HealthGoods

Features

• Monitors over 80 different Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) in parts per million (ppm).
• Used to sample indoor air concentrations of Organic Vapors at a selected test site.
• Do-It-Yourself Quick and Easy testing - no special training required.
• Includes the Bio-Badge Sample Collection Device.
• Can detect chemical levels to below 0.03 ppm when sampling device is exposed for 24 hours.
• Complete Step-by-Step Instructions with Chain of Custody form.
• Lab analysis of the sample performed by Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab), an American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) accredited Laboratory.
• Lab report includes:
  • Toll Free number to call with any questions on your results.
  • Results provide level of found Organic Chemical Vapors from sample device reported in parts per million (ppm).
  • Healthy Home / Building Considerations sheet with recommendations for actions you can take that may help improve your indoor environment.
• Postage prepaid envelope for mailing your sample to the lab.
• No additional fees - all sampling, analysis and reporting costs included.
• Results in 7-10 days via email or mail.

Contaminants Tested

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) - a large group of carbon based chemicals that evaporate as gases from certain solids and liquids at room temperature. Most people can smell high levels of some VOC's, but other VOC's have no odor. Odor level does not indicate the level of health risk from this group of chemicals. Volatile Organic Chemicals are pervasive in our indoor air with concentrations that can be 2 - 10 times greater than the outdoor air. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels

Sources - There are thousands of different Volatile Organic Compounds produced and used in manufacturing goods. Some of the more common chemicals are Acetone, Benzene, Hexane, Styrene, Formaldehyde, Toulene, Ethylene Glycol, Xylene, Trichloroethane and Methylene Chloride. These chemicals and many others "off gas" or are released from products, or during activities, such as:

• Building Materials - carpets, composite wood products, paints and finishes, adhesives, solvents, vinyl floors, wall coverings, etc.
• Home and Personal Care Products - cleaning and disinfectant chemicals, cosmetics, fuel oil and gasoline, air fresheners, etc.
• Household Activities - wood burning stoves, copy machines, cigarette smoke, drycleaning, non-electric space heaters, pesticides, moth repellents, etc.

The concentration of VOC's in the indoor air depends on several factors such as the amount of the chemical in the product, rate of chemical release, volume of air in the room or building, amount of fresh air ventilation, temperature and humidity and the outdoor concentration.

Health Effects - The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Eye, nose and throat irritation, respiratory tract irritation, headaches, nausea, allergic skin reactions, fatigue, dizziness, visual disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics. Asthma symptoms may worsen after exposure to VOC's. Many organic compounds are known to cause cancer in animals; some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans. Volatile Organic Compounds refer to a group of chemicals with each individual chemical having its own toxicity and potential for causing various health effects.

How it Works

The Building Health Check Organic Vapor Screen Test Kit is designed to determine the level of up to 80 different Volatile Organic Compounds that may be present in the air at a specific location. This is a Do-It-Yourself test kit that requires no special training. The user performs the test and sends the test sample in a postage prepaid envelope to an accredited Laboratory for analysis. A full scan of the Organic Vapor Screen Test Kit provides valuable quantitative information on the collected sampling device. Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory, an accredited environmental microbiology laboratory of the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), performs the laboratory analysis. Once the analysis is complete, a test report is sent to the customer in 3-5 days. A Healthy Home / Building Considerations sheet is included with recommendations on actions you can take that may help improve your indoor environment if elevated levels of pollutants are found. The Organic Vapor Screen Test Kit is ideal for indoor environmental investigation and those individuals that have concerns about Volatile Organic Chemical levels and health risks.

Test Sampling Procedure

	Step One Remove Bio-Badge from the silver protective zip-top bag and then from the secondary zip-top bag. Save both bags.
	Step Two For personal exposure monitoring, clip the badge near the breathing zone. Record the Start Time on the Chain of Custody form. Leave Bio-Badge exposed for a period between 15 minutes to 24 hours (24 hours recommended).
	Step Three For room monitoring, place approximately 4 feet above the ground by taping to a wall or placing on a shelf or tabletop. Record the Start Time on the Chain of Custody form. Leave Bio-Badge exposed for a period between 15 minutes to 24 hours (24 hours recommended). Important: Do not obstruct the white membrane of the sample device.
	Step Four Record the Stop Time on the Chain of Custody form. Place the exposed Bio-Badge back into the clear secondary zip-top bag and seal, then place into the protective silver zip-top bag. Seal the bag completely.
	Step Five Place sample and Chain of Custody Form in supplied EDLab envelope and mail to the laboratory for analysis.

Chain of Custody Form

Lab Report

An easy to understand lab report is provided that indicates the amount of various Organic Volatile Chemicals present in the air during the sampling period. A Healthy Home / Building Considerations sheet is included with suggestions for actions you can take that may help improve your indoor environment.

Sample Report

NOTE: This is only a partial representation of the full report.