Indoor Air Quality
Building Innovation 2014 Symposium
Marilyn Black, Ph.D., LEED AP
Underwriter’s Laboratories
HEALTHY INDOOR ENVIRONMENTS
• Important Factors of IAQ and Indoor Pollution • Societal, Environmental, and Health trends affecting IAQ • Advancement of Building Practices, Materials, and Behavior leading
to Safer Living, Working and Learning Environments
Indoor Air Quality
Air pollutants 2-5 (sometimes 1,000)
times higher than found outdoors
Homes 2-3 times higher than
commercial spaces
Carcinogens
Reproductive toxins
Neurotoxins
• Molds and allergens
• Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs)
• Formaldehyde
• Particles (dust and UFP)
• Carbon monoxide
• Carbon dioxide
• Ozone
Most Common Indoor Pollutants
VOCs Sources Are Numerous… Wallcovering, floor
covering
Paints, adhesives, sealants, cleaners
Cabinetry, furniture
Computers, printers
Hobby/repair supplies
Bedding
Mold VOCS
6
3242 48
65
5
25
45
65
85
Outdoor Offices
Schools Residences
Manufactured Homes Home-1
Airborne Levels - Formaldehyde
pp
b
Indoor Air Pollution Leads to Health
● Asthma and allergies
● Cancer
● Reproductive / developmental defects
● Cardiovascular disease
● Respiratory disease
● Irritation
● Autism
● Neurological Disease
Importance of IAQ to Health
• Issues today are complex
• Climate Change
• Weatherization/Reduced Air Changes
• Children spend 88-94% indoors
• Many synthetic products and global supply chain
• Health concerns over low does chemical exposure
• Health and productivity, illness rate and productivity, are affected by IAQ
Children’s Health • Young children and
expectant mothers especially vulnerable
• Per CDC, widespread exposure in human systems
• Persistent and Bioaccumulative chemicals
• Average of 200 industrial chemicals in babies cord blood
Consider the Facts
• Chemicals are the “DNA” of the environment, all biological systems, all environments, and all manufactured products have them – we cannot do without them.
• We need be educated and have reasonable processes to assess the risks and minimize the human health hazards through elimination, reduction, safer alternatives, or manufacturing control.
Chemicals in General • WWF estimated that since WWII global production of
man- made chemicals increased from 1-600 million tons each year world wide
• In the US alone, over 80,000 industrial chemicals are used to manufacture products today and only a small % have been evaluated for their human health impact
• On average 700-800 new chemicals are introduced each year for industrial use
• Scientific studies found over 300 industrial chemicals in umbilical cord blood in sampling of babies – carcinogens, neurotoxins, and reproductive toxins
• Global use growing exponentially
Chemical Key Terminologies •What is a BPT? ─ Persistent or long – lived in the
environment
─ Bioaccumlative – build up to high levels in food chain and body tissues
─ Toxic- harmful to life
• What is an endocrine disruptor?
─ Affect the normal ability to reproduce and develop normally
─ Some are obesagens
•What are CMRs? ─ Carcinogens
─ Mutagens
─ Reproductive hazards
Emerging Pollutants of Great concern
• Phthalates
• Metals (organo)
• Pesticides
• Combustion VOCS
• Ultrafine particles
• Flame Retardants
• Siloxanes
and More Specifically “Chemicals of Concern”
• BPA – Bisphenol A
• Benzidene Dyes – PBTs
• HBCD – Hexabromocyclododecane – PBT
• MDI – Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate
• TDI – Toluene diisocyanate
“Chemicals of Concern” Continued
• NPEs – Nonyl phenol ethoxylates – PBTs
• PFCs – Long-Chain perfluorinated Chemicals – PBTs
• BBDEs – Polybrominated diphenyl ethers- PBTs
• SCCPs – short-chain chlorinated paraffins - BPTs
COC - Use of Flame Retardants
• Furniture, textiles, insulations
• Electronics – plastics, wire and cables, circuit boards, etc.
• Clothing, cars, aircraft materials
• Heat resistant coatings for materials
What Do We Know About the Health Impact of Flame Retardants?
