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Rich Gray Rich Gray

Indoor Environmental Indoor Environmental ConsultConsult

INDOOR AIR QUALITYINDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)(IAQ)

Indoor Environmental ConsultIndoor Environmental Consult

““Indoor environments are highly Indoor environments are highly complex and building occupants may complex and building occupants may be exposed to a variety of be exposed to a variety of contaminants… Fungal mold and contaminants… Fungal mold and bacteria, insects and out door bacteria, insects and out door pollutants”pollutants”

Center for disease control & Center for disease control &

National institute for occupational safety, National institute for occupational safety, Jan2010Jan2010


Why Now a Problem?Why Now a Problem?

People spend more time indoorsPeople spend more time indoors Modern buildings energy-efficient, Modern buildings energy-efficient,

air-tight air-tight Mold spores trapped within building Mold spores trapped within building Therefore, if mold spores exist, Therefore, if mold spores exist,

higher level of “contact” higher level of “contact”

Why Now a Problem?Why Now a Problem?


How Mold OccursHow Mold Occurs

Mold “colonizes” when moisture and food Mold “colonizes” when moisture and food source existsource exist

Current and recent construction materials Current and recent construction materials create food source create food source

Use of paper and wood products in Use of paper and wood products in construction materials construction materials

Add water (leaking Add water (leaking pipes/flooding/damaged roof) = mold pipes/flooding/damaged roof) = mold colonization colonization

How Mold OccursHow Mold Occurs


Types of Mold ClaimsTypes of Mold Claims

Personal InjuryPersonal Injury AllergiesAllergies AsthmaAsthma FatigueFatigue Immune system Immune system

impactsimpacts Pulmonary Pulmonary

hemorrhagehemorrhage

Cleanup Costs Mold removal Mold prevention Repair of “cause”

Collateral Damage Demolition costs Lost use and profits

Market value (stigma)

Types of Mold ClaimsTypes of Mold Claims


Lawsuits Assert SeveralLawsuits Assert SeveralCauses of ActionCauses of Action

Negligence Negligence (construction/maintenance/design) (construction/maintenance/design)

Nuisance (condition interferes with Nuisance (condition interferes with intended use) intended use)

Failure to disclose condition Failure to disclose condition Breach of contract Breach of contract Breach of warranty Breach of warranty Product liability Product liability Constructive Eviction Constructive Eviction Fraudulent Concealment Fraudulent Concealment


Who Is Being Sued?Who Is Being Sued?

Multi-Family Residential Multi-Family Residential Developers/Owners Developers/Owners

Property Managers Property Managers Commercial Office Building Commercial Office Building

Developers/Owners Developers/Owners Contractors Contractors

Subcontractors Subcontractors (HVAC, roofers, (HVAC, roofers, framers)framers)

ArchitectsArchitects EngineersEngineers LendersLenders InsurersInsurers Building Building

Products Products SuppliersSuppliers


Are Alleged Health Effects Are Alleged Health Effects Legitimate?Legitimate?

Long known to exacerbate allergies, Long known to exacerbate allergies, asthma, etc. asthma, etc.

General belief that removal of person from General belief that removal of person from mold-infested environment alleviated mold-infested environment alleviated condition condition

Evidence now suggests:Evidence now suggests: Some conditions Some conditions causedcaused by mold by mold Some such conditions may be permanent Some such conditions may be permanent


Where Do Molds Come Where Do Molds Come From?From?

Always present in the ambient environmentAlways present in the ambient environment Abundant in soil and rotting vegetationAbundant in soil and rotting vegetation Abundant in potted plantsAbundant in potted plants Spores and mold fragments are easily Spores and mold fragments are easily

transported through the airtransported through the air Need moisture, acceptable temperatures and Need moisture, acceptable temperatures and

food source to live and multiplyfood source to live and multiply


When Does Mold When Does Mold Contamination Become A Contamination Become A

Problem?Problem? Growth on or within walls, ceiling tiles, and Growth on or within walls, ceiling tiles, and

rugs that exceeds 10 ft2 in extentrugs that exceeds 10 ft2 in extent Growth in HVAC systems and related Growth in HVAC systems and related

ductworkductwork When asthmatics, immune-compromised and When asthmatics, immune-compromised and

other sensitive occupants are presentother sensitive occupants are present Serial episodes of mold contamination in the Serial episodes of mold contamination in the

same area/buildingsame area/building When the problem is not taken seriouslyWhen the problem is not taken seriously


Sick Buildings versus Sick Sick Buildings versus Sick OccupantsOccupants

SBS - Sick Building Syndrome: a collection of SBS - Sick Building Syndrome: a collection of health complaints or symptoms that do not fit a health complaints or symptoms that do not fit a case-definable disease, such as headache, eye case-definable disease, such as headache, eye irritation, scratchy throat, itchy skin, cough, etc.irritation, scratchy throat, itchy skin, cough, etc.

BRI - Building-Related Illness: a collection of signs BRI - Building-Related Illness: a collection of signs and symptoms that fit a case-definable disease, and symptoms that fit a case-definable disease, such as new onset asthma, Legionnaires’ disease, such as new onset asthma, Legionnaires’ disease,

humidifier fever, tuberculosis, etc.humidifier fever, tuberculosis, etc.


How Do You Know If Your How Do You Know If Your Building Has Made Them Building Has Made Them

Sick?Sick? What is their illness?What is their illness? Does it seem plausible given the history of Does it seem plausible given the history of

the building?the building? Does it seem plausible when compared to Does it seem plausible when compared to

your consultant’s findings?your consultant’s findings? Is it supported by mainstream science?Is it supported by mainstream science? Has there been an objective medical Has there been an objective medical

evaluation?evaluation? Have you tested their home?Have you tested their home? Do they have a history of claims?Do they have a history of claims?


Investigating Investigating and Testing for Moldand Testing for Mold

Sampling and/or testing should come Sampling and/or testing should come only after the initial meeting, walk-only after the initial meeting, walk-through and occupant interviewsthrough and occupant interviews

The choice of sampling and/or testing The choice of sampling and/or testing methods should have a logical methods should have a logical connection to observations and connection to observations and occupant health complaintsoccupant health complaints


“ “People spend approximately 90% of People spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. The potential health effects their time indoors. The potential health effects from indoor air pollution vary greatly and range from indoor air pollution vary greatly and range from allergies and asthma, to cancer and even from allergies and asthma, to cancer and even

Death”Death” U.S. EPA 402-K-93-U.S. EPA 402-K-93-

007007


Indoor Environmental Indoor Environmental PasteurizationPasteurization

What is it?What is it?


““Structural Pasteurization provides a Structural Pasteurization provides a Chemical-free treatment, providing Chemical-free treatment, providing

sanitization against biological sanitization against biological contaminants in buildings by reducing contaminants in buildings by reducing levels of living bacteria, fungi, viruses levels of living bacteria, fungi, viruses

and insects found within the structure.”and insects found within the structure.”

Sean P. Abbott Ph.DSean P. Abbott Ph.D

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