Carbon Dioxide from Gas Dryers

Nassau County, NY -- Dryer vent cleaning helps eliminate several home hazards including dryer fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, mold and mildew damage and appliance failure. Dryer vent cleaning and proper dryer vent installation is especially important for those who own a gas dryer. Poorly vented gas appliances can be a carbon monoxide risk.Bob Dougherty, owner of Dryer Vent Wizard, was recently interviewed. He explained how gas dryers can be a carbon monoxide threat. “Many people only associate carbon monoxide threats with their furnace,” said Dougherty. Few are aware that poorly vented gas dryers can allow dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to enter their home.”Bob went on to explain, “the number of home fires and carbon monoxide poisonings increases during the fall and winter months. Dryer vent cleaning and proper dryer vent installation helps to eliminate these hazards.”The snowstorm that hammered the east coast last winter prompted New York lawmakers to require everyone in the state to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes. Amanda’s Law went into effect after a girl died from carbon monoxide poisoning in 2009. Dryer vents are typically installed on the outside of a home about two feet off the ground. Drifting snow can easily block the dryer vent and block air flow.

EPA Awards $2.4 Million to Improve Air Quality

Release date: 10/20/2010
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding 17 cooperative agreements to nonprofit organizations and a university, totaling approximately $2.4 million to improve indoor air quality nationwide. Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors where levels of air pollution may be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Indoor air pollutants, such as dust mites, can trigger asthma attacks and radon can cause lung cancer.
“EPA is proud to be working with our partners nationwide to improve the air we breathe at school, work and home,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “American communities face serious health and environmental challenges from air pollution. This effort gives us an opportunity to improve indoor air quality by increasing awareness of environmental health risks.”
The goal of these projects is to educate Americans on how to reduce the environmental health risks of indoor contaminants through demonstrations, education projects, trainings and outreach efforts. EPA is placing particular emphasis on reaching households with children, low income families, and minorities because they are disproportionately impacted by poor indoor air quality.
The cooperative agreements will:
· Promote positive indoor air quality management practices in schools nationwide, including holistic approaches to environmental issues.
· Create awareness to reduce asthma triggers in the home and encourage the use of an asthma management plan.
· Increase the number of homes tested for radon and built with radon-resistant features, and increase mitigation of radon in existing homes.
· Increase effective indoor air quality practices in office buildings.
· Motivate Americans to improve their home’s indoor air quality.

Formaldehyde in School Furniture

by Tanya Chilcott
From: The Courier-Mail
October 15, 2010 12:00AM
SOMETHING IN THE AIR: Furniture that elevates the level of formaldehyde above recommended levels may not be limited to Manly State School. Source: The Courier-Mail
NEW furniture blamed for emitting elevated levels of a potentially toxic chemical in bayside classrooms could have been installed in other schools.
Consultants Parsons Brinckerhoff warned the State Government in a report that large quantities of the building material E1 MDF (medium-density fibreboard) used in desks, shelves, white boards and building materials at Manly State School had "collectively contributed" to elevated levels of formaldehyde.
It recommended formaldehyde levels be brought below 120 micrograms per cubic metre in classrooms, in line with international air quality guidelines.
Levels of up to 192 micrograms per cubic metre were found at Manly but those levels have since been reduced.
"These products have collectively contributed to formaldehyde concentrations that are greater than the concentration levels recommended (by indoor air quality benchmarks).

"It is further recommended that E1 MDF not be purchased for use in new furniture, fixtures or construction materials in schools without a protocol in place to test for indoor formaldehyde air concentrations," the report said.
Manly is one of a number of bayside state Schools of Tomorrow which have been refurbished since 2008.
Education Queensland acting deputy director-general Graham Atkins said all had similar furniture installed.
He confirmed materials containing formaldehyde were commonly used in building products.
Earlier this week he revealed another school, Wynnum West, was being treated for potentially toxic gases after complaints of a bad smell.
But he said the Manly case "appears to be anomalous . . . and the department has moved to address concerns wherever they have been raised".
"Recommendations made by Parsons Brinckerhoff in the most recent report are already being implemented by the department.
"The department has been informed that the health risks are extremely low, with only a small number of areas on some rooms at Manly State School capable of causing discomfort or an adverse reaction."
Staff have raised complaints of skin rashes, headaches and a noxious smell.