The
Effectiveness of Ozone in Reducing VOCs in a New Display House
-
May 12, 2001
Table of Contents
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.0 INTRODUCTION
3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
4.0 SITE VISIT
5.0 SAMPLING and ANALYSIS
5.1 INTRODUCTION
- 5.2
SAMPLING METHOD & INFORMATION
5.3 TEST METHODS
5.3 ANALYSIS RESULTS OF
TEST SAMPLES
6.0 EVALUATIONS of FINDINGS
7.0 SUMMARY of FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS
8.0 QUALIFICATIONS
8.1 COMPETENCE OF THE
INSPECTOR
9.0 REFERENCES and SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
9.1 REFERENCE NO. 1
- 9.2 REFERENCE NO. 2
- 9.3 REFERENCE NO. 3
10.0 LIMITATIONS and USE of REPORT
1.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Tests
were conducted on a newly constructed Display house to assess and evaluate the
effectiveness of using Ozone to reduce the indoor air
concentrations of Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs). Occupants of homes having high concentrations of these
chemicals can experience health problems and discomfort.
The
tests were conducted before and after the application of Ozone
administered by Medallion Healthy Homes of Canada Inc. in
accordance with the Standard Medallion Methodology.
Results show a substantial
reduction of the Formaldehyde and VOCs after Ozonation. Based on
the findings of this report, it is our opinion that the proper
application of Ozone is effective in greatly reducing the indoor
air concentrations of these chemicals. This overall reduction is
considered to be a benefit to the health and comfort of occupants
of homes with high concentrations of Formaldehyde and VOCs.
2.0 INTRODUCTION
Medallion Healthy Homes
of Canada Inc. engaged TEKNIKA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS to
conduct an investigation into the effectiveness of ozone in
reducing the VOC concentrations in a newly constructed Display
home. Medallion Healthy Homes of Canada Inc. through the use of
proprietary ozone generation equipment provides a service whereby
indoor air is purified. Using this equipment, Medallion has
developed a methodology in which very high levels of ozone are
introduced into a vacated and locked out home, office, boat, etc.
Once the Ozonation phase is completed, the residual ozone is
extracted and the air tested to ensure that any remaining ozone is
at a level acceptable for human occupation.
Air
samples were taken from the interior of the Display House prior to
the application of Ozone to determine the Pre-Ozonation
concentrations of Formaldehyde and VOCs.
The
Display House was subjected to the application of Ozone using the
standard Medallion Methodology for a period of 12 hours. The
Ozone was extracted and air samples were again obtained to
determine the Post-Ozonation concentrations of Formaldehyde
and VOCs.
"Volatile
organic compound" or VOC is the name given to a substance
that contains carbon and that evaporates (becomes a vapor) or
"off-gases" at room temperature.
Some
examples of VOCs include benzene, formaldehyde, methylene
chloride, hexane, toluene, trichloroethane, styrene, heptane, and
perchloroethylene.
A
number of building and household materials may be sources of VOCs.
New carpeting, backing, and adhesives; draperies; wood products
that use certain glues, finishes, and waxes in the manufacturing
process; and vinyl type flooring and wall coverings may all
release VOCs into the air.
The
ability of VOCs to cause health effects varies greatly. As with
other chemicals, the effects of VOC exposure depends on several
factors including the type of VOC, the amount of VOC and the
length of time a person is exposed.
Exposure
to elevated levels of VOCs may cause irritation to the eyes, nose,
and throat. Headaches, nausea, and nerve problems can also occur.
Some people do not appear to have any kind of reaction to fairly
"low" amounts of VOCs, while other people are fairly
sensitive.
Studies
of animals have shown that breathing some types of VOCs over a
long period of time can increase the risk of getting cancer.
Although
VOCs can be found in both outdoor and indoor settings, the levels
of VOCs found indoors can be much higher than those found
outdoors. This is because a house or building that doesn't have
enough ventilation does not allow potential indoor pollutants to
escape. In newly constructed houses, the concentrations of VOCs
are substantially higher due to the presence of new materials that
off-gassing at a higher rate.
