Pill made from dust mites may provide relief for asthma sufferers
Published January 31, 2012
FoxNews.com
Scientists said a pill made from a protein found in dust mites could revolutionize asthma treatment, the Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
The pill works by re-tuning the immune system in asthmatics so it does not overreact when a person is exposed to mite droppings, which are one of the leading causes of asthma attacks.
Dust mite droppings typically prompt the immune system to produce antibodies which cause a large-scale release of the chemical histamine. Histamine, in turn, causes irritation and swelling of the airways.
By exposing people to small amounts of a protein found in mite droppings, the researchers said they can essentially re-tune the immune system to stop interpreting the proteins as a threat and thus prevent the rush of histamine, according to the Daily Mail.
The British newspaper said early trial results indicate people who take the pill every day substantially reduce their use of steroidal inhalers.
In a study of 600 asthma sufferers, one in three were able to stop using their inhalers.
“We know some people find inhalers difficult to use, and asthma medicines can have side-effects if taken in high doses or for a long time, so we look forward to when this research can be translated into an alternative treatment,” Leanne Metcalf from Asthma UK told the Daily Mail
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/31/pill-made-from-dust-mites-could-provide-relief-for-asthma-sufferers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fhealth+%28Internal+-+Health+-+Text%29#ixzz1lEdm1ORv
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Are schools making kids sick?
Are schools making kids sick?By David S. Martin, CNN
updated 5:29 PM EST, Sat January 14, 2012
There are no federal health standards for school air, but here are five simple checkpoints for problems. Seeing or smelling mold is a trouble sign which must be addressed immediately. Cleaning it is insufficient, experts say. The moisture source must be found and eliminated.
Check for dust -- a potential asthma trigger -- under lockers, in room corners and on top of bulletin boards. In a New York Health Department survey, 99% of elementary schools reported dust or reservoirs of dust in classrooms. Any signs of insects or rodents are also a red flag for unhealthy air.
Harmful exhaust fumes can enter school buildings from buses and cars sitting outside schools with their engines idling. Fumes can enter through school doors and windows or via building air intakes.
Papers or books can block vents for classroom heating and air conditioning units, reducing air flow and possibly causing condensation, which can lead to mold. In portable classrooms, heating/AC units should remain on. Teachers sometimes shut them off to cut noise, but this limits fresh air and reduces air quality. Check whether the school district uses certified green cleaning products and teaching supplies. Also ask whether the school district is buying pressed-wood furniture that contains formaldehyde, which can trigger asthma and is considered a possible carcinogen.
Woman says school air sickened her son for 53 days last school year
New York study finds correlation between building maintenance and illness
Studies estimate one-third of U.S. schools have mold, dust and other indoor air problems
Connecticut school so plagued with mold officials decided to tear it down
(CNN) -- As a third-grader in Winsted, Connecticut, last year, Matthew Asselin was sick -- a lot. He was lethargic and plagued with a persistent wet cough, respiratory infections and painful headaches.
As the school year wound down, Matthew's health worsened. He was out for two weeks in the spring with pneumonia and then developed a sinus infection so severe he needed to spend the night at the hospital, where he received intravenous antibiotics and breathing treatments.
In all, Matthew missed 53 days of school.
Sickness shuts school; parents outraged But over the summer, a strange thing happened. Matthew was healthy. He was energetic. He could ride his bike for hours at a time.
"When we put him back in school this year, within three weeks, he missed 10 days with a respiratory infection," Melissa Asselin said. That's when Matthew's mother had an a-ha moment.
"When he was out of school, he was well. When he was in school, he became ill," Asselin said.
Matthew's parents concluded that the 9-year-old's school, Hinsdale Elementary, was making their son sick.
Indoor air problems
Figures are hard to come by, but studies have estimated that a third or more of U.S. schools have mold, dust and other indoor air problems serious enough to provoke respiratory issues like asthma in students and teachers.
A national survey of school nurses found that 40% knew children and staff adversely affected by indoor pollutants.
Indoor air affects more than health. A growing body of research suggests students also perform better in schools with healthier air.
"If you get an unhealthy building, you're not going to have a successful school," said Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association, the largest teachers' union in the United States.
"Asthma is the number one chronic illness that keeps kids out of school, and it's growing," Eskelsen added.
Melissa Asselin home schools her son Matthew, 9, after she concluded his school was making him sick.About one in 10 children in the United States now has asthma, which causes them to miss an average of four days of school a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. John Santilli, a Connecticut allergist, says he has treated dozens of students sickened by school air. Even when children don't miss school, he said, the medications they take for asthma and conditions like rhinitis, an allergic reaction to mold or dust, can make it harder for them to do their best work.
"They're on antihistamines, they're on nasal sprays, they're on asthma medications, and this limits their ability to perform," Santilli said. "These kids can't concentrate. They can't focus on what's going on."
