How to Identify and Control Bed Bugs; Guidelines To Help Rid a Home of Bed Bugs. (Compiled by the Housing and Community Environment Program of the Allegheny County Health Department) What are Bed Bugs? bedBed bugs are small wingless insects that feed solely upon the blood of warm-blooded animals. Bed bugs and their relatives have evolved as nest parasites. Certain kinds inhabit bird nests and bat roosts and await the return of their hosts; others have adapted well to living in the ‘nests’ (homes) of people. Hatchling bed bugs are about the size of a poppy seed, and adults are about 1/4 of an inch in length. Looking from above they are an oval in shape, but are flattened from top to bottom when viewing them from the side. Their color ranges from nearly white (just after molting) or a light tan to a deep brown or burnt orange. The host’s blood may appear as a dark red or black mass within the bug’s body. Because they never develop wings, bed bugs cannot fly. When disturbed, bed bugs actively seek shelter in dark cracks and crevices. What Do Bed Bugs Do? Bed bugs seek out people and animals, generally at night while these hosts are asleep, and painlessly sip a few drops of blood. Bed bugs prefer the dark. While feeding, they inject a tiny amount of their saliva into the skin. Repeated exposures to bed bug bites during a period of several weeks or more causes people to become sensitized to the saliva of these bugs; additional bites may then result in mild to intense allergic responses. The skin lesion produced by the bite of a bed bug resembles those caused by many other kinds of blood feeding insects, such as mosquitoes and fleas. How Do Bed Bugs Get In Your Home? Because bed bugs readily hide in small crevices, they may accompany (as stowaways) luggage, furniture, clothing, pillows, boxes, and other such objects when these are moved between apartments, homes and hotels. Used furniture, particularly bed frames and mattresses, are of greatest risk of harboring bed bugs and their eggs. Thus, one should carefully scrutinize and consider the history of any used furniture, particularly ‘street’ items so plentiful at the beginning and end of each academic year. Because they readily survive for many months without feeding, bed bugs may already be present in apparently ‘vacant’ and ‘clean’ apartments. Bed bugs can wander between adjoining apartments through voids in walls and holes though which wires and pipes pass. Bed Bug Feeding Habits howdyBedbugs are generally active only at night, with a peak attack period about an hour before dawn, though given the opportunity, they may attempt to feed at other times of day. Attracted by warmth and the presence of carbon dioxide, the bug pierces the skin of its host with two hollow tubes. With one tube it injects its saliva, which contains anticoagulants and anesthetics, while with the other it withdraws the blood of its host. After feeding for about five minutes, the bug returns to its hiding place. The bites cannot usually be felt until some minutes or hours later, as a dermatological reaction to the injected agents. Although bedbugs can live for up to 18 months without feeding, they typically seek blood every five to ten days. Bed bugs hide in cracks and crevices during daylight hours. They hide in the folds and tufts of mattresses, coils of springs, cracks and hollow posts of bed stands bed rails and headboards. They may be found inside the cabinetry of furniture and the bottom and sides of drawers. They also can be found behind loose wallpaper, behind pictures on the walls, under door and window casings, and behind baseboards. However, they are not restricted to these places. It is important to recognize that not all bites or bite-like reactions are due to bed bugs. Bed bugs or their signs will be present if it is a bed bug bite. Bed bugs do not live under the skin. If you experience biting sensations during the day, it may be an allergy related condition. Bedbugs are often erroneously associated with filth. They are attracted by exhaled carbon dioxide, not by dirt, and they feed on blood, not waste. In short, the cleanliness of the infested environment has no effect on bedbugs. Their numbers may be reduced temporarily by vacuuming, but will recover and require vacuuming again. Health Effects on Humans signgWhile bedbugs have been known to harbor pathogens in their bodies, including plague and hepatitis B, they have not been linked to the transmission of any disease and are not regarded as a medical threat. Some individuals, however, can get skin infections and scars from scratching bites. While bedbugs are not regarded as a vector of transmissible diseases, they are a serious stressor and will create a lot of alarm and distress. With some individuals, it may precipitate mild to moderate cases of delusional parasitosis. How Do I Know If I Have Bed Bugs? You may notice itchy skin welts. You may also see the bed bugs themselves, small bloodstains from crushed insects, or dark spots from their droppings. It is often hard to see them because they hide in or near beds, other furniture, and in cracks. How