Depending
on several factors, VOCs can be given off for days, weeks, months
or even years. The following is a list of factors to be
considered.
- How
long ago the product was made
- How
long it was stored or allowed to "off gas" at the
warehouse
- How
tightly the product was wrapped and how it was delivered
- The
amount and type of ingredients in the product
- Where
the product is used in the building
- The
amount of ventilation in the building
- The
amount of moisture and the temperature of the air?
- 3.0 SITE DESCRIPTION
The subject site was a newly constructed house being currently
used as a Display Home situated at 24103 - 102nd Street,
Maple Ridge, British Columbia. It is a 2 story wood frame
house with a full sized poured concrete basement. It has a
forced air gas fired furnace located in the basement. It
contained new furniture and appliances.
5.0 SAMPLING and ANALYSIS
5.1 Introduction to Sampling
After discussions with the client Medallion Healthy Homes of
Canada Inc. and Chad Born, B.Sc., Supervisor, Industrial Hygiene -
Cantest Ltd. it was decided to test the air in the house for
Formaldehyde and total hydrocarbons (VOCs)
5.2 Sampling
Method & Information
Sampling
for Formaldehyde was conducted using portable battery operated air
pumps supplied and calibrated by CANTEST LTD. The air being
sampled was drawn through a glass impinger containing
approximately 20 ml of a solution of 75mg/ml Sodium Bisulphite
In
deionized water.
Sampling
for Formaldehyde was conducted using portable battery operated air
pumps supplied and calibrated by CANTEST LTD. The air being tested
was drawn through a standard SKC glass tube containing charcoal.
The
sampling times were set for approximately four hours to ensure an
adequate and representative sample was obtained.
5.3 TEST METHODS
Total
or light hydrocarbons in Air-Analysis was performed by CANTEST
LTD. Using procedures based on WCB Method 2901. The procedure
involves sampling using charcoal tubes, desorption of analytes
from the charcoal using carbon disulphide, and analysis using gas
chromatography with flame ionization detection.
Formaldehyde
in Air-samples were collected in impingers. Analysis was performed
using procedures based on NIOSH Method 3500 using chromotropic
acid and sulphuric acid reagents and UV-Visible spectrophotometry.
5.3 ANALYSIS RESULTS OF
AIR SAMPLES
TABLE
ONE
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Air:
|
SAMPLE
IDENTIFICATION:
|
SAMPLE
DATE
|
CANTEST
ID
|
TOTAL
HYDROCARBONS
|
|
002
VOC (Pre-Ozonation)
004
VOC (Post-Ozonation)
|
May
1/01
May
2/01
|
105040286
105040289
|
4.98
0.53
|
DETECTION LIMIT
0.09
UNITS
mg/cu. m
mg/cu. m = milligrams per cubic meter
TABLE TWO
Formaldehyde Analysis in Air:
|
SAMPLE
IDENTIFICATION:
|
SAMPLE
DATE
|
CANTEST
ID
|
FORMALDEHYDE
in AIR
|
|
001
Formaldehyde (Pre-Ozonation)
003
Formaldehyde (Post-Ozonation)
|
May
1/01
May
2/01
|
105040285
105040288
|
0.270
0.051
|
DETECTION LIMIT 0.001
UNITS mL/cu. m
mL/cu. m
= milliliters/cubic meter or ppm (v/v)
6.0 EVALUATIONS of FINDINGS
At the present time, there are no national or Provincial standards
that are specific for schools, offices, or homes regarding safe
concentrations of VOCs. In addition, there are many different
opinions in the science and medical communities about the degree
of risk posed by various concentrations of VOCs. Health Canada
produced a Technical Guide Indoor Air Quality in Office
Buildings (1995) (see: References and Supporting
Documentation)
In it they made the
following observations:
________________________________________________________________________
5.2.7.1
Standards. The threshold limit values (TLVs) for individual
chemical substances that have been adopted by the ACGIH are not
appropriate for office environments, for several reasons. For
example, ACGIH TLVs apply to industrial workers who may be exposed
to a few known contaminants at high concentrations over a 40-hour
workweek. Industrial workers are usually provided with adequate
protective equipment (e.g., source ventilation,
protective clothing or face masks, breathing equipment). In
addition, the industrial work force is generally made up of young,
healthy, adult males.
