Rat Flea Bites and Flea Poop and Rat Droppings - October 28, 2021

 

Worldwide, rats and mice spread over 35 diseases. These diseases can be spread to humans directly, through handling of rodents, through contact with rodent feces, urine, or saliva, or through rodent bites. Diseases carried by rodents can also be spread to humans indirectly, through ticks, mites or fleas that have fed on an infected rodent. See Rodents from the CDC

 

Diseases directly transmitted by rodents CDC

 

Possible

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (between 1 to 8 weeks after exposure)

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) (between 1 to 2 and up to 8 weeks after exposure)

Leptospirosis (2 days to 4 weeks after exposure and can have no symptoms) 

Rat-Bite Fever (3 to 10 days but can be 3 weeks after exposure)

 

Less likely

Lymphocytic Chorio-meningitis (LCM) (house mouse) (8 to 13 days after exposure)

Plague

Salmonellosis

Tularemia Tick, deer fly, infected animals 

 

Not believed to be in United States

Lassa Fever (West Africa)

Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever (Western Siberia)

South American Arenaviruses (Argentine hemorrhagic fever, Bolivan hemorrhagic fever, Saagia-associated hemorrhagic fever, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (South America)

 

 

Diseases indirectly transmitted by rodents CDC

 

Possible 

Murine Typhus (rats and bite from infected flea, rare in USA)

 

Not likely

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (wild rodents, ticks including dog ticks)

Babesiosis (deer mice and voles)

Colorado Tick Fever (tick bite)

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (wild woodrat and bite by sand fly)

Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (deer mouse, dusky-footed woodrat, Mexican woodrat, white-footed mouse)

La Crosse Encephalitis (eastern chipmunk and tree squirrel)

Lyme Disease (white-footed mouse and tree squirrel in northeast and mid-west USA)

Powassan Virus (marmot, sciurid rodents - squirrel family)

Scrub Typhus (mite bite, chiggers and most cases in rural Southeast Asia, Indonesia, China, Japan, India and northern Australia))

Rickettsialpox (mice and mite and ticks)

Relapsing Fever (wild rodents, ticks and usually occurs in western US and in linked to sleeping in rustic, rodent-infested cabins)

Sylvatic Fever (flying squirrel, flea and louse)

West Nile Virus (mosquito)

 

 

Fiberglass - Fibers and Dust and Coating (Formaldehyde is used as a binder agent for blanket insulation, but most of the formaldehyde evaporates during the production process)

 

Fibreglass dermatitis from DermNet NZ

 

Allergic contact dermatitis from DermNet NZ

 

Is there fiberglass in air ducts? 

Most commercial air duct systems are internally lined with fiberglass duct liners. Deteriorating fiberglass duct liner is a very common cause for indoor air quality complaints and adverse health effects

 

When ducts are damaged or deteriorating, they can introduced particles of fiberglass into the air you breath. According to the American Lung Association– Inhaling fiberglass can reduce lung function and cause skin eye and throat irritation, in humans and animals.

 

How do you get fiberglass out of your house?

Vacuum the entire house thoroughly with a vacuum that has a HEPA filter which will capture the fiberglass particles. Focus on areas where dust accumulates, such as window sills and one top of door jambs. Repeat this process as many times as needed.

 

Is fiberglass dust harmful?

Direct contact with fiberglass or breathing airborne dust containing fiberglass may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The symptoms of irritation are often nonspecific, temporary, and may include itching, coughing, or wheezing.

 

Should ductwork be replaced after 20 years?

“If your ductwork is over 15 years old, you probably should replace it. Ductwork has a maximum lifespan of 20-25 years. By 15 years, however, it begins to deteriorate, significantly reducing your HVAC system's efficiency, so replacement is the prudent option.”

 

Does fiberglass go away on its own? 

