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June 2003 Volume
II, Issue 3 Dear All, Our ongoing thanks to all of your for continuing to tune in to Trapped Air and send your feedback our way. As I hope is clear, we're committed to providing valuable information and access to resources that can help you provide better services to your clients. In past issues we've discussed PATI-developed products such as Mold Scan™ and TDT Air Scan®. We're devoting this issue to another aspect of our business - one the majority of our clients may not know about. It's still air analysis but in the 'macro' scale. You'll find descriptions of our specific products, an overview of our exciting partnership with Emission Monitoring Inc. (EMI) over the past few years, and commentary from Randall Fike, our CTO, on what we think makes us special. As always I'm eager to hear your questions and ideas. We learn a lot from communicating with you all which of course helps us to better serve you and ensure we're developing and refining the products and services you need. Please keep the comments coming and feel free to ask me about our ongoing work on odor investigation, plant emissions, mold growth and more.
Best Regards, Illustrated test methods - ActiveSET.org A useful set of diagrams from the Active National Directory Of Source Emissions Testing that provides helpful illustrations of various sampling, testing and recovery processes. Among those listed: total fluoride, inorganic lead, beryllium, condsenible particulates, and more. Be sure not to miss the highlighted ones - they're "interactive" and allow you to mouse over the diagram for information on each of the components. Also note that graphics can be ordered online if you're interested in purchasing them in PDF format. * * * * *
Staying alert to mold - Newsday A long and substantive article on mold that reports on the work of Erin Brockovich and others who are urging California lawmakers to pass legislation that would require builders and contractors to cover more of the costs of mold cleanups. A stat worth noting: some 5,000 mold-related lawsuits are now pending against insurers by homeowners hoping to collect on their claims. The piece focuses on Long Island, where Newsday is based, but provides information that's useful wherever you're located. State Sen. Carl L. Marcellino: "It is time for New York State to take a serious look at mold and indoor air quality." An aide to Rep. John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.): "I'm probably getting 40 to 50 calls a week about this. It's a serious problem, a disaster." Also, don't miss the helpful links at the end and in the sidebar of the story. * * * * *
MVOC: microbial volatile organic compounds - Conceptual Reference Database Another useful page which pulls together facts and opinions on microbial volatile organic compounds. Mini-chapters include coverage of: fungi as symbionts, fungi and human disease, mold and moisture, and more. And be sure to catch the "VOC table" at the end which provides a breakdown of VOC's that can show up in building materials. NEWS: Emission Monitoring and Prism Team on Stationary Source
Testing A description of our partnership with Emission Monitoring Inc. (EMI) Emission Monitoring has collaborated with Prism Analytical Technologies Inc. (PATI) on two major testing programs in the last three years. Both programs consisted of conducting numerous emissions tests at both Portland cement manufacturing facilities and gas compressor stations employing natural gas-fired turbines. Testing for the Portland cement manufacturing industry was performed so that these facilities could demonstrate area source status under their recently promulgated National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) Rule. About 30 facilities and 40 kilns were tested under this program. EMI and Prism used a combination of direct interface GCMS and FTIR to gather data on about 100 volatile compounds suspected to be emitted from these sources. Approximately 70% of the sources tested were able to qualify as area sources and thus reduce their compliance burden and operating costs over the next several years. Testing for the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) was performed to gather data for that industry's NESHAP. Under this test program, formaldehyde was the main analyte of interest. Because natural gas-fired turbines emit very low concentration levels of formaldehyde, special nuances to existing test methods had to be utilized in order to provide the accuracy and precision needed to demonstrate the actual facility emissions. A combination of California Air Review Board (CARB) 430 and FTIR were used in the conduct of these tests at 6 facilities. Results from these tests indicated that the current EPA proposed concentration level of 42 ppb (v) dry at 7% O2 formaldehyde was well below the concentration level that most turbines could comply with on a continuous basis. It is expected that these data submitted by GTI will enable the EPA to raise the concentration level for turbines to a more achievable and more readily measurable concentration level. Laura L. Kinner, Ph.D. and Vice President of EMI, has more than 14 years of experience in methods development and emission testing. She has actively participated in research and development efforts for application of new direct interface instrumental test technologies, has implemented these technologies for the measurement of hazardous air pollutant emissions at many stationary sources and has also participated in numerous ASTM task groups. Dr. Kinner has B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in analytic chemistry from the University of Missouri. For more information about Emission Monitoring visit their website.
