Please excuse the cross-postings:

I’m working with a group that works in a secured , containment facility.  The supply air is one pass, the exhaust is HEPA filtered an d air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH.  Rubber bands, latex gloves, th e gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade very quickly in this b uilding – a matter of months.  This causes consternation among my buildi ng occupants – “if latex degrades so quickly, what is this buildin g doing to me?”

I have done the following:  datalogged temperatur e, %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times of year, for a week.  First set showed extremely low humidity – below 20%rh – all other measurements within customary.  Second round showed %rh in a more norm al range – 35-40%rh.  Magnetic fields were at or below background.  No radioactivity was detected.  The building doesn&# 8217;t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion.  The mecha nical system is working as designed, filters in place and without high pressure d rop, coils clean, etc., according to my building engineers.

People complain of headaches and stuffy noses, general malaise after working in the building for some period of time.  Someon e has suggested Chinese drywall might be a culprit but I don’t know as it quite fits.

Whaddya think?  All ideas welcome, at this point.

Thanks,

Debbie

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Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety Officer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA  95616
(530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
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