Do I Search for Bed Bugs? Carefully inspect the bed frame, mattress, and other furniture for signs of bed bugs and their eggs. Although dead bed bugs, cast bug skins and blood spots may indicate an infestation occurred previously; they do not confirm that an infestation is still active. Search for live (crawling) bugs and ensure they are bed bugs before considering treating. Keep in mind the eggs can be as small as a poppy seed and the larvae as small as a grain of rice. Bed bug females lay about 200 eggs, usually at the rate of three or four a day, in cracks and crevices in the floor or bed. Eggs are placed in cracks, crevices and other isolated and protected shelters. Females lay eggs after a blood meal. Eggs will hatch in one or two weeks into Nymphs. Newly hatched bugs(Nymphs) begin feeding immediately. At room temperature, and with an available food supply, the nymphal period will last 14 to 30 days. They shed their skin (Instar)five times before becoming adults. Bed bugs will mate soon after becoming mature, so the time from egg hatch to egg laying will be 4 to 9 weeks, under favorable conditions. Bed Bug Management 1) Look For The Bugs swThe first step to getting rid of bed bugs is to do some investigative work. Remember that bed bugs are visible to the eye. Be prepared to inspect all areas of the room using a bright flashlight and a magnifying glass if you have one available. Bed Bugs can leave reddish- brown spots on mattresses and have a distinct smell. Remember that the bed bug's flat shape and small body enable it to hide easily in cracks and crevices. Bed bugs, eggs, larvae, and fecal deposits will go unnoticed with just a casual inspection. You should leave nothing unturned when doing your inspection for bed bugs and no site should be ignored that may be a bed bug harborage. Bed Bugs could be hiding anywhere! Examples are: wall sconces, behind electrical switch plates, behind wall posters, between books and magazines on shelves and in racks, or even inside an alarm clock, radio or TV. Be prepared to inspect all the places near sleeping areas, which may mean taking the bed frames apart! 2. Prepare The Area A thorough cleaning of the premises will make bed bug control efforts by you and the pest control contractor much more effective. Strip all beds down to the bare sleeping surface. Bedding (sheets, blankets, comforters, covers, and shams) should be washed in very hot water. Very hot water (120+degrees) will kill the bed bugs. Clutter should be removed from furniture tops, bed stands and under/around the bed. Open up the clock radio and phone (that's right, Bed Bugs may be hiding in there too!). Tap the open ends into a bag or on sticky tape so the bed bugs can’t jump and hide. In severe infestations, clothing should be removed from dressers and chests. Utilize a crack & crevice vacuum tool to remove bed bugs from deep harborage such as: under baseboards; under carpet edges (pull up along the tack strip); around switch plates (you may have to remove the plate first); from the bed frame; inside box springs; inside furniture; and from floor cracks. Use a hand-brush attachment to vacuum up most of the bed bugs. Vacuum mattresses and box springs (especially along seams and folds); upholstered furniture; and behind drapes. Also vacuum the floor completely. After vacuuming, remove the bag from the vacuum, tie it tightly, and remove it from the premises ASAP. Remember, really infested bedding may have to be completely discarded. Indirect measures can go a long way in controlling bed bugs: keep bats and birds away from houses; clean furnishings, launder bedding and mattress pads, and steam-clean mattresses. You may also prevent bed bugs from getting into homes by removing debris from around the house, repairing cracks in walls, and caulking windows and doors. 3) Physical Controls. Simple physical control methods include standing the legs of beds in soapy water, coating the legs with petroleum jelly or double-sided sticky tape. Bed bugs cannot climb polished glass or metal easily and they don't fly, so that the legs of beds can also be placed inside glass jars or metal cans. Move the bed away from walls and furniture. Do not use bedding that touches the floor. Wear night clothes/ pajamas with long sleeves and a high neck. 4) Chemical Controls. Chemical control includes the use of common insect repellents on exposed skin (OFF, 6-12, etc.) and applying residual insecticides in cracks and crevices. This can be done to supplement the treatment being applied by a commercial pest control company. Sprays containing natural pyrethrins can be used. Sorptive dusts such as fumed silica (also called diatomaceous earth) are useful in closed, hard-to-reach places. These pesticides can be purchased from local vendors (hardware stores, etc) and from several companies on the internet (see sources below). They can safely be applied by the occupant, as long as the directions on the label are followed. If you feel unsure about using pesticides yourself, they are best done by a professional pesticide applicator. Inorganic materials, such as