Environmental lawsuits may spell disaster - The Business Journal Describes how mold litigation has become one of the commercial real estate industry's biggest headaches. The article notes the comparison some are drawing to the asbestos cases of the past but also touches on the aspects that differentiate mold. Some stats: class action lawsuits in federal courts are up 300% in just the past three years. And they're up more than 1000% at the state level in the past decade. All of which adds up to a "potentially disastrous" problem for the commercial real estate business. A developer: "We could see an uncontrolled escalation of insurance increases due to outrageous litigation awards driving up costs for owners and tenants." Another industry insider points to still-unclear environmental regulations developers are up against. * * * * *
Got Mold? - 'Jack' terrier has the nose for the mold - KATU On the lighter side, this piece profiles a Portland-based pooch who's been trained to sniff out mold. The dog's employer, Common Scents Inspections, claims Jack, a one-eyed Jack Russell, is an expert at it: "If he tells you there's mold there you can virtually be assured there's mold." Also noted: the rigorous training program Jack had to go through: "The training is so intense that more than half the canines that compete wash out before they become certified as a mold sniffing dog." Stack Scan: A Stack Emission Survey Tool PATI’s pre-survey screening tool Stack Scan is a PATI-developed screening tool for the determination of VOC stack emissions that is an ideal, pre-survey, screening tool for USEPA methods such as 18, 106, 308, 316, and 320. Any sample collected from a stack, vent, or any other process emission point can be used to determine over 250 compounds including formaldehyde, benzene, and styrene by using a single thermal desorption tube. How: The collection of a sample is simple and can be performed by plant personnel. All you'll need is a low volume pump to provide a 50-200 ml/min flow through the thermal desorption tube (TDT) to collect between 10 and 40 liters of sample. The sample tubes are included in the cost of the analysis and are provided by PATI. We'll also supply general sample volume information and guidance. Detection limits can reach down to single digit part-per-billion levels. In high moisture environments, the sample stream needs to be dried to 2% or less before passing through the sample tube. Condensate that is collected can also be analyzed for extracted compounds. The results: Once the sample has been collected, simply send the sample tube to PATI for analysis. Prism provides a full scan analysis which includes the determination of the compounds found in PATI Tech Bulletin 503 under Quantitative List A and B, and Semiquantitative List. The results are reported in units of ng/L and ppbv. Applications:
Stack Scan: Your PATI-developed solution for quickly and inexpensively determining what compounds are present. For further information call PATI or e-mail: prism@pati-air.com
CTO'S COMMENT Randall Fike, our CTO, on what differentiates PATI I am often asked what it is that makes PATI clients so fiercely loyal. The answer is simple: most of our clients are IH professionals who have significant training in industrial hygiene but could use some help with chemistry. And when they are faced with a problem that can be solved using analytical chemistry, they don’t need a promotional brochure and a price list - instead they need to discuss their problem with a real analytical professional they can trust. They know that if they call PATI, they can talk to a real person who has the education and experience to help them plan a strategy that has the best chance of resolving the problem. And when they get their analytical results, they know that they can talk to the same professional to get help in understanding the implications and application of those results. In fact, that’s what I spend most of my time doing. What other commercial laboratory provides that level of support? Let’s face it, there are many laboratories that can provide good IH analyses. But there is only one laboratory that is committed to providing the support that instills confidence when tackling the tough jobs. We do everything we possibly can to make our clients look good.
