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Profile of IAQ in Profile of IAQ in Rural Alaskan Rural Alaskan
Homes Homes Leif AlbertsonLeif Albertson
University of Alaska University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks
Bethel, AlaskaBethel, Alaska
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IAQ and Environmental IAQ and Environmental HealthHealth
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Damp Building-Related Illness Damp Building-Related Illness
(DBRI)(DBRI) StachybotrysStachybotrys LegionellosisLegionellosis
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PurposePurpose
Go over basic IAQ conceptsGo over basic IAQ concepts Discuss how building characteristics Discuss how building characteristics
affect IAQaffect IAQ Explain why individuals might face Explain why individuals might face
unique IAQ situations in rural Alaskaunique IAQ situations in rural Alaska Summarize available information Summarize available information
specific to rural Alaska to prioritize specific to rural Alaska to prioritize IAQ concernsIAQ concerns
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IAQ BasicsIAQ Basics
People spend a lot of time indoors People spend a lot of time indoors (maybe 90% in Alaska)(maybe 90% in Alaska)
People breathe a lotPeople breathe a lot
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Aspects of Air QualityAspects of Air Quality
VOCsVOCs Tobacco smoke Tobacco smoke
(ETS)(ETS) Combustion Combustion
productsproducts Lead Lead RadonRadon Dust mitesDust mites OdorsOdors
DustDust PollenPollen Pathogens Pathogens
(bacteria, virus)(bacteria, virus) TemperatureTemperature HumidityHumidity Pet danderPet dander
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What affects the air in What affects the air in our homes?our homes?
Human metabolismHuman metabolism Human activities (cooking, smoking)Human activities (cooking, smoking) Off-gassing (carpets, treated woods, Off-gassing (carpets, treated woods,
chemicals under sink, etc)chemicals under sink, etc) Heating appliancesHeating appliances Co-habitants (roaches, dogs, dust Co-habitants (roaches, dogs, dust
mites)mites) Bad stuff from outside (smoke, dust, Bad stuff from outside (smoke, dust,
radon)radon)
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VentilationVentilation
Passive Ventilation Passive Ventilation Stack EffectStack Effect Wind EffectWind Effect
Free and easyFree and easy Often unintentional and unregulatedOften unintentional and unregulated
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Passive Ventilation: Passive Ventilation: Stack EffectStack Effect
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Active VentilationActive Ventilation
Local exhaust Local exhaust (unbalanced)(unbalanced)
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Heat Recovery Heat Recovery VentilationVentilation
Example of Example of “balanced “balanced ventilation”ventilation”
Energy-efficientEnergy-efficient Require Require
maintenancemaintenance
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HumidityHumidity
Cold air holds less moisture than Cold air holds less moisture than warm airwarm air
•Relative Humidity is what matters
•If moisture is held constant, temperature controls RH
•Heating air makes it “drier”
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Stack Effect, Stack Effect, CondensationCondensation
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ReviewReview
Stack EffectStack Effect Warm air rises, exits home near ceilingWarm air rises, exits home near ceiling Cool air enters home near floorCool air enters home near floor
HumidityHumidity When air is heated, it can hold more When air is heated, it can hold more
moisture and tends to feel “dry”moisture and tends to feel “dry” When air is cooled, moisture drops out When air is cooled, moisture drops out
of air, leaves water or frostof air, leaves water or frost Water causes mold, dry air causes Water causes mold, dry air causes
illnessillness
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Unique Challenges in the Unique Challenges in the Last Frontier Last Frontier
Small: Homes in Small: Homes in Hooper Bay Hooper Bay generally range generally range from 300-700 ft²from 300-700 ft²
Crowded: Hooper Crowded: Hooper Bay Avg 4.97 Bay Avg 4.97 person/homeperson/home
Hot (65°-81°F)Hot (65°-81°F) OldOld
Dry (often below Dry (often below 30%) 30%)
Built and maintained Built and maintained in difficult in difficult environmentsenvironments
Used for a workshopUsed for a workshop Have reduced access Have reduced access
to qualified to qualified installation, installation, maintenance and maintenance and repair personnelrepair personnel
Houses in the village are often
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What IAQ issues can you What IAQ issues can you spot?spot?
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Top 4 IAQ Priorities in Top 4 IAQ Priorities in Rural AlaskaRural Alaska
What IAQ problems have the What IAQ problems have the greatest effect on the health of rural greatest effect on the health of rural Alaskans?Alaskans?
