Healthy Homes and Buildings

Are schools making kids sick?

2012-01-17T05:37:00.000-08:00

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."

Want a Pet Cat? Think Again, Researchers Say

2012-01-16T13:59:00.001-08:00

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

PCBs Could Pose Risks for Property Buyers and Sellers, and Affect Values

2011-12-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

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

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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.

Gas Pump Handles Top Study of Filthy Surfaces

2011-10-25T09:49:00.000-07:00

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.

LM Import & Export Recalls Toy Cars Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

2011-09-29T08:28:00.001-07:00

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.

FDA Phases Out Inhaler Due to Environmental Impact

2011-09-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Indiana Schools IAQ Regulations

2011-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

As students and teachers head back to school, state health officials have implemented tougher indoor air quality requirements for Indiana classrooms. The new rules bring immediate changes for schools across the state, and they come on the heels of an Eyewitness News investigation showing serious air quality problems inside hundreds of Indiana schools. 13 Investigates shows you what schools are now required to do, and how it will impact students, teachers and even parents.

13 Investigates found classrooms across Indiana have an invisible problem.

They are filled with high levels of carbon dioxide, which can have a big impact on students.

"Higher levels of carbon dioxide make a person sleepy and it also decreases their learning ability," said David Gettinger, a facilities manager who monitors CO2 levels for Perry Township Schools. "More carbon dioxide means there's not enough oxygen in the classroom and you don't think as straight."

Ron Clark, who conducts school indoor air quality inspections for the state health department, says elevated CO2 levels are one of the most common problems he finds in schools.

"It means they aren't bringing in enough fresh air for students," Clark said. "It would impact their education and their learning level."

For most students and teachers, high levels of CO2 won't make them sick, but it signals a problem with a school's air circulation, and the consequences can be devastating.

Students and teachers suffering

Students with asthma struggle to breathe in classrooms filled with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and often miss many school days as a result.

Poor air quality in schools takes a toll on many teachers, too.

"I go past a school building and I'll think there are people in there and they're having class and they're working. Why aren't I doing that?" asks Arlana Smith.

Smith taught adult education classes for Indianapolis Public Schools for 20 years before taking a medical disability leave three years ago. She says high levels of mold and pesticides tainted her classroom and destroyed her health.

"I've been diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity disorder, asthma, auto immune dysfunction, I have chronic pain, chronic fatigue," explained Smith, who spends much of her week traveling to doctor appointments. "I miss the students. I miss everything about having a normal life."

Smith's story is not unique.

Eyewitness News obtained state indoor air quality inspection reports for schools all over Indiana. They show many schools have elevated levels of bacteria and fungus, even visible mold. And 66% of Indiana schools inspected by the Indiana State Department of Health have too much carbon dioxide.

Even when problems are found, 13 Investigates discovered some schools go years without fixing them.

"We can't require them to fix what we find," Clark told WTHR in January. We make recommendations, but they're not enforceable."

New rules finally here

Indiana lawmakers ordered the state health department to change that two years ago, requiring the agency to establish new rules for school indoor air quality. The rules were supposed to be in place by summer 2010. After WTHR exposed a statewide problem with school indoor air quality earlier this year – highlighting health department delays in implementing tougher air quality standards – ISDH officials finally issued new rules, and they'll impact students and teachers right away.

"I think it's possible there will be more inspections because of the new rules," said Jennifer House, who oversees indoor air quality issues for ISDH. She says the new rules mean state inspectors can now act more quickly to investigate problems.

"Parents or teachers who are concerned about the quality of air don't need to actually fill out a specific complaint. Now if we get word that there could be a problem we can act, go in without someone putting their name to a piece of paper that they're complaining," House said.

Under the new indoor air rules, schools have to take action right now. They are required to:

--Implement a policy to limit vehicle idling when you pick up and drop off your kids at school.

--Implement policies to reduce allergens in classrooms such as air fresheners, chemicals and live animals.

--Implement a policy for routine cleaning of heating and air conditioning equipment, carpeting and furniture within each school.

--Fix all water leaks and mold problems identified inside the school within 48 hours.

--Tell students, teachers and parents exactly who's in charge of air quality within each school building.

"It gives [schools] a basis for what they need to be done to provide the right environment," House said.

Forgotten committee meets

The state health department is also going a step further. After years of delays and inaction, ISDH is reconvening a committee to help schools improve their air quality.

Lawmakers mandated the School Indoor Air Quality Panel in 2003 to help keep kids safe. Earlier this year, 13 Investigates discovered most seats on the committee were vacant and the group hadn't met in almost seven years.

13 Investigates contacted most original appointees of the 12-member panel. Nearly all of them expressed interest in meeting to discuss strategies that would improve air quality in schools, but all said the state health department had not contacted them in years.

"I haven't heard anything," panel appointee Jay Potesta said in March. "I think the health department was the wrong department to put in charge of this. Frankly, they haven't done much and we still have sick schools."

"There's been no communication whatsoever," added Mary Tanis, a teacher in the Lake Central School Corporation who was also appointed to the air quality panel. "For years, I tried e-mailing the governor. I wrote letters to him saying this was really important for schools and I never heard anything. I tried writing letters to the health department and finally I just gave up because it was not a priority."

13 Investigates obtained internal emails from ISDH that suggest state health officials were not eager to convene the committee. An August 2008 e-mail from John Ruyack, who was then serving as the health department's chief of indoor air quality, stated "there are not any issues [for the panel] to discuss," and efforts to implement a new indoor air quality rule for schools was not a high priority. "The rule is apparently on the back burner," he wrote. Ruyack told panel members he would schedule a panel meeting for early 2009, but there are no written documents to show that attempt ever happened.

Three years later -- soon after WTHR's investigation -- the health department officially reconvened the state's indoor air quality panel. The group met in May, although only five panel members attended and five of the panel's twelve seats had not been filled. The governor's office, health department and State Department of Education have yet to fill all of the vacancies left by disillusioned committee members who resigned during the past seven years.

"Really good progress"

Indoor Air Quality Panel members present at the May meeting approved a set of guidelines to help schools assess and improve their indoor air quality. The guidelines are supposed to be sent to all Indiana schools, and the panel is scheduled to meet again this fall.

Efforts of the panel combined with new, tougher air quality rules for schools should help teachers, parents and students breathe a little easier in classrooms all across Indiana.

"We're making some really good progress, but there is still a lot of room for improvement," Tanis said. "There is a lot more Indiana can do."

CO2 and Nasal Allergies

2011-09-13T11:07:00.000-07:00

A shot of carbon dioxide to the nose may bring some quick, though short-lived, relief to people with nasal allergies, a preliminary study suggests.

So-called intranasal carbon dioxide (CO2) is not yet an approved treatment for nasal allergies. The new study is one of a number of clinical trials being funded by Capnia, Inc., a Palo Alto, California-based company that is developing a hand-held device that, if approved, would allow people to administer the CO2 therapy to themselves.

In the new study, researchers recruited 348 adults with year-round nasal allergies, to irritants like dust, mold or pet dander.

They randomly assigned participants to have either one dose of CO2, delivered via a nosepiece attached to a CO2 cylinder, or a placebo "treatment" where nothing was delivered through the nosepiece.

Those receiving the real treatment were further divided into four groups, receiving either a lower or higher CO2 dose for either 10 seconds or 30 seconds.

About 30 minutes later, one of the CO2 groups, the one getting the higher dose for 10 seconds, reported bigger improvements in nasal congestion, itching, sneezing and watery eyes than those getting the placebo.

The advantage lasted about four hours, according to findings published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

The degree of symptom improvement was similar to what's typically seen with standard treatments like antihistamine nasal sprays, according to lead researcher Dr. Thomas B. Casale, a professor of medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

If approved, intranasal CO2 could offer an alternative to people with seasonal or year-round nasal allergies, Casale told Reuters Health.

Prescription nasal sprays with anti-inflammatory corticosteroids, taken regularly, are the most effective treatment out there, Casale said. But some people, including parents of young children with nasal allergies, are reluctant to use steroids, even though the low doses in allergy nasal sprays are generally considered safe.

"There are still a lot of people who don't like to take medication," Casale said, "and might view this as a 'natural' treatment."

Because the treatment is still experimental, it is not clear how much it would cost if it makes it to the market.

An allergy expert not involved in the study was unimpressed with the results.

Even if the symptom reduction is around what's seen with antihistamine nasal sprays, the latter have longer-lasting effects, according to Dr. Harold Nelson, an allergist at National Jewish Health, a Denver hospital that specializes in respiratory diseases.

One dose is good for 24 hours, Nelson said in an interview with Reuters Health, whereas the benefits of intranasal CO2 wore off after 4 to 6 hours in this study.

On top of that, he added, intranasal CO2 "seems uncomfortable."

Of all CO2 patients in the study, upwards of 80 percent said they had nasal discomfort during the treatment, versus just about eight percent in the placebo group. Around one-quarter became teary-eyed, and 14 percent to 20 percent developed headaches.

"I must say, it's not a very attractive treatment," Nelson said.

He also pointed to what he saw as a weakness in the study: the placebo. Instead of comparing CO2 against some other gas, the researchers only gave placebo patients a nosepiece to insert.
That makes it unclear, Nelson said, if CO2 has some distinct effect, or if it was simply the intranasal pressure that somehow brought some people relief.

But Casale said that in an earlier study, this one of people with seasonal allergies, the researchers did use air in the placebo group, and the CO2-treated patients had greater symptom improvement.

Casale also pointed out that an advantage CO2 may have over antihistamines (both nasal spray and pill) and corticosteroids is that it works quickly. So the therapy might best fit into the nasal-allergy armament as an occasional, "as-needed" fix.

But that's still under study, Casale said. It also remains unclear why intranasal CO2 would be helpful against allergy symptoms, if that turns out to be the case.

Besides nasal steroids and antihistamines, some other nasal allergy treatments include nasal washes, which remove allergens from the nostrils, and allergy shots, which may be recommended for specific allergies that do not improve with medication.

Fox News

Mold and Hurricane Irene

2011-09-08T07:40:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee Flooding Cause Millions of Homeowners to Respond Quickly to Mold and Mildew Concerns
Catastrophe modeling agency Eqecat said that it estimates U.S. insured losses from Irene of $1.5 billion to $2.8 billion. In addition to filing insurance claims homeowners must also start the cleanup of any water damage quickly. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirms that “mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure.” To assist homeowners the website http://www.MoldnMildewRemoval.com provides free access to a comprehensive source of mold and mildew tips for homeowners.
Email PDF Print .Washington, DC (PRWEB) September 05, 2011

Catastrophe modeling agency Eqecat said that it estimates U.S. insured losses from Irene of $1.5 billion to $2.8 billion. In addition to filing insurance claims homeowners must also start the cleanup of any water damage quickly. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirms that “mildew and mold will develop within 24-48 hours of water exposure.” To assist homeowners the website http://www.MoldnMildewRemoval.com provides free access to a comprehensive source of mold and mildew tips for homeowners.

In a report published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) the agency confirms that mold and mildew are very serious issues that should be immediately take care. There are very serious health affects that can result from exposure to mold and mildew.

Mold and mildew can destroy a homes interior due to how it attaches itself to various objects. They are basically the same in how they cause damage. The difference is that mold can grow on walls and floors while mildew only grows on fabrics.

Individuals that suffer from allergies and asthma will that find that symptoms get significantly worse when exposed to mold and mildew. There have been reports of people not being able to breathe well for periods of time and yet their doctor can’t find what is causing it. The underlying culprit ends up being mold and mildew that is either in their home or office.

Not everyone has the same reaction to mold and mildew. That is why several people can live in the same home or work in the same office, yet only one or two of them is affected by the mold and mildew that is present.

Many doctors and health inspectors have become more aware and quicker to diagnose mold as a possible reason for a person’s deteriorating health.
Using a dehumidifier and having homes inspected on a regular basis by a professional can help to reduce the chances of mold and mildew developing

CT Lead Recalls

2011-07-05T08:50:00.002-07:00

Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#51 LED
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Message Cover Sheet
DATE: July 5, 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: GAMMA Sports Recalls Children's Tennis Racquets Due to Risk of Lead Exposure
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 product (Quick Kids Junior Tennis
Racquets) is manufactured by GAMMA Sports, of Pittsburgh, Pa. The orange grip tape on the
tennis rackets handle contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children
and can cause adverse health effects.
This recall involves Quick Kids 23-inch aluminum junior tennis racquets with orange tape on the
hand grip. Recalled racquets have lot number"F:3:10:08" stamped onto the bottom of the
racquet grip below the "G."
The recalled items were sold online at www.gammasports.com, www.atssports.com and
www.holabirdsports.com from December 2010 through March 2011 for about $15. 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

CT Lead Recalls

2011-07-05T08:50:00.001-07:00

Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#51 LED
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Message Cover Sheet
DATE: July 5, 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: Cost Plus Inc. Recalls Wooden Animal Drum 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 product (wooden animal drum) is
imported by Cost Plus Inc. of Oakland, Calif. The paint used on the drum is in excess of the
maximum allowable level of 90 ppm, a violation of the federal lead paint standard. Lead is toxic
if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
The recalled toy is a wooden hexagon drum with pictures of animals on the six sides. SKU No.
424857 is printed on a sticker on the bottom of the drum.
The recalled items were sold at Cost Plus World Market stores nationwide from December 2010
through May 2011 for about $7. 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.

Ferns and Indoor Air Quality

2011-06-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

SUWON, South Korea, June 24 (UPI) -- Five classes of plants were tested on removing formaldehyde inside buildings and ferns were found the most effective, U.S. and South Korean researchers say.

A team of scientists from South Korea's Rural Development Administration and the University of Georgia found Osmunda japonica -- Japanese royal fern -- was the most effective of all 86 species, coming in at 50 times more effective than the least efficient species D. deremensis.

Formaldehyde, a major contaminant of indoor air -- originating from particle board, carpet, window coverings, paper products, tobacco smoke and other sources -- can contribute to allergies, asthma, headaches and ''sick building syndrome."

Phytoremediation, the use of green plants to remove pollutants or render them harmless, was assessed by exposing the plants to gaseous formaldehyde in airtight chambers constructed of inert materials and measuring the rate of removal.

The study, published in HortScience, found the Japanese royal fern, Spikemoss, Hare's-foot fern, Polypodium formosanum, Guava, Sweet Lavender, Pteris dispar, Spider fern, and Geranium were the most effective species tested.

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/06/24/Ferns-best-for-removal-of-indoor-chemicals/UPI-64781308958210/#ixzz1Qadh13df

Cancer Risk of Styrene and Formaldehyde

2011-06-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

U.S. Weighs Cancer Risk of Styrene and FormaldehydeBy GARDINER HARRIS
Published: June 10, 2011
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WASHINGTON — Government scientists are expected today to declare styrene a likely human carcinogen, a move that manufacturers have long feared. Styrene is used to make those ubiquitous white foam coffee cups and food containers and is widely used in building materials.

The primary risk to the general public from styrene exposure, however, comes from breathing indoor air, since its use is widespread in building materials and the exposure that comes from coffee cups and food containers is small. Still, styrene in food and water are risk factors, according to government scientists. Tobacco smokers are also exposed to styrene.

Formaldehyde is also expected to be declared a possible carcinogen in the Report on Carcinogens, put together by the National Toxicology Program, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Studies suggest that exposure to formaldehyde — used widely in the funeral industry and building materials and even found in some popular hair treatments — could cause a form of leukemia.

Manufacturers have been lobbying fiercely for years against both designations, saying that no good studies have shown that either chemical causes cancer. Spokesmen for manufacturers said they would appeal the designations.

“It will unfairly scare workers, plant neighbors and could have a chilling effect on the development of new products,” said Tom Dobbins, a spokesman for the American Composites Manufacturers Association. “Our companies are primarily small businesses, and this could hurt jobs and local economies.”

Styrene, an important component of polystyrene, is used primarily in the manufacture of plastic packaging, thermal insulation in buildings, and disposable cups and food containers. It is also an important component of fiberglass and is found in boats, shower stalls and carpet backing.

Workers at plants that use styrene can be exposed to high levels of the substance. Studies of workers in styrene plants have suggested that they suffer relatively high levels of cancer.

Copper ducting tipped for indoor air quality

2011-06-14T09:18:00.001-07:00

The use of copper ducting in ventilation and central air-conditioning networks promotes indoor air quality, said the International Copper Association (ICA), the apex body promoting the use of copper across various sectors.

“Indoor air quality is of important concern in the Middle East region, where large duration of time is spent indoors due the high ambient temperatures during summer,” said Ravinder Bhan, the local representative of ICA.

“Health experts warn of the problems caused by airborne microbes, which tend to thrive in closed and poorly ventilated areas. The use of copper in air-ducts has been proven to better indoor quality.”

An office in Athens was among the first in the world to have total copper ventilation and air-conditioning network installed. The 3,000 sq m office space was fitted-out with hygienic copper ducting to highlight the importance and benefits of fresh air in office spaces.

The construction company’s original design concept was for ‘the creation of a clean, antimicrobial, detail-oriented environment of high-aesthetic quality and casual luxury’.

Copper offered a durable, high-quality installation with the added benefit that its natural beauty provided a visual difference from the norm, fitting well with the office’s overall design and making ordinarily-dull ductwork an appealing and eye-catching feature.

Research work assessing the effectiveness of copper as an antifungal surface for air-conditioning systems as an alternative to aluminium has recently been published in Letters in Applied Microbiology.

The results showed that on copper, there was increased die off of fungal isolates tested compared to aluminium. In addition, copper also prevented the germination of spores present, thereby reducing the risk of their release.

HVAC units, in which damp and dark conditions provide the perfect breeding grounds for germs, are a prime area of interest for researchers looking to further harness copper’s antimicrobial potential, a statement said.