Dr. Santilli says about 20% to 30% of people are susceptible to mold or dust, which triggers an allergic reaction. The resulting symptoms can include itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, headaches, fatigue, even memory problems and slowed thinking.
"It takes a lot to make you sick, but it takes very little exposure once you're sensitized to provoke symptoms," Santilli said. "As time goes on, it takes more and more out of you, and you get sicker and sicker."
A growing problem
Researchers and others who follow the issue say school air problems have probably been exacerbated in recent years by funding cutbacks that have resulted in less money for building upkeep and maintenance.
In Reading, Pennsylvania, the school board cut $18 million from the 2011-12 budget -- more than $1,000 per student -- which left acting Superintendent Drue Miles with little money to fix problems among aging buildings.
At Reading's Southern Middle School, for example, water pours into an upstairs classroom through holes in the roof when it rains. There's no money to replace the roof, only patch it, Miles said.
"The buildings continue to deteriorate, and we only have a small amount of dollars to spread to do just some minimal things," Miles said.
Researchers at the New York state Health Department found a correlation between building maintenance at the public schools and hospitalizations for asthma. The condition of roofs, windows, walls and boilers were all related to the health of children at the school, researchers found.
A similar study in Boston schools found a link between asthma rates and leaks, mold, lack of repairs and visible signs of insects or rodents.
Children are particularly at risk because their bodies are still developing and they breathe in more air, pound for pound, than adults.
"Schools are more densely occupied than office buildings, and children aren't little adults. They're uniquely vulnerable," said Claire Barnett, founder and executive director of the Healthy Schools Network, a nonprofit group focused on environmental health in schools.
Teachers at risk
Kids aren't the only ones affected by school air.
Joellen Lawson was a special education teacher at a Fairfield, Connecticut, elementary school so plagued with mold that it robbed Lawson of her health. Officials finally decided to tear it down and start from scratch, costing the district more than $20 million.
"I've never recovered fully, and I've also never had a pain-free day," said Lawson, who is on permanent disability with a host of ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that has left her with 50% of her lung capacity.
According to a survey of teachers in the nation's capital, two-thirds reported air quality at their schools of either fair or poor. More than half of Chicago teachers responding to the same survey also reported fair or poor school air quality.
More than a quarter of Chicago teachers surveyed said they had suffered adverse health effects because of the school environment; a third of the Washington teachers also reported these adverse health effects.
One family's solution
Tests this fall at Matthew Asselin's school, Hinsdale Elementary, showed elevated levels of mold in the gymnasium/cafeteria and two other areas, and the school district spent $16,000 for a thorough cleaning. The school board is also considering whether to close the school temporarily to replace a leaky roof and make other repairs.
Matthew's parents aren't taking any chances with their son's health. They pulled him from Hinsdale. His mother, Melissa, who received her degree in elementary education last year, is now home-schooling the 9-year-old.
The change has been a financial burden on the family, but Asselin says she wouldn't have it any other way.
"He's a different child," she said. "Now he's so healthy and happy. I can't put a price on that."
updated 5:29 PM EST, Sat January 14, 2012
There are no federal health standards for school air, but here are five simple checkpoints for problems. Seeing or smelling mold is a trouble sign which must be addressed immediately. Cleaning it is insufficient, experts say. The moisture source must be found and eliminated.
Check for dust -- a potential asthma trigger -- under lockers, in room corners and on top of bulletin boards. In a New York Health Department survey, 99% of elementary schools reported dust or reservoirs of dust in classrooms. Any signs of insects or rodents are also a red flag for unhealthy air.
Harmful exhaust fumes can enter school buildings from buses and cars sitting outside schools with their engines idling. Fumes can enter through school doors and windows or via building air intakes.
Papers or books can block vents for classroom heating and air conditioning units, reducing air flow and possibly causing condensation, which can lead to mold. In portable classrooms, heating/AC units should remain on. Teachers sometimes shut them off to cut noise, but this limits fresh air and reduces air quality. Check whether the school district uses certified green cleaning products and teaching supplies. Also ask whether the school district is buying pressed-wood furniture that contains formaldehyde, which can trigger asthma and is considered a possible carcinogen.
Woman says school air sickened her son for 53 days last school year
New York study finds correlation between building maintenance and illness
Studies estimate one-third of U.S. schools have mold, dust and other indoor air problems
Connecticut school so plagued with mold officials decided to tear it down
(CNN) -- As a third-grader in Winsted, Connecticut, last year, Matthew Asselin was sick -- a lot. He was lethargic and plagued with a persistent wet cough, respiratory infections and painful headaches.
As the school year wound down, Matthew's health worsened. He was out for two weeks in the spring with pneumonia and then developed a sinus infection so severe he needed to spend the night at the hospital, where he received intravenous antibiotics and breathing treatments.
