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You had mentioned the
effects of soot inhalation. What about the effects of other types of
burned materials, such as cellulose fibers and/or carbonaceous
particulate? I recently learned that the before-mentioned products
were found within my all-electric new home and throughout the electric
heating system. In fact, the entire of my home is coated with a black
substance. Environmental tests were performed and they found
carbonaceous particulate and cellulose fibers. For the past few
months I have been experiencing daily headaches (when I am home),
fatigue, considerable weight loss, loss of appetite and lost sense of
taste. We first noticed the black substance upon turning on our
electric heating system back in November. Could there be a connection
between what is happening in the home and to my health. I have been
to several specialists; GP, Pulmonary Specialist, Neurology
Specialist, ENT Specialist and had the following tests performed: Cat
scan, MRI, lung x-ray, and various type of blood work done.-Linda,
Maryland
The case you describe is quite interesting. The fact that it is
apparently associated with a new home makes it even more so.
The presence of cellulose
fibers to any significant extent would indicate that such fibers were
either present in the duct/furnace system as a result of contamination
during construction or were drawn in after the house was first
occupied. The most probable source is loose-fill cellulose insulation
that is used in attics.
Loose-filled insulation
commonly is in contact with cold air return ducts and in some cases
heat pump equipment in others. Because of the high negative pressures
produced by the fan system and leaks in ductwork, it is quite possible
for cellulose insulation fibers to be drawn into the duct system. If
these fibers get to the electric heating elements, they can be burnt
and converted to soot-like particles. Such a situation may have
occurred in your home. As such, the duct system in your attic should
be inspected for leaks/points of entry of loose cellulose. Heating
elements in your electric furnace system should also be inspected to
determine whether soot formation is occurring in heating elements.
After such inspection and any corrections to prevent cellulose entry
into the duct/furnace system, I would recommend that you have your
ducts/furnace system cleaned by a professional duct cleaning service.
One of the concerns that
I have about the potential for cellulose as the source of the soot is
that this would have had to happen to a lot of it to cause some much
interior contamination. I would be also concerned about deteriorated
duct liner in your cooling system as a source.
Soot
can be highly irritating to the respiratory system particularly if it
is
in the form of small
particles.
While black soot particles are likely to cause
respiratory symptoms the symptoms of headache, fatigue (lethargy),
weight loss are unlikely to be caused by such exposures. As such I
suspect that there is some other pollutant present as well that is
primarily responsible for your symptoms. My initial thought is some
type of substance that may have neurotoxic effects. Some aldehydes
though mucous membrane irritants have had such effects, most notably
formaldehyde. Since it is a new house it is quite possible that other
contaminant problems exist as well. While the sooting problem is a
cause for concern I suspect that some other substance may be present
that may be causing the symptoms you describe.
May 2, 2003
Indoor Environmental Quality (2000), Thad Godish Ph.D., C.I.H
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