Sometimes, fiberglass can work its way out of the skin on its own. However, this takes time, and not all of the fiberglass may leave the skin. It is best to remove any visible fiberglass from the skin and treat the rash. If symptoms persist, a person may need medical treatment.

 

How long does fiberglass stay in air?

Fiberglass generally causes irritation in the respiratory system, but most people recover from inhaling fiberglass fibers. A small percentage of fiberglass fibers can reach the lungs, but most of those fibers are dissolved and removed by the body within 10 days of exposure by inhalation.

 

Fiberglass Particles Can Harm Breathing Systems?

 After a while, those bits can get stuck in a person's lungs, leading to respiratory ailments. Fiberglass exposure can also inflame the eyes and skin, making them itchy. Worse yet, it's possible that this insulation contributes to various types of cancer.

 

 

Cellulose Insulation - Cellulose, Cellulose Dust and Fire Retardant Chemical on Cellulose 

Cellulose insulation's source is paper and/or corncobs and/or sisal and/or wood and/or newspapers (with ink) and/or cardboard and/or office paper and/or other common waste paper products.  During manufacturing cellulose insulation is treated with borates, which are a Class I fire retardants.  Cellulose soaks up moisture in enclosed areas and can take a long time to dry out, which means while drying out, vapors containing the fire retardants are given off. 

 

NTP Toxicity Study Report one the Atmospheric Characterization, Particle Size, Chemical Composition, and Workplace Exposure Assessment of Cellulose Insulation - August 2006, 117 pages

 

Insulation Safety and Health 

 

Consider Using Benchmark to inspect your house or IEE Indoor Environmental Engineering   415/567-7700 or California Environmental Testing LLC  or Sterling & Associates, Inc 408/262-1656 in San Jose (Milpitas) (28 years in business)

 

Benchmark Environmental Engineering for Air Quality Testing 408/448-7594

Benchmark Environmental Engineering is a San Jose based environmental consulting firm providing indoor air quality testing and inspection services for business owners, commercial and industrial property owners, government agencies, school districts, municipalities and homeowners throughout Northern and Southern California. 

Benchmark Environmental Engineering provides comprehensive environmental inspection, consulting, and training services to homeowners, businesses, property owners, property managers, insurance companies and government agencies in California. Our offices are based in San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, California.

24 Hour Emergency Service Available

We also have industrial hygienists available for dispatch to cities in California. We can provide 24-hour emergency response to any environmental emergency.

Over 25 Years Experience

With over 25 years of experience in environmental testing, inspection and education and a national reputation for specializing in complex environmental cases, Benchmark Environmental Engineering is a leader in environmental consulting. We offer our clients a wide range of services, including environmental testing, indoor air quality management, mold, bacteria, lead, and asbestos testing. We also provide expert witness testimony and environmental continuing education courses.

Benchmark Environmental Engineering has also been instrumental in defining legislative language in the California State Legislature, through participation in government environmental task forces.

 

Hawk Environmental Services in Seattle presents this environmental report, Cellulose Insulation Dust Causes and Indoor Air Quality Issues  

I believe Benchmark would offer the same kind of report

 

Hawk's Report February 4, 2014

We deal with a wide variety of indoor air quality concerns, and often get called in when other contractors have been stumped.  Recently, one of our clients had been dealing with a significant buildup of dust and health concerns after a new furnace had been installed.  We identified pressure imbalances, and borate dust from the cellulose insulation in the attic.  Keep reading to hear about the testing and inspection that was done to get to this conclusion, and call or email us if you have indoor air quality concerns in your building

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The client is the first owner of the home and has lived there since it’s original construction in 2004.

HOME OWNER’S STATEMENTS:

• Prior to the replacement of the HVAC system the home had normal levels of dust and no health concerns were noted.
• In February of 2012 the home’s original furnace failed and a new unit was installed.
• When the new furnace was installed the home owner began to experience health effects when in the home.
• The initial health concerns were suspected to be related to ozone gas production in the electronic filter and the HVAC company replaced this unit with a standard 4” pleated media filter.
• On 1/31/2012 the HVAC company performed extensive duct sealing and replaced the return ducting where is passes through the attic.
  