The replacement of HVAC components, such as heat exchanger fins and drip pans, with copper alloys may have the potential to reduce biological contaminants that impact air quality, it added. – TradeArabia News Service

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Hand Sanitizers Over Rated

2011-04-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a hand sanitizer will reach too far in its claims. Four companies that say their products, including hand sanitizers, can prevent infection from the superbug MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, have been issued warning letters by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency announced April 20.
Since the products, which are all nonprescription, claim to prevent disease, they are classified as drugs, which are within the purview of the FDA. The agency said it does not have sufficient evidence that these particular products are safe and effective for these purposes.
Some of the products also advertise that they preventinfection from E.coli and the H1N1 flu virus. But there is not sufficient proof the combination of ingredients in the products, which include plant oils, the chemical benzethonium chloride, and the antimicrobial agent triclosan can actually impede infection from these diseases. The FDA is still evaluating whether triclosan can be used as an antimicrobial.
Alcohol-based sanitizers, on the other hand, are effective in preventing the spread of the seasonal flu, H1N1, colds and other viral- and bacterial-based diseases.
The warning letters explain the companies are marketing these products in violation of federal law.
"MRSA is a serious public health threat. The FDA cannot allow companies to mislead consumers by making unproven prevention claims," said Deborah Autor, director of the office of compliance in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
The four companies have 15 days to correct the violations cited in the warning letters. Failure to do so may result in legal action, including seizure and injunction, the FDA said.
The warning letters were sent to these companies:* Tec Laboratories, for Staphaseptic First Aid Antiseptic/Pain Relieving Gel
* JD Nelson and Associates, for Safe4Hours Hand Sanitizing Lotion and Safe4Hours First Aid Antiseptic Skin Protectant
* Dr. G.H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co., for Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic Gel
* Oh So Clean Inc., doing business as CleanWell Co., for CleanWell All-Natural Foaming Hand Sanitizer, CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizer, CleanWell All-Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes, and CleanWell All-Natural Antibacterial Foaming Handsoap
The FDA encouraged health care professionals and patients to report any adverse events or side effects from these products to the agency's MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.
Pass it on: Companies that claim their products prevent MRSA have insufficient evidence for their advertisements, the FDA says.
This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience

Formaldehyde in Hair Products

2011-04-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

Beauty Salons May Expose Workers and Customers to Carcinogens
OSHA issues formaldehyde warning and Sussex Environmental Health Consultants provide comprehensive formaldehyde testing services.

PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 18, 2011 – Few people who visit a beauty salon realize they may be putting their health at risk. The Brazilian Blowout, the name given to a controversial hair straightening procedure, has come under the scrutiny of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The reason for the concern is the presence of formaldehyde in many of the products used in the procedure. According to an article last week in the Los Angeles Times, “State OSHA offices in California and Oregon began investigating the Brazilian Blowout and other hair smoothing products several months ago after a host of complaints from salon workers and clients reporting headaches, nosebleeds, blisters, burning eyes, vomiting, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Several state-level agencies -- including those in California, Oregon and Connecticut -- issued warnings about the products. Health Canada issued an outright ban.” Formaldehyde is widely used in many consumer products and common building materials. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. According to OSHA, some of the chemicals being used, including some labeled as ‘formaldehyde free’ actually contain the chemical at levels above federal limits. Sussex Environmental Health Consultants, LLC (SEHC) is an environmental, health and safety consulting firm located in Delaware that has an extensive history of investigating indoor air quality (IAQ) issues involving formaldehyde across the Mid-Atlantic region. “Both workers and the general public need to be aware of the health risks associated with prolonged or elevated exposure to formaldehyde,” stated Susan White, Ph.D., CMC, President of SEHC. “In the case of the Brazilian Blowout products, beauty salons using these chemicals should have the products evaluated, increase ventilation for the salons, provide personal protective equipment for employees and conduct routine exposure monitoring. Failure to do this could result in temporary or even permanent health problems,” she continued.

Girls Clothing Recall due to Lead

2011-04-13T09:27:00.001-07:00

Connecticut Department of Public Health 410 Capitol Avenue, MS#51 LED Hartford, CT 06134-0308 Message Cover Sheet DATE: April 13, 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: Girl’s Clothing Recalled by My Michelle Due to Risk of Lead Exposure cc: LPPCP Staff, Suzanne Blancaflor, Francesca Provenzano and Joan Jordan (CT DCP) Number of pages including cover sheet: 3 Please see the attached product recall issued by CPSC. The products (Girl's Tops) are distributed by My Michelle, of New York, NY. The jewelry and decorative trim attached to the girl's garments contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. This recall involves girl's tops and dresses sold in sizes small to extra-large and 7 to 16. The garments were sold in various styles including: tops with beaded necklaces attached to the collar and tops with metallic beads attached to the collar. All styles of the tops and dresses have a black tag on the collar with pink print that reads "mymichelle." The recalled items were sold at Burlington Coat Factory, Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Army and Air Force Exchange (AAFES), K & G Fashion Superstore and other retail stores nationwide from January 2011 through March 2011 for about $38. They were manufactured in Vietnam. 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.

National Gypsum Announces Dismissal of Lawsuit

2011-04-11T07:37:00.000-07:00

National Gypsum Announces Dismissal of Attempted Class Action Lawsuit Company’s Product Continues to Withstand Baseless Claims CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--National Gypsum Company, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of gypsum wallboard, today announced that the plaintiff in Yee v. National Gypsum, et al. (pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona) voluntarily dismissed his putative nationwide class action lawsuit filed against the company in October 2009. “Our wallboard has passed the industry’s most rigorous testing and certification processes for indoor air quality and has been used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Green Building Council in their buildings.” “While we are pleased with the outcome of this case, we are hardly surprised. Throughout this litigation, we have never doubted the quality and safety of our gypsum wallboard and were confident we would be fully exonerated,” said Craig Weisbruch, Sr. vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our wallboard has passed the industry’s most rigorous testing and certification processes for indoor air quality and has been used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Green Building Council in their buildings.” The putative class action, Yee v. National Gypsum, et al, alleged that the company manufactured defective drywall which emitted high levels of sulfur, damaged property inside homes and caused health symptoms. These problems have typically been associated with defective Chinese drywall, not domestic drywall. National Gypsum vigorously defended itself against the claims and denied all allegations. The plaintiff did not produce any credible scientific evidence that could substantiate his allegations. “We have not seen any reliable evidence that our gypsum wallboard poses any of the issues associated with defective Chinese drywall,” said Weisbruch. All of the wallboard that National Gypsum manufactures is made in the United States and has attained the highest level of GREENGUARD certification for helping achieve healthy air in homes, schools, hospitals and other public buildings. National Gypsum’s wallboard has earned numerous awards for safety and product quality and has been recognized for its environmental benefits by the EPA and contributes credits to numerous projects certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. For more information on National Gypsum and its products, visit www.NationalGypsum.com or www.DrywallFacts.com. About National Gypsum National Gypsum, based in Charlotte, NC, is a leading supplier of gypsum board, interior finishing products and cement board to the construction industry. It has a network of over 40 facilities in North America. Contacts National Gypsum CompanyCraig Weisbruch, 704-365-7556Director, Corporate Communications

More PCBs in Schools

2011-03-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

Glastonbury Council Considers Funding For Start Of Window Replacement At School
PCBs Must Be Removed From Caulk And Bricks At Gideon Welles
GLASTONBURY — Although the Environmental Protection Agency requires that the town develop a plan to remove PCBs from window caulk and bricks at Gideon Welles School, the federal agency has no required timetable for the work.
Kevin W. Miller, president of Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience LLC, told the town council recently that although the regulations are clear that "you have to do something," the EPA is "silent about the time frame."
"If the EPA believes there is a risk to health and the environment, they might require follow-up air and wipe tests. There is no evidence there is a risk to staff and students," he said.
PCBs — polychlorinated biphenyls — are chemical compounds that were used widely as an insulating material before their manufacture was banned in the late 1970s. They are suspected carcinogens.

The drafty windows — installed when the school was built in 1967 — were on the replacement schedule for years before the PCBs were found in their caulking. The chemical has been leaching into the masonry and other materials around the frames — increasing the cost of removing it from the original estimate of $810,000 to $1.67 million. The state could reimburse the town for $300,000 to $350,000 of the total cost.
Town Manager Richard J. Johnson noted that a further delay of the project could drive the cost even higher.
Town officials said the project would be done in phases over two summers and funding would be spread out over several years. The council now is trying to determine how much to budget for the work in it 2011-12 capital improvement program.
School Superintendent Alan B. Bookman said Friday that the summer of 2012 would be the earliest the project could start.
"The most important thing to do is submit some kind of plan," he said. "We are required by law to do that as soon as the PCBs were detected."
Miller said anything discovered with PCBs above 50 parts per million needs to have a disposal plan approved by the EPA. The PCBs discovered in the caulk had levels "in the thousands" of ppm, Miller said. He said the risk to students and staff would be from ingestion of dust or caulking that flakes off.
"This is typical of what we see," he said of the levels. "The oils seep into the bricks and concrete and all that material needs to be cleaned up and disposed of properly."
Council Chairwoman Susan Karp said the council will decide next month on the funding for the project, adding that the safety of the people in the building is "always our highest priority."

Secrets to a Healthy Home

2011-02-24T12:50:00.000-08:00

Many of us already know the secrets of keeping our homes safe. Check for radon, watch for lead poisoning, and beware of gas leaks. These tips can preserve the lives of your family. But as you keep your home free of toxins, be sure to keep an eye on what you bring into your house. What you and your children are wearing can actually be hazardous to your health.

Rayon is a fabric used in many styles of clothing. Rayon is used to make sweaters, skirts, dresses, Halloween costumes, pajamas, and robes. The fabric may seem harmless, but the truth is, wearing rayon can endanger the lives of you, your children, and your home. Rayon is actually extremely flammable. Reports claim that even when exposed to minimal heat, such as the burning of a cigarette, rayon textiles may and have burst into flame. Rayon’s burning rate is comparable to that of newspaper. An entire rayon skirt can burn in as little as 3 seconds. Protect your house from fire and your family from severe burns by monitoring the clothing that you buy.

Next is a toxin you may already be familiar with. Asbestos has been widely used in the United States and around the world in insulation, drywall, tiles, adhesives, car parts, and heating appliances because of its fire-retardant properties. When asbestos is disturbed, its fibers can be inhaled or ingested. These fibers can also collect on clothes, shoes, and hair. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos may lead to a deadly cancer, mesothelioma. Because symptoms are subtle and latent for 20-50 years after asbestos exposure, mesothelioma diagnosis is often delayed. If you or a family member works near asbestos, it is important to monitor clothing that enters the home. Be cautious of mesothelioma causes like asbestos.

Finally, make sure to wash new clothes before wearing them. A toxin known as formaldehyde is often used in the manufacturing of clothes. Formaldehyde is said to keep clothes stain and wrinkle free. Besides aggravating the skin of more sensitive buyers, formaldehyde is known as a carcinogen. Even if your skin is not sensitive enough for visible signs of aggravation to show, prolonged exposure to formaldehyde increases the risk of cancer. Unlike asbestos, which may remain on clothing after washing, traces of formaldehyde are generally removed after a good soak. Even if you’re excited about wearing your brand new outfit, be sure to reduce your risk of cancer by washing your clothing before wearing it.

Keeping your home free of toxins and health hazards includes keeping your clothes safe. Check labels for flammable rayon clothing, make sure that you or loved ones aren’t bringing asbestos fibers home on their clothes, and wash new outfits to be rid of cancer-causing formaldehyde. After all, a healthy home is a happy one.

Eric Bailey
Bailey@MesotheliomaDiagnosis.net
http://www.MesotheliomaDiagnosis.net

Poor AIr Quality and Heart Attacks

2011-02-24T06:31:00.000-08:00

Dirty Air Triggers More Heart Attacks Than Cocaine, Scientists Say
Published February 24, 2011
Reuters
AP
Air pollution triggers more heart attacks than using cocaine and poses as high a risk of sparking a heart attack as alcohol, coffee and physical exertion, scientists said on Thursday.
Sex, anger, marijuana use and chest or respiratory infections and can also trigger heart attacks to different extents, the researchers said, but air pollution, particularly in heavy traffic, is the major culprit.
The findings, published in The Lancet journal, suggest population-wide factors like polluted air should be taken more seriously when looking at heart risks, and should be put into context beside higher but relatively rarer risks like drug use.
Tim Nawrot of Hasselt University in Belgium, who led the study, said he hoped his findings would also encourage doctors to think more often about population level risks.
"Physicians are always looking at individual patients, and low risk factors might not look important at an individual level, but if they are prevalent in the population then they have a greater public health relevance," he said in a telephone interview.

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes air pollution as "a major environmental risk to health" and estimates that it causes around 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year.Nawrot's team combined data from 36 separate studies and calculated the relative risk posed by a series of heart attack triggers and their population-attributable fraction (PAF), in other words the proportion of total heart attacks estimated to have been caused by each trigger.
The highest risk PAF was exposure to traffic, followed by physical exertion, alcohol, coffee, air pollution, and then things like anger, sex, cocaine use, smoking marijuana and respiratory infections.
"Of the triggers for heart attack studied, cocaine is the most likely to trigger an event in an individual, but traffic has the greatest population effect as more people are exposed to (it)," the researchers wrote. "PAFs give a measure of how much disease would be avoided if the risk was no longer present."
A report published late last year found that air pollution in many major cities in Asia exceeds the WHO's air quality guidelines and that toxic cocktails of pollutants results in more than 530,000 premature deaths a year.
While passive smoking was not included in this study, Nawrot said the effects of second-hand smoke were likely to be similar to that of outdoor air pollution, and noted previous research which found that bans on smoking in public places have significantly reduced heart attack rates.British researchers said last year that a ban on smoking in public places in England led to a swift and significant drop in the number of heart attacks, saving the health service 8.4 million pounds ($13 million) in the first year.
Tim Chico, a heart specialist at the University of Sheffield who was not involved in this research, said it would help health authorities focus on which are the most important triggers.
"However, what triggers the heart attack should be considered the "last straw." The foundations of heart disease that lead to a heart attack are laid down over many years," he said in an emailed comment. "If someone wants to avoid a heart attack they should focus on not smoking, exercising, eating a healthy diet and maintaining their ideal weight."

PCBs in New York School Ballasts

2011-02-22T12:51:00.000-08:00

February 22, 2011, 1:52 pm — Updated: 2:28 pm -->
Striking PCB Levels Found at a New York School
By MIREYA NAVARRO

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has found the highest levels of leaking PCBs to date in its inspections of New York City schools, at Public School 45 in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Agency officials said that an inspection of lighting ballasts at the school on Feb. 12 revealed PCB levels of up to 660,000 parts per million, far beyond the regulatory limit of 50 parts per million.
Environmental Protection Agency A burnt lighting ballast.
Previous inspections at five other school buildings since January had found levels of up to 260,000 parts per million.
The likely cause was that capacitors in many of the lighting fixtures had “burned out and completely failed,” officials said. “This allowed the PCB-containing oil to seep through the potting material in almost pure form,” the agency said in a statement. “In most of the fixtures tested in this school the actual casing around the ballasts had also broken, allowing the high concentration of PCBs to contaminate the surface of the ballasts, the fixture housings, the wires and the diffusers that cover the lighting fixture.”The agency said that the higher the concentration in bulk material, the greater the potential for the PCBs’ entering the air, depending on variables like the amount spilled or released and the size of the room. E.P.A. inspectors found that in some cases that old leaking ballasts had been replaced but the new ones were installed in contaminated fixtures that had not been cleaned to remove the leaked material.
“The results give us a new sense of urgency — and certainly they, along with all of the results so far, point to a widespread problem that should and must be addressed by New York City in order to lower any potential risk of long-term exposure,” said Mary Mears, a spokeswoman for the E.P.A. in New York.
The E.P.A.. and community and elected leaders have been pressing the city to come up with a plan to assess and replace older fluorescent lighting fixtures in all schools because of the danger of leaks. But with about 800 school buildings involved, city officials have balked at the cost of such a wholesale approach to the problem.
The city, however, by law must remove any light fixtures found to be leaking PCBs at above a regulatory level of 50 parts per million. City officials say they have been doing so.
Health experts agree with the city that the health risks of PCB contamination are not immediate but say that the longer that such leaks persist, the higher the risk of illness. PCBs have been linked to cancer, impairment of immune and reproductive function, lower I.Q. and other problems.
A group of elected officials and schools advocates are calling on the New York City Department of Education to replace all toxic lighting ballasts within two to five years. A bill pending in the New York State Assembly would require the same in school buildings constructed between 1950 and 1978, before the use of PCBs was banned by the federal government.
The E.P.A.’s national recommendations on lighting ballasts are available here.

Bed Bugs

2011-01-25T09:31:00.001-08:00

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

2011-01-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

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
Print Email
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

2011-01-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

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

EPA to Inspect New York City Classrooms for PCBs

2010-12-21T07:23:00.000-08:00

By DEVLIN BARRETT
In an escalating dispute with New York City education officials, federal authorities say they will soon begin inspecting classrooms for PCB contamination because the city is downplaying the potential danger to children.
The city, in turn, said that if the Environmental Protection Agency gets what it wants, it will cause 15,000 teacher layoffs.
The EPA notified the city's Department of Education last week that it doesn't agree with the city's claim that the PCB-contaminated material poses no immediate threat to students or school staff. The EPA also challenges the city's estimate that it would cost $1 billion to replace the aging fluorescent lighting fixtures that are the chief suspects of PCB contamination in schools.
The EPA has recommended the city immediately begin removing the older fixtures suspected of leaking PCBs, or polychlorinated byphenyls, a potentially cancer-causing chemical linked to numerous other health problems, including reproductive and immune disorders. PCBs were often used in construction and electrical components starting in the 1950s, but were banned in 1978.
The city contends there is little scientific evidence to show that inhaled PCBs like those in the schools pose an immediate health risk.
Judith Enck, the EPA's regional administrator in New York, notified the city by letter that as long as it resisted efforts to quickly replace the suspect lighting fixtures, the EPA would send its own personnel into schools to inspect light fixtures. The inspections are planned to begin early next month.
Ms. Enck chided the city for not taking action, saying other school systems around the country are removing light fixtures with PCBs. She criticized the city's $1 billion estimate for the work, saying her agency has "no understanding of how this figure was arrived at,'' particularly since a 2008 city estimate said it would cost $1.2 billion to remove the lights in all city-owned buildings, not just the schools.
Natalie Ravitz, a spokeswoman for the city's Department of Education, said that such light fixtures exist in schools and buildings around the country, yet New York "is the only school district in the nation that the EPA is threatening with an enormous unfunded mandate. We are working with the Obama administration to find solutions that do not impose a $1 billion unfunded mandate on city taxpayers that would force 15,000 teacher layoffs.''
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D., Manhattan), who has criticized the Bloomberg administration for not moving quickly, praised the EPA Monday for addressing "an issue of immediate concern, which does pose very real health risks in the here and now.''