In all, Matthew missed 53 days of school.
Sickness shuts school; parents outraged But over the summer, a strange thing happened. Matthew was healthy. He was energetic. He could ride his bike for hours at a time.
"When we put him back in school this year, within three weeks, he missed 10 days with a respiratory infection," Melissa Asselin said. That's when Matthew's mother had an a-ha moment.
"When he was out of school, he was well. When he was in school, he became ill," Asselin said.
Matthew's parents concluded that the 9-year-old's school, Hinsdale Elementary, was making their son sick.
Indoor air problems
Figures are hard to come by, but studies have estimated that a third or more of U.S. schools have mold, dust and other indoor air problems serious enough to provoke respiratory issues like asthma in students and teachers.
A national survey of school nurses found that 40% knew children and staff adversely affected by indoor pollutants.
Indoor air affects more than health. A growing body of research suggests students also perform better in schools with healthier air.
"If you get an unhealthy building, you're not going to have a successful school," said Lily Eskelsen, vice president of the National Education Association, the largest teachers' union in the United States.
"Asthma is the number one chronic illness that keeps kids out of school, and it's growing," Eskelsen added.
Melissa Asselin home schools her son Matthew, 9, after she concluded his school was making him sick.About one in 10 children in the United States now has asthma, which causes them to miss an average of four days of school a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dr. John Santilli, a Connecticut allergist, says he has treated dozens of students sickened by school air. Even when children don't miss school, he said, the medications they take for asthma and conditions like rhinitis, an allergic reaction to mold or dust, can make it harder for them to do their best work.
"They're on antihistamines, they're on nasal sprays, they're on asthma medications, and this limits their ability to perform," Santilli said. "These kids can't concentrate. They can't focus on what's going on."
Dr. Santilli says about 20% to 30% of people are susceptible to mold or dust, which triggers an allergic reaction. The resulting symptoms can include itchy eyes, runny nose, coughing, headaches, fatigue, even memory problems and slowed thinking.
"It takes a lot to make you sick, but it takes very little exposure once you're sensitized to provoke symptoms," Santilli said. "As time goes on, it takes more and more out of you, and you get sicker and sicker."
A growing problem
Researchers and others who follow the issue say school air problems have probably been exacerbated in recent years by funding cutbacks that have resulted in less money for building upkeep and maintenance.
In Reading, Pennsylvania, the school board cut $18 million from the 2011-12 budget -- more than $1,000 per student -- which left acting Superintendent Drue Miles with little money to fix problems among aging buildings.
At Reading's Southern Middle School, for example, water pours into an upstairs classroom through holes in the roof when it rains. There's no money to replace the roof, only patch it, Miles said.
"The buildings continue to deteriorate, and we only have a small amount of dollars to spread to do just some minimal things," Miles said.
Researchers at the New York state Health Department found a correlation between building maintenance at the public schools and hospitalizations for asthma. The condition of roofs, windows, walls and boilers were all related to the health of children at the school, researchers found.
A similar study in Boston schools found a link between asthma rates and leaks, mold, lack of repairs and visible signs of insects or rodents.
Children are particularly at risk because their bodies are still developing and they breathe in more air, pound for pound, than adults.
"Schools are more densely occupied than office buildings, and children aren't little adults. They're uniquely vulnerable," said Claire Barnett, founder and executive director of the Healthy Schools Network, a nonprofit group focused on environmental health in schools.
Teachers at risk
Kids aren't the only ones affected by school air.
Joellen Lawson was a special education teacher at a Fairfield, Connecticut, elementary school so plagued with mold that it robbed Lawson of her health. Officials finally decided to tear it down and start from scratch, costing the district more than $20 million.
"I've never recovered fully, and I've also never had a pain-free day," said Lawson, who is on permanent disability with a host of ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition that has left her with 50% of her lung capacity.
According to a survey of teachers in the nation's capital, two-thirds reported air quality at their schools of either fair or poor. More than half of Chicago teachers responding to the same survey also reported fair or poor school air quality.
More than a quarter of Chicago teachers surveyed said they had suffered adverse health effects because of the school environment; a third of the Washington teachers also reported these adverse health effects.
One family's solution
Tests this fall at Matthew Asselin's school, Hinsdale Elementary, showed elevated levels of mold in the gymnasium/cafeteria and two other areas, and the school district spent $16,000 for a thorough cleaning. The school board is also considering whether to close the school temporarily to replace a leaky roof and make other repairs.
Matthew's parents aren't taking any chances with their son's health. They pulled him from Hinsdale. His mother, Melissa, who received her degree in elementary education last year, is now home-schooling the 9-year-old.
The change has been a financial burden on the family, but Asselin says she wouldn't have it any other way.
