Bed Bugs

They've emerged from the seats of darkened Times Square movie theaters, shut down clothing stores and infested cubicles.
With all the recent stories about bedbugs taking over Manhattan, some may worry that the critters are just biding their time before hitching a ride on Metro-North up to Greenwich.
Don't worry. They're already here.
The invasive pests, once relegated to a popular bedtime saying, have been a problem in the area for the past few years.
Steve Altarescu, vice president of Bliss Pest Control, which has an office in Greenwich and covers the tri-state area, said the company has dealt with the critters in private homes of all sizes, as well as offices in Greenwich and Stamford. They even recently completed an all-night bedbug treatment at a movie theater -- Altarescu couldn't say which one -- between New Haven and Hartford counties.
"Bedbugs are so crazy now, predominantly because of traveling," said Altarescu, an associate certified entomologist, meaning he studies insects. "They hitchhike in people's bags, whether they're work bags, trip bags, school bags. We do a tremendous amount of work in Greenwich, Stamford and Westport."
Altarescu said that though Greenwich commuters could possibly bring New York bedbugs home with them, the nocturnal insects are more likely to come inside a briefcase or bag than be found crawling around the three-seater of a train. However, it's not out of the question.
"Bedbugs tend to hide in cracks and crevices," Altarescu said. "Any kind of old seat is going to have a gap. Bedbugs don't need a really big gap."
Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker said he has not heard of bedbugs being an issue on trains, and said there is no prevention plan in place to specifically target the insects.
"We haven't seen anything, and we would see it because we actually take our trains apart and clean them," Brucker said.
Altarescu said he doesn't recommend using chemicals to prevent an infestation if there is not already a bedbug problem. Businesses can keep track of bedbugs by utilizing dogs, mostly beagles, trained to sniff out the critters. Companies such as Bliss use dogs to check for an infestation and determine how extensive it is. A dog inspection costs around $500.
Jim Cameron, chairman of the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council, said he has not heard of commuters complaining.
"I don't think there's any reason to believe Metro-North would be carrying bedbugs any more than (people's) private cars," Cameron said.
International travel is believed to be the main culprit behind the resurgence of bedbugs. While DDT was banned by the U.S. in 1972, it's still used in other countries, but bedbugs have become resistant.
"How many people in Greenwich do international travel?" Altarescu said.
The Greenwich Housing Authority has dealt with infestations in its housing complexes in recent years, though Anthony Johnson, the agency's director.
"It's actually still very rare for us to encounter them, and we attack them aggressively," Johnson said. "We've been lucky."
Bedbugs -- which are flat, brown and wingless, and leave a series of itchy bites in a straight line -- are equal-opportunity pests.
"It doesn't have to do with income," Altarescu.
Getting rid of the bugs can be pricey. While exterminators use a chemical method to treat infested homes, Bliss Pest Control and other companies offer a newer heat treatment. Huge, 250-pound heaters are set up in homes, and heat rooms to 130 degrees, which kills the bedbugs. The advantage is that homeowners don't have to launder or dry clean their clothes, or get rid of some items, but the heat treatments are pricier than chemicals, starting at $3,500 to $4,000 per day.
Altarescu thinks it's a good idea to arrange a bedbug inspection if a child has just come home from camp or college. He also advises people to place suitcases on the luggage racks in hotel rooms instead of on the floor, and to perhaps take a look at the bed's headboard, where bedbugs are predominately found.
"It's very hard to totally protect yourself," Altarescu said. "You're not going to hibernate. All you are going to do is check to see if you have any bite marks. The best thing is to catch the problem early."
Trains are at least mopped once a day, Brucker said, and go through a major cleaning every few weeks, in which seats are taken apart and everything is washed thoroughly. Grand Central Terminal also has an exterminator. Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/They-re-here-Bedbugs-not-just-NYC-problem-639654.php#ixzz1C4MKqkMd