Office workers, on the
other hand, are exposed, without protective equipment, to a broad
spectrum of contaminants at low concentrations over periods often
longer than 40 hours per week. The synergistic effect of these
compounds on occupant comfort is not known. As well, the
population composition of the office workforce covers a much
broader spectrum than that of the industrial workforce.
It would therefore seem
that individual limits much lower than ACGIH TLVs are more
appropriate. ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 recommends using one tenth of
the ACGIH limits for compounds for which comfort guidelines do not
exist. Although there are at present no Canadian or US standards
for Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), target and action
units of 1.0 and 5.0 mg/cu. m respectively are being
discussed. The European Community has prepared a target guideline
value for TVOC of 0.3 mg/cu. m , where no individual VOC should
exceed 10% of the TVOC concentration.
5.2.7.2 Health and Comfort
Effects. Research in Europe and North America has demonstrated
that VOCs at concentrations much lower than the ACGIH TLVs can
cause discomfort. Symptoms of low TVOC exposure include fatigue,
headaches, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, joint pains,
peripheral numbness or tingling, euphoria, tightness in the chest,
unsteadiness, blurred vision, and skin and eye irritation.
In an exposure range of
0.3 3.0 mg/cu. m, odours, irritation, and discomfort may
appear in response to the presence of TVOC together with thermal
comfort factors and stressors. Above 3.0 mg/cu. m,? one may
expect complaints; above 25 mg/cu. m, temporary discomfort and
respiratory irritation have been demonstrated for a common mix of
chemicals in an office building. Typical office levels cover a
range from below to above the amounts found to cause discomfort.
Hypersensitive individuals
can have severe reactions to a variety of VOCs at very low
concentrations. They can react to organic compounds that are
released by building materials, carpets, and various consumer
products including cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, tobacco, plastics,
and dyes. These reactions can occur following exposure to a single
sensitizing dose or sequence of doses, after which time a much
lower dose can provoke symptoms. Chronic exposure to low doses can
also cause reactions. Symptoms are usually non-specific and may be
insufficient to permit identification of the offending compounds.
Because of the available
knowledge of toxicological and sensory effects of VOCs and their
mixtures is incomplete, reduction of overall exposure is
desirable.
_________________________________________________________________________
The State of California
Air Resources Board recommends that home owners take action if the
Formaldehyde concentrations are above 0.10 parts per million (ppm)
even if occupants do not have adverse symptoms, and that
concentrations be reduced to a target level of 0.05 or less.
(See: References and Supporting Documentation)
TABLE ONE (VOCs)
shows concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds in the air of
4.98 mg/cu. m before and 0.53 mg/cu. m after
Ozonation. According to these figures, the concentrations of
VOCs after Ozonation were 10.64% of the original concentrations.
This is a significant reduction.
TABLE TWO?
(Formaldehyde) shows concentrations of? Formaldehyde in the
air of 0.270 mL/cu. m before and 0.051 mL/cu. m
after Ozonation. According to these figures, the
concentrations of Formaldehyde after Ozonation were 18.9% of the
original concentrations. This again is a significant reduction.
7.0 SUMMARY of FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS
Based the results noted
in this report, air samples taken after Ozonation by Medallion
Healthy Homes of Canada Inc. show a substantial reduction in the
concentrations of Formaldehyde and VOCs in the indoor air of the
Display House. While no relative quantitative standards appear to
exist, it is generally agreed in the Indoor Air Quality Field that
the reduction of overall exposure to VOCs is desirable for the
good health and comfort of building occupants.
At this
time we recommend that homes having high concentrations of
Formaldehyde and VOCs, and where the occupants are experiencing
symptoms or discomfort, could benefit in a large measure from the
application of Ozone when administered by Medallion Healthy Homes
of Canada Inc. in accordance with the Standard Medallion
Methodology.
