The two other responses seen useful.  I would recheck to confirm that
the entire building has shingle pass air.  Usually only the labs have
single pass air.  You should also check to see that there is no
re-entrainment of exhaust air.   Has there been any recent maintenance
on the HVAC system or has there been any significant change in the
nature of the research that is being conducted?  Also, check to make
sure that all drain traps are full of water (sometimes sewer gases can
cause problems.).  Finally consult with others on the campus to make
sure that the problem is not confined to only the one building.  It
could be with the hot summer and possible elevated levels of ozone and
other oxidizers in the atmosphere that these pollutants are causing the
problems.

Interesting problem.  Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Laurence Doemeny

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Debbie Decker
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2004 7:40 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Latex Glove degeneration

Hi Gang:

Excusing the cross-posting....  We have researchers whose latex gloves,
rubber bands and other latex-containing articles degrade at an alarming
rate.  This is annoying.  Lately, a photographer in this building has
found her images degrading as well.  This is now causing consternation
amongst building occupants.

All the obvious have been checked - it is a laboratory building with
one-pass air and the degradation is not localized to a single floor or
lab.

Ideas?  Don't be shy about suggesting the outrageous.

Thanks,
Debbie


Debbie Decker
EH&S UCDavis
(530)754-7964
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy

Birkett's hypothesis: "Any chemical reaction
that proceeds smoothly under normal conditions,
can proceed violently in the presence of an idiot."

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post