• Exposure is significant – many showing up in household products, wildlife and humans
• Many are proving to be persistent and bioaccumulative – remain in environment for a long time
• Strong correlation between flame retardants and children’s health
Chlorinated Tris (TDCPP) • Most common
substitute for PBDE’s
• Proved carcinogenic along with TBPA and banned from children’s sleepwear in 1977
• Common in newer furniture foams and baby products
• NTP show that long term exposure results in animal tumors
• Prop 65 Listing
Energy Savings Dilemma
• Energy use • Tighter building • Less air change
• Discomfort perception • Air pollution • Static persistent pollution
Green Building Certification ● An important step in achieving a high performance sustainable Building
● But it must provide a healthy environment instilling a sense of well being
Green Built Environments Can Still Be Polluted - But Need to be Healthy!
Chemicals of
Concern
Most Frequently
Found
Ethylene glycol Toluene
Hexane Xylenes
Methyl propanol Undecanes
Benzene Phenol
Ethyl benzene Nonanes
Carbon disulfide Dodecanes
Tetrachloroethylene Decanes
Trichloroethylene Cyclopentasiloxanes
Methylene chloride Cyclohexanes
Naphthalene Ethyl benzene
Phenol Trimethylbenzenes
Styrene Acetophenone
Toluene Ethyl toluene
Xylenes Formaldehyde
Paramet
er
TVOC,
ug/m3
Recommend
ed Value
Median 1560 500
Average 1700 500
Range 1350 -
3240 500
Summary of TVOC Values
(Green Commercial
Construction)
Commonly Found VOCs in Green
Commercial Construction- a study
of 12 Certified buildings
Detection of U.S. and International Chemical Risk List Chemicals in
Emissions from Casegood Furniture Products (>45% Detection, n=191)
Compound
%
Detected ACGIH AIHA
Cal
Prop 65 MRL
Chronic
Rel
Acute
Rel
Cal
Air
Toxic IARC NTP AgBB
Formaldehyde 97.4 X X X X X X X X X
Acetaldehyde 94.2 X X X X X X X X
Hexanal 82.2 X
Pentanal 69.1 X X
Propanal 62.8 X X X X
Benzaldehyde 61.8 X X
Toluene 57.6 X X X X X X X X
2-butoxy
Ethanol 55.0 X X X X X X
Butanal 54.5 X X
Butyl Acetate 52.9 X X
1-Butanol 51.8 X X X
Xylenes (Total) 45.5 X X X X X X X
2,6-Di-tert-
butyl-4-
methylphenol
(BHT) 45.0 X X X
Green Case Study
• Laboratory/ office space
• Over 40 construction materials/ furnishing products studied
• No carcinogens, reproductive toxins
• Meet GREENGUARD Children and Schools – CA 1350
• No odorants
• Textiles, carpet, paints, furniture, drywall, insulation, adhesives, etc.
Survey – What Had They Done? • 100% IAQ verified for Low VOC • 100% Reduction energy use/ carbon footprint in
manufacturing • 92% Reduction petrochemical – less solvents • 76 % recycled components • 76% Supply chain management for toxics • 56% Design for the Environment • 42% Recyclability • 28% Regional Materials • 10% Microbial Resistant
Leading to Product Innovation
“Multi-attribute change”
…but with disclosure
Can I make it more healthy?
What tools do I have?
Green Chemistry Safe Products By Design
• Design to reduce or eliminate the use and/or generation of hazardous substances
• Consider low toxicity and biodegradation with performance, cost, and technical feasibility
• Reduce intrinsic hazards of chemicals rather than managing exposure and risk after product is made
Tools are available to compare chemicals hazards
• USEPA Alternative assessments
• GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals
New Tools in Development Will Help
• Smart Building Design, Monitoring and Feedback
• HVAC requirements • Material selection • Pollutants/allergens • Comfort/perception • Energy usage • Adjust for personal needs and occupant vulnerability
• Toxicity Assessment of chemicals
• Rapid assays • Comparative analysis across chemicals • Predictive toxicology
• Low Dose Exposure
• Mixtures and air chemistry reactions
Key Elements for High Performing IAQ
• Low emitting, toxin-safe products.
• Acceptable Ventilation with outdoor air
• Proper Air filtration (air cleaning)
• Integrate Design and Building Operation
• A step above minimum codes
Thank you Questions?
For more Information, please contact:
Dr. Marilyn Black
UL GREENGUARD
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.
Founder GREENGUARD
678.444.4090