and industrial applications. The California Air Resources Board, as a result of that State’s Children’s Environmental Health Protection Act, had established more stringent criteria for children. These levels were adopted for the district’s IAQ pro-gram standards: 24-hour averages of 12 ug/m3 for PM 2.5 and 50 ug/m3 for PM 10. pets, before and after the cleaning, in five classrooms. Summary Results The greatest improvement was L4; PM10=69.9 ug/l before, 3.2 ug/l after, a 2184% improvement. The least improve-ment was P4; PM10=81 ug/l before, 8.4 ug/l after, a 964% improvement. For all five rooms sampled, the average percentages of improvement by particle size were: PM10=1582%, PM7=1620%, PM2.5=1737%, and PM1=326%. Research Addendum Notes: The major apparent advantage of using Procyon for carpet care is that its active ingredients are inorganic. Other carpet cleaning products often use organic chemicals (solvents) which leave residues within the fibers. These residues actually increase the attraction and bonding of addition-al particulates into the carpet fibers. When mixed properly, the intervention solution forms a mild (degreasing) liquid that effectively dissolves bound organic particulates, releasing them from carpet fibers and backing without damaging the integrity or color of the carpet. The intervention is also non-toxic making it environmentally preferable for chemically sensitive individuals. CM Dr. Miles Athey has written two dozen classified reports for the US Navy and US Army, contributed to dozens of engineering and environmental reports for industry and has been a principal author of over 50 environmental assessment/impact reports. He has also written over 300 technical articles on busi-ness, education, engineering, science and health. He has earned advanced degrees in several sciences including a PhD in environmental toxicology. Baseline Measurements The initial baseline particulate measure-ments were taken in carpeted class-rooms of several of the district’s elemen-tary schools while school was in session February-March. These rooms had been occupied since September of the previ-ous year and had been vacuumed daily. These data indicated that significant quantities of particulate matter had load-ed into the carpets over time and the cleaning procedures were not getting the carpets as clean as desired. Based on the data, the district began to investigate its carpet cleaning proce-dures, and to search for a more efficient and effective cleaning process. Dr. Athey speculated the extraction carpet cleaners previously and routinely used by the custodial staff were leav-ing solvents and soapy residues that the extraction process was not able to remove without using some other clean-ing compound. Another Washington State School District recommended Procyon — manufactured by Spokane based Plus Manufacturing, Inc. — as a means to break up the particulate-trapping residue. Students in one classroom were relo-cated and a “deep cleaning” program was begun on this carpet. Procyon was applied to the carpet. After testing for particulate counts before and after the application, it was inferred that this prod-uct was able to chemically or otherwise separate entrapped particulates in the carpet from the fibers and backing with-out damaging the material or leaving resides, something other carpet cleaning products used were apparently unable to accomplish. Carpeting was then deep cleaned using Procyon throughout the district. The same aggressive particle sampling procedure referenced above was used for measuring particulate loading in car-FREE INFO: Reader Service 151 or CMMOnline.com/freeinfo www.cmmonline.com 29
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