Indoor Air Quality | Environmental Health and Safety

The New Jersey Indoor Air Quality Program was established to ensure a healthy working environment for state workers during their normal working hours. The College of New Jersey has assigned Nicole Moskal as the Designated Person. The Industrial Hygiene Manager is responsible for ensuring compliance with this program. Should you have any compliance questions or concerns, please call the office at x2881 for assistance.

Air Quality Health Concern

To report an indoor air quality concern, please contact the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at extension x2881 or 609.771.2881 from a cell phone in fresh air. Indicate you are calling for an indoor air quality concern and ask to speak to a representative from the office. Do not email your concern as it may not be received or responded to in a timely fashion. If the concern is related to an odor that is affecting health, please move to fresh air immediately and call (609) 771-2881. The Designated Person or an office representative will work with persons requiring assistance with indoor air quality matters. The Office of Environmental Health and Safety’s normal business hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) – temperature, humidity, odors, and microbial growth

For temperatures that are too hot or too cold within office spaces, please contact Facilities via a ticket or at x2353. The Indoor Air Program temperature range is 68-79 degrees F for office spaces during normal work hours.
For humidity that is too high or too low within office spaces, please contact Facilities via a ticket or at x2353.
For general cleaning concerns, please contact Building Services via a ticket or at x2353.
For pest control, please submit an Online Work Order Request. For more information on pest control at TCNJ, please refer to the Pest Control dropdown under Services on Building Services’ homepage.
To report nuisance odors, please contact Facilities via a ticket or at extension x2353.
For all odors that are affecting health, please move to fresh air and call the EHS office at 609.771.2881.
For emergencies outside of normal business hours, please contact Campus Police at extension 2345 or 609.771.2345 from a cell phone in fresh air.
To report visible microbial growth, please place a Facilities ticket or contact Facilities at extension 2353. Visible microbial growth reporting is shared with the Designated Person who will coordinate with other areas on campus to ensure the visible growth is addressed and a source is ultimately corrected.

Preventing odors in buildings on campus

All pest control complaints must be submitted through an Online Work Order Request.
Do not use products from home, especially insect control products. To learn more about how the College’s pest control procedures, please refer to the Pest Control dropdown under Services on Building Services’ homepage.

Microbial Growth

Mold Prevention on campus

Report all water leaks, no matter how small to Facilities via a ticket or extension 2353. Even if a leak was already reported to Facilities previously, the suspected source may have already been responded to and thought to be corrected, so reporting each time the leak occurs is useful information to Facilities. For emergency services after hours, please contact Campus Police at (609) 771-2345.
If you see mold, please contact Facilities via a ticket or call x2353 and indicate that you are seeing mold and report the suspected building issue (i.e. a wet ceiling tile is usually from a leak above the tile, etc.). The source of the problem will be addressed through Facilities Operations and cleaned by Building Services as necessary.
If you are in a residence hall on campus please note that students are responsible for cleaning their own personal bathrooms. If you are experiencing a facilities-related problem, such as a lack of ventilation within a shower area, or a leaking sink, shower, or toilet, please contact Facilities via a ticket or at extension 2353.
Should you have a health concern associated with any mold or suspect mold inside a campus building, please contact the Industrial Hygienist.

Mold Projects

Projects to remove large areas of mold are completed through the College utilizing an environmental consultant and/or contractor. Should you have a question or concern related to a mold project, please contact the assigned Project Manager or the Industrial Hygienist.

FAQs

What causes mold to grow?

Mold spores are always present in both indoor and outdoor environments. Mold grows best in warm, damp, humid conditions and reproduces by spores. Spores can remain viable under harsh environmental conditions which normally do not support mold growth. The growth of mold in an indoor environment requires three basic elements: food, water, and climate.

Buildings provide food sources (primarily wood and paper) for mold to grow. The key to controlling mold growth on materials in the indoor environment is moisture control. This includes maintaining moderate relative humidity levels indoors and responding promptly to water intrusion events.

Are there any state or national regulations regarding mold?

There are no federal or state regulations directly governing the presence of microbial growth in buildings. There are also no health standards from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or public health departments for concentrations of mold spores in the indoor air. The CDC indicates that visible mold on indoor building materials should be removed, and the moisture source that helped it grow should be removed. Mold can be removed from surfaces with the appropriate cleaning products.

What steps can I take to help prevent mold growth?

The key to microbial growth control is moisture control. Here are some simple tips to help prevent microbial growth:

Report any water problems (leaks behind a toilet or under sinks, dripping faucets, wet carpet, leak from a ceiling, drips heard, etc.) immediately by calling Facilities for active leaks at 609-771-2353 or submit a ticket online at https://tcnj.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/3283/FacilitiesPortal/Home/
Never allow water to sit on soft surfaces (carpets, towels, sheets, etc.) for more than 24-48 hours.
Keep windows closed when air conditioning is on – specifically when the outside humidity is higher than 65%. Opening windows may cause condensation which can lead to microbial growth. Some buildings don’t have operable windows so the HVAC can work properly.
Place furniture or other items 12” away from fan coil units to avoid obstructing airflow.
Do not block the HVAC air supply or return air vents or doors where the units are located. Reduced air flow to the HVAC system can result in excess moisture and promote substance growth within the system and rooms.
For local thermostats, during the summer months never set thermostats below 72 degrees; during winter months never set thermostats above 68 degrees; fans should be set on low speed or “auto.” Most buildings are remotely controlled for temperature and comfort.