silica gel, boric acid and diatomaceous earth will provide long term control when used in a dry, indoor environment with low humidity. These materials have very low repellency to insects and can provide good control when applied to cracks and crevices. Diatomaceous Earth is a good example. It is a natural, non-toxic substance made from crushed fossil shells of freshwater organisms and marine life (Old Coral reef). Crushed to a fine powder when seen through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of snowflakes through the lens. It is harmful to any insect and harmless to humans, animals, fish, fowl or food. How it works is that insects have a waxy outer shell covering their bodies and breathing surfaces. The microscopically sharp edges of Diatomaceous Earth and silica gel cut through this waxy layer, causing the bed bug to dehydrate and die. It is especially effective for crawling insects such as bed bugs. The mode of action is strictly mechanical. Bed bugs can not build immunities to this method of pest control such as with traditional pesticides. Liquid and aerosol (aka “Bug Bomb”) pesticide sprays containing either benzalkonium chloride or natural/synthetic pyrethrins can be applied to the whole room and as a spot treatment to cracks and crevices that may harbor bed bugs. These botanical insecticides will repel and knock down bed bugs for a time, but they deteriorate quickly and provide no residual action. The finish on some wooden furniture may also be damaged from the petroleum carriers contained in aerosol pyrethrins. Synthetic pyrethroids like Deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and others can provide good control if thoroughly applied to bed bug hiding places. They are long lived residuals and will not damage materials that are not harmed by water. Both liquid and dust insecticides are available in hardware stores, pharmacies, mail order catalogues and on-line via the internet. Professional Pest Control contractors can offer a few more pesticide formulations, but to be successful, they all require a very thorough application. There is no magic bullet. A couple of “do it yourself” web sites include www.bed-bug.net, and www.thebugstore.net (external links). Much more information on bed bugs is available from pest control contractors, county agents and university websites (such as this page from the University of Kentucky: www.uky.edu/ag/entomology, external link). Photographs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Housing and Community Environment Program of the Allegheny County Health Department

Researchers develop vaccine to treat nicotine addiction By Alex Crees Published June 27, 2012 FoxNews.com Researchers have developed a vaccine that successfully treated nicotine addiction in mice, according to a study published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine. With just a single dose, the vaccine protected mice against nicotine addiction for the rest of their lives, the researchers said. The vaccine works by prompting the animal’s liver to act as a ‘factory’ that continually produces antibodies. The antibodies then absorb the nicotine as soon as it hits the bloodstream, preventing it from reaching the brain or the heart. According to the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Ronald Crystal, chairman and professor of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, it normally takes nicotine about six to 10 seconds to cross the bloodstream, reach the brain and bind to receptors. This is what produces the calm or relaxed feelings that drive nicotine addiction. By blocking nicotine from reaching the brain, the antibodies prevent those pleasurable feelings from occurring. "As far as we can see, the best way to treat chronic nicotine addiction from smoking is to have these Pacman-like antibodies on patrol, clearing the blood as needed before nicotine can have any biological effect," Crystal said in a released statement. Importantly, the vaccine allows the body to build up its own immunity against nicotine, making it more effective and consistent than vaccines developed in the past. Crystal said previous nicotine vaccines likely failed because they directly injected nicotine antibodies into the body, rather than prompting the body to build its own antibodies. This meant these ‘passive’ vaccines had to be injected multiple times, because they only lasted for three to four weeks, and the dosage level required may have varied from person to person—particularly if the person started smoking again. On the other hand, the researchers knew the second main type of vaccines, known as ‘active’ vaccines, wouldn’t protect against nicotine addiction either. Active vaccines—used to protect people against viruses such as polio or the mumps—work by introducing a piece of a virus into the body, which in turn prompts the body to develop a lifelong immune response against the invading agent. However, nicotine molecules are too small for the immune system to recognize. As a result, the researchers had to develop a third kind of vaccine: a genetic vaccine, which works by binding