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Mr. Rick DeGardner <br />Lino Lake Police Department <br />Indoor Air Quality and Fungal Sampling Results <br />IHSC Project Number: M20-694 <br />May 6, 2020 <br />Page 6 of 7 <br />Carbon Dioxide <br />Carbon dioxide, a product of combustion and human respiration, is a commonly used <br />indicator of overall air quality and ventilation rates within an occupied building. The levels <br />found in buildings are primarily a function of the rate and amount of outside air delivery to <br />the occupied space, the effectiveness of air distribution within the space, and the <br />occupancy of the space. Moderate to elevated levels of carbon dioxide can cause <br />headaches and fatigue, and higher concentrations can produce nausea, dizziness, and <br />vomiting. <br />Loss of consciousness can occur at extremely high concentrations. To prevent or reduce <br />high concentrations of carbon dioxide in a building or room, fresh air should be supplied to <br />the area. <br />The ASHRAE recommends a CO2 level below 1,000 ppm and OSHA, based on the <br />National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommendations of between 600 <br />ppm for minimal air quality complaints, and 1,000 ppm as an upper limit for indoor levels. <br />OSHA also has a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) Time Weighted Average (TWA) of <br />5,000 ppm. The average CO2 levels for both areas were below OSHA minimal air quality <br />complaint level of 600 ppm. <br />Carbon Monoxide <br />Carbon monoxide typically is a product of incomplete combustion, is a chemical asphyxiant <br />at high concentrations, and can cause flu like symptoms that clear up after leaving the <br />contaminated space. The ASHRAE recommends a CO level below 9 ppm in an office <br />setting, and OSHA sets a PEL TWA over an eight -hour period of 35 ppm. The minimum, <br />maximum, and average CO readings for both office areas tested were all 0 ppm. <br />CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />The results of the fungal spore samples showed that there is not an indoor fungal air quality <br />problem in the two locations that were sampled. All the indoor air quality parameters were <br />also within all regulations and recommendations. <br />The only abnormal results were the fungal tease tape sample collected from the supply <br />diffuser. The black dust/residue had a high concentration of Cladosporium. At a minimum, <br />IHSC would recommend getting the supply diffusers cleaned. Cleaning should be conducted <br />with a high efficiency particulate air filtered vacuum and wet wiping methods to ensure that <br />the fungal spores are not released into the areas below. If after the cleaning the black <br />