Incorrect installation and use of materials as the cause of a severe air pollution incident in a school building.

Incorrect installation and use of materials as the cause of a severe air pollution incident in a school building.

The Science of the total environment (2014-05-03)

Rocco Rella, Alberto Sturaro, Alvise Vianello

ABSTRACT

The proofing treatment of the floor slabs with a solvent based material and successive treatment with epoxy resin resulted in significant air contamination in a primary school. The contamination caused illnesses in many occupants of school. The GC/MS investigations of the air showed the presence of indane and other aromatic solvents, which was unusual as they are not correlated to outdoor pollution and derived from inner layers of the new flooring. The total concentration of these chemicals in air was in the order of several mg/m(3).

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

RAD196

radiello^™ Outdoor Shelter, pk of 10

RAD198

radiello^™ Replacement Mounting Strips, for use with Radiello Outdoor Shelter, pk of 100

RAD130

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling BTEX and VOCs (CS₂ Desorption), matrix SS net (100 mesh, 5.8 mm diam.), activated with activated charcoal (30-50 mesh), pk of 20

RAD145

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling BTEX and VOCs (thermal desorption), matrix SS net (3 x 8 μm, 4.8 mm diam.), Carbograph, pk of 20

RAD121

radiello^™ Triangular Support Plate, pk of 20

RAD147

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling Phenolic Compounds (thermal desorption), matrix SS net (100 mesh, 4.8 mm diam.), Tenax-TA, pk of 20

RAD122

radiello^™ Vertical Adapter, threaded for standard use, pk of 20

RAD165

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling Aldehydes, matrix SS net with 2,4-DNPH coated FLORISIL^®, pk of 20

RAD132

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling Anaesthetic Gases/Vapors, matrix SS net with mix of mol sieve and activated charcoal (30-50 mesh), pk of 20

RAD168

radiello^™ Cartridge Adsorbents, for sampling Ammonia (NH₃), matrix microporous PE impregnated with phosphoric acid, pk of 20

RAD190

radiello^™ Barcode Labels, pk of 198

RAD125

radiello^™ Anesthetic Gases and Vapor Sampler

RAD170S

radiello^™ Hydrogen Sulfide Starter Kit

RAD141S

radiello^™ 1,3-Butadiene Starter Kit, Thermal Desorption, pkg of 1 kit (2 RAD141 adsorbing cartridges and barcode labels, 1 RAD1202 yellow diffusive body, 1 RAD121 triangular support plate, 1 instruction sheet)

RAD130S

radiello^™ BTEX/VOC Starter Kit, CS2 Desorption

RAD145S

radiello^™ BTEX/VOC Starter Kit, Thermal Desorption

RAD1992

radiello^™ Empty Storage Tubes, polypropylene (with stopper), volume 12 mL, pk of 100

RAD174

radiello^™ Filtration Kit, pk of 20

RAD126

radiello^™ On-Field Thermometer, Includes one standard Radiello vertical adapter (RAD122) for each thermometer, configured for standard use, pk of 3

RAD120

radiello^™ Diffusive Bodies, white, configured for general use, pk of 20

RAD302

Supelco

radiello^™ Aldehyde Calibration Standard, 50 μg/mL each component in acetonitrile, pkg of 10 mL

RAD407

Supelco

radiello^™ BTEX Calibration Kit (Thermal Desorption)

RAD195

radiello^™ Clips, suspending Radiello triangular support plate, pk of 20

RAD1201

radiello^™ Diffusive Bodies, blue, configured for sampling light sensitive compounds, pk of 20

RAD405

Supelco

radiello^™ BTEX Calibration Kit (CS₂ Desorption)

RAD1202

radiello^™ Diffusive Bodies, yellow, configured for reduced sampling rates, pk of 20

RAD127

radiello^™ On-Field Thermometer, Reader, pk of 1