the genetic sequence of a nicotine antibody to a non-harmful virus. The virus is directed to go to the liver cells, and the genetic sequence of the antibody then inserts itself into those cells, causing the cells to produce a stream of the antibodies along with the other molecules they make. “We can target almost any organ [with this type of vaccine], but the reason for using the liver is that it is a very good secretory organ,” Crystal told FoxNews.com. “The liver is very good at making and secreting many proteins, so we just genetically modified the liver cells to also make antibodies against nicotine.” Crystal said he first thought of the concept behind the vaccine a few years ago while passing by a newsstand. “I saw a magazine cover that said something along the lines of ‘Addiction: We Need Vaccines’ and got this idea to use gene therapy.” The vaccine doesn’t appear to have any negative side effects, though it still must be tested in rats and non-human primates for efficacy before it reaches human trials. Crystal said if the vaccine continues to show promise in animal trials, it will likely be tested in humans in the next two years. Furthermore, if there is proof of both safety and efficacy, the vaccine could even potentially be used as a preventative measure in the future, similar to the HPV vaccine, Crystal added. The concept could also theoretically be used to develop vaccines for other drug addictions, such as cocaine and heroin. Approximately 20 percent of Americans smoke, despite taxes, warning labels and television advertisements warning against the dangers of cigarettes and their associated negative health effects—such as lung cancer, emphysema and COPD. These diseases are responsible for one in every 5 deaths in the U.S. Seventy percent of people trying to quit end up relapsing within six months. “It’s an addiction—it’s very hard to stop and enormously costly to society,” Crystal said. “We need new strategies to help people get past this addiction, and this is a promising, novel approach, so we’re hopeful.” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/27/researchers-develop-vaccine-to-treat-nicotine-addiction/#ixzz2JNShfEXx

January is radon awareness month Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas produced by the natural decay of uranium and radium in the soil, Exposure to elevated radon levels increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The EPA estimates that 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States are due to radon. Iowa have a very high potential for elevated levels of radon gas, The average indoor concentration In Iowa is 8,5 pd'/L; this is six times the national average. Iowa also leads the nation in the percent of homes over the recommended 4 pd'/L action levels as well as the percent of homes over 20 pCi/L. Based on data collected from radon home tests, the Iowa Department of Public Health estimates that as many as 5 In 7 homes across Iowa have An estimated 400 deaths per year in Iowa are caused by radon-induced lung cancer. Page County Environmental Health can assist you In testing your home for Radon. We offer do it yourself test kits that are low cost and easy to perform. These are short term tests lasting from 3 to 7 days, If the test results show that your home has radon levels above the 4.0 pCi/L it Is suggested that you have a radon mitigation system installed.

Members of Congress Put Formaldehyde in Consumer Products under the Spotlight January 11, 2013 Cinnaminson, NJ, January 11, 2013 Last month, concerns over formaldehyde in a popular hair straightening product once again made national news. In December, three members of Congress sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressing concern over the presence of formaldehyde in the products. According to reports, the members of Congress first contacted the FDA last year and asked the agency to issue a voluntary recall of the hair straightening products containing dangerous levels of the chemical. The FDA responded with a warning letter to the manufacturer of the product stating they were misbranded and adulterated and requested the company take corrective actions. Last month’s letter came about because the company has reportedly not reformulated their products. Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in numerous building materials and to produce some household products. Its primary use is in the production of resins and as a chemical intermediate. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a potential human carcinogen. “Thousands of workers in hair salons may be at risk on a daily basis due to exposure to formaldehyde from these hair straightening products,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, a leading formaldehyde testing laboratory. “Not only are workers at risk, but customers at hair salons are also being exposed to dangerous levels of this chemical. EMSL provides both product testing, to determine the presence of formaldehyde in consumer goods, as well as air sampling analysis to assist in monitoring for its presence in the air people breathe.”