Possible Toxins in Perfumes

2010-12-06T10:01:00.000-08:00

Even high-end perfumes are made with cocktails of dangerous and untested chemicals that may produce problems from allergies to hormone disruption, a study by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has found.The Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973 explicitly exempts manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products from having to disclose any of the ingredients used to give fragrance to their products, as long as "fragrance" is listed in on the label. This lack disclosure becomes particularly dangerous when combined with a large-scale lack of data on the safety of these compounds; neither the FDA nor any publicly accountable organization has ever tested the majority of fragrance compounds for safety as ingredients in personal care products.Upon request from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the Environmental Working Group sent 17 brand-name perfumes to be tested by the independent laboratory Analytical Sciences. Thirteen of the perfumes had been purchased in the United States, and four had been purchased in Canada.Researchers uncovered 40 different chemicals in the perfume samples, in addition to the 51 listed on product labels. Of the 40 ingredients found, only two were listed on the label of every product containing them; the other 38 were unlisted on at least one of the 17 labels.Each product contained roughly equal numbers of listed and unlisted chemicals, averaging 14 secret chemicals per product. Products including more than the average number included Britney Spears Curious (17), Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio (17), Chanel Coco (18) and American Eagle Seventy Seven (24). The average perfume contained 10 known allergens that can trigger reactions from asthma to headaches to contact dermatitis. Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio contained the most known allergens, at 19.Even more seriously, researchers uncovered 10 chemicals known to disrupt the hormonal (endocrine) system, with each perfume containing an average of four. The perfumes Halle by Halle Berry, Quicksilver and Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow all contained seven different endocrine disruptors -- six estrogen mimics and a thyroid disruptor.Among the endocrine disrupting chemicals were sun-blocking chemicals, the synthetic musks Galaxolide and Tonalide and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Galaxolide and Tonalide, which have been shown to accumulate in human and animal bodies, were found in more than eight of the products. DEP was found in 12 products in concentrations from 30 to 30,000 parts per million, the latter in Eternity for Women. It has been linked to reproductive defects in male infants, sperm damage in men and, more recently, hyperactivity in children.Other perfume ingredients are known to react with indoor air to form formaldehyde, ultrafine particles and other pollutants. These dangerous fragrance chemicals are also found in air fresheners, shampoos, lotions, bath products, and dishwashing and laundry detergents.Yet because the FDA has no authority to force fragrance manufacturers to test their products for safety, vast numbers of such chemicals remain unknown quantities. Only 19 of the 91 ingredients in the study have ever been tested for safety by the industry-funded Cosmetic Industry Review, and only 27 have ever been tested by either the International Fragrance Association or the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials. Of the unlabeled ingredients found, only 34 percent have had safety assessments published. While industry sources may claim that more ingredients than these have been tested, many have only been tested in non-cosmetic contexts, for example as food additives. And even evaluated chemicals remain untested in combination with the many other chemicals thrown in to cosmetics and other products to produce the vague legal category of "fragrance."With no requirement for either safety testing or labeling, there is simply no way for consumers to know what lies behind that term.Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030635_perfumes_toxic_chemicals.html#ixzz17M7keP00

Ventilation in Classroom Ariticle

2010-11-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Classroom Ventilation Affects Learning Outcomes
Lourdes Salvador
November 28, 2010
Parents are addressing air quality issues at their children´s schools with increasing frequency. Commonly addressed issues include poor ventilation, mold, fragrance, new carpeting, pesticides, and a myriad of cleaning products used on a routine basis to maintain schools. Now, researchers at the University of Tulsa, Indoor Air Program agree that increasing the ventilation rates in classrooms translates into improved academic achievement for students.The researchers studied 100 elementary schools in the US in two different districts. Ventilation rates were measured along with students´ standardized test scores.Eighty-seven of the 100 classrooms evaluated had ventilation rates below the recommended guidelines, indicating a need for the average school to improve indoor air quality.The results of the study found that for every unit of ventilation rate increase, 2.9% more students passed the standardized test for math and reading. This is a significant finding in terms of academic achievement. Increasing ventilation rates reduces the amount of contaminants in the air. Less pollution and better air allows students to think and focus better. Symptoms of attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities appear to also diminish when ventilation rates and air quality improve. Other methods of reducing indoor air pollution include the use of fragrance free, non-toxic cleaning products, avoiding the use of fragranced personal care products by students and staff, cleaning up mold and mildew, avoiding pesticide use or using an integrative pest management practice, and using low or no-voc, non-toxic materials for building and renovations. This would include no-voc paints and avoiding varnishes, floor waxes, carpets, and other materials which release gases in to the air.
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One common product that has made its way into schools that pollutes indoor air is hand sanitizer. These germicidal products contain both fragrance and ingredients which are registered pesticides. Instead of relying on hand sanitizers, schools can encourage hand washing and provide fragrance free, non-toxic soap in restrooms. Scientific evidence shows that better air means better grades and better behavior. Many schools are starting to take this seriously and creating new policies and procedures. Still others are resistant to change either due to time or perceived increased cost of initiating new procedures, and sometimes simply due to long-standing habits.Yet the change is for the benefit of students, which means cost savings long term for special education and remedial programs. Oftentimes a change to less toxic products also means less cost for on-the-job injuries.The bottom line is that the nation´s kids matter and to do their best in class, research shows they need clean air!ReferenceHaverinen-Shaughnessy U, Moschandreas DJ, Shaughnessy RJ. Association between substandard classroom ventilation rates and students' academic achievement. Indoor Air. 2010 Aug 24. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.2010.00686.x. [Epub ahead of print]This article originally appeared in the MCS America News, December 2010 Issue

Article on House Plants and Indoor Air Quality

2010-11-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

Household Plants More Than Room Decor
Antananarivo : Madagascar Nov 03, 2010
By Debbie Nicholson
1 0
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tweetmeme_style = 'compact';
Views: 96

Health Benefits of Some of the Healthiest Plants We all use plants to brighten up our rooms and bring some of nature indoors. Other than looking great and adding energy to our room they actually provide health benefits to the body. Problems of headaches, stress and even heart issues seem to lessen with these plants around. One of the best parts is they can bring in clean air.Chicago cardiologist Dr. Bruno Cortis, states house plants do relax a person. Studies have proven that patients in hospitals who have a garden view from a window have a faster recovery rate than those who face a wall.In Norway, the University of Agriculture, conducted a study on indoor plants. Their study had shown that these plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore-throats and other types of cold associated illness by at least 30%. The main reason is the plants increase humidity while decreasing dust.
Large known corporations and even offices are starting to add plants indoors to boost employee morale and health.Benefits of houseplantsThey heighten a persons positive feelings while reducing negative ones like anger.Reduce sound and stress levels.Ability to control humidity to optimal levels of health.They absorb carbon dioxide and bring in fresh air and oxygen.Makes room appearance look clean and fresh.Improves concentration levels.Why purify the home with plantsSome of the biggest contributions to poor health our actually found in the home. There are plants which can remove and guard their harmful effects.Benzene which is found in tobacco smoke, paint and other types of material. Benzene can cause health issues such as headaches, dizziness and respiratory problems.Formaldehyde which easily is found in permanent-press clothing, pressed wood furniture, some paper products and even carpeting. Formaldehyde can irritate asthma and produce headaches. It to have been associated to certain cancers.Trichloroethylene is also a substance that can cause cancer in both humans and animals. It can come from numerous sources including tobacco.Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness and headaches. Can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.Some of the top choice plants aroundAreca Palm This plant is from Madagascar. It is also known under names such as the butterfly plant, yellow palm and golden cane.It is labeled as an exotic houseplant for indoors. It brings an air of tropics into your home. It takes all indoor toxins out of the air and purifies it. Large amounts of moisture get released into the air. It thrives wonderfully indoors.Boston FernThis fern was popular back in the Queen Victoria era of the 19th century. Then in Boston during the year 1914 it had began to appear. Now it is increasingly popular plant today in many homes.The plant takes formaldehyde out of the air. Formaldehyde coming from things such as pressed wood products, cigarette smoke. Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment and has been associated to increased risks of cancer.They need lots of sunlight so a window location is best.English IvyEnglish Ivy has been proven to effectively eliminate airborne mold and feces along with formaldehyde.If you own pets it is great plant to have and works well placed near litter boxes and cages.The plant needs bright light to grow but do not use direct sunlight.Peace LilyThe Peace Lily has the ability to remove benzene and xylene and toluene which is found in nail polish removers, paints and solvents.The plant will thrive in low light and any well draining potting mix. You need to wash the leaves now and then for the prevention of insect attacks.Bamboo plantThis is one extremely popular plant today. In Asia it is a symbol of good fortune and has been around for 4,000 years. They are considered non-toxic for pets expect for the Chinese Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo. It too removes benzene from the air.Aloe VeraAloe Vera plants not only maintain clean air quality and eliminate toxins it is well known for its medical benefits as well.As we all know the gel from this plant is extremely useful. Just cut off a section and the gel spills out. Just dab on wound or cut to speed up healing. It is an antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral which can also soothe any inflammation.Lady FernMuch like the Aloe Vera plant. It is also one of the oldest variety of ferns. Just grab a leaf and mash it in palm of hand. It's juices will rapidly ease the sting from nettle burns other burns and stings along with minor cuts.NASA Research and EPA Has The Final StatementNASA and the EPA had invested twenty-five years of research into hazardous volatile organic carbons. In the studies it has indicatHousehold Plants More Than Room Decor
Antananarivo : Madagascar Nov 03, 2010
By Debbie Nicholson
1 0
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7223365-household-plants-more-than-room-decor';
tweetmeme_style = 'compact';
Views: 96

Health Benefits of Some of the Healthiest Plants We all use plants to brighten up our rooms and bring some of nature indoors. Other than looking great and adding energy to our room they actually provide health benefits to the body. Problems of headaches, stress and even heart issues seem to lessen with these plants around. One of the best parts is they can bring in clean air.Chicago cardiologist Dr. Bruno Cortis, states house plants do relax a person. Studies have proven that patients in hospitals who have a garden view from a window have a faster recovery rate than those who face a wall.In Norway, the University of Agriculture, conducted a study on indoor plants. Their study had shown that these plants can reduce fatigue, coughs, sore-throats and other types of cold associated illness by at least 30%. The main reason is the plants increase humidity while decreasing dust.
Large known corporations and even offices are starting to add plants indoors to boost employee morale and health.Benefits of houseplantsThey heighten a persons positive feelings while reducing negative ones like anger.Reduce sound and stress levels.Ability to control humidity to optimal levels of health.They absorb carbon dioxide and bring in fresh air and oxygen.Makes room appearance look clean and fresh.Improves concentration levels.Why purify the home with plantsSome of the biggest contributions to poor health our actually found in the home. There are plants which can remove and guard their harmful effects.Benzene which is found in tobacco smoke, paint and other types of material. Benzene can cause health issues such as headaches, dizziness and respiratory problems.Formaldehyde which easily is found in permanent-press clothing, pressed wood furniture, some paper products and even carpeting. Formaldehyde can irritate asthma and produce headaches. It to have been associated to certain cancers.Trichloroethylene is also a substance that can cause cancer in both humans and animals. It can come from numerous sources including tobacco.Carbon monoxide causes drowsiness and headaches. Can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.Some of the top choice plants aroundAreca Palm This plant is from Madagascar. It is also known under names such as the butterfly plant, yellow palm and golden cane.It is labeled as an exotic houseplant for indoors. It brings an air of tropics into your home. It takes all indoor toxins out of the air and purifies it. Large amounts of moisture get released into the air. It thrives wonderfully indoors.Boston FernThis fern was popular back in the Queen Victoria era of the 19th century. Then in Boston during the year 1914 it had began to appear. Now it is increasingly popular plant today in many homes.The plant takes formaldehyde out of the air. Formaldehyde coming from things such as pressed wood products, cigarette smoke. Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment and has been associated to increased risks of cancer.They need lots of sunlight so a window location is best.English IvyEnglish Ivy has been proven to effectively eliminate airborne mold and feces along with formaldehyde.If you own pets it is great plant to have and works well placed near litter boxes and cages.The plant needs bright light to grow but do not use direct sunlight.Peace LilyThe Peace Lily has the ability to remove benzene and xylene and toluene which is found in nail polish removers, paints and solvents.The plant will thrive in low light and any well draining potting mix. You need to wash the leaves now and then for the prevention of insect attacks.Bamboo plantThis is one extremely popular plant today. In Asia it is a symbol of good fortune and has been around for 4,000 years. They are considered non-toxic for pets expect for the Chinese Sacred or Heavenly Bamboo. It too removes benzene from the air.Aloe VeraAloe Vera plants not only maintain clean air quality and eliminate toxins it is well known for its medical benefits as well.As we all know the gel from this plant is extremely useful. Just cut off a section and the gel spills out. Just dab on wound or cut to speed up healing. It is an antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral which can also soothe any inflammation.Lady FernMuch like the Aloe Vera plant. It is also one of the oldest variety of ferns. Just grab a leaf and mash it in palm of hand. It's juices will rapidly ease the sting from nettle burns other burns and stings along with minor cuts.NASA Research and EPA Has The Final StatementNASA and the EPA had invested twenty-five years of research into hazardous volatile organic carbons. In the studies it has indicated that greater than 107 of various VOCs are associated to cancer. They also can cause damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system.Findings have indicated that indoor plants can eliminate dangerous of these toxins. Many studies have proved that indoor plants contain a huge capacity for the absorbtion of chemicals while purifying the air.The EPA states that VOCs are put into the air daily from simple household items such as paint, furniture and carpeting. These are higher indoors by up to two to five times more than if they were present outdoors.Additional studies by NASA also have shown that indoor plants effectively eliminate several main pollutants which are present indoors.Indoor plants not convert carbon dioxide into oxygen but also eliminate benzene, tricholorethylene and formaldehyde.There we have evidence from two top agencies that indoor plants do provide health benefits and are just more than a way to brighten up a room.ed that greater than 107 of various VOCs are associated to cancer. They also can cause damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system.Findings have indicated that indoor plants can eliminate dangerous of these toxins. Many studies have proved that indoor plants contain a huge capacity for the absorbtion of chemicals while purifying the air.The EPA states that VOCs are put into the air daily from simple household items such as paint, furniture and carpeting. These are higher indoors by up to two to five times more than if they were present outdoors.Additional studies by NASA also have shown that indoor plants effectively eliminate several main pollutants which are present indoors.Indoor plants not convert carbon dioxide into oxygen but also eliminate benzene, tricholorethylene and formaldehyde.There we have evidence from two top agencies that indoor plants do provide health benefits and are just more than a way to brighten up a room.

BPA Article from Scientific American

2010-11-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

Everyday BPA Exposure Decreases Human Semen Quality
The more bisphenol A men were exposed to--at work or through the environment--the worse off their sperm were, according a new study that finds the link in humans
By Katherine Harmon October 28, 2010 10

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MAN DOWN: Levels of BPA way below those currently tolerated by government agencies seem to have negative effects on the viability of sperm. Image: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/GILBERTO SANTA ROSA
The common industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to many ills, including reproductive abnormalities, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Much of the evidence for these associations, however, has been drawn from animal or in vitro research and has been somewhat controversial as to its precise implications for human health.Now, a human study has found strong links between BPA levels and semen quality—and the findings are not looking good, especially for men frequently exposed to the compound on the job.Researchers studied the urine (where BPA can be measured) and semen of 218 male factory workers in China, some of whom make BPA or put it into other products (such as plastics and epoxy resins that line cans), and the remainder, whose work did not put them in direct contact with the chemical.Compared with the control group, the men who worked in the BPA-based factories had more than four times the chance of having lowered sperm counts and more than double the risk of having lower sperm motility (swimming ability). The results of the analysis, which controlled for potentially confounding factors (including age, heavy metal and other chemical exposures, chronic disease, smoking, alcohol use, sexual history, etcetera), were published online October 28 in Fertility and Sterility in a study led by De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.The men in the study group who had not been exposed to BPA in the workplace nonetheless had been subject to everyday environmental contact, such as with BPA-containing food or beverage containers. But even these men, whose levels were slightly lower than those found in a typical U.S. man, showed decreased semen quality that correlated with their relative BPA levels.The precise mechanisms by which BPA might be affecting sexual function and semen quality are not yet well understood. The chemical is thought to be seen by the body as an estrogen and anti-androgen and likely disrupts hormones and hormone receptors, thus, possibly affecting hormone-dependent semen production and survival.Previous studies by Li and his colleagues had linked environmental BPA exposure in U.S. men to sexual dysfunction. The new analysis, however, presents more objective data and implies "that BPA may have even more toxicity than we thought," Li says.The new findings help corroborate results from another human study published earlier this year, which found that men who had the highest levels of BPA in their urine had about 23 percent lower sperm concentrations. This study, published online in July in Reproductive Toxicology, had recruited male subjects via a fertility clinic. John Meeker, an assistant professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, who led the July study and was not involved in the newest research, notes that the latest work from Li's group helps strengthen the case that BPA might not just be passing inertly through our bodies.Li hopes that his team's work will help add to a growing body of literature that suggests current regulatory standards for BPA concentrations are outdated. "U.S. regulation is way out of whack," Li says. The men in his team's study who worked in the BPA-processing plants had median concentrations of about 38.7 micrograms of BPA per liter of urine, which was about 40 times higher than the control group (which had about 1.4 micrograms per liter—lower than average U.S. male levels, 2.3 micrograms per liter). Current U.S. regulatory standards, however, place daily intake limits at about 70 times the amount (2,687.5 micrograms per liter) that the BPA factory workers had. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is in the process of reviewing current safety data on the chemical, and as of this March the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had listed it as a "chemical of concern."Both Li and Meeker emphasize the importance of consistent findings in human studies, which "gives you some more confidence in the existence of an association," Meeker says. And, says Li, "Our findings are consistent with animal studies," which can provide clues as to the biological processes behind the changes.

Carbon Dioxide from Gas Dryers

2010-10-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-18T09:32:00.000-07:00

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.