Randall S. Fike, PhD, CTO
Real Time Stack Testing with FTIR A brief overview of PATI’s extractive FTIR analysis Extractive Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) allows the quantitative determination of several gas compounds in real time. This is important because it empowers operators/engineers to make process adjustments on the fly, immediately implement new production efficiencies and lower emissions. PATI has invested in two such FTIR’s to ensure that we’re able to perform inlet/outlet sources or multiple sources at one time. In addition, PATI’s FTIR operators are college degreed chemists with specific training in FTIR spectra interpretation. And over the years we’ve put the instruments to work on a variety of tests ranging from compliance tests to relative accuracy test audits (RATAs) to engineering studies. We also routinely perform EPA Methods 320 and 321. There’s lots more to tell you about our extractive FTIR analysis if you’re interested. For more information on it and a longer, more technical document on our FTIR capabilities, contact us at info@pati-air.com.
ABOUT PATI
Prism Analytical Technologies, Inc., (PATI) is the leading analytical laboratory in the United States that is devoted to the chemical
identification and analysis of contaminants in the air. PATI's expertise includes:
Over the last 11 years PATI has pioneered the development of several technologies for the analysis of air. These technologies include,
for example, custom thermal desorption tubes and glass encapsulation to keep them free from contamination during storage. They also
include the concept of TDT Air Scan® which utilizes a thermal desorption tube and then couples Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR)
spectrometry and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) during the analysis to quickly and inexpensively identify and quantify
hundreds of VOC's using only one sample. PATI is also the only laboratory that has been successful in developing a technology, called
Mold Scan™, to determine mold metabolites on the parts per trillion level.
Our team of Analytical Chemists includes only degreed and highly trained analysts, the majority with advanced degrees. We have an
industry-leading management and scientific team headed by Lester H. Keepper, President, and Randall Fike, Ph.D., Chief Technical
Officer. Additionally Martin L. Spartz, Ph.D., is a company Director and, in addition to developing our FT-IR capabilities, has been
responsible for the design and development of mobile, open path FT-IR methods for the EPA.
PATI supports many CIH, IHIT, CEHS, CPE, and CSP professionals and multidisciplinary consultants who are seeking to solve air quality
problems. PATI's clients include mold investigation and remediation professionals, safety specialists, medical doctors, manufacturing
engineers, hospital administrators, public health departments, building owners and inspectors, commercial property managers, engineering
and construction firms, insurance investigators, emergency response teams, real estate brokers, and legal professionals. Contact PATI
to discover the positive impact we can have on your air quality projects.
For more information on our products and services please visit our website.
PATI is pleased to announce a new tool we've developed with Environmental Health & Safety LLC called IAQ Protocol. The offering,
which provides guidance for complaint or assignable cause, is a direct response to requests from our clients to formalize a protocol
that provides consistent results.
Traditionally, unrelated and loosely tied together professions with non-unified multidisciplinary tools have served the general area
which has come to be known as the IAQ Market. Now, the IAQ Protocol provides reliable guidance with an easy-to-use presentation
that guides the user through different IAQ scenarios to aid the air quality professional in developing the most appropriate
investigative procedure to follow
More about the IAQ Protocol: the logic sequence was developed as a strategy for addressing indoor air quality issues. The
Protocol, presented in MS Power Point format, is intended to give guidance in conducting indoor air quality investigations
pertaining to IAQ Complaints, Fire, Water Events, and Renovations. Each category is a stand-alone flowchart that takes the user through
a sequence of decisions with suggestions for testing methodology and criteria supplied throughout the sequence. Consideration of air
quality issues relating to mold is also included in the Protocol. Supporting documents and directions for testing methodologies
are imbedded in the program to make for quick and easy reference. Beta tests have produced solid results - we're making Version 1.0
available and look forward to getting your suggestions and ideas.
The software is distributed as freeware. The Protocol would be useful to IH professionals, safety professionals, and facility
professionals who deal with indoor air quality issues. These include employee complaints, water events, fire events, and office
renovation projects, to name a few. The chemical event protocol project is under evaluation.
To request IAQ Protocol, please email us at: IAQ_protocol@pati-air.com
Interested in learning more about our specific products listed below?
Send us an email and you'll recieve a prompt reply.
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