smoke impact presentation

© Forensic Analytical Consulting Services www.forensicanalytical.com

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Evaluating Wildfire Smoke Impact

Presented by:Michelle Rosales, MPH, CIH

August 3, 2012

•Forensic AnalyticalEnvironmental Health Consultants


Who am I?

Michelle Rosales, MPH, CIH

Senior Project Manager at Forensic Analytical

Consulting Services

Environmental Health Consulting Agency

Masters of Public Health at UCLA

Certified Industrial Hygienist


Agenda

Background

Smoke Impact Assessment

Background Information

Visual Investigation

Sampling & Analysis

Conclusions & Recommendations

Unethical/Fraud Issues

Litigation


Background


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Two types of claimActual fire in the residence in claim

Thermal Shock/Heat damage

Burning of plastics and other materials that will produce toxins and or caustic ash

Damaged materials

Heavy Odors

More black carbon, dark colored particulate

Impact from nearby fires (e.g. wildfires)Minimal or no thermal damage

Burning of mostly bio / wood material

Typically not as great potential to be caustic

Most cases, minimal odors if any (dependant on proximity and infiltration)

More char / carbonized material, dark, grey or white


Structure Fire Assessment

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Wildfire Property Assessment

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Components of Wildfire Smoke

Contaminants of wildfire smoke can include:

carbon monoxide

hydrocarbons

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH] (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene)

nitrogen oxides

volatile oxygenated organic compounds

acids

ketones

alcohols

aldehydes (e.g. acrolein and formaldehyde)


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Definitions

(Smoke Related Particulates)

Combustion By-Products: Solid, liquid, and gaseous products of combustion

Smoke: Solid, liquid, and gaseous products of combustion released into the air

Soot (aka Black Carbon): Unwanted combustion product. Opaque/black particles of mostly carbon. Also may consist of ash, organic materials, metals, etc.

Ash: Inorganic (e.g. minerals) material from combustion (can be part of soot) or a high carbon containing particulate that does not maintain its original form.

Char / Carbonized Material: Particles of partially burned material retaining some of it’s original form


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Gather background information regarding the subject property (distance from fire, date of loss, etc…)

Visual AssessmentPathways

Odors Observed (Cigarette? Wildfire?)

Presence/Absence of Macroscopic Fire Related Debris

Level and Color of Dust Deposition on Surfaces

Other Sources of Combustion By-Products

Collect samples as needed from representative areasAnalysis: Composition of the settled dust

Make recommendations based on observations, background information and data


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Background Information

Name of Fires in Area

Distance to Fire Perimeter

Predominant Wind Direction

Building History

Reported Impact

Cleaning to Date

For Insurance: What is included in claim?

•Information provided via interview with homeowner or claims adjustor


Fire Perimeter

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Visual Inspection –

Tools of the Trade (FACS)

Flashlight

Job Notes

Camera

Paperwork

Sampling Equipment

Ladder (for attic, or roof areas)

N95 Mask (for attic)

Gloves


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Visual Inspection

Staining indicative of

smoke infiltration

Corrosion

Smoke related

particulates (i.e. ash)

Pathways

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Physical Impact

Staining

Pigmentation by soot particles

Smoke Particulate

Corrosion

Soot/ash can be corrosive

Dependant on fuel source

Burned plastic (PVC) leads to HCL and then can corrode metal

Wildfire ash typically not very corrosive but can be (smoke can contain organic acids)



Physical Impact

Soot is attracted to

cooler surfaces

thermophoresis, a

process in which

particles migrate under

the influence of forces

created by

temperature and

moisture.


Visual - Staining


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Visual –Smoke Related Particulates


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Can you tell?


Additional Combustion Sources

Interior Sources

Burning candles

Gas stoves

Fireplaces

Smoking devices


Exterior Sources

External heaters

Barbeques

Fire pits

Smoking devices

Additional Combustion Sources


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Wipe Test?

Dry (chemical) sponge wiped upon surface

Dark coloration on sponge indicative of

soot? Other particles unrelated to

combustion are dark.

Smoke and soot deposits could be black,

brown, gray, white or clear.


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Sampling

What is the objective of the sampling?

Scientific Method:

Choose Hypothesis

Is there potential smoke residue on the wall surface in

residence?

Test Hypothesis

Sample methods (surface)

Tape Samples

Wipe / Swab Samples

Bulk Samples

Micro-vacuum Samples


Sample Collection: Where?In general:

areas of dust accumulation and/or physical damage,

areas of concern,

representative areas

– Flooring/Thresholds/Baseboards

– Contents/Furnishings/Fixtures

– Wall/Ceilings

– Window Sills/Sliders

– Attic (near to vents if possible)

– Exterior surfaces

– HVAC

Supply and return side


Laboratory Analysis

Stereomicroscopy

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)

Scanned Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrscopy

(FTIR)


Making Conclusions

No standards or exposure limits exist specifically

for carbonaceous material or combustion

product settled on surfaces. In this case, these

particle types are used as indicators of potential

deposition of smoke related particles and may

be representative of the contaminants (e.g.

metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.)

that may be associated with them (though this

representation is not well studied).


Making Conclusions

FACS recommends cleaning/restoration in cases of

Visible smoke impact (e.g. macroscopic debris,

staining, and/or corrosion)

Observable smoke odor

Sample analysis that indicates

“Uncommon” (>10%) prevalence of combustion

products; or

In cases where sample results indicated “less

common” prevalence of combustion products (1-

10%), cleaning may be recommended depending

on other assessment factors.

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Combustion Products

% of Combustion Product

(Char+Ash+Soot)

Prevalence on Typical Surfaces

> 10% (Major)

Uncommon - Indicative of an unusual

percentage of the dust composition (but

may or may not contribute to corrosion

potential or environmental health risk) and

likely due to a large source of combustion

particles (e.g. wildfire).

1 – 10 % (Minor)

Less common (but found from time to

time) - Indicative of less common

percentage of the dust composition;

however, can be found on surfaces from

time to time due to other combustion

sources (other than wildfires)

< 1% (Trace or ND)

Common - Indicative of a recently cleaned

surface or absence of a significant

contribution to dust composition


Composition of Dust from

Combustion By-Products


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FACS Recommendations for

Restoration

In general, cleaning will consist of the

removal of surface dust and cleaning of

staining (if applicable) using methods

appropriate for the subject surface. For

most surfaces, this will entail vacuuming

with a HEPA filtered vacuum and damp

wiping as appropriate.


Other surfaces (e.g. exterior,

carpets, attic, etc.) may

require additional cleaning

methods (e.g. power washing

with detergent mix, steam

cleaning) as determined

appropriate.

Including painting of

surfaces, replacement of

items (e.g. insulation), etc.

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FACS Recommendations for

Restoration


Unethical/Fraud Issues


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Leading / Unethical Actions

Using scientific terms to scare home

owners

Making health claims with no professional

knowledge of environmental risk

Writing “ASH” in house dust

Cherry picking third party investigators

Calling investigators to voice dismay with

opinions


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Potential Fraudulent Actions

Planting “ash” from other sources on

surfaces of claimants residence.

Colluding with cleaning company to pump

up estimates


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Fraud Case


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Litigation

Lawyers On-site

Class Action Lawsuits

Appraisal Hearings

Rebuttal Letters


Questions?


Thank You!

Forensic Analytical Consulting Services

“The Solution is in the FACS.”www.forensicanalytical.com

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smoke impact presentation

Education

wildfire smoke impactpresented

high carbon

burned material

minerals material

unwanted combustion

property assessment

michelle rosales

organic materials