PCBs in a variety of schools

2010-09-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week, some 100 parents attended a meeting hosted by the Lexington Public Schools in Massachusetts regarding removal of caulk containing polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) from its Joseph Estabrook Elementary School, wrote Boston.com.
We recently wrote that the New York City Department of Education—with the City of New York and the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA)—reached an agreement earlier this year with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 (EPA) regarding assessment and remediation of PCB caulk in New York City public schools. The City initiated a pilot study to evaluate both the presence of PCB caulk in public school buildings and preferred remedial alternatives. Parents in New York are concerned about PCB levels there, as well.
In Massachusetts, the Joseph Estabrook Elementary School closed when removal of PCB caulk did not sufficiently lower PCB levels there, said Boston.com. Administrators announced that the second phase of the cleanup has begun and officials are planning to reopen the school on Tuesday, following the three-day weekend, noted Boston.com. But, test results are not expected until at least next Thursday, said Boston.com, after the school’s scheduled opening.
Tests last spring revealed unsafe PCB levels in the school’s caulking and a plan was created and approved by the EPA for removal to begin August 24th, said Boston.com, citing Gerard Cody, the town’s health director. The plan was scheduled for completion prior to the school opening Tuesday; however, the Lexington Health Division determined even higher unsafe levels of PCBs, according to the school’s director of public facilities, Pat Goddard, wrote Boston.com.
Some parents are up in arms, urging the school be closed until the risk is eradicated. “My children will not go back,” said Angela Gharabegian, whose two young daughters attend Estabrook. “I don’t trust what is safe and what is not—it doesn’t mean anything to me at this point,” she added, quoted Boston.com.
PCBs—which include some 200 compounds—are a class of very toxic chemicals ubiquitously found in construction materials and electrical products in many buildings from the 1950s until 1978, when they were phased out. Despite the phase-out, PCBs may be found in products and materials produced before the 1979 ban because PCBs were an element in school construction and electrical products during this time, as well, noted NY1 previously.
School Superintendent Paul Ash announced at this week’s meeting in Massachusetts that he will convene an expert panel, that will include three parents, to look at the information and come to some decisions, but only after results are received, said Boston.com. The school actually opened for students on Tuesday; however, parents did not learn of the unsuccessful removal of PCB until Tuesday evening at the meeting, said Boston.com.
Parents are concerned that Ash allowed students to return to a school known to be PCB contaminated. “You never gave us a choice,” Gharabegian said to a group of administrators, experts, and consultants, quoted Boston.com. “You did not give us the parental right to protect our children, and you withheld numbers from us,” she added.
According to Ash, the school remained open following information from the EPA. Kim Tisa, a representative from EPA for New England told Ash that if PCB levels exceed so-called “screening” numbers, the building should be examined, not necessarily closed; Ash also blamed pressure to remain open citing the number of days mandated under state law and that closing school so early in the school year would reduce vacation time, said Boston.com. “Who cares about vacation?” Gharabegian said. “If it comes down to our children’s’ health?” wrote Boston.com.

Laboratory Safety Checklist

2010-09-14T11:28:00.000-07:00

The following checklist applies to general laboratory activities. There are more specific requirements under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard – 29 CFR 1910.1200 and Laboratory Standard – 29 CFR 1910.1450.
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Broken glass containers not in use

Expired first aid supplies

Chemical containers and labels are compromised or illegible

Eyewash missing or has degrading covers

Chemicals stored alphabetically

Flammable safety cans have flame arrester removed

Chemicals that degrade/decompose (such as peroxides and peroxide formers) are not dated

Goggles not used for handling liquids

Concentrated nitric acid and concentrated acetic stored together

Incompatible gas cylinders stored together

Containers labeled improperly

MSDSs unavailable and/or out-of-date

Current chemical inventory list out-of-date

No logbook for weekly eyewash inspections

Electrical cords used for permanent installations

Old, expired, and/or hazardous chemicals left in inventory when they should be removed because they are unneeded

Synthesized sample labeling not traceable to laboratory notebook

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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience offers a variety of services to assist you in maintaining compliance with OSHA's standards. These services include 1) chemical inventory management, 2) chemical hygiene plan development and management, 3) chemical hazards identification, 4) chemical storage, 5) training, 6) waste management, 7) inspections, and more A Certified Chemical-Hygiene Officer, Certified Industrial-Hygienist, and/or another laboratory safety expert will provide you with guidance on maintaining a safe and compliant workplace setting. Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience has years of experience providing consulting services to industrial clients of all sizes and of diverse backgrounds.
Download a copy of this checklist in PDF
For more information contact:Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO146 Hartford RoadManchester, CT 06040
ccalvert@fando.com(860) 646-2469 x5571
For more information visit: www.craigcalvert.webs.com/ , www.schoolsafetyinfo.blogspot.com/p/lab-safety-links.html
Addressing your environmental needs with professional, safe innovative, responsive, and economical solutions.

Laboratory Safety Checklist- Healthy Buildings

2010-09-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
September 4, 2010
Welcome to the September issue of the Industrial Safety Newsletter. There are many components to a laboratory safety program, and it is easy to miss some of the little things. With this in mind, below is a short checklist of common deficiencies that I have found when I perform laboratory inspections. I hope that you find this newsletter useful, and as always, we look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.
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The following checklist applies to general laboratory activities. There are more specific requirements under OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard 29 CFR 1910.1200 and Laboratory Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450.
*Listed alphabetically
¨ Broken glass containers not in use
¨ Chemical containers and labels are compromised or illegible
¨ Chemicals stored alphabetically
¨ Chemicals that degrade/decompose (such as peroxides and peroxide formers) are not dated
¨ Concentrated nitric acid and concentrated acetic stored together
¨ Containers labeled improperly
¨ Current chemical inventory list out-of-date
¨ Electrical cords used for permanent installations
¨ Expired first aide supplies
¨ Eyewash missing or has degrading covers
¨ Flammable safety cans have flame arrester removed
¨ Goggles not used for handling liquids
¨ Incompatible gas cylinders stored together
¨ MSDSs unavailable and/or out-of-date
¨ No logbook for weekly eyewash inspections
¨ Old, unneeded, and/or hazardous chemicals
¨ Safety showers not inspected regularly
¨ Synthesized sample labeling not traceable to laboratory notebook
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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience offers a variety of services to assist you in maintaining compliance with OSHA’s standards. These services include 1) chemical inventory management, 2) chemical hygiene plan development and management, 3) chemical hazards identification, 4) chemical storage, 5) training, 6) waste management, 7) inspections, and more… A Certified-Chemical Hygiene Officer, Certified Industrial Hygienist, and/or another laboratory safety expert will provide you with guidance on maintaining a safe and compliant workplace setting. Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience has years of experience providing consulting services to industrial clients of all sizes and of diverse backgrounds .
For more information contact:
Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
ccalvert@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5571

On the web, for more information visit: www.craigcalvert.webs.com/
www.schoolsafetyinfo.blogspot.com/p/lab-safety-links.html

Addressing your needs with professional, safe, innovative, responsive, and economical solutions.

Job Posting- Senior CIH/Hazmaterials Manager

2010-09-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

Looking for a Senior Level CIH with 15 plus years experience in dealing with hazardous materials in buliding structures (asbestos, lead, IAQ, PCBs, Mold, Mercury,etc.). The position will be located in our Manchester, CT office.

Please contact.

Kevin W. Miller, Ph.D.
Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience, LLC
kmiller@fando.com

Allergy and Extra Weight?

2010-09-08T07:24:00.001-07:00

Antihistamine Use Linked to Extra Pounds
Published August 26, 2010
Reuters
People who use prescription antihistamines to relieve allergy symptoms may be more likely than non-users to carry excess pounds, a new study suggests, although the significance of the connection is not yet clear.
In a study of 867 U.S. adults, researchers at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, found that prescription antihistamine users were more likely to be overweight or obese than non-users were.
Among the 268 antihistamine users, 45 percent were overweight, versus 30 percent of the 599 study participants not on the medications.
The researchers stress, however, that the findings do not prove that antihistamines are the cause of the extra pounds. This type of study, known as an observational study, can only point to an association between two variables — in this case, antihistamine use and body weight — and cannot prove cause-and-effect.
It's possible that some other factor explains the link, according to lead researcher Dr. Joseph Ratliff, a postdoctoral associate in Yale's department of psychiatry.
"There have been studies that show allergies and asthma themselves are associated with obesity," he told Reuters Health in an email, "so these conditions themselves may have an effect."
Still, in a report in the journal Obesity, Ratliff and his colleagues say the findings point to an important question for future studies to explore.
According to Ratliff, the researchers were interested in looking at the relationship between antihistamines and weight because of what's known about medications called atypical antipsychotics.
Those drugs — such as olanzapine (Zyprexa) and risperidone (Risperdal) — are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses and carry the side effect of weight gain. They also have antihistamine effects.
Histamine is a chemical produced in the body that is best known for its role in promoting the inflammation associated with allergic responses; blocking histamine is a good thing when it comes to relieving hay fever symptoms, for instance.
But cells throughout the brain have receptors for histamine, and the chemical appears to have a hand in a number of physiological functions — with appetite control and calorie burning being among them.
So in theory, Ratliff explained, antihistamines could contribute to overeating and slower fat breakdown.
The current findings are based on 867 adults who took part in a government health survey in 2005 and 2006. All participants had their weight and height measured, as well as their blood sugar, cholesterol and levels of the blood-sugar-regulating hormone insulin.
On average, antihistamine users had a higher body mass index (BMI) — at about 31, which falls into the category of obesity. That compared with a BMI of about 28 among non-users, which correlates to being moderately overweight. BMI is a standard measure of weight in relation to height used to gauge obesity.
When the researchers accounted for participants' age and sex, antihistamine use was linked to a 55 percent increase in the odds of being overweight versus non-use. The medications were not linked to higher odds of elevated blood sugar, insulin or cholesterol, however.
More studies are needed to see whether antihistamines do in fact have an effect on body weight.
The question is important, Ratliff and his colleagues note, as an estimated 50 million Americans have allergies, and anywhere from 35 percent to 50 percent of them use antihistamines.
For now, Ratliff recommended that people with allergies talk with their doctors about all the potential side effects of the different treatment options, and try to find one that works best for them.
Other allergy treatments include corticosteroid nasal sprays and eye drops, decongestants, cromolyn sodium nasal sprays and allergy shots. Non-drug tactics to managing allergies include limiting exposure to symptom triggers — such as pollen, mold or pet dander — and using salt-water nasal washes.

Mequon School Closes For Mold

2010-09-07T11:43:00.000-07:00

Mequon School Latest to Close Due to Mold

Posted Tuesday September 7, 2010

MEQUON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Another Wisconsin school has been hit with mold.

The Oriole Lane Elementary School in Mequon is closed Tuesday, after officials found mold in the building.

An air quality expert tells WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee that at least 30 Wisconsin schools have had some kind of mold problem – and he blames it on the hot and damp summer. He says it takes a thorough cleaning to get rid of it.

At the Stone Bank school near Oconomowoc, crews worked around the clock for 4 days to remove the mold they had. Schools in Middleton and Crivitz were also among those losing class time early in this school year.

Mequon school officials could not say how long Oriole Lane would be closed due to the latest mold discovery.

For original posting visit: www.whbl.com/news/articles/2010/sep/07/mequon-school-latest-close-due-mold/

Is Raw Milk Safe?

2010-09-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Got E. coli? Raw Milk's Appeal Grows Despite Health Risks
Bacterial outbreaks are traced back to nonpasteurized milk, yet proponents claim it is healthier and tastes better
By Terri Peterson Smith (Scientific American)

UNSAFE OR THE REAL DEAL?: Raw milk has a loyal following, but the unpasteurized product is also linked to illnesses contracted from bacteria that may lurk in milk that comes straight from a cow or goat.

Milk is well known as a great dietary source of protein and calcium, not to mention an indispensable companion to cookies. But "nature's perfect food," a label given to milk over time by a variety of boosters, including consumer activists, government nutritionists and the American Dairy Council, has become a great source of controversy, too. The long-running dispute over whether milk, both from cows and goats, should be consumed in raw or pasteurized form—an argument more than a century old—has heated up in the last five years, according to Bill Marler, a Washington State lawyer who takes raw milk and other food poisoning cases.A bumper crop of recent illness related to raw milk accentuates the problem. Last month, at least 30 people, including two children, tested positive for strains of campylobacter and Escherichia coli bacteria traced to raw (nonpasteurized) goat milk. In June five people in Minnesota were diagnosed with E. coli traced to raw cow's milk from a local dairy. One, a toddler, was hospitalized after he developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure that is a potentially deadly E. coli complication.They are hardly isolated cases. In fact, there have already been more reports of raw milk-related illness outbreaks this year in the U.S. than in any of the past five years.Such outbreaks are largely preventable if milk is pasteurized, says Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The process (known as high temperature, short time (HTST) pasteurization) was invented more than a century ago and relies on heat at least 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds to kill the stew of E. coli, campylobacter, Listeria, salmonella and other microbes that may lurk in milk that comes straight from a cow or goat. Medical experts consider pasteurization as one of the major breakthroughs in public health history. "A triumph," Tauxe adds.Keeping it realRaw milk proponents, including The Weston A. Price Foundation, deny its dangers and praise its superior flavor. They believe raw milk obtained from healthy, pasture-fed animals strengthens the immune system in a manner similar to human breast milk and that it cures digestive tract conditions such as Crohn's disease. Sally Fallon Morell, the foundation's president and founder of the Campaign for Real Milk, disputes the claims of raw milk-related illness. "We have analyzed those reports, and 95 percent should go in the trash can because they're biased," she says. "The pasteurization argument is based on 40-year-old science."Raw milk advocates also claim that pasteurization destroys key nutrients. "Real milk contains a complex system of enzymes, fats, carbohydrates and fragile proteins that are wonders of the microscopic world," Fallon Morell says. "They are destroyed with rapid heating."That assertion is debatable. As with any cooking process, pasteurization causes some chemical change, says Jennifer Nelson, a nutritionist with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., although she says that nutrition researchers are still testing to see if nutrients, enzymes and other health-related components are significantly altered. Whatever the nutritional change, Nelson cautions, "Raw milk can carry pathogens that can cause illness and death." Certain high risk groups should never drink raw milk: infants, growing children, the elderly and people who are immune compromised because their immune systems may not be strong enough to fight off the pathogens often found in raw milk, she adds.Given the number of disease outbreaks related to raw milk, one might expect the demand for raw milk to dry up. Not so—in fact, demand for raw milk has risen faster than cream in a milk bottle, commanding prices as high as $10 per gallon. Despite the warnings of public health officials, including the Web site Real Raw Milk Facts, raw milk has become a national cause célèbre, and dairymen who sell it have become local folk heroes."It's a political issue," Fallon Morell says. "It's also a health, small farm and economic issue. I'm not advocating that we all go back and live on farms, but the pendulum has gone too far in the direction of industry. What we need [are] small farms with Space Age technology."

Shrimp in your drinking water?

2010-09-03T07:09:00.000-07:00

Invisible shrimp could very well be living in every drop of water you drink -- but that's OK, they're nothing to worry about.
A photo posted to the online sharing site Reddit has the Internet abuzz. It shows a tiny animal -- a shrimp-like crustacean called a copepod -- and announces that the reader found it in his New York City tap water.
"You swallow these invisible shrimp with every gulp of NYC tap water," trumpeted online blog Gizmodo about the discovery. Time magazine's website also announced the find breathlessly, exhorting New Yorkers to "drink up" -- but noting that the critters may pose a problem for many of the city's Jewish residents.
"Besides a serious 'ick' factor, the copepods are technically crustaceans, which means they aren't kosher for the city's large Orthodox, observant Jewish population," the site warned.
It's all true. There are, indeed, copepods in New York's drinking water -- and the reason they're there is that the city's water is superb for drinking. In fact, people across the country with excellent natural water supplies swallow invisible bugs like these every day.
Most copepods are so small -- barely 1 to 2 millimeters long -- that they're more or less transparent. And they can be found in most freshwater habitats, including the reservoirs that supply public drinking water to cities like New York.
"It's one of those interesting facts you learn about local drinking water -- but it's in no way dangerous," Farrell Sklerov, a spokesman for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), told FoxNews.com.
He explained that many cities filter their water, but if the water quality exceeds federal standards -- which New York City tap water does -- it doesn't require filtering, a process that would remove the copepods. Among other cities that don't filter their water are Boston, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Sklerov said.
He said the copepods "pose no risk to human health. It's not something that's regulated because there's no harmful effects from them."
A representative of NOAA's Fisheries Services explained that copepods are a form of plankton, the minuscule creatures that form the majority of the biomass in the ocean and feed many animals, notably whales.
"There are areas that have blooms of copepods at certain times of year, such as Cape Cod bay in the spring," said NOAA's Teri Frady. "Right whales eat them, and that's why you see right whales near Cape Cod at that time of year."
They're also harmless for humans, though if you're disturbed, simply pass your water through an ordinary, over-the-counter filter.
Many people do have allergies to crustaceans

Cadmium in Jewerly -TSCA Section 6

2010-08-31T06:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday EPA accepted the petition from Sierra Club and the Empire State Consumers Project to ban cadmium from toy jewelry under TSCA Section 6 if CPSC fails to act. EPA stated:
"Though it is EPA's understanding that CPSC is currently developing exposure limits for cadmium in certain children's products, if CPSC does not act, EPA will initiate a rulemaking under TSCA section 6 as your petition requests. EPA will work closely with CPSC to determine the most effective means for addressing cadmium in toy metal jewelry and other consumer products, and to determine whether action by CPSC should have precedence. It is EPA's understanding that CPSC's work to develop exposure limits for cadmium will take more time than is available to EPA under TSCA section 21 . Thus, EPA plans to grant your petition and continue working with CPSC, and to initiate a section 6 rulemaking only if this effort does not result in action by CPSC or if EPA concludes that some form of joint action is appropriate."
EPA also granted the TSCA 8(d) request to require companies to report positive results for cadmium to EPA. EPA stated:
"EPA is granting your request that EPA use its authority under section 8( d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require reporting by producers, importers, and processors of cadmium and cadmium compounds that are reasonably likely to be incorporated into consumer products. EPA will propose a rule to require the submission of lists and/or copies of ongoing and completed unpublished health and safety studies relevant to the determination on whether a potential hazard exists and whether a product may be a banned hazardous substance as outlined in CPSC guidelines."
This information will help CPSC get the information it (or EPA) needs to adopt the rules.
Sierra Club and Empire State Consumer Project also submitted the petition to CPSC requesting action. On August 19, 2010, CPSC requested comments. Submit comments at www.regulations.gov on docket number CPSC-2010-0087.

Sewer Backups

2010-08-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

Testing For Bacterial Contamination and Cleaning Up Sewage Backups in Buildings
buildings for indoor air quality or other contaminants which may affect occupant health should not omit inspecting and taking site history for evidence of sewage or septic system backups into the structure or basement or crawl space areas below the structure. Gray water and black water (sewage) can cause a wide range of fungal, bacteriological, viral, and parasitic hazards in buildings.