"He's a different child," she said. "Now he's so healthy and happy. I can't put a price on that."
Monday, January 16, 2012
Want a Pet Cat? Think Again, Researchers Say
Want a Pet Cat? Think Again, Researchers Say
Published December 28, 2011
Reuters
Print Email Share Comments (1) Tempted by the playful antics of that adorable kitten in the pet shop? If you've never had a cat before you may want to think again, especially if you have other allergies, researchers warn.
And if you do acquire a feline, keep it out of your bedroom.
While having a cat as a child may protect against future allergies, getting one in adulthood nearly doubles the chances of developing an immune reaction to it -- the first step towards wheezing, sneezing and itchy eyes, a European study found.
"Our data support that acquiring a cat in adulthood nearly doubles the risk of developing cat sensitization."
- Mario Olivieri, University Hospital of Verona in Italy
The same study, which covered thousands of adults and was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that people with other allergies were at extra high risk of reacting to a new feline in the house.
"Our data support that acquiring a cat in adulthood nearly doubles the risk of developing cat sensitization," wrote Mario Olivieri, from the University Hospital of Verona in Italy.
"Hence, cat avoidance should be considered in adults, especially in those sensitized to other allergens and reporting a history of allergic diseases."
For the study, researchers surveyed more than 6,000 adult Europeans twice over nine years, taking blood samples. None of the participants had antibodies to cats in their blood to start with, meaning they were not sensitized to the animal's dander.
Sensitization can be measured in a skin prick test. It does not necessarily lead to symptoms, but in many cases it is the harbinger of full-blown allergies.
About three percent of people who did not have a cat at either time of the survey became sensitized over the course of the study, compared to five percent of those who acquired a cat during those nine years.
Four in 10 of the newly sensitized also said they experienced allergy symptoms around animals, four times the rate seen among people without antibodies against cats.
It also turned out that only people who let their pet into the bedroom became sensitized.
"If you are an adult with asthma and/or allergies, you should think twice about getting a cat and particularly, if you do so, letting it into your bedroom," said Andy Nish of the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Gainesville, Georgia, who wasn't involved in the study.
The researchers did find, however, that people who had had a cat in childhood had a much smaller risk against becoming sensitized to it than those who were new cat owners.
"We thought that having a cat in early childhood may be protective against the development of cat allergy in childhood, but this study seems to indicate that protection extends into adulthood," Nish told Reuters Health in an email.
Noting that he always recommends keeping cats out of the bedroom, he added: "It is remarkable that none who did not allow the cat in the bedroom became sensitized."
For people who have a cat and have become allergic, he recommended finding a new home for the pet, followed by keeping the cat outdoors at all times.
"If it comes in even occasionally, its dander will remain in the house for months. If the cat needs to be indoors, at least keep it out of your bedroom, consider a HEPA filter for your bedroom, and consider washing the cat at least once a week," he added.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/12/28/want-pet-cat-think-again-researchers-say/#ixzz1jf2gm0NA
Published December 28, 2011
Reuters
Print Email Share Comments (1) Tempted by the playful antics of that adorable kitten in the pet shop? If you've never had a cat before you may want to think again, especially if you have other allergies, researchers warn.
And if you do acquire a feline, keep it out of your bedroom.
While having a cat as a child may protect against future allergies, getting one in adulthood nearly doubles the chances of developing an immune reaction to it -- the first step towards wheezing, sneezing and itchy eyes, a European study found.
"Our data support that acquiring a cat in adulthood nearly doubles the risk of developing cat sensitization."
- Mario Olivieri, University Hospital of Verona in Italy
The same study, which covered thousands of adults and was published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that people with other allergies were at extra high risk of reacting to a new feline in the house.
"Our data support that acquiring a cat in adulthood nearly doubles the risk of developing cat sensitization," wrote Mario Olivieri, from the University Hospital of Verona in Italy.
"Hence, cat avoidance should be considered in adults, especially in those sensitized to other allergens and reporting a history of allergic diseases."
For the study, researchers surveyed more than 6,000 adult Europeans twice over nine years, taking blood samples. None of the participants had antibodies to cats in their blood to start with, meaning they were not sensitized to the animal's dander.
Sensitization can be measured in a skin prick test. It does not necessarily lead to symptoms, but in many cases it is the harbinger of full-blown allergies.
About three percent of people who did not have a cat at either time of the survey became sensitized over the course of the study, compared to five percent of those who acquired a cat during those nine years.
Four in 10 of the newly sensitized also said they experienced allergy symptoms around animals, four times the rate seen among people without antibodies against cats.
It also turned out that only people who let their pet into the bedroom became sensitized.
"If you are an adult with asthma and/or allergies, you should think twice about getting a cat and particularly, if you do so, letting it into your bedroom," said Andy Nish of the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Gainesville, Georgia, who wasn't involved in the study.
