People, planet and profit: Unintended consequences of legacy building materials

Characterizing applications, exposure risks, and hazard communication for engineered nanomaterials in construction

BACKGROUND

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) may pose health risks to workers. Objectives were to characterize ENM applications in construction, identify exposure scenarios, and evaluate the quality of safety data sheets (SDSs) for nano-enabled construction products.

METHODS

SDSs and product data were obtained from a public database of nano-enabled construction products. Descriptive statistics were calculated for affected trades, product categories, and types of ENMs. A sample of SDSs (n = 33) was evaluated using modified criteria developed by NIOSH researchers. Bulk analysis via transmission electron microscopy characterized nanoparticles in a subset of products.

RESULTS

Companies report using >50 ENMs in construction products. ENM composition could not be determined via SDSs for 38.1% of the 907 products examined. Polymers and metal oxides tied for most frequently reported ENMs (n = 87, 9.6%). Nano silica, graphene, carbon nanotubes, and silver nanoparticles were also frequently reported. Most of the products were paints and coatings (n = 483, 53.3%), followed by pre-market additives, cementitious materials, insulation, and lubricants. Workers in twenty construction trades are likely to handle nano-enabled products, these particularly encompass cement and brick masons, painters, laborers, carpenters, glaziers, and insulators. A wide range of exposure scenarios were identified. SDSs were classified as satisfactory (18%), in need of improvement (12%), or in need of significant improvement (70%). Bulk analyses revealed discrepancies between actual ENM composition and those in SDSs.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

There has been significant progress investigating risks to construction workers posed by ENMs, but SDSs need major improvements. This study provides new insights on the use of ENMs in construction, exposure risks, and hazard communication.

Relationship Between Housing Components and Development of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

BACKGROUND

While the environment contributes to EoE pathogenesis, few environmental risk factors for EoE have been identified.

AIM

To determine whether housing components such as exterior materials, heating systems, and house age are associated with EoE.

METHODS

This case-control study used the UNC EoE clinicopathologic database to identify newly diagnosed EoE patients. Controls were patients without EoE who underwent endoscopy during the study time frame. Housing data were collected from publicly available online sources, and cases and controls were compared. The primary analysis was restricted to those living at their provided address at the time of diagnostic endoscopy. Multivariable logistical regression estimated associations after adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Of 451 EoE cases and 2421 controls identified, the primary analysis included 158 cases and 769 controls. Compared to controls, EoE cases were more likely to have a house with a brick exterior (35% vs 26%; p = 0.04), gas heating (14% vs 8%; p = 0.06), or forced air (57% vs 45%; p = 0.009). In adjusted analysis, brick exterior was positively associated with EoE diagnosis [aOR 1.83 (95% CI 1.11-3.02)]. The average duration a patient lived in their house before EoE diagnosis was 7.2 ± 5.9 years, while symptom duration prior to diagnosis was 6.8 ± 8.4 years.

CONCLUSION

EoE patients were more likely to have houses with a brick exterior, forced air, or gas heating, and brick exteriors were independently associated with EoE. Since symptoms generally started after moving into a house, housing-related environmental exposures may contribute to EoE disease development.

Green Development in the Construction of Family Houses in Urban and Rural Settlements in Slovakia

Measures that have been implemented to promote green development and environmental protection are increasingly affecting the construction of family houses and hence the economic and social growth. The representatives of the Europe Regional Network of World Green Building Council claim that the building emissions in Europe create up to 36% of the total carbon dioxide production. Therefore, the application of ecological building materials can be one of the possible ways to reach equilibrium between the social-economic growth and green development. The main objective of this paper was to find out the approach of people in urban and rural settlements in Slovakia towards the question of green development in terms of selection of building material for the construction of a family house and their economic-social situation. The issue was mapped in Slovakia using the empirical survey in the form of a questionnaire. The research was evaluated using statistical hypothesis testing methods, descriptive statistics methods, and data visualization. The main economic and social coordinates were identified that influence the choice of building materials for the construction of houses. The results led to conclusions that extend the current knowledge in the field of green development and sustainability in connection with the construction of family houses and the economic–social question in Slovakia. Results indicated that ecological materials are underestimated at nearly 71%. The identified reason for the research is, besides the economic and social issue, mainly the low level of information and promotion of ecological materials that can be used for the construction of family houses, as well as the low level of support by the state of those who are interested in the construction of ecological houses. The following research perspectives in this area should focus even more deeply on the synchronization of ecological, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, not only in the construction of family houses from ecological materials in Slovakia, but also in the construction of public and other buildings in urban and rural settlements.

Pruning chemicals from the green building landscape

Green building design has substantially minimized environmental impacts by reducing energy consumption compared with traditional buildings. Yet, it is not uncommon for a green building to meet the highest criteria for energy efficiency and be built with materials that contain chemicals hazardous to occupant health. Because of this discrepancy in achieving holistic sustainability, the architecture/engineering/construction (AEC) industry has never been more interested in occupant health and well-being than it is today. At the same time, numerous scientific studies have documented exposures to and associated health effects of chemicals used in building materials. Opportunities to translate environmental health research so that it is useful to the AEC community exist across the landscape of healthier buildings. For example, research can be conducted to prioritize building material and chemical combinations to demonstrate how green building certification systems, government building codes, and the building products marketplace can increase energy performance while also addressing the greatest chemical exposures and health impacts. In order for scientific research to be used to create and support healthier environments, researchers should design and translate their research with this landscape in mind and should consider experts in the AEC industry as ambassadors for change. We provide key examples of how scientists have promoted healthy building practices and highlight additional research opportunities.