Health-hazard evaluation report no. HETA-87-404-1893, Park County Courthouse, Fairplay, Colorado

Technical Report · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6588105

Lee, S A

In response to a request from employees at the Park County Courthouse, Fairplay, Colorado, an evaluation was made of indoor air quality at the facility, with specific reference to symptoms of headaches, ringing in the ears, worsening eyesight, and sinus problems. Six people worked at the building which had been constructed 2 years earlier. Air samples were taken at the facility and analyzed for formaldehyde by visible spectroscopy. Formaldehyde levels were measured at 0.03 to 0.06 parts per million (ppm), with a mean of 0.05ppm in the offices and courtrooms. As a result of recommendations, the building was made a no smoking area, and outside air vents were connected to the furnaces. At a followup visit, carbon dioxide levels were about 250ppm throughout the building, reaching a maximum of 400ppm at 9:30 in the morning, when 29 people were present in the building. Relative humidity ranged from 14 to 18%. The author concludes that there was no hazard due to exposure to formaldehyde, and that adequate amounts of fresh air were supplied throughout the building. The author recommends increasing the relative humidity to about 40% to alleviate upper respiratory irritation caused by dry air during the heating season.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA). Div. of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluation and Field Studies
• OSTI ID: 6588105
• Report Number(s): PB-89-107809/XAB; HETA-87-404-1893
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
BUILDINGS
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
MEDICINE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
TOXICITY