WELL-AP Reviews Questions

Mercury exposure during pregnancy can cause a range of problems in developing babies, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, cerebral palsy, vision and hearing problems, and microcephaly (a condition in which the baby's head is smaller than expected).

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Mercury is a heavy metal that can be found in the environment in a number of forms, including elemental mercury (liquid mercury), inorganic mercury (e.g., mercury salts), and organic mercury (e.g., methylmercury).
• Pregnant women can be exposed to mercury through a number of ways, including eating contaminated fish, inhaling mercury vapor, or having skin contact with mercury.
• Methylmercury is the form of mercury that is most easily absorbed by the body and can cross the placenta to the developing baby.
• Even low levels of mercury exposure can be harmful to a developing baby's brain and nervous system.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is important to be aware of the risks of mercury exposure. You can reduce your risk of exposure by:

• Avoiding certain types of fish, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.
• Limiting your consumption of other types of fish to no more than 6 ounces per week.
• Having good ventilation in your home if you are using products that contain mercury, such as thermometers or fluorescent light bulbs.
• Avoiding skin contact with mercury.

A building owner should use an air tightness test to assess the building envelope’s performance in regard to moisture protection. An air tightness test measures the rate of air leakage through the building envelope, which can indicate the potential for moisture infiltration and condensation. Moisture can enter buildings and building assemblies in four ways: bulk water, capillary water, air-transported moisture and vapor diffusion. Air-transported moisture is the most significant source of moisture problems in buildings, as it can carry large amounts of water vapor through small openings and gaps in the envelope. By conducting an air tightness test, the building owner can identify and seal any air leaks that could compromise the moisture protection of the building envelope.

References: = WELL v2 Feature 11: Fundamental Material Safety, Continuous Moisture Protection for the building envelope

The WELL Building Standard's Water concept sets strict limits for contaminants, including heavy metals like cadmium, in drinking water to protect human health. A performance testing result showing cadmium levels at or below 0.01 mg/L is considered safe and compliant with drinking water quality standards, reflecting the Standard's commitment to providing clean and safe water for consumption.

A design with small HVAC zones and low occupant density can enhance thermal comfort by allowing users to adjust the temperature and air flow within their own zones. According to the WELL v2 standard, projects should provide user-adjustable thermostats or other controls for at least 90% of regularly occupied spaces. Ceiling fans can also improve thermal comfort by increasing air movement, but they are not required for this design.

References: = WELL v2 Thermal Comfort Feature T01, WELL AP Candidate Handbook