The researchers did find, however, that people who had had a cat in childhood had a much smaller risk against becoming sensitized to it than those who were new cat owners.
"We thought that having a cat in early childhood may be protective against the development of cat allergy in childhood, but this study seems to indicate that protection extends into adulthood," Nish told Reuters Health in an email.
Noting that he always recommends keeping cats out of the bedroom, he added: "It is remarkable that none who did not allow the cat in the bedroom became sensitized."
For people who have a cat and have become allergic, he recommended finding a new home for the pet, followed by keeping the cat outdoors at all times.
"If it comes in even occasionally, its dander will remain in the house for months. If the cat needs to be indoors, at least keep it out of your bedroom, consider a HEPA filter for your bedroom, and consider washing the cat at least once a week," he added.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/12/28/want-pet-cat-think-again-researchers-say/#ixzz1jf2gm0NA
Thursday, December 15, 2011
PCBs Could Pose Risks for Property Buyers and Sellers, and Affect Values
PCBs Could Pose Risks for Property Buyers and Sellers, and Affect Values
Feb 14, 2011 9:19 AM, By Tricia H. Foley, Esq. and John B. Hankins, LEP, NREI Contributing Columnists
Penton Media - National Real Estate Inestor, Click Here!
Latest News
* LNR Property Closes on Land Deal in New England
* Lehman Seeks to Trump Equity Archstone Bid as Debate on Entity's Value Rages
* DOE Finds that 2010 ASHRAE Standard Cuts Energy Use by 18.5%
* Square Footage of LEED-Certified Existing Buildings Surpasses New Construction
* Lehman Prepares for Lengthy Battle to Keep Archstone
More Latest News
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Polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, are man-made organic chemicals manufactured in the United States from 1929 until they were banned in 1979 because of indications that they cause cancer and have other serious health consequences.
During that time, approximately 1.25 billion pounds of PCBs were manufactured in this country. PCBs are commonly associated with old transformers and electrical equipment. But during their period of manufacture, and particularly between 1950 and approximately 1978, the chemicals were used in a variety of building materials because of their insulating and elastic properties.
For instance, they were used in caulk, grout, paint, architectural coatings, adhesives, and insulation such as fiberglass and foam rubber, and in ceiling tile coatings. PCBs could also be found in HVAC gaskets and waterproofing compounds, as well as roofing materials.
As if that weren’t enough, PCBs can migrate to surrounding building materials and soil. They can lurk in dust, and even become airborne. Recently, the issue of PCBs in window caulk, particularly in school buildings, has drawn significant attention from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PCBs are primarily regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), but may also fall within the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other federal and state environmental statutes depending on where they are found, and in what concentrations.
Currently, owners are not expressly obligated by federal regulations to test for PCBs in building materials, and the methods best suited for detecting PCBs vary based on the type of building material and its condition. Building owners, sellers, and buyers can manage risks associated with PCBs by working with a qualified consultant familiar with PCB detection, and by learning their obligations if removal and disposal of contaminated materials is necessary.
Hazards could involve liabilities
The presence of PCBs in old buildings may pose substantial risks to buyers and sellers. It may affect valuation of the building, along with warranties related to environmental hazards, liability to tenants, requirements for lender assessment and assurances. They may even have tax and insurance implications.
Buyers and sellers should understand when and how to test for the presence of PCBs and how to dispose of PCB-contaminated building materials. Following are additional considerations:
• If PCBs are extensive and exceed the health and safety thresholds set by the EPA, removal and disposal could be time-consuming and expensive, especially if those PCBs are airborne and have
• Owners should consider the potential liability to tenants arising from exposure to toxic PCBs in the building.
• A seller who warrants a building is free from contamination or environmental hazards may find himself in breach of that warranty if the buyer later discovers PCBs.
• Lenders may require assessments or assurances related to the presence of PCBs.
• There could be tax implications for undertaking a PCB removal project, rather than removing the chemicals as part of renovation or remodeling.
To Test or Not to Test
Owners and developers face a dilemma when considering whether to test building materials. For the owner, testing could trigger a mandatory report to the EPA and a requirement to conduct a large and expensive remedial project that would not have been required had the samples not been collected.
Although there is typically no obligation to test building materials for PCBs, testing has become more common as a step in the pre-acquisition due diligence process. It has also become part of pre-demolition assessments, particularly since there are substantial fines for disposal of PCB-containing waste at an unlicensed facility, even if the generator or facility was unaware of the presence of the PCBs.
There are three basic types of PCB testing: air samples, wipe samples and bulk samples. The first phase of testing is to cost-effectively determine the presence or absence of PCBs in the building materials. If PCBs are detected during the initial screening, more extensive testing may be required to determine the extent and the range of concentrations. The EPA typically requires samples on a 10-ft. grid. Large buildings could require hundreds of samples.
