Re: Fw: EMERGENCY - aldehydes

[Guest guest]

Whatever this substance is, it is possible that the resident has become

sensitized to it (in a toxicology or -ulp- MCS sense). My family was

sensitized to a similar substance (from a very different source in our

house) eight years ago. In this case, even if the substance was in the

residence and tolerated before, returning the residence to its previous

state may not be enough to allow the person to live a full and healthy

life.

In our case, the substance was never identified. However, it was water

soluble and we found that a HEPA filter would seem to have a significant

effect for a day or two, then reach steady state where the humidity in

the air coming past extracted as much from the filter as was being

deposited. A dehumidifier did a better job removing it from the air,

and vacuuming (with a quality central vac system we had put in, with

exhaust outdoors well away from infiltration points to the house) mostly

resuspended the problem substance and rendered the house uninhabitable for

close to a week. I'd follow the expert advice first (as we did), but if

it doesn't work this might help explain why.

Happy to discuss privately,

Steve Chalmers

stevec@...

> Message: 5

> Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 09:59:31 -0700

>

> Subject: Re: Fw: EMERGENCY - aldehydes

>

> I doubt that the gas man knew what the white powder in the air duct was.

It

> appears that he just parroted a term that has been tossed around a lot in

> recent years, namely formaldehyde. His pronunciation may have been

> inaccurate and came out ameldehyde instead of formaldehyde. I am unable to

> locate the term ameldehyde on the Internet. However I did find amaldehyde

> listed on the website of a chemical supply house (through Alta Vista search

> engine), but could not find any information on it.

[snip]

> --- EMERGENCY!

> Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 22:31:51 -0400

>

> To: phmartin@...

>

>

>

> I have a real emergency! My 75 year old mother was had the gas company

check

> her furnace for carbon monoxide and natural gas leaks, in which after the

> 4th time they came out leaks were finally found. In the meantime , she had

> a light heartache and a slight stroke. On the 2nd visit the gas man

> went to vacuum what he said was a white powered dust that turns crusty and

> leaches out of the duct work and top of the furnace.

>

[snip]

[Guest guest]

Steve

The problem of resuspension is often with escape from the head, if you used

a power brush. I developed a test for the head and was surpirsed at how much

dust escaped most power heads.

Jim H. White SSAL

EMERGENCY!

> > Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 22:31:51 -0400

> >

> > To: phmartin@...

> >

> >

> >

> > I have a real emergency! My 75 year old mother was had the gas company

> check

> > her furnace for carbon monoxide and natural gas leaks, in which after

the

> > 4th time they came out leaks were finally found. In the meantime , she

had

> > a light heartache and a slight stroke. On the 2nd visit the gas man

> > went to vacuum what he said was a white powered dust that turns crusty

and

> > leaches out of the duct work and top of the furnace.

> >

>

> [snip]

>

>

>

>

>

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