Identifying Sources of Particulate Matter to Protect Workers and Building Occupants

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently created a new webpage to share information about common sources of indoor particulate matter (PM). The agency reports that it is particularly concerned about tiny particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller as they can be inhaled deep into the lungs, causing potentially serious health issues.

PM found indoors includes particles that come from outdoor air and particles that are generated indoors. In residential environments, EPA notes that it is often generated by:

• Cooking;
• Some cleaning activities;
• Combustion activities – such as burning candles; use of fireplaces, unvented space heaters, and kerosene heaters; and by smoking tobacco or other products;
• Biological contaminants – such as animals, pests, plants and mold;
• Printers; and
• Indoor chemical reactions.

EPA also states that indoor dust is settled PM from a variety of sources that may contain:

• Outdoor soil and dust that has been blown or tracked indoors;
• Biological particles, also known as biological contaminants, including pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust mites, and human skin flakes and hair;
• Particles from human activities, such as cooking, cleaning and burning candles;
• Particles from consumer and personal care products;
• Plastics, flame retardant and pesticides; and
• Sometimes industrial chemicals and heavy metals, such as lead.

“In the work environment, exposure to particulate matter that includes hazardous materials, such as crystalline silica, lead, asbestos or any of the many regulated substances, could result in debilitating diseases and even death,” said Zahid Iqbal, MPH, CIH and Technical Director at Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “This is why there are state and federal regulations to mitigate occupational exposure to so many substances. At CSC, we utilize advanced laboratory analyses, highly sensitive field instrumentation and decades of expertise to identify potential exposure concerns in all types of built environments. This allows our professionals to design plans to mitigate exposure hazards, train workers on respiratory protection and provide ongoing monitoring, safeguard building occupants, and steer companies and institutions towards regulatory compliance.”

CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about common sources of indoor particulate matter that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/v3FEI5WNjCI

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, building science, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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