Removal and Disposal
The presence of PCBs at concentrations above 50 ppm, which is common for caulk, triggers a mandatory report to the EPA, which in turn triggers a mandatory requirement to remediate the condition.
The process of abatement of PCBs in building materials can be quite complex and expensive. For caulk, which can contain 3% or more of PCBs (30,000 ppm), it is common to find that the PCBs have migrated from the caulk into the surrounding building materials. When this occurs, the remedy needs to address not just the caulk but any building materials that contain more than 1 ppm for most occupied buildings. In some cases the contaminated materials must be transported across state lines for disposal.
Owners and developers must understand and deal with the consequences of current state and federal regulations. Although these regulations have been in effect for decades, the regulators and regulated community have only recently realized the extent to which PCBs occur in building materials and the practical and fiscal implications that this is having on the construction industry.
The best advice, whether you are an owner or a developer or both, is to understand these implications and to plan in advance. Plan before you buy, plan before you renovate, and perhaps most importantly, plan before you sample.
Tricia H. Foley
Tricia Foley is a partner in the real estate and environmental law department at Day Pitney LLP in Hartford, Conn. Her practice includes the business and regulatory aspects of environmental law, including green and sustainable business practices and carbon reduction programs. Ms. Foley has been an adjunct professor of environmental law at the University of Hartford, and is a frequent author and speaker on environmental topics.
John Hankins directs the Environmental Due Diligence Group at Fuss & O’Neill, in Manchester, Conn. His practice focuses on transaction-related environmental assessments as well as the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites throughout the Northeast.
Feb 14, 2011 9:19 AM, By Tricia H. Foley, Esq. and John B. Hankins, LEP, NREI Contributing Columnists
Penton Media - National Real Estate Inestor, Click Here!
Latest News
* LNR Property Closes on Land Deal in New England
* Lehman Seeks to Trump Equity Archstone Bid as Debate on Entity's Value Rages
* DOE Finds that 2010 ASHRAE Standard Cuts Energy Use by 18.5%
* Square Footage of LEED-Certified Existing Buildings Surpasses New Construction
* Lehman Prepares for Lengthy Battle to Keep Archstone
More Latest News
Penton Media - National Real Estate Inestor, Click Here!
advertisement
Polychlorinated biphenyls, known as PCBs, are man-made organic chemicals manufactured in the United States from 1929 until they were banned in 1979 because of indications that they cause cancer and have other serious health consequences.
During that time, approximately 1.25 billion pounds of PCBs were manufactured in this country. PCBs are commonly associated with old transformers and electrical equipment. But during their period of manufacture, and particularly between 1950 and approximately 1978, the chemicals were used in a variety of building materials because of their insulating and elastic properties.
For instance, they were used in caulk, grout, paint, architectural coatings, adhesives, and insulation such as fiberglass and foam rubber, and in ceiling tile coatings. PCBs could also be found in HVAC gaskets and waterproofing compounds, as well as roofing materials.
As if that weren’t enough, PCBs can migrate to surrounding building materials and soil. They can lurk in dust, and even become airborne. Recently, the issue of PCBs in window caulk, particularly in school buildings, has drawn significant attention from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
PCBs are primarily regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), but may also fall within the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and other federal and state environmental statutes depending on where they are found, and in what concentrations.
Currently, owners are not expressly obligated by federal regulations to test for PCBs in building materials, and the methods best suited for detecting PCBs vary based on the type of building material and its condition. Building owners, sellers, and buyers can manage risks associated with PCBs by working with a qualified consultant familiar with PCB detection, and by learning their obligations if removal and disposal of contaminated materials is necessary.
Hazards could involve liabilities
The presence of PCBs in old buildings may pose substantial risks to buyers and sellers. It may affect valuation of the building, along with warranties related to environmental hazards, liability to tenants, requirements for lender assessment and assurances. They may even have tax and insurance implications.
Buyers and sellers should understand when and how to test for the presence of PCBs and how to dispose of PCB-contaminated building materials. Following are additional considerations:
• If PCBs are extensive and exceed the health and safety thresholds set by the EPA, removal and disposal could be time-consuming and expensive, especially if those PCBs are airborne and have
• Owners should consider the potential liability to tenants arising from exposure to toxic PCBs in the building.
• A seller who warrants a building is free from contamination or environmental hazards may find himself in breach of that warranty if the buyer later discovers PCBs.
• Lenders may require assessments or assurances related to the presence of PCBs.
• There could be tax implications for undertaking a PCB removal project, rather than removing the chemicals as part of renovation or remodeling.
