Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:38:31 -0800
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Craig Calvert <craig_a_calvert**At_Symbol_Here**YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
In-Reply-To: <48A020E1942E024DB0F2A6B68A1312440783A5EDEC**At_Symbol_Here**XEDAMAIL2.ex.ad3.ucdavis.edu>
Here is some info on Chinese Drywall Syndrom to help y
ou assess this part of your concern.
Chine
se Drywall Syndrome is caused by sufur in the minerals used in drywall. This syndrome is associated with drywall installed after huricane Katrin
a in 2005. The low humidity in the building would slow down the relea
se of the sulfur, as this syndrome is prevalent in the humid southeast wher
e the sulfur is readily released by the moisture in the air. I would
recommend finding a piece of drywall that has the manufactuers name on it a
nd checking if it is a US manufacturer. I would recommend running an
EPA TO15 test for volatile organics; have the lab screen for as many organo
sulfur compounds as possible. Also, check for black corrosion o
f copper. Normal copper patina is green; copper sulfide generally for
ms a blackish corrosion.
Below
;are decent sites covering Chinese Drywall:
I have dealt with th
is before and there is a battery of tests that can be run:
I hope this helps.
<
/DIV>
Craig
Craig
A. Calvert, PhD, C-CHO
Sci
entist III
Fuss &am
p; O'Neill EnviroScience, LLC
146 Hartford Road
Manchester, CT 06040
Phone: (860) 646-2469 x5571
Fax:
; (860) 533-5143
E-mail: ccalvert**At_Symbol_Here**fando.com<
/DIV>
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<
HR SIZE=1>From: Debbie
M. Decker <dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**UCDAVIS.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Sent: Wed, November 18, 2009 2:35:23 PM
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low
humidity, Chinese drywall?
Please excuse the cross-postings:
I=E2=80=99m working with a group that works in a se
cured, containment facility. The supply air is one pass, the exhaust
is HEPA filtered and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH. Rubber ba
nds, latex gloves, the gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade
very quickly in this building =E2=80=93 a matter of months. This cau
ses consternation among my building occupants =E2=80=93 "if latex d
egrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?="
I have done the following
: datalogged temperature, %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times o
f year, for a week. First set showed extremely low humidity =E2=80=93
below 20%rh =E2=80=93 all other measurements within customary. Secon
d round showed %rh in a more normal range =E2=80=93 35-40%rh. Magneti
c fields were at or below background. No radioactivity was detected.&
nbsp; The building doesn=E2=80=99t have any weird smells, evidence of mold
or water intrusion. The mechanical system is working as designed, fil
ters in place and without high pressure drop, 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. Someone has s
uggested Chinese drywall might be a culprit but I don=E2=80=99t know as it
quite fits.
Wh
addya think? All ideas welcome, at this point.
Thanks,
D
ebbie
--------------------
Debbie M. Decker, Campus Chemical Safety O
fficer
Environmental Health and Safety
University of California, Davi
s
1 Shields Ave.
Davis, CA 95616
(530)754-7964/(530)752-4527
(FAX)
dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Be
tter Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com<
/A> and join the conspiracy
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