12 0802 smoke impact presentation (state farm)

© Forensic Analytical Consulting Services www.forensicanalytical.com

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Evaluating Wildfire Smoke Impact

Presented by:Michelle Rosales, MPH, CIH

August 3, 2012

• Forensic AnalyticalEnvironmental Health Consultants


Who am I?

Michelle Rosales, MPH, CIHSenior Project Manager at Forensic Analytical Consulting Services

Environmental Health Consulting Agency

Masters of Public Health at UCLA

Certified Industrial Hygienist


Agenda

Background

Smoke Impact AssessmentBackground Information

Visual Investigation

Sampling & Analysis

Conclusions & Recommendations

Unethical/Fraud Issues

Litigation

Questions


Background


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Two types of claimActual fire in the residence in claim

Thermal Shock/Heat damageBurning of plastics and other materials that will produce toxins and or caustic ashDamaged materialsHeavy OdorsMore black carbon, dark colored particulate

Impact from nearby fires (e.g. wildfires)Minimal or no thermal damageBurning of mostly bio / wood materialTypically not as great potential to be causticMost cases, minimal odors if any (dependant on proximity and infiltration)More char / carbonized material, dark, grey or white


Structure Fire Assessment

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Wildfire Property Assessment

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Components of Wildfire Smoke

Contaminants of wildfire smoke can include:

carbon monoxidehydrocarbonspolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAH] (e.g. benzo[a]pyrene)nitrogen oxidesvolatile oxygenated organic compoundsacidsketonesalcoholsaldehydes (e.g. acrolein and formaldehyde)


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Definitions (Smoke Related Particulates)

Combustion By-Products: Solid, liquid, and gaseous products of combustion

Smoke: Solid, liquid, and gaseous products of combustion released into the air

Soot (aka Black Carbon): Unwanted combustion product. Opaque/black particles of mostly carbon. Also may consist of ash, organic materials, metals, etc.Ash: Inorganic (e.g. minerals) material from combustion (can be part of soot) or a high carbon containing particulate that does not maintain its original form.Char / Carbonized Material: Particles of partially burned material retaining some of it’s original form


Smoke Impact Assessment


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Smoke Impact Assessment

Gather background information regarding the subject property (distance from fire, date of loss, etc…)Visual Assessment

PathwaysOdors Observed (Cigarette? Wildfire?)Presence/Absence of Macroscopic Fire Related DebrisLevel and Color of Dust Deposition on SurfacesOther Sources of Combustion By-Products

Collect samples as needed from representative areasAnalysis: Composition of the settled dust

Make recommendations based on observations, background information and data


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Background Information

Name of Fires in Area

Distance to Fire Perimeter

Predominant Wind Direction

Building HistoryReported Impact

Cleaning to Date

For Insurance: What is included in claim?

• Information provided via interview with homeowner or claims adjustor


Fire Perimeter

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Visual Inspection –Tools of the Trade (FACS)

FlashlightCameraPaperwork Sampling Equipment

Bulk sampling materials (bags)Alcohol wipes or swabsTape SlidesMicro-vacuum samples (pump)

Ladder (for attic, or roof areas)N95 Mask (for attic)Gloves


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Visual Inspection

Staining indicative of smoke infiltration

Corrosion

Smoke related particulates (i.e. ash)

Pathways

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Visual Inspection – Physical Impact

StainingPigmentation by soot particles

Smoke ParticulateCorrosion

Soot/ash can be corrosiveDependant on fuel sourceBurned plastic (PVC) leads to HCL and then can corrode metalWildfire ash typically not very corrosive but can be (smoke can contain organic acids)


Visual Inspection – Physical Impact

Soot is attracted to cooler surfaces

thermophoresis, a process in which particles migrate under the influence of forces created by temperature and moisture.


Visual - Staining


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Visual – Smoke Related Particulates


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Can you tell?


Additional Combustion Sources

Interior SourcesBurning candles

Gas stoves

Fireplaces

Smoking devices


Exterior SourcesExternal heaters

Barbeques

Fire pits

Smoking devices

Additional Combustion Sources


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Wipe Test?

Dry (chemical) sponge wiped upon surface

Dark coloration on sponge indicative of soot? Other particles unrelated to combustion are dark.

Smoke and soot deposits could be black, brown, gray, white or clear.


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SamplingWhat is the objective of the sampling?

Scientific Method:Choose Hypothesis

Is there potential smoke residue on the wall surface in residence?

Test Hypothesis

Sample methods (surface)Tape Samples

Wipe / Swab Samples

Bulk Samples

Micro-vacuum Samples


Sample Collection: Where?In general:

areas of dust accumulation and/or physical damage,

areas of concern,

representative areas– Flooring/Thresholds/Baseboards– Contents/Furnishings/Fixtures– Wall/Ceilings– Window Sills/Sliders– Attic (near to vents if possible)– Exterior surfaces– HVAC

Supply and return side


Laboratory Analysis

Stereomicroscopy

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)

Scanned Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrscopy (FTIR)


Making Conclusions

No standards or exposure limits exist specifically for carbonaceous material or combustion product settled on surfaces. In this case, these particle types are used as indicators of potential deposition of smoke related particles and may be representative of the contaminants (e.g. metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.) that may be associated with them (though this representation is not well studied).


Making ConclusionsFACS recommends cleaning/restoration in cases of

Visible smoke impact (e.g. macroscopic debris, staining, and/or corrosion)

Observable smoke odor

Sample analysis that indicates

“Uncommon” (>10%) prevalence of combustion products; or

In cases where sample results indicated “less common” prevalence of combustion products (1-10%), cleaning may be recommended depending on other assessment factors.

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Combustion Products

% of Combustion Product (Char+Ash+Soot)

Prevalence on Typical Surfaces

> 10% (Major)

Uncommon - Indicative of an unusual percentage of the dust composition (but may or may not contribute to corrosion potential or environmental health risk) and likely due to a large source of combustion particles (e.g. wildfire).

1 – 10 % (Minor)

Less common (but found from time to time) - Indicative of less common percentage of the dust composition; however, can be found on surfaces from time to time due to other combustion sources (other than wildfires)

< 1% (Trace or ND) Common - Indicative of a recently cleaned surface or absence of a significant contribution to dust composition


Composition of Dust from Combustion By-Products


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FACS Recommendations for Restoration

In general, cleaning will consist of the removal of surface dust and cleaning of staining (if applicable) using methods appropriate for the subject surface. For most surfaces, this will entail vacuuming with a HEPA filtered vacuum and damp wiping as appropriate.


Other surfaces (e.g. exterior, carpets, attic, etc.) may require additional cleaning methods (e.g. power washing with detergent mix, steam cleaning) as determined appropriate.

Including painting of surfaces, replacement of items (e.g. insulation), etc.

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FACS Recommendations for Restoration


Unethical/Fraud Issues


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Leading / Unethical Actions

Using scientific terms to scare home owners

Making health claims with no professional knowledge of environmental risk

Writing “ASH” in house dust

Cherry picking third party investigatorsCalling investigators to voice dismay with opinions


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Potential Fraudulent Actions

Planting “ash” from other sources on surfaces of claimants residence.

Colluding with cleaning company to pump up estimates


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Fraud Case


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Litigation

Lawyers On-site

Class Action Lawsuits

Appraisal Hearings

Rebuttal Letters


Questions?


Thank You!

Forensic Analytical Consulting Services

“The Solution is in the FACS.”www.forensicanalytical.com

12 0802 smoke impact presentation (state farm)

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