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IAQ - State Report Warns of Past Vapor Intrusion Risks at Former Macon Naval Plant, Cites Progress in Air Quality Improvements
February 9, 2026
A 2025 report from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) warns that vapor intrusion from contaminated groundwater once compromised indoor air quality at the former Macon Naval Ordnance Plant, now operating as Allied Industrial Park in Macon, Georgia. The health consultation, conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), identified trichloroethene (TCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) vapors entering indoor spaces, particularly a facility breakroom at Unit 1. These chlorinated volatile organic compounds, remnants of decades-old industrial activity, were linked to potential cancer and developmental health risks for long-term employees and pregnant workers.
The Letter Health Consultation evaluated indoor air and sub-slab soil gas data collected in 2015, 2020, and 2023. Air monitoring in 2015 showed elevated TCE concentrations exceeding federal health comparison values, raising concern for fetal cardiac malformations and increased cancer risk among employees exposed over 20 years. Following remediation efforts—including sealing foundation cracks, improving ventilation, and air filtration—subsequent testing demonstrated substantial reductions in TCE and VC levels. By 2023, measured concentrations had dropped below minimal risk levels for both cancer and non-cancer health outcomes.
DPH concluded that earlier exposures to TCE in indoor air posed a public health hazard, but current conditions present no significant health risk. The report emphasizes that vapor intrusion—a process in which volatile chemicals from contaminated soil or groundwater migrate into overlying buildings—remains a critical concern for maintaining safe indoor environments. Continued annual air sampling, especially during winter months when buildings are sealed, was recommended to ensure that chemical vapors remain at safe levels and that mitigation systems continue to perform effectively.
The Macon case highlights the intersection between environmental contamination and workplace air quality, serving as a cautionary example for industrial and redevelopment sites nationwide. DPH and ATSDR stress the importance of coordinated monitoring, transparent employee communication, and proactive remediation to prevent chronic exposure to residual industrial pollutants. As vapor intrusion continues to emerge as a key environmental exposure pathway, the 2025 report reinforces the need for rigorous indoor air quality oversight to protect both occupational health and surrounding communities.
IAQ - NIOSH Report Links Maui Wildfire Smoke to Long-Term Indoor Air Quality Concerns
February 9, 2026
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) detailed how the 2023 Maui wildfires released a mix of hazardous contaminants—ranging from heavy metals to persistent organic pollutants—that continue to affect air quality well beyond the initial blaze. The fires destroyed more than 2,200 structures, burning a complex mix of building materials, plastics, and household chemicals that created toxic particulate matter capable of infiltrating homes, offices, and temporary shelters. The agency’s sampling of first responders revealed exposure to substances such as PFAS and PBDEs, which are known to persist in indoor environments and pose chronic health risks.
NIOSH found that firefighters and county workers who operated near burn zones showed elevated biomarker levels, particularly of fluorinated compounds used in firefighting foams and household products. These chemicals, once airborne, can settle on interior surfaces or become trapped in ventilation systems, leading to secondary exposure even after outdoor air has cleared. Indoor environments near wildfire zones are therefore at risk of recontamination through dust and air exchange with affected outdoor spaces.
The report also noted the importance of post-fire remediation practices that consider indoor air pathways. While most public attention focuses on outdoor air quality, the data indicate that pollutants from burned structures can migrate indoors via HVAC systems and open windows, creating hidden reservoirs of contamination. The findings suggest that traditional cleanup measures may underestimate the persistence of airborne toxins and the need for indoor air testing following urban or wildland-urban interface fires.
Ultimately, NIOSH’s 2024 study calls for integrated indoor air quality monitoring as part of wildfire response and recovery. By highlighting how combustion residues and chemical vapors can linger in buildings long after flames are extinguished, the report underscores the critical role of environmental exposure science in protecting occupants and workers. For IAQ professionals, the Maui findings serve as a warning that fire recovery is not just an outdoor air issue—it is an ongoing indoor air challenge.
Fungal Fallout: CDC Report Exposes Blastomycosis Risks for Indoor Air Investigators
February 9, 2026
A 2025 CDC report published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report details the largest documented U.S. outbreak of blastomycosis — a fungal lung disease — among paper mill workers in Michigan between November 2022 and May 2023. The investigation identified 162 cases out of 645 workers, with illness peaking in March 2023. Despite extensive sampling of soil, dust, and HVAC systems, no environmental source of Blastomyces spores was detected. For indoor air quality (IAQ) consultants, the findings underscore the complexity of detecting biologic contaminants in industrial environments where mechanical ventilation, organic debris, and moisture converge to create potential reservoirs for microbial exposure.
From an exposure-assessment standpoint, the outbreak highlights key diagnostic and control challenges. Though 12% of affected workers required hospitalization and one death occurred, the report stresses that Blastomyces likely infiltrated the mill through unfiltered ventilation systems or open bays rather than proliferating indoors. Figures and tables throughout the report — including Figure 1 (page 2) showing the sharp spike in cases and Figure 2 (page 4) mapping infections by work area — illustrate how airborne pathogens can disperse across departments, from maintenance zones to administrative offices. For consultants conducting IAQ investigations, this case study reinforces the value of integrated epidemiologic surveillance and building-system forensics to pinpoint elusive bioaerosol pathways.
For those engaged in IAQ remediation and consulting, the 2025 CDC findings serve as a call to elevate biological hazard awareness beyond molds and bacteria. The paper mill’s mitigation response — which included upgrading HVAC filtration, cleaning ductwork, and instituting respiratory protection protocols — mirrors best practices familiar to industrial hygienists. Yet the inability to detect the fungus even after 533 environmental samples also illustrates a persistent gap in field diagnostics for fungal spores in complex environments. The report concludes that rigorous ventilation maintenance, moisture control, and worker training remain essential tools in preventing airborne fungal outbreaks in industrial and commercial indoor settings.
NIOSH Identifies Widespread Mold and Ventilation Failures Threatening Campus Air Quality
February 9, 2026
A NIOSH Health Hazard Evaluation of a Connecticut college uncovered long-standing indoor air quality problems caused by dampness, mold, and poor ventilation across multiple campus buildings. Investigators documented years of high indoor humidity, water damage, and condensation from aging ventilation systems, conditions that contributed to mold proliferation and employee health complaints ranging from respiratory irritation to neurological symptoms.
NIOSH inspections revealed widespread moisture intrusion, lack of vapor barriers in crawl spaces, and inadequate maintenance of HVAC systems, which failed to meet ventilation standards. Air sampling reports from 2011–2022 confirmed elevated indoor levels of fungal spores—including Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys—often surpassing outdoor concentrations, further substantiating the college community’s concerns over indoor contamination and exposure risk.
The agency’s recommendations emphasized structural and procedural controls to restore healthy indoor environments. These include installing vapor barriers, improving drainage, ensuring HVAC maintenance meets ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022, and maintaining indoor humidity between 30–50%. NIOSH also urged the use of its Dampness and Mold Assessment Tool for continuous monitoring and early detection of moisture problems.
To sustain progress, NIOSH advised the college to enhance transparency and communication through an anonymous reporting system and a dedicated environmental quality team. The report concluded that effective moisture control, ventilation management, and open communication are essential for protecting occupant health and maintaining safe indoor air quality across educational facilities