Decoration Disease-Post renovation (pre-occupancy) IAQ Testing: Indoor Air Quality Challenges of the Green Economy Published : Thursday, January 17th, 2013 By : IAQ Consultants Pte Ltd As more and more buildings are being built and commissioned under Green Building guidelines such as Green Mark and LEED, there is growing recognition that property owners, developers, and architects need to ask the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) question if they want their building to achieve the sustainability goals they desire. Off-gassing is the name for given when chemicals are released from manmade objects containing volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde from resins, adhesives, sealants. Green building materials must also to be addressed as low levels of air pollutants are still emitted and can cause sensitivities in individuals. IAQ Consultants environmental services provide a variety of IAQ evaluation services, including LEED EQ 3.2 testing, evaluation of moisture and mould in buildings under construction, renovation or existing buildings. IAQ can substantiate new products and finishes with suppliers before installation to ensure levels of VOC emissions and formaldehyde are acceptable prior to fit out. This will help with overall levels of off gassing when in confirmed spaces such as a re-designed office space. This is essential knowledge for the unsuspecting tenant, developer or interior designer, who are reportedly receiving more and more complaints regarding serious health complaints, post refurbishment for up to 6 months in some cases before levels of off-gassed chemicals are expelled. Prior to IAQ test: Prepare the space to operate as intended for occupancy with the HVAC set for the minimal outside air contribution (Fresh Air). The IEQ testing does need to be completed during normal occupancy hours for the new space and with a minimum testing duration of 4-hours continuous monitoring. In a statement from Emma Precious, one of IAQ’s Managers: “We have tested hundreds of offices spaces over the years, and recurrently the same high test results are appearing from the chemical parameters tested during the post occupancy, post renovation stages. – This is too late, and people as already showing signs of poisoning. Our results tell us that so many materials and products are off gassing seriously high levels of VOC emissions especially found during cheap punch list touch-ups. Post renovation (Pre-occupancy) IAQ clearance testing is essential to test that good air quality levels have returned after improvement works, upgrading or renovation works to avoid ‘Decoration Disease’ the worrying new term coined for the health effects caused by chemical pollutant releases from the installation of new composite materials, carpets, paints, and plastic objects and furnishings into enclosed spaces that have not been expunged before occupants return”. The health effects of Formaldehyde, which are classified as a human carcinogen can cause nasopharyngeal cancer and probably leukaemia. As China is the largest producer and consumer of formaldehyde products in the world, it stands to reason that Singaporeans, as a major importer of Chinese goods, are potentially at increased risk for developing cancer and other associated health effects from bringing these products into the office or home where air is confirmed and allows levels to concentrate. More than 65% of the Chinese formaldehyde output is used to produce resins mainly found in composite wood products — on of the major sources of indoor pollution. Every building project is unique so the variables for indoor air quality testing need to be carefully considered to assure the results are representative of the space evaluated. IAQ Consultants has decades of experience performing indoor air quality assessments. Our breadth of experience and tight relationships with our vendors allows IAQ Consultants to customize these evaluations to fit within physical and time constraints of most any planned renovation project.

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VOCs VOCs are harmful chemicals emitted by lots of the products and materials we have in our homes. Most VOCs can't be detected by smell. Many VOCs exacerbate or trigger asthma attacks. Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are chemicals that are emitted as gases from solids or liquids and easily evaporated into the air at room temperature. Concentrations of these chemicals can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. Thousands of products, many that we use every day, or are exposed to every day, emit VOCs into the air while they are being used, and, to some degree, even when they are stored. These products include: Paints & varnishes Moth balls Solvents Building materials Pesticides Gasoline Fuel oil Cooking oils, etc. Cleaning supplies Carpeting Wallpaper Vinyl flooring Dry-cleaning Candles Growing mold Copiers & printers Upholstery & fabrics Glues & adhesives Permanent markers Craft materials Cosmetics Hair care products Air fresheners Disinfectants Furniture (pressed wood) Vehicle exhaust Tobacco smoke While all VOCs have the potential to be harmful, there are a few common VOCs that can be particularly dangerous, and are emitted from a number of products in our homes. These common VOCs are Formaldehyde, benzene, and phenol, and are classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For a complete list of all 188 HAPs, click here to visit the EPA website. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the European Union (EU) suggest that levels greater than 500 ng/L (nanograms per liter) of VOCs could pose a health hazard in homes. However, data from thousands of homes tested show the median value is 1,200 ng/L, more than twice the recommended level. Even slightly elevated levels of these airborne chemicals could produce health concerns for people, particularly young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who suffer from allergies and asthma. household pollutants about VOCs facts on VOCs about mold about formaldehyde about tobacco smoke buy now Live Help "air mail" newsletter Refer a Friend Earn 10%