  THE HOME OWNER COMPLAINS OF:

• Excessive dust in the home
• Dry skin
• Eye irritation
• Persistent coughing
• Feelings of breathing in sand and sand in eyes
• Dying houseplants

SUSPECTED ISSUES:

Based on the reported concerns and the obvious dust in the home, a pressure imbalance that has led to infiltration of the fire-retardant additives in the cellulose insulation (borates).

LIVING SPACE VENTILATION

THE LIVING SPACE IN THE HOME IS CURRENTLY VENTILATED BY:

• The kitchen range exhaust hood appears to be ducted to the exterior.
• One exhaust fan/light unit was observed in the master bathroom main area and tested at 51 CFM (using Alnor 6200 Balometer)
• One exhaust fan/light unit was observed in the master bathroom water closet and tested at 57 CFM (using Alnor 6200 Balometer)
• One exhaust fan unit was observed in the laundry room and tested at 12 CFM (using Alnor 6200 Balometer). This fan is controlled by a 24-hour mechanical timer located in the master bathroom closet.
• One exhaust fan/light unit was observed in the hall bathroom and tested at 68 CFM (using Alnor 6200 Balometer)
• The furnace is equipped with a fresh-air intake duct that was tested at 50 CFM (using Alnor 6200 Balometer) and is controlled by a manual damper that was screwed into its current position and could not be adjusted.

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA (HOME IN NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION):

Location	Temperature	Relative Humidity	Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	TVOC level	Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Outdoor	38.5 °F	82.5 %	406 ppm	79 ppb	0 ppm
Master Bedroom	71.7 °F	34.5 %	663 ppm	183 ppb	0 ppm
Master Bathroom	72.1 °F	35.1 %	645 ppm	180 ppb	0 ppm
Living Room	72.2 °F	30.8 %	688 ppm	181 ppb	0 ppm
Kitchen	72.6 °F	31.2 %	696 ppm	170 ppb	0 ppm
Dining Room	72.6 °F	30.7 %	683 ppm	170 ppb	0 ppm
Bedroom 1	72.3 °F	28.8 %	657 ppm	167 ppb	0 ppm
Hall Bathroom	72.1 °F	30.5 %	649 ppm	176 ppb	0 ppm
Bedroom 2 (w/attic hatch)	72.6 °F	29.5	658 ppm	160 ppb	0 ppm
Office	72.3 °F	30.9	677 ppm	176 ppb	0 ppm

RECOMMENDED VENTILATION RATES:

As per 2013 ASHRAE 62.2 (these requirements are in excess of Washington State’s most current building codes, but Hawk Environmental Services prefers a more liberal ventilation plan)

Floor Area in Ft2	Number of Bedrooms
	1	2	3	4	5
<500	30	38	45	53	60
501-1000	45	53	60	68	75
1001-1500	60	68	75	83	90
1501-2000	75	83	90	98	105
2501-3000	105	113	120	128	13
3001-3500	120	128	135	143	150
3501-4000	135	143	150	158	165
4001-4500	150	158	165	173	180
4501-5000	165	173	180	188	195

RECOMMENDED VENTILATION IMPROVEMENTS:

The CO2, RH, and tVOC levels in the home were within normal limits. If any changes to the fresh-air intake system are made the client should adjust fan settings to achieve the desired rates listed above. Once a final plan for ventilation is established, the client may contact Hawk Environmental Services for assistance with fan setting recommendations. Pressure Testing:

