1 Profile of IAQ in Rural Alaskan Homes Leif Albertson University of Alaska Fairbanks Bethel, Alaska

2 IAQ and Environmental Health Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Damp Building-Related Illness (DBRI) Damp Building-Related Illness (DBRI) Stachybotrys Stachybotrys Legionellosis Legionellosis

3 Purpose Go over basic IAQ concepts Go over basic IAQ concepts Discuss how building characteristics affect IAQ Discuss how building characteristics affect IAQ Explain why individuals might face unique IAQ situations in rural Alaska Explain why individuals might face unique IAQ situations in rural Alaska Summarize available information specific to rural Alaska to prioritize IAQ concerns Summarize available information specific to rural Alaska to prioritize IAQ concerns

4 IAQ Basics People spend a lot of time indoors (maybe 90% in Alaska) People spend a lot of time indoors (maybe 90% in Alaska) People breathe a lot People breathe a lot

5 Aspects of Air Quality VOCs VOCs Tobacco smoke (ETS) Tobacco smoke (ETS) Combustion products Combustion products Lead Lead Radon Radon Dust mites Dust mites Odors Odors Dust Dust Pollen Pollen Pathogens (bacteria, virus) Pathogens (bacteria, virus) Temperature Temperature Humidity Humidity Pet dander Pet dander

6 What affects the air in our homes? Human metabolism Human metabolism Human activities (cooking, smoking) Human activities (cooking, smoking) Off-gassing (carpets, treated woods, chemicals under sink, etc) Off-gassing (carpets, treated woods, chemicals under sink, etc) Heating appliances Heating appliances Co-habitants (roaches, dogs, dust mites) Co-habitants (roaches, dogs, dust mites) Bad stuff from outside (smoke, dust, radon) Bad stuff from outside (smoke, dust, radon)

7 Ventilation Passive Ventilation Passive Ventilation Stack Effect Stack Effect Wind Effect Wind Effect Free and easy Free and easy Often unintentional and unregulated Often unintentional and unregulated

8 Passive Ventilation: Stack Effect

9 Active Ventilation Local exhaust (unbalanced) Local exhaust (unbalanced)

10 Heat Recovery Ventilation Example of “balanced ventilation” Example of “balanced ventilation” Energy-efficient Energy-efficient Require maintenance Require maintenance

11 Humidity Cold air holds less moisture than warm air Cold air holds less moisture than warm air Relative Humidity is what matters If moisture is held constant, temperature controls RH Heating air makes it “drier”

12 Stack Effect, Condensation

13 Review Stack Effect Stack Effect Warm air rises, exits home near ceiling Warm air rises, exits home near ceiling Cool air enters home near floor Cool air enters home near floor Humidity Humidity When air is heated, it can hold more moisture and tends to feel “dry” When air is heated, it can hold more moisture and tends to feel “dry” When air is cooled, moisture drops out of air, leaves water or frost When air is cooled, moisture drops out of air, leaves water or frost Water causes mold, dry air causes illness Water causes mold, dry air causes illness

14 Unique Challenges in the Last Frontier Small: Homes in Hooper Bay generally range from ft² Small: Homes in Hooper Bay generally range from ft² Crowded: Hooper Bay Avg 4.97 person/home Crowded: Hooper Bay Avg 4.97 person/home Hot (65°-81°F) Hot (65°-81°F) Old Old Dry (often below 30%) Dry (often below 30%) Built and maintained in difficult environments Built and maintained in difficult environments Used for a workshop Used for a workshop Have reduced access to qualified installation, maintenance and repair personnel Have reduced access to qualified installation, maintenance and repair personnel Houses in the village are often

15 What IAQ issues can you spot?

16 Top 4 IAQ Priorities in Rural Alaska What IAQ problems have the greatest effect on the health of rural Alaskans? What IAQ problems have the greatest effect on the health of rural Alaskans?

17 1. Carbon Monoxide Alaska has highest rate of CO deaths in country Alaska has highest rate of CO deaths in country Heating appliances / water heaters Heating appliances / water heaters Vehicles left running Vehicles left running House fires House fires

18 Heating Appliances

19 Water Heaters

20 Pollutants from Heating Appliances CO CO CO 2 CO 2 NO X NO X SO 2 SO 2 Particulates Particulates Odors Odors Benzene, Toluene, etc Benzene, Toluene, etc H 2 0 H 2 0

21 2. Environmental Tobacco Smoke High rates of smoking High rates of smoking Cold climate Cold climate High occupancy rates High occupancy rates Poor ventilation Poor ventilation = Indoor Air Pollution = Indoor Air Pollution Chemicals Chemicals Particulates Particulates Asthma, cancer, SIDS…. Asthma, cancer, SIDS….

22 ETS Stop smoking Stop smoking Smoke outside Smoke outside Open the windows (?) Open the windows (?) Turn on the fan (?) Turn on the fan (?)

23 3. Humidity “ The incidence of absenteeism or respiratory infections was found to be lower among people working or living in environments with mid- range versus low or high relative humidities” - A V Arundel, E M Sterling, J H Biggin, and T D Sterling, 1986

24 Humidity

25 Mold is bad for you…maybe… A surprisingly contentious topic A surprisingly contentious topic “Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all.”

26 More on Mold…. Not great evidence that mold is bad for all people Not great evidence that mold is bad for all people People who are sensitive to mold should avoid it People who are sensitive to mold should avoid it People have been living with mold a long, long time People have been living with mold a long, long time

27 Mold problems are moisture problems Mold problems are moisture problems Oxygen, cellulose, moisture, heat…. Oxygen, cellulose, moisture, heat…. Mold is ubiquitous in rural Alaska Mold is ubiquitous in rural Alaska Thermal stratification Thermal stratification ToyoStoves ToyoStoves More on mold…

28 Mold is bad for buildings… Bethel firehouse rotting over employees' heads MOISTURE TRAPPED: Replacing structure may cost up to $7 million. By KYLE HOPKINS HOPKINS Published: July 17th, :13 PM The Bethel fire station is so rotted with water damage that firefighters are banned from staying the night under the fragile roof, city officials said Friday….

29 4. Pathogens Alaska has a very high rate of infectious respiratory diseases Alaska has a very high rate of infectious respiratory diseases RSV, tuberculosis, pneumonia, LRTIs, etc. RSV, tuberculosis, pneumonia, LRTIs, etc. Many generations living in close quarters with limited air flow Many generations living in close quarters with limited air flow

30 Priorities “I am concerned about the air in my home” “I am concerned about the air in my home” Do you have a functional CO detector? Do you have a functional CO detector? Does anyone in your home smoke? Does anyone in your home smoke? Is your house too damp or too dry? Is your house too damp or too dry? Are sick people ever crowded together? Are sick people ever crowded together?

31 Summary IAQ measurement, standards and remediation strategies increasingly important as communities and individuals try to balance health and energy conservation IAQ measurement, standards and remediation strategies increasingly important as communities and individuals try to balance health and energy conservation Houses are getting tighter, ventilation needs to get better Houses are getting tighter, ventilation needs to get better Residents need education Residents need education

32 Thanks Cathy Powers, KUC consortium library Cathy Powers, KUC consortium library Jennifer Dobson, ANTHC Jennifer Dobson, ANTHC Nick Horras, Formerly AVCP Housing Nick Horras, Formerly AVCP Housing Rich Seifert, UAF/CES Rich Seifert, UAF/CES Ros Singleton, CDC/AIP Ros Singleton, CDC/AIP

33Quyana Questions? Leif Albertson Bethel, Alaska (907)