To Test or Not to Test
Owners and developers face a dilemma when considering whether to test building materials. For the owner, testing could trigger a mandatory report to the EPA and a requirement to conduct a large and expensive remedial project that would not have been required had the samples not been collected.
Although there is typically no obligation to test building materials for PCBs, testing has become more common as a step in the pre-acquisition due diligence process. It has also become part of pre-demolition assessments, particularly since there are substantial fines for disposal of PCB-containing waste at an unlicensed facility, even if the generator or facility was unaware of the presence of the PCBs.
There are three basic types of PCB testing: air samples, wipe samples and bulk samples. The first phase of testing is to cost-effectively determine the presence or absence of PCBs in the building materials. If PCBs are detected during the initial screening, more extensive testing may be required to determine the extent and the range of concentrations. The EPA typically requires samples on a 10-ft. grid. Large buildings could require hundreds of samples.
Removal and Disposal
The presence of PCBs at concentrations above 50 ppm, which is common for caulk, triggers a mandatory report to the EPA, which in turn triggers a mandatory requirement to remediate the condition.
The process of abatement of PCBs in building materials can be quite complex and expensive. For caulk, which can contain 3% or more of PCBs (30,000 ppm), it is common to find that the PCBs have migrated from the caulk into the surrounding building materials. When this occurs, the remedy needs to address not just the caulk but any building materials that contain more than 1 ppm for most occupied buildings. In some cases the contaminated materials must be transported across state lines for disposal.
Owners and developers must understand and deal with the consequences of current state and federal regulations. Although these regulations have been in effect for decades, the regulators and regulated community have only recently realized the extent to which PCBs occur in building materials and the practical and fiscal implications that this is having on the construction industry.
The best advice, whether you are an owner or a developer or both, is to understand these implications and to plan in advance. Plan before you buy, plan before you renovate, and perhaps most importantly, plan before you sample.
Tricia H. Foley
Tricia Foley is a partner in the real estate and environmental law department at Day Pitney LLP in Hartford, Conn. Her practice includes the business and regulatory aspects of environmental law, including green and sustainable business practices and carbon reduction programs. Ms. Foley has been an adjunct professor of environmental law at the University of Hartford, and is a frequent author and speaker on environmental topics.
John Hankins directs the Environmental Due Diligence Group at Fuss & O’Neill, in Manchester, Conn. His practice focuses on transaction-related environmental assessments as well as the assessment and remediation of contaminated sites throughout the Northeast.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Gas Pump Handles Top Study of Filthy Surfaces
Body & Mind - HEALTH
Gas Pump Handles Top Study of Filthy Surfaces
Published October 25, 2011
| Reuters
Just when you thought filling up your car could not hurt any more, researchers may have found another reason to avoid touching the gas pump: germs.
Gas pump handles turned out to be the filthiest surface that Americans encounter on the way to work, according to a study released on Tuesday by Kimberly-Clark Professional, a unit of personal hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark Corp.
A team of hygienists swabbed hundreds of surfaces around six U.S. cities to see what everyday objects are breeding grounds for the worst bacteria and viruses.
The top offenders, following gas pumps, were handles on public mailboxes, escalator rails and ATM buttons.
Closely following on the filthiest list were parking meters and kiosks, crosswalk buttons and buttons on vending machines in shopping malls.
"It comes down to the fact that nobody cleans the things that you're going to touch on a daily basis," said Dr. Kelly Arehart, program leader of Kimberly-Clark's Healthy Workplace Project.
Testers analyzed swabs of the surfaces for levels of adenosine triphosphate, which signals the presence of animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast or mold cells, and the high levels found suggest they can be transmitting illness, researchers said.
Swabs were taken in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia.
Arehart's colleague Brad Reynolds said germs from people's hands can transfer seven times before leaving the skin. People should wash their hands as soon as they get to work, he said.
Gas Pump Handles Top Study of Filthy Surfaces
Published October 25, 2011
| Reuters
Just when you thought filling up your car could not hurt any more, researchers may have found another reason to avoid touching the gas pump: germs.
Gas pump handles turned out to be the filthiest surface that Americans encounter on the way to work, according to a study released on Tuesday by Kimberly-Clark Professional, a unit of personal hygiene giant Kimberly-Clark Corp.
A team of hygienists swabbed hundreds of surfaces around six U.S. cities to see what everyday objects are breeding grounds for the worst bacteria and viruses.
The top offenders, following gas pumps, were handles on public mailboxes, escalator rails and ATM buttons.
Closely following on the filthiest list were parking meters and kiosks, crosswalk buttons and buttons on vending machines in shopping malls.
"It comes down to the fact that nobody cleans the things that you're going to touch on a daily basis," said Dr. Kelly Arehart, program leader of Kimberly-Clark's Healthy Workplace Project.