ENERGY CONSERVATORY DG-700 MANOMETER DATA

Testing condition	Pressure difference	Tested Location	Reference Location
No fans or HVAC running	-1.4 pa	Inside	Outside
HVAC only running	-0.7 pa	Inside	Outside
Bath and laundry fans only	-4.1 pa	Inside	Outside
Kitchen, bath, and laundry fans	-7.8 pa	Inside	Outside
Kitchen and bath fans on and dryer running	-9.8 pa	Inside	Outside
No fans or HVAC running	0.9 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
HVAC only running	1.3 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
Bath and laundry fans only	-2.0 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
Kitchen, bath, and laundry fans	-5.4 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
Kitchen and bath fans on and dryer running	-7.3 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
HVAC. kitchen, bath fans on and dryer running	-6.7 pa	Inside	Attic (Master Bedroom hatch)
No fans or HVAC running	-0.4 pa	Inside	Attic (Bedroom 2 hatch)
HVAC only running	-1.2 pa	Inside	Attic (Bedroom 2 hatch)
HVAC, bath fans and laundry fans	-1.3 pa	Inside	Attic (Bedroom 2 hatch)
HVAC, kitchen, bath, and laundry fans	-4.4 pa	Inside	Attic (Bedroom 2 hatch)
HVAC, kitchen, bath, laundry fans, and dryer	-6.1 pa	Inside	Attic (Bedroom 2 hatch)
No fans or HVAC running	-1.9 pa	Inside	Crawlspace
HVAC only running	-0.8 pa	Inside	Crawlspace
Bath and laundry fans only	-4.0 pa	Inside	Crawlspace
Kitchen, bath, and laundry fans	-7.2 pa	Inside	Crawlspace
Kitchen and bath fans on and dryer running	-9.4 pa	Inside	Crawlspace

*Yellow highlighted lines indicate times when air from the attic is being drawn into the home (at considerable levels).

EVALUATION:

•  The pressures in the home are considerably imbalanced and air from the attic is being drawn into the home under a variety of circumstances.
• The HVAC system is not currently contributing to the infiltration of attic air into the living space (as seen in the data listed above)
• The reasons for the depressurization when exhaust appliances are in operation are unknown (but, are likely related to energy-efficient construction techniques), but the duct-sealing in 2013 may have exacerbated a depressurization that was already occurring. Without baseline pressure data from before the installation of the HVAC system, no single cause of depressurization can be ascertained.

LAB TESTING:

LAB SAMPLE EVALUATION:

Particle characterizations between both the dust sample from the kitchen stove and the samples of the attic insulation were similar and the micrographs show visually similar crystalline structures that are likely particles of borax fire-retardants that originated in the attic insulation and was drawn into the home during periods of depressurization. The evaluation listed above was based on the on-site inspection, pressure-testing, client history, and visual examination. Additional chemical testing can be performed on the insulation and dust in the home for final confirmation that the noted crystalline structures represent borax, as has been assumed.

NIOSH HEALTH AND SAFETY INFORMATION ON BORAX (THE CRYSTALLINE COMPOUND LIKELY PRESENT IN THE CELLULOSE INSULATION AND DUST FOUND IN THE HOME)

Borax, B4 O7 Na2 . 10H2 O, is also referred to as sodium borate decahydrate, disodium tetraborate decahydrate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, or sodium pyroborate decahydrate. This compound is a white, odorless, crystalline solid. Sodium tetraborates (includes anhydrous, pentahydrate, and decahydrate) are used in the manufacture of glazes and enamels, are found in cleaning compounds and fertilizers, and are used in the artificial aging of wood.30 Exposure to borates can result in the irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. High concentrations can lead to gastrointestinal irritation, kidney injury and death.31 An investigation was conducted into the relationship of estimated borax dust exposures to respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and chest radiograph abnormalities in actively employed borax workers.32 Acute respiratory irritation symptoms (i. e., dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat; dry cough; nose bleeds; sore throat; productive cough; shortness of breath; and chest tightness) were related to exposures of 4 mg/m3 or more. The study indicated that radiographic abnormalities were uncommon and unrelated to dust exposure, and that borax dust acted as a simple respiratory irritant. NIOSH conducted a health hazard evaluation (HHE) where borax dust samples were collected.33 Eight-hour TWA concentrations ranged from 2.9 mg/m3 to 29.9 mg/m 3 . Employees in the borax area reported symptoms of mucous membrane, eye, nose, and throat irritation; some bleeding after nose-blowing; and dry and chapped hands. Workers industrially exposed to borax often suffer from chronic eczema; long-term exposure to borax dust may lead to inflammation of the mucous membranes of the upper airways and to conjunctivitis.34 The NIOSH REL and the ACGIH TLV for borax is 5 mg/m3 . OSHA does not have a PEL for borax. However, OSHA concluded that an 8-hour TWA of 10 mg/m3 (under the vacated 1989 PELs) was appropriate for the tetraborates and that this limit would substantially reduce the risks of eye, skin, and respiratory irritation caused by all forms of sodium tetraborate.