AIr Quality and Remodeling

Harmful substances can be disturbed and released into the air during remodeling. Find out how to protect yourself from these contaminants.
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD
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Remodeling can give an old home a fresh new look. But while your home is getting its facelift, dangerous substances in older building materials may be lurking beneath floors, behind walls, and above ceilings. So before you take a sledgehammer to your kitchen, bathroom, or any room for remodeling, investigate your home's history.
Home Air Quality: What Lies Beneath
When you remodel an older home and rip out drywall, floors, and ceilings, or strip and sand paint, you never know what you may find underneath. Many older homes were built with materials that are no longer used because they were later found to contain air pollutants and cause health problems.
Some common harmful substances that may be uncovered during the remodeling of an older home include:
Asbestos
Lead paint
Lead dust
Radon
Mold and mildew
Formaldehyde
These substances may be found in and around:
Pipes and plumbing
Wall and attic insulation
Flooring
Fireproofing materials
Paint
Adhesives
Compressed wood (particle board)
Furniture
Though they may not present a problem if left undisturbed behind your walls or under the floorboards, these harmful substances can disperse fibers and chemicals into the air in your home if they become displaced. They materials should be safely and properly removed or completely sealed by a professional, to prevent contamination and health problems.

Remodeling and Your Health
The health problems that have been linked to asbestos, lead, and other materials that can be released during the remodeling process include:
Lung cancer
Mesothelioma
Lead poisoning
Central nervous system problems
Irritation to the eyes, throat, and nose
Fatigue
Frequent headaches
Liver and kidney damage
Nausea
Difficulty breathing and wheezing
Frequent cough
Skin rash
Problems with balance and coordination
Some of these health problems can be serious and chronic, so approach remodeling projects with caution to figure out what possible air pollutants could be lurking inside your home.
Planning Ahead to Maintain Good Air Quality
You can take certain steps to see if you have a problem with either existing or new materials in your home:
Look to see if any existing materials are labeled as containing asbestos or other harmful substances, and check for any other important information such as removal instructions.
Before remodeling starts, have a contractor inspect and test your home air quality for potentially harmful substances that could leak into your indoor air supply. Hire professionals to take the appropriate steps to contain the harmful air pollutants and protect your health.
Take care of any mold or mildew problems that have been exposed during the renovation. Replace moldy materials and give everything a good cleaning.
Take care when installing new products and applying new finishes. Paints, varnishes, stains, and thinners can all release harmful chemicals, so take all precautions suggested on the label. Always work in well-ventilated areas — open windows and have fans blowing or turn on air conditioning to get air pollutants out of your home.
Sealing off all vents and ducts in your home will also keep air pollutants from getting into your heating and cooling systems and circulating throughout your home.
Use the renovation as an opportunity to make sure you have good ventilation throughout your home, both during the renovation and afterward, to protect against the harmful effects of unwanted gases, allergens, mold, mildew, and other irritants.
Home remodeling offers a good opportunity to take inventory of the overall health of your home, and fix any potential problems. When dealing with dangerous substances that can cause serious health effects if not handled correctly, safeguard your family by calling in experienced professionals.

Investigate Your Indoor Air Quality
Asbestos Risks in the Home
Household Molds and Your Health
How to Detect Carbon Monoxide
Does Your House Have a Radon Problem?
Does Your Home Need a Clean Air System?
Protect Against Air Pollutants When Remodeling
Indoor Air Quality: The Trouble With Carpeting

EPA, Schools to Tackle Indoor Air Quality

Release date: 01/14/2011
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding its 11th Annual Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools National Symposium in Washington, D.C. on January 13-15, 2011. The meeting is bringing together school board officials, administrators, health association members, school nurses, teachers, parents, and others to take charge in protecting the indoor air environments of children in schools. Nearly 55 million children and approximately 6 million adults spend a significant portion of their days in more than 132,000 public and private school buildings in the United States. Many of these buildings are old, in poor condition, and may have environmental conditions that inhibit learning and pose risks to the health of children and staff. “Protecting children’s health is a top priority for EPA,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “School kids, parents and teachers face challenges every day, so EPA designed the Tools for Schools Program to make sure that poor indoor air quality isn’t one of them.”Poor indoor air quality in schools can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. Eight school districts across the country are being recognized at the IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium for leading the way to improving conditions at their schools and taking action to prevent future IAQ health risks. The symposium focuses on a wide range of environmental risks, including radon, mold, pest management, and asthma management. Here are a few tips schools can take to start improving their indoor air quality:- Get an IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit online - Review the IAQ Coordinator’s Guide provided in the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit- Develop an IAQ team and review current IAQ practices in your school- Develop an IAQ program and encourage good IAQ practices across the school and community- Test your school for radonThe IAQ Tools for Schools Program, launched in 1995, assists school districts in identifying the actions they can take to successfully plan and implement an effective IAQ management program.More information on IAQ Tools for Schools: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html