SICK BUILDING REVIEWRadon, asbestos too

Sick Building Syndrome

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work or residence. A 1984 World Health Organization report suggested up to 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be linked to symptoms of SBS. Most of the sick building syndrome is related to poor indoor air quality.

The EPA’s Office Building…

Was a sick building!!!!

http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/investigations/toxic-influence/story/epa-building-north-carolina-has-air-quality-issues/

Irritations to the:

Eyes, nose, throat Respiratory system in general Progresses to cough; chest tightness;

fever, chills; and muscle aches.

Caused by:

flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds (VOC), molds (see mold health issues), improper exhaust ventilation of ozone (byproduct of some office machinery), light industrial chemicals used within, or lack of adequate fresh-air intake/air filtration

Where in Palmer would you find these things?

To fix:

Increase rate of fresh air exchange with the outside air

New buildings aim to avoid this problem: minimize the ongoing use of VOC cleaning compounds, and eliminate conditions that encourage allergenic mold growth.

A Word About Radon and Asbestos...

SBS is an acute or immediate health problems

radon and asbestos cause long-term diseases which occur years after exposure, and are therefore not considered to be among the causes of sick buildings.

They are still serious health risks though

Asbestos

a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties: sound absorption resistance to fire, heat, electrical and chemical

damage, and affordability.

Used in electrical insulation for hotplate wiring and in building insulation, ceiling tiles, firefighting gear

What’s the controversy?

Causes lung cancer, skin cancer, and others

The United States government and asbestos industry have been criticized for not acting quickly enough to inform the public of dangers, and to reduce public exposure. In the late 1970s court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of asbestos dangers since the 1930s and had concealed them from the public.

Radon

the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. 

overall, the second leading cause of lung cancer. 

responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.  About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. 

Where does it come from?

a radioactive, colorless, odorless, tasteless noble gas, occurring naturally as an indirect decay product of uranium or thorium

It is also the only gas under normal conditions that only has radioactive isotopes, and is considered a health hazard due to its radioactivity.

Accumulates in basements (fix by ventilating)