For those who live on campus:

Hang wet or damp clothes, towels, or shoes on a drying rack or hook until dry. Do not use wooden furniture to dry these items.
Frequently (at least once per week) dust and vacuum.
Empty your room and bathroom trash daily.
In suites and apartments, make sure the bathroom exhaust fan is on or it is operating if it comes on automatically. Let the fan run for at least 15 minutes after your shower.
Clean your personal shower, including the shower curtain/liner, at least once per week to prevent mold and mildew. If the shower is shared with 3 or more individuals, cleaning every few days may be necessary. Community showers are cleaned daily by Building Services/ABM staff.
Use bath mats to help absorb water after showering. Allow these to dry over the shower curtain rod or other method.
Immediately report flooding, leaks, or water intrusion in your room or if your air is stagnant and/or humid.
Place potted plants or any other source of moisture away from fan coil units, not on them.

How does mold affect people?

According to the CDC, mold may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Mold exposure can cause allergy-like symptoms (nasal stuffiness, eye irritation) and/or skin irritation in some people. Depending on a person’s sensitivity, these reactions could be more or less severe; most people will have no reaction. The presence of mold may also exacerbate asthma. During times of the year when there is an increase in cold and flu symptoms, it is often hard to distinguish these symptoms from those caused by mold, which can include nose and throat irritation, congestion, and cough. More severe symptoms of mold exposure may include wheezing or shortness of breath. Though there is no test for mold exposure, if you are concerned or feel unwell, you should consult your doctor or Student Health Services.

Should air samples be collected for mold?

Mold is naturally occurring and always present in indoor and outdoor environments and on surfaces all around us each day. Mold requires moisture and a food source to colonize materials. TCNJ does not conduct air sampling for mold since we know mold will be detected in every air sample collected. Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies have deemed mold sampling unnecessary and not a useful tool to address mold growth. At this time, analyzing air sampling results is purely subjective since there are no published limits for acceptable levels of mold or mold spores. Since each individual reacts to mold differently, including some individuals having no reaction at all, sampling cannot be used to determine if there is an overexposure to mold. Current guidance from federal agencies includes:

From the CDC:

“Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable, or normal quantity of mold have not been established” and “Generally it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growth in a residence, and CDC does not recommend routine sampling for molds. Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associated with molds. Since the susceptibility of individuals vary greatly either because of the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk.”

From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

“In most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Since no EPA or other federal limits have been set for mold or mold spores, sampling cannot be used to check a building’s compliance with federal mold standards.”

If visible mold growth is present, the affected building materials will be cleaned (non-porous) or removed (porous) in a controlled manner by the responsible maintenance group, custodial group, or mold remediation contractor.

How effective are mold kits that can be bought online or in stores?

DIY mold test kits are agar plates that provide a perfect growth medium (food and moisture) for any microbes floating in the air. They will almost always grow something. This could be mold spores, yeasts, or bacteria that are present in the air. This does not mean there is a problem.

When we inspect for mold, we are looking for visible mold growing on surfaces, not the spores that are always present in the air. If conditions conducive to mold growth (high humidity or uncontrolled moisture and food) are not present in your residence, mold does not colonize there. If you put a mold test plate out, you have provided the very things that mold spores are looking for: food and moisture.

Should I purchase a portable air cleaner and dehumidifier?

There are no restrictions if individuals choose to bring their own portable air purifier or dehumidifier. Please note that many personal dehumidifiers require the reservoir to be emptied and cleaned on a regular basis. These items are not serviced or maintained by TCNJ.

I suffer from allergies. Is there anything I can do to reduce my symptoms?

Outdoor allergies may play a role in your symptoms, please work with your health care provider or Student Health Services for assistance in managing those symptoms.

Below are also some suggestions to help cope during the high pollen seasons in this area.

If medication has been prescribed to reduce your symptoms, follow the instructions of your doctor and/or medical personnel.
Track the pollen count at www.pollen.com. On the days that the count is “high” try to stay indoors as much as possible.
Keep windows and exterior doors closed to reduce the number of outdoor allergens from entering your apartment or residence hall room.
Vacuum and dust regularly to reduce the number of allergens that may have hitchhiked into your space on you or your roommate’s shoes or clothes.
If you find you highly symptomatic, you may want to invest in a HEPA Filter vacuum to capture as many allergens as possible. Be sure to change or clean the filter on the timeline recommended by the manufacturer
Keep your bed as clean as possible. Do not place anything on your bed that has been outside, including bags, clothes or friends.
Consider showering and washing your hair before going to bed to also avoid introducing allergens to your bed linens.
Air fresheners, including plug-ins, automatic sprayers, Febreeze, etc., can emit over 100 different chemicals, including volatile organic compounds, that can cause a wide array of adverse health effects with even minimal exposures. A review article can be found at the link below:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132316304334

Try to get a good amount of sleep each night. It’s not unusual for students to get so busy that they become rundown and are susceptible to sickness. Refer to guidance from Student Health Services regarding common illnesses: https://parents.tcnj.edu/2022/12/07/december-2022-parent-family-newsletter-on-the-corner-of-cold-flu-season/

I have a concern about a building on campus. How do I request an inspection?

Request an EHS visual inspection through a work order online at https://tcnj.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/3283/FacilitiesPortal/Home/.

A qualified member from EHS will contact you to conduct a visual 360° inspection of furniture, walls, closets, and coordinate the HVAC unit maintenance tasks to check for any evidence of microbial growth or other concerns. EHS will ask you questions about what you have been experiencing and your concerns. They will measure the temperature and humidity in your residence to determine if conditions conducive to mold growth are present. If growth is found, EHS will coordinate those next steps.