Both a one-time event and recurrent sewage leaks into a building would be a concern, particularly if prompt and competent cleaning were not performed. If recurrent sewage contamination has occurred more extensive building cleaning and treatment are likely to be required. One reason that experts recommend very prompt treatment is the wish to avoid transmission of bacterial contamination to other building areas.
Examples of sewage bacteria and virus transmission might be by movement of people from contaminated areas to other building areas (tracking contaminated soil), and air movement of aerosolized particles or contaminated dust through the building by natural convection, heating and air conditioning equipment, or other sources of air and dust movement.
In fact a very high level of pathogens can present on the concrete, on the lower portions of furnishings, and on and inside of paneled wall cavity.
Demolition, cleaning, and disinfection may needed. These surfaces need to be then re-tested after cleaning and disinfection were complete.
Additional testing should be conducted to confirm that the workers did not contaminate other building areas during this cleanup.
While sewage may contain many pathogens harmful to building occupants, testing for this problem usually focuses on indicator organisms including total coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Enterococcus as these species are expected in human sewage waste. They are potentially harmful themselves as well as serving as an indicator of sewage contamination.
Typical sampling methods to test for sewage contamination in buildings include use of sterile swabs on sample surfaces both in the suspected area and as a control in other building areas where low or no contamination is expected.
Bulk samples of debris or building materials may also be collected, such as drywall suspected of having been wet with a sewage backup. Samples are sent to a qualified laboratory for culture and examination for these bacteria.
Since there are a variety of tests for bacteria and for possible sewage contamination, specification of the definitive lab test for sewage contamination is important where health concerns are at stake. Be sure to review the test choices with your laboratory before ordering a specific test as test accuracy and cost vary widely.

Bed Bugs

2010-08-23T09:13:00.001-07:00

Once thought to be eradicated from North America, the legendary little pests known as bed bugs have been making an unwelcome comeback in hotels and homes. Lest you think bed bugs are relegated to fleabag motels, they have been spotted in the posher locales as well. What Are Bed Bugs?Bed bugs are the common name for Cimex lectularius, a reddish-brown, oval-shaped insect that can grow to a quarter of an inch long. Bed bugs are wingless and survive by sucking blood from a host animal, preferably a human.Why Are They Called Bed Bugs?Bed bugs commonly hide in mattresses, carpets, behind peeling paint or wallpaper, and in crevices in wooden furniture (like in the cracks of the wooden headboard of a bed). Bugs are nocturnal and typically bite people while they sleep in an infested bed. Bugs are usually active just before dawn.Why Are Bed Bugs Reappearing?Bed bugs were once all but eradicated with broad-spectrum pesticides such as DDT, which killed a wide variety of bug types. Concerns about health and the environment led to many of these pesticides being removed from the market. Today, pest control methods are more focused, designed to kill a particular species (like cockroaches). Bed bugs, since they are not specifically being targeted, are slipping through the cracks. Where Did Bed Bugs Come From?Bed bugs travel surprisingly well, and are quite comfortable stowing away in luggage and even clothing. The bugs are increasingly found hiding in beds, upholstered furniture and behind baseboards in urban hotels in America. Since they tend to stow away and travel with humans, any place that sees a number of world travelers is susceptible. Pilots, wealthy people, and business travelers can bring bed bugs along unwittingly. What Can You Do to Avoid Bed Bugs?Look around. Bed bugs are large enough to see. Look particularly under the mattress and in the seams, in and around the bed frame, and along any cracks or peeling paint in the wall or picture frames. Check for bed bugs in the cracks of any wooden furniture, particularly antiques. You can also spot droppings from bed bugs, which may be tinged with blood. What Should You Do if You Are Bitten by Bed Bugs?Bed bugs bite exposed skin and leave behind small, red, itchy welts. The good news? Bed bugs are not generally thought to transmit any diseases. The damage is more emotional than physical. The CDC does say that bites from bed bugs can be treated with topical emollients or corticosteroids. You can also take an oral antihistamine. If you are exposed, you may consider treating your home as well. Most pest control companies are equipped to handle bed bugs.

Aldicarb to be banned.

2010-08-19T05:45:00.000-07:00

August 18, 2010 Toxic Pesticide Banned after Decades of Use
Twenty-five years after the worst outbreak of pesticide poisoning in U.S. history, an agreement is announced that phases out all uses of aldicarb

CONTAMINATED COMESTIBLES: The U.S. EPA has announced plans to phase the use of aldicarb, a toxic insecticide commonly used on food crops.A farm chemical with an infamous history – causing the worst known outbreak of pesticide poisoning in North America – is being phased out under an agreement announced Tuesday by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Manufacturer Bayer CropScience agreed to stop producing aldicarb, a highly toxic insecticide used to kill pests on cotton and several food crops, by 2015 in all world markets. Use on citrus and potatoes will be prohibited after next year.
Tuesday’s announcement comes 25 years after a highly publicized outbreak of aldicarb poisoning sickened more than 2,000 people who had eaten California watermelons.
New EPA documents show that babies and children under five can ingest levels of the insecticide through food and water that exceed levels the agency considers safe.
“Aldicarb no longer meets our rigorous food safety standards and may pose unacceptable dietary risks, especially to infants and young children,” the EPA said in announcing the agreement.
For infants, consumption of aldicarb residue – mostly in potatoes, citrus and water – can reach 800 percent higher than the EPA’s level of concern for health effects, while children between the ages of one and five can ingest 300 percent more than the level of concern, according to an Aug. 4 EPA memo.
In a statement, Bayer CropScience said Tuesday that its decision to agree to phase out aldicarb came after EPA’s new report calculated the health risks to children.
The company said it “respects the oversight authority of the EPA and is cooperating with them” even though it “does not fully agree” with the agency's new assessment. Bayer CropScience stressed that the analysis “does not mean that aldicarb poses an actual risk” to consumers.
One of the most acutely hazardous pesticides still used in the United States, aldicarb is a carbamate insecticide that is taken up by roots and carried into the fruit of a plant. High levels of aldicarb can have neurotoxic effects; it inhibits an enzyme that controls the transmission of messages to nerves.
“After thousands of poisonings, it is mind-boggling that aldicarb is still in use,” said Steve Scholl-Buckwald, managing director of the environmental group Pesticide Action Network North America. “The wheels just grind so, so slowly. It never should have been registered in the first place back in 1970 and by the mid-1980s there was sufficient data to suggest it should have been taken off the market.”
On the Fourth of July in 1985, three people who had eaten watermelon in Oakland, Calif., rapidly became ill with symptoms that included vomiting, diarrhea, muscle twitches and abnormally slow heart rates. At the same time, people in Oregon were falling ill, too, and tests of watermelons found extremely high levels of aldicarb, which was illegal to use on all melons.
California ordered an immediate ban on watermelon sales, which meant huge quantities had to be destroyed in fields and at stores at the height of the season. How aldicarb got into watermelons remains unknown, but experts suspected that some melon farmers used low levels of it intentionally and illegally and that some also might have flowed off nearby cotton fields.That summer, a total of 1,350 cases of aldicarb poisoning from watermelon were reported in California, plus another 692 cases in eight other states and Canada, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventeen people were hospitalized. Six deaths and two stillbirths were reported in people who fell ill, but the pesticide was not listed as the cause of death in coroner reports.

TSCA

2010-08-17T07:28:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the August issue of the Industrial Safety Newsletter. As the current year starts passing us by and westart planning for next year, one important report is due – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory (Form U submissions). In short, if you "manufacture (including import) 25,000 pounds or more of a chemical substance at a single site during calendar year 2010, you may need to report under the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) regulation 40 CFR Part 710 subpart C" (USEPA). Please note that there are exceptions, so consult a TSCA expert to determine your exact requirements. This issue of the safety newsletter will review the reporting process. We hope that you find this newsletter useful and look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TSCA was enacted to prevent particularly toxic chemicals from being produced*
Part of TSCA is the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, which tracks chemicals produced in the US.
The information is gathered by EPA to monitor the chemicals produced in the US
The definition of a chemical substance is:"any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity, including: (i) any combination of such substances occurring in whole or in part as a result of a chemical reaction or occurring in nature, and (ii) any element or uncombined radical." (EPA) Note: This includes certain microorganisms and there are exceptions.
Generation of the 2011 Report is based on 2010 manufacturing quantities:
Next IUR submission period is currently planned for June 1, 2011 - September 30, 2011
Changes are expected from the 2006 reporting procedure
Note to inorganic chemical manufacturers:
Inorganic chemicals are no longer partially exempt from the IUR rule
The partial exemption was a one-time exemption for 2006 reporting only
A summary of the data from the 2006 inventory is available in an EPA report*
EPA is working on a number of changes for 2011 reporting
Making the electronic reporting easier and more accessible to all potential reporters
Redesigning the electronic IUR reporting software
EPA is deliberating on changes to the specific reporting requirements
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuss & O'Neill is a multi-disciplined industrial hygiene and environmental engineering firm that has provideda wide variety of regulatory reporting services. Our experts will work with your facility to ensure safe, timely,and legal submission of your Form U. In this process we will lead you through the process or take the lead foryou. The goal of our service is to provide timely and correct submission of your TSCA regulated chemicals.
For more information and questions contact:Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO146 Hartford RoadManchester, CT 06040
ccalvert@fando.com(860) 646-2469 x5571
For more information on TSCA visit: www.tscaconsulting.blogspot.com/For a copy of this message in PDF: click here
Addressing your environmental needs with professional, safe innovative, responsive, and economical solutions.

PCBS in Paint

2010-08-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's possible. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 1.5 billion pounds of PCBs were produced in the U.S. before production ended in the late 1970s. Approximately 28% of these compounds were used in manufactured products such as paints and caulks. Prior to the late 1970s, PCBs were used in paints applied to land-based structures, as well as ships, in the U.S. These compounds were most frequently used as an additive for chlorinated rubber paint. PCBs were used in paints to
Reduce brittleness (i.e., act as a plasticizer),
Increase durability,
Provide chemical, water, and heat resistance, and
Serve as drying oils (resins).
Where have PCB-laden paints been found in the U.S.?
PCB-laden paints have been found on the following surfaces:
Walls, floors, stairs, handrails, and a parking garage in a government building
Boiler rooms and turbine platforms
Aircraft hangars
Swimming pools
Aquaculture tanks
A dry dock facility
Storage tanks
Ships
Railcars (in Canada)
Equipment, including extrusion presses, lathes, welders, ovens, furnaces, heat exchangers, and milling/grinding machinery
What exactly are PCBs?
PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are synthetic organic molecules that were used in products such as dielectric oils, hydraulic oils, heat-exchange oils, paints, caulks, and sealants. PCBs were popular because of their flame resistance, chemical stability, and insulating nature. The PCB molecule is comprised of two 6-carbon rings. The rings are joined via a chemical bond between two carbons, one from each ring. Chlorine atoms can be attached to any of the remaining carbons. Along the rings, 209 different chlorine arrangements, called congeners, are possible. The following figure illustrates the chemical structure of a tetrachlorinated biphenyl, with four chlorines bonded to the carbon rings.
In the U.S., PCBs were sold as different mixtures of congeners under the trade name "Arochlor." Arochlors are characterized using a 4-digit number. In most cases, the second two digits represent the percentage of chlorine atoms by weight in the mixture. As an example, Arochlor 1254, which was the most commonly used PCB mixture for paints in the U.S., contains 54% chlorine by weight. Arochlor 1254 consists of the following combination of chlorinated biphenyl compounds:
1% trichlorinated biphenyls
15% tetrachlorinated biphenyls
53% pentachlorinated biphenyls
26% hexachlorinated biphenyls
4% heptachlorinated biphenyls
1% other biphenyl compounds
Why should I be concerned about PCBs in paints?
According to the U.S. EPA:
"PCBs have been demonstrated to cause a variety of serious health effects. PCBs have been shown to cause cancer and a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals, including effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. Studies in humans provide supportive evidence for the potential carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenic effects of PCBs. The different health effects of PCBs may be interrelated, as alterations in one system may have significant implications for the other regulatory systems of the body." (http://www.epa.gov/pcb/pubs/effects.html) EPA has reported PCB concentrations in dried paint ranging from less than 1 part per million (ppm) to 97,000 ppm. PCBs can enter the human body in the following ways:
Absorption through skin by contact with dried paint
Ingestion of flaking or deteriorating paint
Inhalation of flaking or deteriorating paint Because of the potential health issues associated with PCBs, these compounds were banned by the U.S. Congress in the late 1970s.
What about caulks—do I work or live in buildings that contain PCB-laden caulks?
It's possible. In addition to use in paints, PCBs were used in some caulks until the late 1970s. PCBs made the caulk sticky and easier to apply to window frames. These PCB-laden caulks were used throughout the U.S. and the world.
In one northeastern U.S. city, caulks from 24 buildings were tested for PCBs. Of the buildings sampled, 13 had measurable levels of PCBs in caulks, and 8 had levels that were above the EPA threshold of 50 ppm for bulk PCB wastes. These buildings included the following:
A government office—35,600 ppm PCBs by mass
University student housing, a dormitory, classrooms, and offices—70.5 to 36,200 ppm PCBs by mass
An elementary, middle, and high school—5,010 to 7,740 ppm PCBs by mass
A synagogue—8,240 ppm PCBs by mass
Are PCB-laden paints and caulks an issue only in the U.S.?
No. PCB-laden paints and/or caulks have been found in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Canada. PCBs were manufactured and sold outside the U.S. under the trade names Clophen (Germany), Phenoclor (France), Fenclor (Italy), and Kanechlor (Japan). Other countries where PCBs were manufactured include Austria, Czechoslovakia, USSR, the Russian Federation, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Although the manufacture and new uses of PCBs in the U.S. was banned in the late 1970s, many Western European countries did not implement a ban until the mid-1980s.

EPA Draft Formaldehyde Assessment Report

2010-08-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

In early June of this year the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a Toxicological Review of Formaldehyde-Inhalation Assessment. The report is available for public comment and peer review for 90 days.
According to an EPA news release, “This assessment will help EPA and others to determine the level of risk it poses to Americans’ health. EPA undertook this assessment because there have been a number of potentially significant new studies published since EPA’s last review of formaldehyde toxicity.”
Exposure risks associated with formaldehyde typically comes from occupants inhaling contaminated air. Exposure to elevated levels of formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks, nausea, watery eyes, headaches and difficulty breathing. The current “permissible exposure limits” (PELs) for formaldehyde in the workplace are 0.75 parts per million (ppm) as an 8 hour time-weighted average (TWA).
Formaldehyde is a chemical found in numerous products and common building materials. It is often used in the manufacturing process for building materials such as particleboard, fiberboard, plywood and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). It is also a by-product of combustion and numerous industrial processes.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. In the United States many companies have turned to Core, a leading provider of indoor air quality (IAQ) services, to provide testing solutions for formaldehyde.
“Formaldehyde exposure can cause problems in some individuals at 0.1 parts per million,” reported Don Makin, Indoor Air Quality Director of Operations for Core. “It is important to know if this chemical is present to protect people from all the health effects associated with it. If it is found at high levels there are steps that can be taken to minimize exposure.”

Mold in Classrooms

2010-08-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

EASLEY, S.C. -- An Upstate high school building will undergo a massive cleanup on Tuesday in an effort to remove mold and mildew contaminating the school, according to a release from the Pickens County School District.
The thorough wipe-down of the building will prevent 19 teachers from getting into their classrooms this week as they prepare for the first day of school on Aug. 17, said Superintendent Dr. Henry Hunt.
A meeting was scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the high school to talk about the emergency cleaning measures, Hunt said.
The fungus was found last week during routine HVAC maintenance and repair, said District Representative Julie Thompson.
The building was built in 1979, according to the release.
The cleaning process will include vacuuming all surfaces with a HEPA vacuum, wiping all surfaces with an antimicrobial cleaner, and spraying with an antimicrobial disinfectant, Thompson said. Workers will also remove ceiling tiles that show any evidence of mold or mildew and will thoroughly clean all HVAC units, she said.
Adjustments have also been made to help reduce humidity in the building, said Hunt.
"We have replaced faulty equipment in the units and in exhaust fans," Hunt said. "We have also set all thermostats at the appropriate set point and then secured them so that they cannot be adjusted," he said.
Teachers were expected to be allowed back into the classrooms on Monday, Aug. 19, according to Hunt. "That gives them only one day to prepare their rooms for students' arrival on Tuesday, but we'll assist them all we can," Hunt said. "Teachers will be involved in staff development activities and can also work in other areas on the campus," he said.
After the clean-up process is complete, air quality in the building will be tested. If a health hazard exists, Hunt said officials would not allow teachers or students to occupy the building.
"We would make a call at that time and do what's necessary to ensure the health and safety of our students and our staff," Hunt said.
Copyright 2010 by WYFF4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NFL Lawsuit regarding Indoor Air Quality

2010-07-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

FAIRFIELD, Conn., July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Former NFL center LeCharles Bentley's lawsuit against the Cleveland Browns raises new awareness and concerns about air quality in professional sports training facilities, locker room and stadiums, says Steve Levine, President and CEO of AtmosAir Solutions.
Bentley sued the Browns on July 22nd over a career-ending staph infection he says he contracted at the team's training facility.
"Assuring NFL facilities have clean air is not only crucial for a player's health, but when a team spends millions of dollars on its athletes, it's just a very smart way to protect your investment," says Levine, whose company already works with the Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs.
Staph infections at athletic training facilities are often traced to contact with bacteria. Treating surfaces is generally temporary. A more permanent fix is installing air purification ionization systems, like those developed and installed by AtmosAir. They rid the root of these infections over extended time and help insure athletes remain healthy and germ free.
The AtmosAir bi-polar system (which can be integrated into HVAC systems in homes and buildings or used as standalone portable units) lets air pass through a patented ionization tube, which energizes the air to form bi-polar (or positive and negative) air ions. The airflow then distributes the ions into all of the spaces served by the duct system. There's no continual maintenance, no filters to keep changing or collector cells to constantly clean. The only maintenance required in most cases is a once yearly replacement of the ionization tube.
Bentley's attorney, Shannon Polk, said the lawsuit filed in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court seeks at least $25,000 in damages for alleged fraud and negligent misrepresentation. Polk said Bentley nearly died from the infection while he was rehabbing from a knee injury. The Browns declined to comment.
The Chicago Cubs minor league facility at Fitch Park in Mesa, AZ. recently installed an AtmosAir system and has reported positive results.

