will be presentations of Eugene Cole's new workshop "Cleaning for a Healthy Indoor Environment" (Jan. 13), "The Remediators" (Jan 14), and "Bioremediation and Control" (Jan. 15). These workshops will be presented in Las Vegas Dec. 7-10. There will also be an "IAQ Tools for Schools" workshop in San Francisco. A web site has been established for course listings and on-line registration: .

• Mold and Home Inspectors. Barbara Spark is working with the Los Angeles County Department of Environmental Health to help them arrange for training for all 135 of their officials who inspect home on residential IAQ, with a particular emphasis on mold.

• Outreach on Mold. Barbara Spark appeared on the San Francisco Public Radio call-in program, "Your Legal Rights," on KALW-FM, 7:30-8:30PM on September 9. The topic was legal issues surrounding mold contamination of homes, and two attorneys also were program guests. A substantial number of the callers to the show were seeking technical information on mold and health, rather than addressing legal issues, and were referred to Sid Efross in our office, who sent them the DHS fact sheet, "Mold In My Home: What Should I Do," which Barbara also referred to repeatedly throughout the program. Barbara also spoke at a workshop for community associations on legal issues revolving around mold in condos, etc., July 29th at the Claremont Hotel in Oakland.

• IAQ And Schools. The San Francisco Unified School District has adopted an IAQ policy. Shelly Rosenblum provided guidance. Additionally, a series of "IAQ Tools for Schools (TFS)" pilot school walkthroughs" will shortly begin, with the first site a school in the Bay View neighborhood of San Francisco.

• More IAQ and Schools. The ALA of SF/San Mateo's EPA grant for IAQ training of school personnel has been extended until July of next year so that the chapter can utilize remaining grant funds. Karen Licavoli is looking at taking the reins of the AIHA/IAQ TFS mentor program in this area.

• Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. A notice appeared in the August 31, Federal Register, regarding the release of the Predecisional Draft Report on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), by the Interagency Workgroup on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. DATES: Comments must be received by October 30,. The report is available by contacting ATSDR's Information Center, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop E57, Atlanta, GA 30333 or by calling , attention Alice Knox.

• Jorge wanted to let members know about the upcoming 53^rd Annual Federal Safety & Health Conference, being held in conjunction with the National Safety Council Congress and Exposition on October 26-29 in Los Angeles. The conference's theme will be Looking Ahead to the Year. Conference and registration information is available at .

Indoor Environmental Quality of Schools - Jed Waldman ()

• The committee has finalized its report entitled: Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools: Critical Needs. The report was submitted for the DHS director to forward to other department s and the Governor's office. Unfortunately, there is little likelihood of action before a new administration takes office in.

Building Design and Operations -- Leon Alevantis (cal-iaq.org/)

• Green building legislation, AB 2432 (Bowen), passed in both the assembly and senate. The bill requires state buildings to be constructed and/or renovated through sustainable building practices and to exceed energy-efficiency standards. (Governor Wilson vetoed AB2432 on September 30).
• The Committee is trying to set up follow-up meetings with DGS design staff for the East End Project to discuss cost estimates of the recommendations we gave them a number of months ago (see March minutes). Leon Alevantis and Jed Waldman have made numerous phone calls to RESD staff, and we have been told that they will meet with us when they are ready. The Committee will discuss how to pursue this more effectively.

Ellen Aasletten / California Dept. of Education (CDE)
Leon Alevantis / Dept. of Health Services - Indoor Air Quality Section (DHS-IAQS)
Amy Arcus / Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
David Berger / American Lung Association of Los Angeles County (ALA-LAC)
Rachel Broadwin / OEHHA
Peter Flessel / DHS - Environmental Health Laboratory Branch
Peggy Jenkins / California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Al Hodgson / Lawrence Berkeley National Lab - Indoor Environmental Program (LBNL-IEP)
Richard Lam / OEHHA
Jorge Leong / U.S. Dept. of Labor - OSHA
Hal Levin / Hal Levin & Associates
Lance Lister / Dept. of General Services - Building & Property Mgmt (DGS-BPM)
Janet Macher / DHS-IAQS
Philip Maynard / UCBerkeley - Environmental Health & Safety
Sandy McNeel / DHS - Environmental Health Investigations Branch (EHIB)
Obed Odoemelam / California Energy Commission (CEC)
Shelly Rosenblum - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
Jim Sanborn / Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
Rajinder Sandhu / Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)
David Shearer / AeroVironment, Inc.
Norman Sorensen / Dept. Housing & Community Development - Housing Standards (DHCD) Barbara Spark / U.S. EPA Region IX
Jed Waldman / DHS-IAQS
Joey Zhou / DHS-IAQS

Jed Waldman chaired the meeting, which lasted from 10 am to noon.

file: E:\DISK\PROJECTS\CIWG-IAQ\Minutes\MIN_9809.WPD

© Copyright. . Cal Iaq. All Rights Reserved. Terms | Site Map