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1. Carbon Monoxide1. Carbon Monoxide
Alaska has highest rate of CO deaths Alaska has highest rate of CO deaths in countryin country
Heating appliances / water heatersHeating appliances / water heaters Vehicles left runningVehicles left running House firesHouse fires
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Heating AppliancesHeating Appliances
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Water HeatersWater Heaters
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Pollutants from Heating Pollutants from Heating AppliancesAppliances
COCO COCO22
NONOXX
SOSO22
ParticulatesParticulates OdorsOdors Benzene, Toluene, etcBenzene, Toluene, etc HH2200
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2. Environmental Tobacco 2. Environmental Tobacco SmokeSmoke
High rates of smokingHigh rates of smoking
Cold climate Cold climate
High occupancy ratesHigh occupancy rates
Poor ventilationPoor ventilation
= Indoor Air Pollution= Indoor Air Pollution ChemicalsChemicals ParticulatesParticulates
Asthma, cancer, SIDS….Asthma, cancer, SIDS….
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ETSETS
Stop smokingStop smoking Smoke outsideSmoke outside Open the windows (?)Open the windows (?) Turn on the fan (?)Turn on the fan (?)
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3. Humidity3. Humidity
““The incidence of absenteeism or The incidence of absenteeism or respiratory infections was found to be respiratory infections was found to be lower among people working or living in lower among people working or living in environments with mid-range versus low environments with mid-range versus low or high relative humidities” or high relative humidities” - A V Arundel, E M Sterling, J H Biggin, and T D Sterling, 1986- A V Arundel, E M Sterling, J H Biggin, and T D Sterling, 1986
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HumidityHumidity
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Mold is bad for you…Mold is bad for you…maybe…maybe…
A surprisingly contentious topicA surprisingly contentious topic
“Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all.”
www.CDC.gov/mold
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More on Mold….More on Mold….
Not great evidence Not great evidence that mold is bad that mold is bad for for all all peoplepeople
People who are People who are sensitive to mold sensitive to mold should avoid itshould avoid it
People have been People have been living with mold a living with mold a long, long timelong, long time
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Mold problems are Mold problems are moisture problemsmoisture problems
Oxygen, cellulose, Oxygen, cellulose, moisture, heat….moisture, heat….
Mold is ubiquitous Mold is ubiquitous in rural Alaskain rural Alaska Thermal Thermal
stratificationstratification ToyoStovesToyoStoves
More on mold…More on mold…
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Mold Mold isis bad for bad for buildings… buildings…
Bethel firehouse rotting over employees' heads
MOISTURE TRAPPED: Replacing structure may cost up to $7 million.By KYLE [email protected]
Published: July 17th, 2009 09:13 PM
The Bethel fire station is so rotted with water damage that firefighters are banned from staying the night under the fragile roof, city officials said Friday….
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4. Pathogens4. Pathogens
Alaska has a very high rate of Alaska has a very high rate of infectious respiratory diseasesinfectious respiratory diseases RSV, tuberculosis, pneumonia, LRTIs, RSV, tuberculosis, pneumonia, LRTIs,
etc.etc. Many generations living in close Many generations living in close
quarters with limited air flowquarters with limited air flow
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PrioritiesPriorities
““I am concerned about the air in I am concerned about the air in my home”my home” Do you have a functional CO Do you have a functional CO
detector?detector? Does anyone in your home smoke?Does anyone in your home smoke? Is your house too damp or too dry?Is your house too damp or too dry? Are sick people ever crowded Are sick people ever crowded
together?together?
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SummarySummary
IAQ measurement, standards and IAQ measurement, standards and remediation strategies increasingly remediation strategies increasingly important as communities and important as communities and individuals try to balance health and individuals try to balance health and energy conservationenergy conservation
Houses are getting tighter, Houses are getting tighter, ventilation needs to get betterventilation needs to get better
Residents need educationResidents need education
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ThanksThanks
Cathy Powers, KUC consortium Cathy Powers, KUC consortium librarylibrary
Jennifer Dobson, ANTHCJennifer Dobson, ANTHC Nick Horras, Formerly AVCP Nick Horras, Formerly AVCP
HousingHousing Rich Seifert, UAF/CESRich Seifert, UAF/CES Ros Singleton, CDC/AIPRos Singleton, CDC/AIP