ASHRAE Publishes 2010 Residential IAQ Standard

2010-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2010, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the only nationally recognized indoor air quality standard developed solely for residences. It defines the roles of and minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope intended to provide acceptable indoor air quality in low-rise residential buildings. The 2010 standard encourages home retrofits to improve indoor air quality through allowance of alternative methods for meeting the standard’s requirements regarding kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. The standard currently requires fans in those rooms. “This change makes the standard much easier to use in home retrofits, which is very important considering massive federal and state government efforts in this area,” Steven Emmerich, committee chair, said. “For example, installation of new equipment in some existing homes can be a barrier in terms of expense and practicality. Under the alternative compliance path, the overall whole-house ventilation rate can be increased to compensate for insufficient or non-existent bathroom exhaust.” The overall approach to residential ventilation in the standard has not changed since the 2007 version was published, such as whole house mechanical for most houses, local exhaust in baths and kitchens and some source control measures. Additional improvements to the standard include more accurate factors for intermittent whole-house systems; changes to better limit unintended (potentially contaminated) air transfer from garages, leaky ducts, adjacent housing units, and other such spaces; and deletion of an exception for certain climates that had allowed the use of windows instead of fans given that studies have shown that windows are not used enough and are unreliable for ventilation. The cost of Standard 62.2-2010 is $54 ($46, ASHRAE members). To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 1-800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore. ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education

Improving Indoor Air Quality

2010-07-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

(NAPSI)-If you like to think of your home as a safe haven to escape pollution, you may want to take a deep breath before stepping through your front door.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor pollution levels are two to five times greater than those found in the outdoor air.
While this can be a serious problem for those suffering from asthma, allergies or emphysema, it's not healthy for anyone, especially small children. Because they breathe in 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than adults, children are more vulnerable to the effects of pollution.
Efforts to rid your home of dust, dirt and allergens could even make things worse, as many poorly sealed and filtered bagless vacuums add to the pollution by releasing lung-damaging particles back into the air.
Here are a few tips to help reduce indoor air pollution.
• Properly maintain heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, changing filters regularly.
• Use only nontoxic household detergents and cleaning agents.
• Open the windows when weather permits.
• Clean up water leaks that can lead to the formation of mold.
• Choose a vacuum cleaner with a filtering dustbag and reputation for providing superior dust retention and filtration. Bagless vacuum cleaner bins can be an environmental hazard when emptied into the garbage. Dust poured from a bin emits fine particles back into the air. That's also true for any open bag that's pushed into a garbage bag.
A recent independent scientific study shows that some vacuums with HEPA filters do not effectively protect a home's air quality and unfiltered air may escape, releasing as much as 2−14 million lung-damaging particles per minute into the air on average.
These particles can pollute indoor air quality for hours after the vacuum is turned off.
The scientific study showed that the Miele vacuum, with its Sealed System engineering, equipped with a unique AirClean Filter-bag and certified HEPA filter, had significantly lower rates of particle emissions than competitive models. The vacuums captured and retained over 99.9 percent of harmful and lung-damaging irritants, making them a serious cleaning tool for maintaining an allergy-friendly environment.

First Call: TSCA Inventory Update – June 1 to Sept 2011

2010-07-21T07:05:00.000-07:00

Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
August 2, 2010
Welcome to the August issue of the Industrial Safety Newsletter. As the current year starts passing us by and we start planning for next year, one important report is due – the TSCA Inventory (Form U submissions). In short if you…“manufacture (including import) 25,000 pounds or more of a chemical substance at a single site during calendar year 2010, you may need to report under the Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) regulation 40 CFR Part 710 subpart C” (USEPA). Please note that there are exceptions, so consult a TSCA expert to determine your exact requirements. This issue of the safety newsletter will review the reporting process. We hope that you find this newsletter useful and look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TSCA was enacted to prevent particularly toxic chemicals from being produced*
Part of TSCA is the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory, which tracks chemicals produced in the US.
§ The information is gathered to monitor the chemicals produced in the US
The definition of a chemical substance is:
“any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity, including: (i) any combination of such substances occurring in whole or in part as a result of a chemical reaction or occurring in nature, and (ii) any element or uncombined radical.” (EPA) Note: This includes certain microorganisms and there are exceptions.
Generation of the 2011 Report is based on 2010 manufacturing quantities
§ The next IUR submission period is currently planned for June 1 - September 30, 2011
§ Changes are expected from the 2006 reporting procedure
§ Note to inorganic chemical manufacturers:
Inorganic chemicals are no longer partially exempt from the IUR rule
The partial exemption was a one-time exemption for 2006 reporting only
A summary of the data from the 2006 inventory is available in an EPA report*
EPA is working on a number of changes for 2011 reporting
§ Making the electronic reporting easier and more accessible to all potential reporters
§ Redesigning the electronic IUR reporting software
§ EPA is deliberating on changes to the specific reporting requirements
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuss & O'Neill is a multi-disciplined industrial hygiene and environmental engineering firm that has provided a wide variety of regulatory reporting services. Our experts will work with your facility to ensure safe, timely, and legal submission of your Form U. In this process we will lead you through the process or take the lead for you. The goal of our service is to provide timely and correct submission of your TSCA regulated chemicals.
*For more information and for copies of the referenced documents contact:
Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
ccalvert@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5571

For more information on TSCA visit: www.tscaconsulting.blogspot.com/

Addressing your needs with professional, safe, innovative, responsive, and economical solutions.

Chatfield School PCB cleanup to cost $500G

2010-07-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

SEYMOUR — The discovery of “trace amounts” of PCBs at Chatfield School will not halt the planned expansion, but it will cost a half million dollars to eradicate the toxins from the school’s exterior windows and brickwork.Chatfield School Building Committee Co-Chairman Don Smith updated the Board of Selectmen Tuesday on the $32.5 million project that will add 50,000 square feet of space, and renovate 38,000 square feet of existing space to the 44-year-old elementary school on Skokorat Street.According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PCBs have caused cancer and have other adverse health effects on the immune, reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems.At Chatfield School, PCBs were found in the caulking around some of the outside windows. Indoor air quality tests have been done to ensure the air is safe when students and staff return to school this fall. Smith said the committee is awaiting the results of those tests.Smith said a plan to remove the PCBs has been approved by the EPA and state Department of Environmental Protection. The plan includes the replacement of all affected windows, which Smith said was already planned in the project expansion, as well as removal of the affected brickwork and soil below the windows, where Smith said the PCBs migrated.The $500,000 price tag to eradicate the problem, Smith said, is available in the project’s contingency fund.As part of the abatement plan, Smith said the committee must apprise residents of the discovery of the PCBs, and have a detailed remediation plan to rid the facility of the toxins.“It’s not that extensive (the amount of PCBs found),” Smith said. “But we are on the leading edge of it, and will have everything removed.”Smith also said that the state recently approved Seymour’s 60.36 percent reimbursement rate. With construction documents complete, Smith said they will be sent to the state Department of Facilities Review Unit for approval. Smith hopes to break ground in October.The project, which residents approved at an October 2008 referendum, includes a two-story addition with 37 classrooms, and will accommodate students from Chatfield and LoPresti schools. The gymnasium will also be expanded, the entire building will be air conditioned and heating will provided by an energy-efficient geothermal system.Smith expects the project will go out to bid next month. The new classroom wing should be ready for occupancy in September 2011, while other renovations should be done by October 2011. LoPresti students are slated to occupy the school in September 2012.

NAHB to Sue EPA Over Lead Paint Regulations

2010-07-09T06:57:00.000-07:00

The Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting rule (LRRP) applies to homes constructed before 1978 when lead paint was banned. Its opt-out provision, which expired July 6, let consumers allow contractors to bypass extra preparation, clean-up and recordkeeping requirements in homes where there were no children under 6 or pregnant women, thus avoiding additional costs.
"Removing the opt-out provision more than doubles the number of homes subject to the regulation," said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "About 79 million homes are affected, even though EPA estimates that only 38 million homes contain lead-based paint. Removing the opt-out provision extends the rule to consumers who need no protection."
The Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association joined NAHB in filing the petition for review in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
The group will challenge EPA's action on the grounds that the agency substantially amended its LRRP regulation without any new scientific data and before the regulation was even put into place on April 22, 2010.
"Even under the original rule, the opt-out provision was not available in homes where small children or pregnant women live," Jones said. "That shows that this change provides no additional protection to the people who are most vulnerable to lead-based paint hazards."
Remodelers' and other contractors' estimates of the additional costs associated with the lead-safe work practices average about $2,400, but vary according to the size and type of job. For example, a complete window replacement requires the contractor to install thick vinyl sheeting to surround the work area both inside the home and outdoors - with prep time and material costs adding an estimated $60 to $170 for each window.
"Consumers trying to use rebates and incentive programs to make their homes more energy efficient will likely find those savings eaten up by the costs of the rule's requirements. Worse, these costs may drive many consumers - even those with small children - to seek uncertified remodelers and other contractors. Others will likely choose to do the work themselves - or not do it at all - to save money. That does nothing to protect the population this rule was designed to safeguard," Jones said.

Radon in the United Kingdom

2010-07-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

HPA targets cancer causing natural gas
Reporter: Dave PartonDate online: 08/07/2010
A new initiative to reduce concentrations of radon in UK homes has been launched today (8 July) by the Health Protection Agency. Radon is responsible for an estimated 1,100 lung cancer deaths a year. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that seeps from the ground into all buildings and is the biggest source of human exposure to ionising radiation in the UK.
Concentrations of radon depend on a number of factors, including geology, the type of foundation, the positioning of service pipe work and internal ventilation levels. After reviewing the latest scientific evidence along with the costs and benefits of radon reduction measures, the HPA is keeping its Action Level of 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq m-3), however, it is introducing a new Target Level of 100 Bq m-3. The reviews follow recent advice and improved evidence on the risks from radon issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Target Level has been introduced after research published since 1990 gave scientists a greater understanding of the risks to health from exposure to radon below 200 Bq m-3. Furthermore, the HPA now has significantly more experience of the efficiency of remediation measures. Although low level exposures can still lead to lung cancer, the risks at these levels are low and can be further reduced by simple improvement measures designed to increase under floor ventilation. Dr John Cooper, director of the HPA’s Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, said: “We are retaining the Action Level of 200 Bq m-3 so that our efforts can be firmly focussed on those at greatest risk. “However, the new Target Level of 100 Bq m-3 will enable us to ensure people are aware that even below 200 Bq m-3 there are still risks to health and simple remediation measures can be taken to reduce these. “The HPA recommends that people in homes where radon levels have been recorded between the two figures should think carefully about preventative action to protect their health. “Together with our previous recommendations to Government on the inclusion of basic radon protective measures in all new buildings, the new advice is an appropriate practical response based on good scientific evidence of the risks of lung cancer from radon exposure.” The HPA recommends that Target and Action Levels should be applied to other buildings where members of the public spend more than 2,000 hours per year and specifically, to all schools. Radon measurement programmes are arranged from predictions of the probability that homes and other buildings in different parts of the country will have radon concentrations exceeding the Action Level. HPA recommends that householders in intermediate and higher probability radon areas should have measurements made of indoor radon concentration in their home. Householders can find out the likelihood that their home is above the Action Level at www.ukradon.org.

PCBs at Umass

2010-07-07T06:46:00.000-07:00

AMHERST (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - The University of Massachusetts is scrambling to complete the removal contaminants from the school's largest student housing area in time for the start of fall classes.
PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, were discovered in the concrete and caulking of the concourse at the Southwest Residential Area during renovations in the spring. Southwest consists of 16 dorms, including five high rises, housing about 5,500 students.
That's about 44 percent of those who live on campus. UMass is nearing the end of a multiyear project to update the concourse's electrical system and replace the concrete with vegetation. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reports the task of removing the PCBs is expected to delay finishing the project to summer 2011.
PCBs have been linked to health problems, including cancer.

Formaldehyde

2010-07-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical found in many consumer products and building materials. It can be found in such products as plywood, carpeting, paint and insulation to name a few items. Formaldehyde is also a by-product of combustion and other industrial processes. In new construction, and in recently remodeled buildings, the new building materials, coatings and furnishing often off-gas high levels of formaldehyde and other VOCs. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. The health effects associated with elevated levels of formaldehyde exposure have been closely studied in recent years and have brought to light the dangers from prolonged and repeated exposure. Exposure to elevated levels of formaldehyde can also trigger asthma attacks, nausea, watery eyes, headaches and difficulty breathing as well as other health problems. The current “permissible exposure limits” (PELs) for formaldehyde in the workplace are 0.75 parts per million (ppm) as an 8 hour time-weighted average (TWA). This means that exposures for an 8 hour work day should not exceed 0.75 ppm PEL. “The length of exposure to formaldehyde, or to other VOCs, and the overall health of those being exposed are all factors that determine how building occupants will react when exposed,” reported Ed Chambers, President of EC2, Inc. (ec2). “Residential and commercial property owners in the greater Chicago area and Northern Illinois call on ec2 as the experts when problems with indoor air quality, formaldehyde or other VOCs occur.” EC2, with over 4,000 IAQ investigations successfully resolved to date, has the experience and knowledge to quickly solve clients’ IAQ problems.

Natural Ventilation

2010-06-29T05:17:00.000-07:00

New requirements regarding natural ventilation, exhaust systems, and the IAQ Procedure are included in the newly published 2010 version of Standard 62.1. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.
“Since first being published in 1973, the standard has provided the basis for ventilation system design throughout the industry,” Roger Hedrick, committee chair, said. “The 2010 standard furthers ASHRAE’s work in ensuring acceptable indoor air quality, while also heeding the need for energy efficiency as we strive to find ways to help designers tailor ventilation system designs to each particular application.”
Among the changes to the 2010 standard are modifications to the Natural Ventilation Rate Procedure, which now requires most buildings designed to meet the natural ventilation requirements also include a mechanical ventilation system designed to meet the Ventilation Rate or IAQ procedures. The mechanical system is to be used when windows are closed due to extreme outdoor temperatures, noise, and security concerns.
“Most buildings using natural ventilation in the United States are high-rise residential buildings that often have no form of outdoor air intake other than operable windows,” Hedrick said. “This results in buildings with inadequate ventilation, because occupants often leave the windows closed in order to run the air conditioning, keep out noise, etc. The committee felt it needed to strengthen the existing prescriptive requirements to ensure adequate ventilation and their corresponding IAQ benefits are available to occupants.”
Another change relocates requirements related to exhaust systems to a new section, clarifying that exhaust requirements apply to all buildings regardless of the procedure used to determine outdoor air intake flow rates.
The IAQ procedure, which allows for the calculation of the amount of outdoor air necessary to maintain the levels of indoor air contaminants below recommended levels, has been made more robust by increasing requirements for using the “similar building” design approach and clarifying other requirements.
“The standard now contains, in informative Appendix B, a table of volatile organic compounds that designers might want to consider as possible contaminants of concern,” Hedrick said. “To encourage designers to consider ‘additivity’ when applying the IAQ Procedure, some guidance from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists has been included.”

Damp Indoor Spaces and Health

2010-06-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

Almost all homes, apartments, and commercial buildings will experience leaks, flooding,
or other forms of excessive indoor dampness at some point.Not only is excessive
dampness a health problem by itself, it also contributesto several other potentially
problematic types of situations. Molds and othermicrobial agents favor damp indoor
environments, and excess moisture mayinitiate the release of chemical emissions from
damaged building materialsand furnishings. This new book from the Institute of Medicine
examines thehealth impact of exposures resulting from damp indoor environments
andoffers recommendations for public health interventions.Damp Indoor Spaces and
Health covers a broad range of topics. The booknot only examines the relationship
between damp or moldy indoor environmentsand adverse health outcomes but also
discusses how and wherebuildings get wet, how dampness influences microbial growth
and chemicalemissions, ways to prevent and remediate dampness, and elements ofa
public health response to the issues. A comprehensive literature reviewfinds sufficient
evidence of an association between damp indoor environmentsand some upper
respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, wheezing,and asthma symptoms in sensitized
persons. This important book will be ofinterest to a wide-ranging audience of science,
health, engineering, andbuilding professionals, government officials, and members of the
public

PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) in Caulk

2010-06-23T04:45:00.000-07:00

Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
July 24, 2010
Welcome to the first in a series of regular newsletters that will provide updates and review topics relating to safety in industrial settings including indoor air quality, chemical safety, and environmental issues. The goal of these newsletters is to provide you with relevant and timely information.
This first issue covers a topic that has been on the minds of many of us the past months – PCBs and caulk. Unfortunately, this has become a widespread issue that has many facilities managers scratching their heads and understandably worried about how to deal with this issue. In this newsletter, I have included some very basic information on how to proceed. I hope that you find this newsletter useful, and we look forward to supporting you with this difficult issue.
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Basic information on how to manage PCBs in caulk:
Found in many buildings built between 1950 and 1978 (less likely outside these dates)
No visual differences between PCB and non-PCB caulk
PCB containing caulk is handled differently than asbestos containing caulk
Contact an expert to clarify the ramifications if planning to test caulk
If concerns about PCBs arise, air testing might be first test performed
If renovating or demolishing, caulk should be tested
Caulk known to contain ≥50 ppm PCBs must be removed
Adjacent material, if significantly contaminated, must also be removed
Remediation and disposal covered under current regulations (40 CFR part 761)
Cost depends on remediation strategy
EPA website: www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/

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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience is a multi-disciplined industrial hygiene and environmental engineering firm that is positioned to provide a wide variety of environmental services – including PCB remediation. Our experts will work with your facility to ensure safe, timely, and legal removal of PCB contaminated materials. This process will include initial assessment, plan preparation and submission to government agencies, oversight of removal/remediation process, confirmation sampling, data management, and final report preparation. The goal of our service is to properly remediate the contaminated material and provide a working and living environment that is safe for the present and future.
For more information on seminar dates and times contact:
Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
ccalvert@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5571

For more information: PCB Presentation Download: www.craigcalvert.webs.com/
PCB Contamination Resource: www.pcbcontamination.net/
Addressing your environmental needs with professional, safe innovative, responsive, and economical solution

