Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:31:45 -0600
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From: John Larson <jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**FS.FED.US>
Subject: Re: Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall?
In-Reply-To: <48A020E1942E024DB0F2A6B68A1312440783A5EDEC**At_Symbol_Here**XEDAMAIL2.ex.ad3.ucdavis.edu>

Without more details as to what types of chemicals/materials are used in the room I wouldn't hazard a guess either way as to whether the latex and such is absorbing chemicals and degrading(acids or VOC's perhaps), or are outgassing VOC's due to environmental conditions and degrading. A quick web search found this paper that may be a starting point for further investigation. Good Luck! http://www.eaglabs.com/files/papers/PA035.pdf John T. Larson Chemist Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Northern Research Station 1831 E. Hwy. 169 Grand Rapids, MN 55744-3399 Phone: 218-326-7113 E-Mail: jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**fs.fed.us "Debbie M. Decker" Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List 11/18/09 02:05 PM Please respond to DCHAS-L Discussion List To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc Subject [DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low humidity, Chinese drywall? 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 and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH. Rubber bands, latex gloves, the gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degrade very quickly in this building ? a matter of months. This causes consternation among my building occupants ? ?if latex degrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?? I have done the following: datalogged temperature, %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 normal range ? 35-40%rh. Magnetic fields were at or below background. No radioactivity was detected. The building doesn?t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion. The mechanical system is working as designed, filters 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 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 -------------------- 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 Co-Conspirator to Make the World A Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy


Without more details as to what types of chemicals/materials are used in the room I wouldn't hazard a guess either way as to whether the latex and such is absorbing chemicals and degrading(a cids or VOC's perhaps), or are outgassing VOC's due to environmental conditions and degrading.  A quick web search found this paper that may be a starting point for further investigation.
Good Luck!

http://www.eaglabs.com/files/papers/PA035.pdf

John T. Larson
Chemist
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Northern Research Station
1831 E. Hwy. 169
Grand Rapids, MN  55744-3399
Phone:  218-326-7113
E-Mail:  jlarson**At_Symbol_Here**fs.fed.us


"Debbie M. Decke r" <dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**UCDAVIS.EDU>
Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List < ;DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu>

11/18/09 02:05 PM
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[DCHAS-L] Latex degradation, low hum idity, Chinese drywall?



Please excuse the cross-postings:
 
I’m working with a group that wor ks in a secured, containment facility.  The supply air is one pass, the exhaust is HEPA filtered and air change rates are in the 10-15 ACH.  R ubber bands, latex gloves, the gloves on a glove box, rubber stoppers, etc. degra de very quickly in this building – a matter of months.  This causes consternation among my building occupants – “if latex degrades so quickly, what is this building doing to me?”
 
I have done the following:  datalo gged temperature, %RH, CO and CO2 twice, at different times of year, for a week.  First set showed extremely low humidity – below 20%rh – a ll other measurements within customary.  Second round showed %rh in a more normal range – 35-40%rh.  Magnetic fields were at or below backg round.  No radioactivity was detected.  The building doesn’t have any weird smells, evidence of mold or water intrusion.  The mechanical system is working as designed, filters 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 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
--------------------
 
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
Co-Conspirator to Make the World A
Better Place -- Visit
www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy
 
 

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