| Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) brings building and their occupants back to health |
| by Argus Pacific |
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| Indoor air quality (IAQ) investigations are frequently the most challenging of all industrial hygiene investigations. They are often searches for an unknown cause of non-specific symptoms conducted in a complicated and sometimes emotionally charged social atmosphere. They are further complicated by findings of multiple causes. Indoor air quality investigations have two facets. One is about resolving technical issues and the other is about communication and resolution. The challenge is in the synthesis of these two facets so that stakeholders accept the outcome. Argus Pacific resolves the technical issues by using a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach. A multi-disciplinary team of industrial hygienists, and occupational and environmental medical professionals develop individual and group symptom profiles, develop working hypothesizes, identify and control symptom sources and source pathways, and support the occupants during the re-occupancy period. In addition, we work closely with any public health agencies involved such as NIOSH and the Dept. of Labor and Industries. Argus Pacific approaches the communication and resolution issues so that stakeholders have confidence in the integrity and credibility of the outcome. The participation of all stakeholders is vital to understand the full scope of the issues and concerns, establish credibility, and define stakeholder expectations. This collaboration and participation is accomplished through continuous dialogue with all the stakeholders until the investigation is completed. |
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| THE INVESTIGATION PROCESS |
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| Stakeholders |
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| Argus Pacific’s investigation process starts by identifying the stakeholders and then, obtaining their input through interviewing and dialogue. Care is taken not to exclude a stakeholder or fail to address a stakeholder issue because that can undermine the integrity of the investigation and acceptance of the findings. The purpose of establishing dialogue is to encourage stakeholder participation because their assistance is fundamental to define the indoor air quality issues, outlining the direction of the investigation, and coming to acceptable resolution. The investigation team identified stakeholder questions and concerns, determine stakeholder expectations, and educate stakeholders about indoor air quality. The team effort to maintain dialogue and open channels of communication with stakeholders throughout the process is vital to allow the stakeholders to track the investigation’s progress and accept the validity of the investigation process and outcome. |
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| Investigation Team |
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| The investigation team is comprised of stakeholders and a technical team of experts. A multi-disciplinary investigation team of technical experts with complementary skills is used when necessary in order to synthesize industrial hygiene, medical, and community interests of the project. Industrial hygienists evaluate the building and building systems, develop environmental sampling protocols, sample and interpret data, and develop recommendations for reducing exposures. Industrial hygienists provide special skills in relating health symptoms to environmental sources in buildings, identifying source pathways, evaluating exposure, and recommending methods and techniques for eliminating sources and reducing exposure. Environmental and occupational health physicians and nurses review medical charts and case histories, interview individuals that experienced symptoms, develop symptom profiles, and attempt to link symptoms to building sources. An environmental pediatrician is used to review the charts and conduct interviews when children are experiencing symptoms. Environmental and occupational health practitioners have special skill and experience in diagnosing symptoms and illness in a workplace setting and are familiar with the discipline of industrial hygiene. A communications specialist may issue regular progress reports of the investigation. This specialist assists the technical experts by communicating complex technical data and findings in understandable non-technical language. The team determines the need for additional team members based on stakeholder input and the evolving needs of the investigation. The team may evaluate the need for additional expertise in dermatology, toxicology, engineering & architecture, decision-making, economics, or any other discipline that complements the team’s skill set. The team solicits technical input from other public agencies such as the Washington State Dept. of Public Health and Dept. of Labor & Industries. |
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| Develop Symptom Profiles |
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| Symptom profiles are used to identify possible symptom sources in the building and exposure pathways between the source and the symptomatic individuals. This can be illustrated by the following industrial hygiene equation: Symptom = Source + Pathway. The industrial hygienists and medical team members share the responsibility of interviewing stakeholders with and without symptoms. The industrial hygienists and medical team conducts complementary interviews with symptomatic staff. The purpose of the interview allows the hygienist to develop a symptom profile for each staff member, and collectively for the group, in order to develop working hypotheses that relate the symptoms to a source(s). |
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| Working Hypothesizes |
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| The industrial hygiene and medical team pools their interview findings and symptom profiles in order to develop a series of working hypotheses that attempt to relate the reported symptoms to the building. Additional working hypotheses is also developed to address other stakeholder issues that may not relate directly to symptoms. |
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| Inspection and Sampling Plan |
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| The team creates an inspection and sampling plan designed to test the working hypotheses. The inspection and sampling results are used to eliminate a hypothesis from consideration rather than prove a hypothesis. The inspection plans include a walkthrough inspection of the building, a visual inspection and performance measurements of the building HVAC systems, inspection of past water damaged areas, an evaluation of the building activities, interviews with the facilities and maintenance staff and a review of maintenance records, and a review of previous studies and remedial actions taken to improve indoor air quality to date. The sampling protocols consider air and surface sampling for particulate, volatile organic compounds, fungi and bacteria, mycotoxins, standard indoor air quality comfort measures (temperature, percent relative humidity, and carbon dioxide), or other techniques in order to test the working hypotheses and address stakeholder concerns. |
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| Remediation |
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| A comprehensive list of options to remove symptom sources and eliminate exposure pathways and address stakeholder concerns is presented to the client and any stakeholders that the client releases the information to for consideration when sources and pathways are identified. This list results from analysis of the findings and incorporates stakeholder interests. |
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| Report |
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| A final written report that details the investigation process and actions, the inspection and sample results, and remediation options is issued at the end of the investigation. |
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| Peer Review |
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| The final report is sometimes made available for technical peer review to the Washington State Departments of Public Health and Labor & Industries. Symptomatic stakeholders are encouraged to share the report with their personal physicians. All stakeholders are encouraged to review the report as well. |
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| Re-occupancy Support Plan |
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| It is expected that the client will evaluate the investigation findings and recommendations, the effectiveness of the remedial actions taken, the implementation of controls and administrative systems to improve indoor air quality, input from the stakeholders, and solicited peer review comments when it considers re-occupancy. The team then develops and implements a re-occupancy support plan following a decision to re-occupy. The plan is considered necessary in order to provide staff and students with the assurance of support in the event that some individuals experience symptoms upon their return. Support is provided by having the medical and industrial hygiene team members present during the first two to three weeks of re-occupancy in order to monitor the building, respond and evaluate the return of symptoms, and collect samples of the environment if needed. The development and implementation of a long-term indoor air quality plan is consider program of periodic monitoring, inspection, and testing as appropriate |
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