PCBs in Caulk in Older Buildings

2010-06-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Overview
In recent years, EPA has learned that caulk containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used in many buildings, including schools, in the 1950s through the 1970s. In general, schools and buildings built after 1978 do not contain PCBs in caulk. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for school administrators and building managers with important information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure. Through EPA's Regional PCB Coordinators, the Agency will also assist communities in identifying potential problems and, if necessary, developing plans for PCB testing and removal. The Agency has prepared a(2 pp, 23K),--> a Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 26K) and Questions and Answers (PDF) (11 pp, 63K) on this announcement.
The EPA also announced additional research into this issue. There are several unresolved scientific questions that must be better understood to assess the magnitude of the problem and identify the best long-term solutions. For example, the link between the concentrations of PCBs in caulk and PCBs in the air or dust is not well understood. The Agency is doing research to determine the sources and levels of PCBs in schools and to evaluate different strategies to reduce exposures. The results of this research will be used to provide further guidance to schools and building owners as they develop and implement long-term solutions. Read more about Research on PCBs in Caulk. PDF version (2 pp, 21K)
EPA has calculated prudent public health levels that maintain PCB exposures below the “reference dose” – the amount of PCB exposure that EPA does not believe will cause harm. Read Public Health Levels for PCBs in Indoor School Air PDF version (2 pp, 14K).
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Background
Caulk is a flexible material used to seal gaps to make windows, door frames, masonry and joints in buildings and other structures watertight or airtight. At one time caulk was manufactured to contain PCBs because PCBs imparted flexibility.
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First Step: Take Steps to Minimize Exposure
Although this is a serious issue, the potential presence of PCBs in schools and buildings should not be a cause for alarm. If your school or building was built or renovated between 1950 and 1978, there are several immediate, relatively low cost steps schools can take to reduce potential exposure until it can be determined with certainty if PCBs are present in caulk used in the building and any contaminated caulk can be removed. Those steps include:
Improve ventilation, including opening windows and using or installing fans where possible.
Clean frequently to reduce dust and residue inside buildings.
Use a wet or damp cloth or mop to clean surfaces.
Use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.
Do not sweep with dry brooms; minimize the use of dusters.
Wash children's hands with soap and water often, particularly before eating.
Wash children's toys often.
Wash hands with soap and water after cleaning, and before eating or drinking.
EPA also has developed an informational brochure to provide the general public with important information on PCBs in building caulk, Preventing Exposure to PCBs in Caulking Material PDF version, EPA Publication EPA-747-F-09-005 (4 pp, 2.7MB).
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Testing
Air
If school administrators and building owners are concerned about potential PCBs in the caulk, they should consider testing to determine if PCBs are present in the air. If testing reveals PCB levels above the levels EPA has determined to be safe, schools should attempt to identify any potential sources of PCBs that may be present in the building, including testing samples of caulk and looking for other potential PCB sources (e.g., old transformers, capacitors, or fluorescent light ballasts that might still be present at the school).
If elevated air levels of PCBs are found, schools should also have the ventilation system evaluated to determine if it is contaminated with PCBs. Although the ventilation system is unlikely to be an original source of PCB contamination, it may have been contaminated before other sources of PCBs were removed from the school and may be contributing to elevated air levels. Contaminated ventilation systems should be carefully cleaned. Ideally, such cleaning should be planned in concert with removal of any sources of PCBs that are found to avoid re-contamination of the system.
During the search for potential sources, schools should be especially vigilant in implementing practices to minimize exposures and should retest to determine whether those practices are reducing PCB air levels.
Other Sources, Including Caulk
Should those practices not reduce exposure, caulk and other known sources of PCBs should be removed as soon as practicable. Caulk that is peeling, brittle, cracking or deteriorating visibly will have the highest potential for release of PCBs into air. EPA recommends that deteriorating caulk be tested directly for the presence of PCBs and removed if PCBs are present at significant levels.
Where schools or other buildings were constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1978, EPA recommends that PCB-containing caulk be removed during planned renovations and repairs (when replacing windows, doors, roofs, ventilation, etc.) It is critically important to assure that PCBs are not released to air during replacement or repair of caulk in affected buildings. Assessment of the ventilation system for potential contamination, proper cleaning when required, and isolation of the system to prevent further contamination are also important.
Test Methods
For determining the presence of PCBs in indoor air, EPA has two approved methods:
Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air - Compendium Method TO-4A (high air volume) (PDF) (53 pp, 665K)
Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Toxic Organic Compounds in Ambient Air - Compendium Method TO-10A (low air volume) (PDF) (37 pp, 288K).
EPA recommends that deteriorating caulk be tested directly for the presence of PCBs and removed if PCBs are present at significant levels. The PCB regulations provide appropriate methods for testing. More information on these procedures can be found at:
Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, SW-846
Wipe Sampling (PDF) (31 pp, 86K)
Contact EPA's PCBs in Caulk Hotline at 1-888-835-5372 or the EPA Regional PCB Coordinator for your state for assistance and help in finding a chemical analysis laboratory in your area.
Schools Information Kit
A Schools Information Kit provides information for parents, students and staff about PCBs in caulk, including:
General information on PCBs in older schools and buildings PDF version (1 pg, 162K) en Español (PDF) (1 pg, 186K)
Schools checklist PDF version (1 pg, 414K) en Español (PDF) (1 pg, 160K)
What to say to children about PCBs PDF version (1 pp, 432K) en Español (PDF) (1 pg, 177K)
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Information for Contractors Working in Older Buildings
Read Contractors Handling PCBs in Caulk During Renovation PDF version, EPA Publication EPA-747-F-09-004 (4 pp, 1.9MB), EPA's guidance to contractors and maintenance personnel working in older buildings that may contain PCB-contaminated caulk.
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Additional Information
Additional EPA brochures and fact sheets on best practices for addressing PCBs in caulk:
Questions and Answers for the Safe Management of PCBs in Caulking PDF version (2 pp, 220K) -->
Fact Sheet: Testing for PCBs in Buildings PDF version (3 pp, 33K)
Fact Sheet: Interim Measures for Reducing Risk and Taking Action to Reduce Exposures PDF version (4 pp, 45K)
Fact Sheet: Removal and Clean-Up of PCBs in Caulk and PCB-Contaminated Soil and Building Materials PDF version (2 pp, 69K)
Fact Sheet: Disposal Options for PCBs in Caulk and PCB-Contaminated Soil and Building Materials PDF version (4 pp, 32K)

Cat Scans for Asthma

2010-06-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Indian-origin scientist suggests use of CT scans for severe asthma2010-06-15 15:10:00

An Indian-origin researcher is investigating the use of CT (Computed Tomography) scanning for patients suffering from severe asthma.
Dr Sumit Gupta, a postgraduate student at the University of Leicester, along with his colleagues at the Institute for Lung Health and Radiology Department at Glenfield Hospital, suggests that CT scans may be the way forward for monitoring progression of severe asthma as well as checking how it is responding to treatment.
Their findings indicate that CT derived measures of structural changes in lungs and airways of patients with severe asthma may potentially be used as a non-invasive 'marker' in asthma to monitor disease progression and response to current and novel treatment.
"Asthma is a major health problem affecting 300 million people worldwide. Approximately half a million people in UK suffer from severe asthma and are, as a consequence, at increased risk of asthma attacks, hospitalization and death and often have severely impaired quality of life. Structural changes that occur in airways of asthmatic individuals remain difficult to quantify and monitor. Computed tomography (CT) scans have now emerged as a non-invasive research tool to assess these airway structural changes," Gupta said.
The team observed a reduction in the airway wall thickness along with reduction in asthma attacks amongst severe asthma patients, whose airway inflammation was suppressed by novel therapy, targeting specific type of inflammation. This research work therefore highlights the importance of CT scanning in severe asthma patients and its potential use as a non-invasive 'marker' for monitoring of the disease.
Preliminary results from the study will be showcased at the University of Leicester's Festival of Postgraduate Research on 24 June. (ANI)
SEARCH

PCBs found in window caulking during Columbus School renovation

2010-06-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

BRIDGEPORT -- Students at Columbus School will get to spend another year in the so-called "swing space" school in the south end thanks to window caulk.
School building officials who have been working for two years to update and renovate the permanent school on George Street recently discovered the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, an organic compound and probable carcinogen, in the caulk that insulates the windows.
Recent changes in the Environmental Protection Agency laws led to the testing of the caulk, the Board of Education was told this week.
"It's a pretty serious problem," said Ray Wiley, the city's school building projects manager of O&G Industries. Wiley said the problem is that unlike asbestos, which can be easily removed, PCBs can seep into porous materials like concrete, making cleanup harder.
"We may have to take a good portion of the concrete out, which could jeopardize the structure of the building," said Wiley.
Wiley said options are being considered, but that it is unlikely the school will be ready to reopen in the 2010-11 school year.
For the past two years, the student body of Columbus have occupied a school at the edge of the University of Bridgeport campus. The school was built to host student bodies while their schools undergo major repairs or replacement. While other school renovation projects are in the works, none will be ready to start this fall, said Wiley.
Housing Columbus outside of its neighborhood has made it hard for some parents to access the school, but staff and students have made no secret of the fact that they prefer their temporary space, which is filled with new technology and equipment, to the aging structure they left.
Wiley told the school board the new testing requirement went into effect in November. The presence of PCB-laced caulk is not uncommon for buildings constructed between 1950 and 1978, he added. Columbus was built in 1965.
Earlier this school year, it was announced that PCBs were found in caulk around windows and doors at three technical high schools in the state, including Eli Whitney Technical High School in Hamden.
The board could not be told how much the removal of the material from Columbus will cost and whether cement infected with the chemical can be safely sealed rather than removed.
Wiley plans to have more information when he meets with the city's School Building Committee at 4 p.m., June 17 in City Hall Annex at 999 Broad Street.

Regulation Compliance Help – Saving Time & Money

2010-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the June issue of the School Safety Newsletter. As the clock ticks down to the end of the school year we start making a list of things that need done during the summer. This newsletter provides a checklist of important compliance and regulatory requirements. Understanding all of the requirements is difficult and can create confusion. Fortunately, experts can help sort through the confusion. Below is a checklist of some programs that could apply to your facility. We hope that you find this newsletter useful, and as always, we look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.
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Below are general programs that should be in place to maintain a safe and compliant facility:
Art & Tech Education Safety
o Hazard analysis & awareness
o Safety programs & procedures
o Training for faculty & students
Chemical Inventory
o Chemicals organized by class
o MSDS available and current
o Safe storage guidelines
o Shelf organization layout
EHS Management Systems
o External inspections & audits
o Internal inspections & audits
o Management systems in place
Laboratory Safety
o Chemical hygiene plan
o Existing policies review
o Hazard analysis
o MSDS management
o Safety committee
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
o Aware of testing requirements
o Pre-renovation plan
Regulatory Compliance
o APCRA Tier I and Tier II
o Asbestos awareness
o Blood borne pathogens (BBP)
o Compliance assessments
o Confined space
o Fire safety
o Hazard communication
o Lead awareness
o Lockout/Tagout
o Pre-inspection reviews
o Underground storage tanks
o Water and Air permits
Training
o Asbestos Designated Person
o Chemical Hygiene Officer
o Confined space entry
o Lead RRP – NEW Regulation
o Maintenance staff training
o OSHA laboratory standard
o Personal protective equipment
Waste Management
o Accumulation area
o Off-site removal
o Waste storage and removal
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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience is a multi-disciplined industrial hygiene and environmental engineering firm that is capable of providing a wide variety of compliance and environmental services. Our experts will work with your facility to ensure safe, timely, and legal compliance with regulations through expert training, onsite visits, and program audits. The goal of our service is to provide an extra set of hands in your busy job trying to provide a working and living environment that is safe for your students, teachers, and administrators.
For more information on these regulations and training schedules contact:
Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
ccalvert@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5571

Bristol Landlord Fined For Failing To Disclose Lead Paint Hazards

2010-06-04T06:01:00.001-07:00

A Bristol landlord has been fined $2,140 and has agreed to pay $20,360 for lead abatement after failing to inform tenants about the presence and hazards of lead paint, federal environmental officials said.Landlord Michael Perugini violated the federal lead disclosure rule when he failed to let seven tenants know about the presence of lead paint when they leased units in Perugini's Bristol apartment buildings, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Boston.The EPA said Perugini did not provide records or reports regarding lead hazards, and failed to make sure that the lease included a lead warning statement and a statement disclosing the known or unknown presence of lead-based paint. In addition, Perugini failed to provide a copy of EPA's lead hazard information pamphlet.The properties are at 309, 353 and 372 Park St., 41 Stearns St and 21 Wolcott St.Perugini has agreed to remove some potential lead sources, including windows and doors, which according to the EPA.Perugini couldn't be reached for comment Thursday.The EPA said Thursday that the violations were discovered after a complaint from one of the tenants.The rules involved in the Perugini case are separate from new lead paint rules that recently went into effect requiring contractor to take special precautions when doing renovations in residences that were built before 1978, Lead-based paint was banned in that year.

PCB UPDATE: EPA Releases More Information on PCB in Caulk Remediation

2010-05-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

From EPA's website
Steps to Safe Renovation and Abatement of Buildings That Have PCB-Containing Caulk

Overview
In recent years, EPA has learned that caulk containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used in many buildings, including schools, in the 1950s through the 1970s. In general, schools and buildings built after 1978 do not contain PCBs in caulk. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for school administrators and building managers with important information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure. Through EPA's Regional PCB Coordinators, the Agency will also assist communities in identifying potential problems and, if necessary, developing plans for PCB testing and removal. The Agency has prepared a a Fact Sheet and Questions and Answers on this announcement.

The EPA also announced additional research into this issue. There are several unresolved scientific questions that must be better understood to assess the magnitude of the problem and identify the best long-term solutions. For example, the link between the concentrations of PCBs in caulk and PCBs in the air or dust is not well understood. The Agency is doing research to determine the sources and levels of PCBs in schools and to evaluate different strategies to reduce exposures. The results of this research will be used to provide further guidance to schools and building owners as they develop and implement long-term solutions. Read more about Research on PCBs in Caulk.

EPA has calculated prudent public health levels that maintain PCB exposures below the “reference dose” – the amount of PCB exposure that EPA does not believe will cause harm. Read Public Health Levels for PCBs in Indoor School Air.

Is Your Food Service (HACCP) Program Effective?

2010-05-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
May 24, 2010
Welcome to the June issue of the School Safety Newsletter. The September 2009 issue focused on new regulations concerning the school HAACP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) program. This newsletter will discuss ways to verify that your food safety program is working. We hope that you find this newsletter useful and look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.
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Once a HACCP or similar program is in place verification that the program is working must be done. In fact, step 6 of a HACCP program is “verification of procedures” – which includes microbial sampling and analysis.
 Sampling will look for three types of contaminants
1. Biological – microbes
2. Chemical – toxic chemicals
3. Physical – metal, wood, etc…
 Microbes that should be tested for and verified that they are at safe levels include:

1. E. Coli O157:H7
2. Listeria monocytogenes
3. Staphylococcus aureus
4. Salmonella

 When sampling for there are a number of places to sample to find the three contaminants such as:
1. Food contact surfaces
a. Pans, plates, utensils, mixers, etc…
2. Non-food contact surfaces
a. Floors, doors, steam tables, etc…
3. Air/atmoshpere
a. Water vapor can carry safe concentrations of microbes from the floor into the food
 Uncontrolled growth or a high concentration of any contaminants could be an indication that your food safety program is not adequately addressing the sanitation procedure in your food safety plan.
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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience offers services to sample your food service areas for contaminants. These services are designed to compliment your current food safety program. One of our food safety experts will come to your facility to sample, provide interpretation of the results, and discuss next corrective action steps. Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience has years of experience providing safety services to schools and is extending this experience into food safety.

For more information and questions on how to sample contact:
Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
ccalvert@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5571

UPDATE: Underground Storage Tank – General Requirements

2010-05-03T06:18:00.000-07:00

Adam M. Barbash, P.E., CHMM & Craig A. Calvert, Ph.D., C-CHO
April 30, 2010
Welcome to the May issue of the School Safety Newsletter. Underground storage tanks (USTs) play a role in our day-to-day lives by storing the fuel that we use to power our automobiles, heat our schools, and power generators in the event of an emergency. Since USTs are out of sight, we sometimes take for granted their presence and neglect the maintenance and compliance obligations associated with their operation and ownership. Below we have provided some basic information on the maintenance of fuel oil USTs and the compliance obligations associated with their ownership. We hope that you find this newsletter useful, and as always, we look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O’Neill successful.
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Most USTs at schools are fuel oil tanks used for heating. Other USTs have additional compliance obligations.
Fuel Oil UST Operation and Maintenance Requirements
• Steel tank systems must have a means of corrosion protection:
o Fiberglass tanks may be exempt; however, piping systems may still be regulated
o Passive or active cathodic protection with monitoring, or an approved isolation method
o Corrosion protection must be tested on an annual basis
Fuel Oil UST Operation and Maintenance Recommendations
• Tank systems should maintain spill and overfill protection in good condition
o Common spill protection devices are spill buckets
o Overfill protection devices include shutoff valves, whistler valves, and automatic gauges
• Release prevention devices and methods should be used on tank systems. Including:
o Interstitial space monitoring; Manual or Automatic tank gauging; Tank tightness testing
UST Closure/Life Expectancy
• All USTs have a life expectancy based on the manufacturer’s warranty and compliance history.
• When tank systems approach their life expectancy they must be:
o Closed in accordance with the applicable regulations which, for fuel oil USTs, must include failure determinations in both the preceding year of the end of the warranty period and 2 years of the warranty period.
o Confirmatory soil sampling for fuel oil USTs used for heating purposes is recommended.
o Removed and replaced
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Fuss & O'Neill offers UST compliance auditing, UST removal and replacement, and environmental sampling and remediation services to meet your facility needs. Non-compliance with UST regulations can result in enforcement and/or costly environmental remediation. Fuss & O’Neill has years of experience with providing schools with UST compliance evaluations, design and installation services, and release response measures and is offering these services to help you establish and/or increase your regulatory compliance.

For additional assistance and information, please contact:
Adam Barbash, P.E., CHMM
abarbash@fando.com
(860) 646-2469 x5534

We look forward to the opportunity to help you in your mission to provide the safest possible food to your students.

For previous newsletters visit: http://www.fando.com/News_&_ Resources/School_Safety_Newsletters/

Formaldehyde Levels Found to be High in New Homes

2010-04-26T10:43:00.001-07:00

Formaldehyde Levels Found to be High in New Homes
Source: EMSL Analytical, Inc.
Apr. 21, 2010 ShareThis

EMSL Analytical provides formaldehyde information and testing solutions.

