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An indoor environmental quality investigation of the Fayette County (Pennsylvania) courthouse.

Martin SB Jr.; Coffey CC

Indoor Built Environ 2007 Oct; 16(5):456-464

https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X07082791

20032973

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a health hazard evaluation (HHE) investigation in the basement of the Fayette County Courthouse in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Employees had reported a variety of health complaints including headaches, throat irritation, eye irritation, nausea, fatigue and nasal/sinus symptoms. Potential causes of the complaints included excessive mould/ mildew, lack of air flow, odours and high dust levels. A number of locations showing signs of water incursion or leakage were found to have mould growth. The air flow provided by the ventilation systems in most areas was inadequate, although temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide levels largely met published recommendations. Levels of common volatile organic compounds were all below established exposure limits, and only toluene was found in concentrations above established odour thresholds.

Physiological-disorders; Bacterial-infections; Bacterial-dusts; Bacteria; Ventilation-systems; Air-quality; Indoor-air-pollution; Environmental-health; Environmental-factors; Environmental-exposure; Respiratory-system-disorders; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Microorganisms; Fungi; Molds; Volatiles; Organic-compounds; Indoor-environmental-quality

Stephen B. Martin, Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505-2888

IBENFP

20071001

Journal Article

SMartin1@cdc.gov

2008

5

1420-326X

DRDS; NPPTL

Indoor and Built Environment

WV; PA