Summarized from NIOSH cellulose insulation evaluations (full text available here )

ATTIC OBSERVATIONS:

• The attic space was entered and visually inspected for conditions that may contribute to the noted concerns (insulation dust in the living space).
• Areas of potential air infiltration were observed and noted, including the sheet-rock chases around the skylights, perforations in the recessed lighting fixtures, and miscellaneous penetrations.
• White dust was observed on the sheet-rock ceiling near the kitchen skylight chase, and was patterned in a manner that was consistent with air-flow due to depressurization.
• No insulation was observed on the skylight chases.
• The exhaust fan and return ducting all appeared properly installed and adequately sealed.
• Evidence of stained framing around the rafters where safety-clips were installed was noted. This condition does not appear to be related to the indoor air quality concerns that were the cause for the inspection.

 

HVAC:

• The home is heated by a forced-air natural gas furnace and heat-pump located in the garage.
• The furnace is filtered by a high-quality filter box capable of housing a 4” pleated media filter.
• No obvious combustion-safety concerns were observed at the time of inspection.
• The fresh-air intake duct is not equipped with a mechanical damper or timer, and the manual damper was screwed in the open position at the time of inspection. This condition prevents adjustment as would be typical for this type of installation.
• Corrosion on the pipes for the hot water tank suggest periods of exhaust gas spillage at some point in the past, but CO levels were not measured above 0 ppm in the garage.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. The client may choose to have chemical analysis of the dust and insulation performed to guarantee that the crystalline materials observed are borates stemming immediately from the attic insulation, but the inspector is satisfied that sufficient data to support this hypothesis is present in this report.
2. Detailed air-sealing should be performed on all accessible penetrations in the attic, including areas at the skylight chases and air-lock covers or trim rings for all recessed lighting fixtures.
3. The home’s ventilation system should be rethought and the fresh-air intake system managed by a mechanical damper and timer, or deleted and bathroom exhaust fans controlled by timers. (calculations can be made at the client’s request based on data present in the ventilation section of this report).
4. After air-sealing, the depressurization of the home must be mitigated, and verified to have been resolved without causing any possible combustion safety concerns, methods include:
5. Installation of passive wall vents.
6. Replace several windows with vented units.
7. All settled dust should be removed from the home, although no formal protocols for borate dust contamination exist the following techniques would be consistent with mold spore mitigation*:
8. Install large HEPA scrubbers while working to address dust that may be aerosolized during the cleaning.
9. Perform a detailed HEPA vacuuming of all surfaces and exposed contents in the home
10. Perform professional carpet cleaning and cleaning of any suspect soft-surfaces
11. Perform a wet wipe down of any surfaces that still show evidence of visible dust (i.e. window sills, tops of cabinetry, tops of doors etc)*alternatively ,the client may choose a less costly approach to cleaning and simply perform a thorough “spring-cleaning”, dusting, and carpet cleaning. This may not be effective as the borate dust particles may be small enough pass through a regular vacuum filter and the dust may remain airborne during cleaning.