Testers analyzed swabs of the surfaces for levels of adenosine triphosphate, which signals the presence of animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast or mold cells, and the high levels found suggest they can be transmitting illness, researchers said.
Swabs were taken in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Philadelphia.
Arehart's colleague Brad Reynolds said germs from people's hands can transfer seven times before leaving the skin. People should wash their hands as soon as they get to work, he said.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
LM Import & Export Recalls Toy Cars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#51 LED
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Message Cover Sheet
DATE: September 29, 2011
TO: Directors of Health
Chief Sanitarians
Regional Lead Treatment Centers
Lead Contacts
FROM: Rhonda Wisniewski, Health Program Assistant PHONE: (860) 509-7299
FAX: (860) 509-7295
RE: LM Import & Export Recalls Toy Cars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
cc: LPPCP and HH Staff, Suzanne Blancaflor, Francesca Provenzano and CT DCP
Number of pages including cover sheet: 3
Please see the attached product recall issued by CPSC. The products (toy cars) are
manufactured by LM Import & Export, Inc., of Miami, Fla. Surface paint on the toy cars contains
excessive levels of lead, a violation of the federal lead paint standard. Lead is toxic if ingested
by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
The products are sold in packages of four or six toy cars which are painted in silver, black or
blue with red stickers with “super,” “max” and “racing” labeled on the top and sides of the cars.
The 4” plastic car sets have item numbers “43835” and “43836” printed on a white label on the
back of the cardboard packaging. “Gallop X” or “RACING CARS” is also printed on the product
packaging.
The recalled items were sold at Mega Wholesale stores throughout Miami, Florida from
September 2010 through January 2011 for between about $2 and $3 per set. They were
manufactured in China.
Please see the recall notice for specific information for consumers and contact information for
the company. You may also contact the CT Department of Public Health Lead Poisoning
Prevention & Control Program at 860-509-7299.
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#51 LED
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Message Cover Sheet
DATE: September 29, 2011
TO: Directors of Health
Chief Sanitarians
Regional Lead Treatment Centers
Lead Contacts
FROM: Rhonda Wisniewski, Health Program Assistant PHONE: (860) 509-7299
FAX: (860) 509-7295
RE: LM Import & Export Recalls Toy Cars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
cc: LPPCP and HH Staff, Suzanne Blancaflor, Francesca Provenzano and CT DCP
Number of pages including cover sheet: 3
Please see the attached product recall issued by CPSC. The products (toy cars) are
manufactured by LM Import & Export, Inc., of Miami, Fla. Surface paint on the toy cars contains
excessive levels of lead, a violation of the federal lead paint standard. Lead is toxic if ingested
by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
The products are sold in packages of four or six toy cars which are painted in silver, black or
blue with red stickers with “super,” “max” and “racing” labeled on the top and sides of the cars.
The 4” plastic car sets have item numbers “43835” and “43836” printed on a white label on the
back of the cardboard packaging. “Gallop X” or “RACING CARS” is also printed on the product
packaging.
The recalled items were sold at Mega Wholesale stores throughout Miami, Florida from
September 2010 through January 2011 for between about $2 and $3 per set. They were
manufactured in China.
Please see the recall notice for specific information for consumers and contact information for
the company. You may also contact the CT Department of Public Health Lead Poisoning
Prevention & Control Program at 860-509-7299.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
FDA Phases Out Inhaler Due to Environmental Impact
FDA Phases Out Inhaler Due to Environmental Impact
WASHINGTON – Federal health officials are alerting asthma patients that a type of inhaler sold over-the-counter will be phased out at year's end because it uses carbon gas that depletes the Earth's atmosphere.
The Food and Drug Administration says patients who use the epinephrine inhalers will need to switch to other types of inhalers which are only available with a doctor's prescription. The Epinephrine inhalers subject to the ban use chlorofluorocarbons to propel medication into the patient's airways.
The FDA finalized plans to phase out the products in 2008 and currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene mist is still available in the U.S. Other manufacturers have switched to an environmentally-friendly propellant called hydrofluoroalkane. These inhalers treat the same asthma symptoms but are only available via prescription.
WASHINGTON – Federal health officials are alerting asthma patients that a type of inhaler sold over-the-counter will be phased out at year's end because it uses carbon gas that depletes the Earth's atmosphere.
The Food and Drug Administration says patients who use the epinephrine inhalers will need to switch to other types of inhalers which are only available with a doctor's prescription. The Epinephrine inhalers subject to the ban use chlorofluorocarbons to propel medication into the patient's airways.
The FDA finalized plans to phase out the products in 2008 and currently only Armstrong Pharmaceutical's Primatene mist is still available in the U.S. Other manufacturers have switched to an environmentally-friendly propellant called hydrofluoroalkane. These inhalers treat the same asthma symptoms but are only available via prescription.
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