8.0 QUALIFICATIONS
8.1 Competence of the Inspector
TEKNIKA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS ( TEC) and its
Senior Consultant, Marshall L. Lowen, possess knowledge through an
appropriate combination of formal education, skills, experience
and training to provide a technically sound and rational
inspection and air sampling of buildings regarding bioaerosols,
Volatile Organic Compounds and other Indoor Air Quality problems.
TEC has completed many projects involving Indoor Air Quality
problems, contaminated sites and the identification and handling
of toxic and hazardous materials. TEC*s projects for contaminated
sites have typically included historical reviews, field surveys
selection, costing and specification of cost-effective treatment
options, field supervision, audits, as well as other consulting
services. TEC through its associates provides full environmental,
occupational safety & health and chemical analysis services to
clients for initial assessments of Indoor Air Quality,
contamination, design of remediation programs, field supervision
and monitoring for remediation sites.
NOTE
:
TEKNIKA
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS is a Canadian Aboriginal Company that is
100% Aboriginal owned and controlled. It is registered on Indian
and Northern Affairs Canadas Aboriginal Suppliers Inventory.
ASSOCIATIONS:
Canadian
Aboriginal Science and Technology Association (CASTS)
American
Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
Air
and Waste Management Association (AWMA)
Environmental
Assessment Association (EAA)
National
Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
Mr.
Lowen has training education and knowledge in a number of
technical areas relevant to the subject site including:
(a)
Building Sciences, Construction Practices and Standards
(b) Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
(c)
Representative Sampling Techniques
(d)
Remediation and Preventive Maintenance of Fungal Contaminated
Buildings
(e)
Biology of Fungi
(f)
Environmental Control of Contamination caused by microbial
overgrowth
(g)
CMHC Indoor Air Quality Investigation
(h)
Other areas of environmental microbiology
9.0 REFERENCES and SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
9.1 Reference No. I
Health Canada (1995)
Indoor Air
Quality In Office Buildings: A Technical Guide.
(Tedd Nathanson )
9.2 Reference No. 2
Air Quality Sciences Inc.
Health Problems Caused by
Volatile Organic Compounds
9.3 Reference No. 3
State of California Air
Resources Board
Research Division
Indoor Air Quality
Guideline (September, 1991)
Formaldehyde in the Home?
10.0 LIMITATIONS and USE of REPORT
This report was prepared by TEKNIKA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
(TEC) for the exclusive use of Medallion Healthy Homes of Canada
Inc. (The Client) and is intended to provide The Client with an
assessment of the Indoor Air Quality of the subject site targeting
Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds. The material in this
report reflects TECs best judgment considering the information
available to TEC at the time of preparation. Any use that a third
party makes of this report, or any reliance on or decisions to be
made on it, are the responsibility of such third parties. TEC
accepts no responsibility for damages, if any, suffered by a third
party as a result of decisions made or actions based on this
report.
The
scope of work for this project was limited to a Site inspection,
along with sampling and analysis, is to assess the effectiveness
of Ozonation in reducing the airborne concentrations of
Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds in a new display home.
No other testing or analysis other than that contained in this
report was conducted at the site.
This report is based on data and
information collected during the investigation conducted by TEC
and is based solely on the site conditions of the property at
the time of the site inspection, supplemented by data obtained
by TEC, as described in this report. Due to possible variations
in building practices and site activities that may have existed
at this site, there may be localized zones of contamination that
were not detected or observed during this inspection.
In
evaluating the property, TEC has relied in good faith on
information provided by the individuals and Companies noted in the
report. We accept no responsibility for any deficiency,
misstatements, or inaccuracy contained in this report as a result
of omissions, misrepresentation, or fraudulent acts of others
involved.
If new
information is discovered in future work, including excavations,
renovations, remediation, or other studies, TEC should be
requested to re-evaluate the conclusions of this report, and
provide amendments, as required.
Sincerely,
Marshall
L. Lowen
Senior
Environmental Consultant
TEKNIKA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
