Factory Air Quality: Substances and Conditions you Should be Monitoring

IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE AND HEALTH (IDLH)
Baseline monitoring includes IDLH substances. Although you may think you do not have these issues, unfortunately, chemicals mix in the air. Do you have bleach and ammonia fumes? Several explosives and poisons can be formed. Identify and quantify contaminants through a professionally designed and executed monitoring program. Airborne contaminants present a major pathway for disease. Proper monitoring will point to proper:
1. Selection of personal protection wear and filtering systems
2. Delineated mandatory protection areas
3. Risk to health from exposures
4. Medical monitoring
5. Decontamination requirements at the day’s end

FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic category 2, which means a non-lethal, but irreversible effect after a single exposure. The irreversible effects include:
1. Damage to the central nervous system
2. Kidney necrosis
3. Liver lesions
4. Anemia
5. Paralysis
In 2015, The Formaldehyde Act under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), extended regulations to reduce emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood products, like flooring products used in the course of scientific research and other professions where tissue is preserved in some manner. A Formaldehyde Monitor and Data Logger is an ideal instrument for indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnosis and HVAC system performance verification.

CARBON MONOXIDE
When workers breathe carbon monoxide, it moves to the bloodstream as oxygen does; however, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin to prevent oxygen from doing so. Less oxygen in the blood leads to less oxygen in the brain, heart and other vital organs. Symptoms include fatigue and confusion in healthy employees. These symptoms render employees unsafe, unable to respond rapidly or make clear decisions. Vision, mental alertness and productivity suffer.

Carbon monoxide is particularly cruel to employees who already suffer heart disease, experiencing more chest pains or angina. There are a variety of Carbon Monoxide Monitors and Carbon Monoxide Data Loggers available to detect indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnosis and HVAC system performance verification.

PARTICULATE MATTER
Dust and particulate carry other pathogens and irritants too. Keeping solids out of the air supply requires sophisticated capture and containment. Proper monitoring to determine the filtering requirements is the first step. In any manufacturing, but particularly high technology, particulate management is a quality assurance— quality control issue. Use a portable particle counter to measure and report air contamination and download data to a personal computer using the USB interface cable.

COMFORT CONTROL
Comfort creates productivity. Too hot or cold, low oxygen, high humidity environments are just distracting, or worse, sleep inducing.

Modern buildings attempt to “positive pressure” the indoor environment to prevent mold spores from entering the building through leaks in the envelope. Increased pressure actually raises the ambient temperature as well. A balance between temperature control and barometric pressure control must be designed into the system. Balance is key. A wide variety of instruments are available for indoor air quality (IAQ) diagnosis and HVAC system performance verification. Measure O2 concentration, pressure, air temperature and relative humidity.

HVAC design requires sophisticated engineering since the components of air and the dynamics of air flow can be incompatible. Humidity removal affects temperature and pressure. Positive pressure on the building maintains control of outdoor pathogens from entering.

Cooler air holds less water, but that raises relative humidity if the air was not saturated before it cools. Oxygen levels should be high while carbon dioxide release should be low and carbon monoxide emission eliminated or directed outside. HVAC design and balance is critical, and begins and ends with monitoring.