Westmont, NJ, April 20th, 2010

A report listed on the website of the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board raises concerns about the indoor air quality (IAQ) in new homes. The report, “Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality in New Homes” investigated 108 new single story homes that were monitored in a multi-season study.

The results of the research showed the median 24 hour outdoor exchange rate was .26 air exchanges per hour. The California building code requires .35 air exchanges per hour. In these new homes the median formaldehyde levels taken from the indoor air was 36 micrograms per cubic meter. Almost all the homes had levels of formaldehyde that exceeded guidelines for cancer and chronic irritation.

In recent years the health effects associated with formaldehyde exposure have brought to light the dangers from prolonged and repeated contact. The major exposure risks associated with formaldehyde come from occupants inhaling contaminated air. Exposure to elevated levels of formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks, nausea, watery eyes and difficulty breathing.

Formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in animals and according to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) formaldehyde may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a carcinogen.

The list of formaldehyde containing substances is extensive and involves everything from plywood and particle board to insulation, cleaners, carpeting and furniture. EMSL Analytical, one of the nation’s premier formaldehyde testing laboratories with over 30 testing facilities across the United States and Canada, has been providing formaldehyde and VOC testing services for years.

“The risks associated with formaldehyde and other off-gassing from VOCs is a real health concern,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President for EMSL Analytical. “ESML has an online video that demonstrates formaldehyde sampling techniques at www.EMSL.tv and has made available a formaldehyde brochure that can be downloaded at www.EMSL.com,” Frasca continued.

See reactions to proposed TSCA changes.

2010-04-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/88/i17/8817notw1.html>

2010-04-25T08:16:00.001-07:00

Big News in PCB Regulations

2010-04-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

We will attend these meetings.

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/tsd/pcbs/publicmeetings.htm

Electrical Safety – 10 Things You May Not Have Known

2010-04-16T09:20:00.000-07:00

1. In the USA, there are over 3,000 fatalities and 35,000 serious injuries each year caused by electrical accidents.
o OSHA research concludes that most were preventable
2. Risks associated with electrical systems fall into two categories: 1) shock hazards and 2) arc flash hazards.
3. Electrical shock occurs when contact is made with an exposed energized electrical component.
o Shock hazards can even occur at voltage levels as low as 50 volts
o Many people need training to identify shock hazards
4. An arc flash is a large release of thermal energy associated with a short circuit. If a worker is exposed to an arc flash serious burns and other injuries can occur.
o Significant risk from arc flash is present in most electrical distribution systems
5. As an employer you are required to have a written safety program in compliance with OSHA & NFPA 70E.
6. OSHA has mandatory requirements for employers to perform risk assessments and have electrical safety programs and procedures in place to minimize risk from electrical hazards.
7. Fortunately, there are simple and inexpensive ways to comply with OSHA’s electrical safety requirements and therefore minimize the risk associated with both shock and arc flash.
8. Simple written polices and procedures, a good maintenance program, training, and the use of personal protective equipment such as rubber gloves, flame retardant clothing, and face shields help to minimize the risk. NFPA 70E “Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace” is an excellent resource.
9. Your employees (and outside contractors you hire) who face a risk of electrical hazard must be provided with and trained in the use of appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance the NFPA 70E and OSHA requirements.
10. OSHA is currently placing a strong emphasis on electrical safety and is increasing their enforcement efforts.

Indoor Air Quality on Planes

2010-04-12T09:17:00.001-07:00

Airlines reduce the passengers' fresh air to save money. Pilots reduce the fresh air in the passenger cabins, but not for themselves in the cockpit. The amount of oxygen-rich, fresh air the pilots get is believed adequate to keep them clear-headed for the safety of the airplane.

A case can be made that the low-oxygen, recirculated air that passengers breathe can make them woozy, grumpy and vulnerable to catching contagious diseases.
According to the book, The Airliner Cabin Environment (National Academy Press, page 43), when the pilots cut back on air, these pilots get ten times more fresh air than economy passengers get. This happens every day on many airlines.

A study of office buildings found that the transmission of contagious diseases increases significantly when a large percentage of air is recirculated. It seems logical to apply this finding to the airline cabin environment.

Though using all the fresh air available on board isn't going to eliminate the transmission of contagious diseases in aircraft cabins, it will very likely reduce the transmission of contagious diseases on board.
Passengers seated closest to the contagious individual are most at risk. There are other considerations such as where the contagious passenger is seated, the aircraft’s air vents, the flight time and the number of passengers aboard.

Contractors and Consumers: New Protections from Lead-based Paint Take Effect April 22

2010-03-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

Contractors and Consumers: New Protections from Lead-based Paint Take Effect April 22
Public Info Session held in Portland, Maine on Friday, March 26

(Boston, Mass. – March 23, 2010) – The federal deadline to make lead safety the standard of care for renovations and painting projects in pre-1978 housing is April 22, 2010.

The new EPA rule, announced in 2008 and in development for years before that, sets in place more protective work practices to limit children’s potential exposure to lead dust due to painting, repair or renovation work in older houses and buildings. Anyone receiving compensation for renovating, repairing and painting work in residences built before 1978 that disturbs painted surfaces is subject to the new Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (RRP). Also affected by the RRP are those performing similar work on facilities occupied by children less than six years of age, such as schools and day-care centers built prior to 1978.

EPA, along with federal and state partners, is holding a public information session on the new RRP rule on Friday, March 26, 2010 in Portland, Maine, between 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The session is free and open to the public. However, space is limited so registration is required to ensure your spot. Registration can be done on-line or in person the day of the session. The meeting will be held at Holiday Inn by the Bay, (http://innbythebay.com/) 88 Spring Street, Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 775 -2311, in the Cumberland and the Kennebec Rooms. Register online (at www.epa.gov/region1/topics/pollutants/lead.html .)

Beginning April 22, 2010, no paid job can disturb painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes or child care facilities unless (1) the firm is certified by the EPA or a state and (2) the renovator has completed training and is a certified renovator. The requirements under the rule apply to maintenance, renovation or repair activities where six square feet (about the size of a poster) or more of a painted surface is disturbed inside, or where 20 square feet or more of painted surface (about the size of a door) is disturbed on the exterior. Window replacement is also covered by the rule. The only exceptions are where paint is proven lead free or the job is smaller than six square feet.

Lead hazards created by renovation and painting projects cause one in three known lead poisoning cases in Maine. Using safe work practices before, during, and after such work prevents the spread of dangerous lead dust and paint chips. These practices include posting a warning sign, spreading plastic to pick up debris, refraining from sanders or other machines without a filter to prevent the spread of dust, thorough clean-up, and checking the work area. A day of training is enough to prepare a renovator, painter, property manager, plumber, electrician, or handyman to use these practices, and federal law now requires it. Landlords who perform the work described above are also affected by the rule and bound by the same requirements.

“Because we have so much older housing stock here in New England, protecting kids from exposure to lead-based paint is one of the most important things we can do. Lead exposure is entirely preventable, and can cause permanent, serious, life-long problems,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator for EPA’s New England region.

Lead, a toxic metal that was used for many years in products such as lead-based paint, may cause a range of health effects from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children six years old and under are most at risk. In 1978 the sale and use of lead-based paint was banned for residential use.

Until the new rule takes effect, contractors should follow these three simple procedures: contain the work area; minimize dust; and cleanup thoroughly.

More information:

Register for the Portland ME informational meeting (March 26, 2010): (www.epa.gov/region1/topics/pollutants/lead.html)

Renovator & Trainers Lead-safe Tool Box: (www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/toolkits.htm)

Find a certified firm near you: (http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm)

General info on lead: (www.epa.gov/lead)

National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (1-800-424-5323)

Renovation, Repair and Painting rule: (www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm)

# # #

Chinese Drywall

2010-03-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

From Mar. 18 New Orleans Times-Picayune
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Chinese drywall guidance offered by National Association of Home Builders By Rebecca Mowbray, The Times-Picayune March 18, 2010, 8:13PM

While the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission dallies on instructing people how to fix homes damaged by corrosive drywall, the National Association of Home Builders has become the first major player to advance its own set of "evolving solutions."

The guidance to builders nationwide comes as the national consolidated litigation over problem drywall in U.S. District Court in New Orleans proceeds swiftly toward figuring out how to repair homes. Federal efforts to find effective ways to fix homes, meanwhile, have been thorough but too slow for many impatient families living in homes where hydrogen sulfide gas is making them sick and corroding metal appliances, fixtures and wiring.

Remarkably, the repair procedures outlined by the home builders are similar to what the committee of plaintiffs attorneys has proposed in Judge Eldon Fallon's courtroom in New Orleans. Rather than some cheaper air-filtration and drywall treatments that others have suggested, the home builders association advocates ripping out drywall, plumbing and possibly wiring, paying for families to temporarily relocate, and allowing homes time to air out after being gutted.

"When I look at what the NAHB is recommending and what the plaintiffs steering committee is recommending in court, the differences are not substantial," said David Loeb, an attorney for the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans.

Report may serve as blueprint

David Jaffe, vice president of legal affairs at the trade association of 175,000 builders, said his group is not attempting to upstage the Safety Commission's quest for official "remediation protocols," but wanted to advise its members on the latest available science on corrosive drywall and the experience of large builders who have attempted to tackle the problem.

But others note that the formal assessment by the home builders, written by the risk management firm Marsh USA Inc., could effectively serve as a blueprint for the Safety Commission and help a diverse set of foreign manufacturers, builders, distributors, homeowners and their attorneys coalesce around a limited set of ideas.

Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the safety commission, said his group has its own task force of experts and should release "remediation protocols" in 45 days. [snip]
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Full article at:

EPA Takes Action to Establish New Bug Bomb Labeling

2010-03-25T05:47:00.001-07:00

Pesticide News Story: EPA Takes Action to Establish New Bug Bomb Labeling Requirements to Improve Safety and Reduce Risk
For Release: March 24, 2010

Today, EPA is taking action to improve residential safety and reduce risks associated with bug bombs, or total release foggers (TRFs). The Agency is calling for significant changes to their labeling to address the most common causes of exposure incidents associated with TRFs.

EPA is requiring manufacturers to make a number of labeling changes by September 30, 2011. Since the largest proportion of incidents is attributable to failure to follow label instructions, the changes are targeted at minimizing those incidents. To draw attention to critical information, future bug bomb labels must be written in plain language with clear headings. To further enhance clarity and risk understanding, the new labels will also incorporate pictograms, which can be more effective than text in communicating certain information, including explosion hazards and the amount of time that a residence must be vacated after releasing the fogger. The changes also strengthen instructions to vacate upon use and air out upon return by requiring greater label prominence. A new provision is that door hang-tags must be provided to inform others to stay out of treated areas.

In addition to these labeling improvements, EPA is continuing to work with registrants on developing non-labeling improvements, including transitioning to smaller foggers, time-delayed release, and nonflammable propellants.

The number of foggers used is estimated at roughly 50 million units per year. Although the available evidence suggests that bug bomb incidents are infrequent relative to use of the devices, incidents of serious injury have been reported. EPA’s new bug bomb labeling improvements are consistent with the recommendations of two 2008 state reports and are intended to address concerns raised by the New York City Department of Health.

EPA will continue to monitor these products closely to ensure that these new public health protections are effective and evaluate whether additional actions are needed.

For more information on the new labeling requirements, the petition, and EPA’s analysis and response, please see the fogger section of EPA’s pyrethroid and pyrethrins fact sheet.

1,2-Dichloroethane

2010-03-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

1,2-Dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride) is a clear, colorless, oily liquid with a chloroform-like odor and a boiling point of 83.5°C. Its vapor pressure ranges from 5.33 to 14.0 kPa over the temperature range 10 to 30°C. 1,2-Dichloroethane is miscible with most organic solvents and is appreciably soluble in water, with a solubility ranging from 8700 to 9200 mg/L over the temperature range 0 to 25°C. It has a log octanol-water partition coefficient of 1.48.1
1,2-Dichloroethane has been reported to be one of the most widely used chemicals in the world.2 Annual usage in the Great Lakes Basin has been estimated at 900 million kilograms.3 Canadian production in 1984 was 680 million kilograms, of which 180 million kilograms were exported and 500 million kilograms were consumed domestically.4
Almost all of the domestic 1,2-dichloroethane is used as a chemical intermediate in the preparation of vinyl chloride. About 1% is used as a solvent and as a lead scavenger in leaded gasoline formulations.4 This use has decreased over the past few years and will continue to decrease as the use of lead in fuels drops.5 1,2-Dichloroethane enters the environment through atmospheric emissions, waste effluents to waterways and land disposal of liquid and solid wastes.6 Because of its high volatility, 1,2-dichloroethane that is released to land and water can be expected to be transferred predominantly to the atmosphere. About 1 to 1.7% of total U.S. yearly production was estimated to be released to the environment as emissions.6
Exposure
1,2-Dichloroethane was detected frequently in treated drinking water and raw water samples taken from 30 treatment facilities across Canada in 1979.7 Mean concentrations in treated water were between 4 and 5 µg/L during August and September and less than 1 µg/L in November and December. The overall mean of 31 positive determinations was 3.2 µg/L. Maximum concentrations of 30 and 11 µg/L were found during August and September and during November and December, respectively. 1,2-Dichloroethane was detected at trace levels (0.34 to 0.38 µg/L) in one municipal water supply in Quebec during February 1986, but it was not detected in a later survey, during August 1986, of 18 Quebec municipalities.8 It was also undetected in 1985 and 1986 surveys of 40 municipalities in the four Maritime provinces,9,10 in a 1984 survey of seven municipalities in the Niagara River area11 and in the 1978 to 1985 surveys of 29 municipal water supplies in Alberta.12 The average daily intake* from drinking water containing 1,2-dichloroethane was estimated to be 0.069 µg/kg bw, based on the mean of 3.2 µg/L observed in the Otson study.7
Few data are available on concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane in foods. Concentrations ranging from 2 to 23 µg/g were found in 11 of 17 different spice oleoresins that had been subjected to solvent extraction with 1,2-dichloroethane.13 Residues of 1,2-dichloroethane in grain products arising from its use as a grain fumigant are expected to be negligible, as this use was suspended in Canada in 1984. The human intake from food sources was estimated to be negligible.6
No Canadian data are available on ambient air concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane. A review of recent reports revealed that U.S. ambient air concentrations ranged from 0.062 to 6.20 ppb (0.25 to 25 µg/m3) with an intermediate value of 0.62 ppb (2.5 µg/m3).6 Based on these concentrations, the estimated average daily human intake of 1,2-dichloroethane from ambient air is 0.71 µg/kg bw, with a range of 0.07 to 7.14 µg/kg bw*. Atmospheric concentrations near production facilities were in the order of 10 ppb (40 µg/m3), and those near end-use facilities ranged from 0.69 to 0.99 ppb (2.8 to 4.0 µg/m3).6
Inhalation would therefore appear to be the primary route of exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane, with 0.71 µg/kg bw or 91% of an estimated total daily intake of 0.78 µg/kg bw derived from this source. The contribution from food is negligible,6 and estimated intake from drinking water is 0.07 µg/kg bw or 9% of the total.
Analytical Methods and Treatment Technology
The analysis of 1,2-dichloroethane in water at concentrations as low as 0.10 µg/L is possible using the purge and trap method and gas/liquid chromatography instrumentation equipped with a halogen-specific detector.6 The practical quantitation limit (PQL) (based on the ability of laboratories to measure 1,2-dichloroethane within reasonable limits of precision and accuracy) is 5 µg/L.14
The removal efficiency of volatile organic compounds by packed tower aeration and granular activated carbon adsorption for chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons has been estimated to be 90 to 93%.14 It would appear that, using advanced technology, a reduction in the concentration of 1,2-dichloroethane in drinking water to less than 1 µg/L would be feasible.
Health Effects
Animal studies with 1,2-dichloroethane have shown that it is rapidly and extensively absorbed via the lungs.15 Uptake from the gastrointestinal tract was efficient and rapid,15 although both the rate and extent were vehicle-dependent,16 peak values for the blood levels being 5 times higher for solutions in water than for solutions in oil. Dermal absorption was shown to be significant in rats, with an absorption rate of 479 nmol/min per square centimetre.17
1,2-Dichloroethane was rapidly distributed to all body tissues.15 As expected from its properties as a general anaesthetic in man, it readily crossed the blood-brain barrier. It was also efficiently transferred to the foetus of the rat.18
There was good evidence to show that the metabolism of 1,2-dichloroethane proceeded via two principal pathways. One involved a saturable microsomal (P-450-mediated) oxidation, leading to the formation of 2-chloroacetaldehyde, the putative 1-chloroso-2-chloroethane and, ultimately, glutathione conjugates. A second pathway involved a cytosolic glutathione-dependent pathway leading to glutathione conjugates, such as S-(2-chloroethyl glutathione).19,20 These metabolites were believed to be involved in covalent binding with DNA, although other metabolites, conjugates and intermediates were also formed.19,20
The elimination of 1,2-dichloroethane followed a two- or three-compartment mathematical model after administration by various routes and was dose-dependent.15,16,21 Material balance studies, following oral and inhalation dosing, have shown that metabolism was the primary elimination mechanism.15 After the administration of an oral dose of 150 mg/kg bw to rats, 29% was excreted unchanged in exhaled air, 5% was metabolized to carbon dioxide and 60% appeared in the urine as metabolites. After an inhalation exposure to 150 ppm (600 mg/m3) for six hours, rats were estimated to have received a total dose of 50 mg/kg bw. Of this dose, 2% was excreted unchanged in air, 7% was metabolized to carbon dioxide and more than 84% was recovered as urinary metabolites.
No epidemiological studies on human health effects induced by 1,2-dichloroethane have been published. The characteristic symptoms of poisoning by chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons have been reported in acute and chronic occupational exposures to inhaled 1,2-dichloroethane. Nausea, headache, gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting, rapid and weak pulse, progressive cyanosis, dyspnoea, loss of consciousness and, ultimately, death have been documented.6 Deaths have also been reported after ingestion of 1,2-dichloroethane, and the acute lethal dose in humans has been estimated to be between 8 and 200 mL (143 to 3571 mg/kg bw).6
Acute exposure studies in animals showed that the severity of effects was dependent on the duration and level of exposure to 1,2-dichloroethane. For rats exposed for five to eight hours via inhalation, adverse effects were not elicited at 200 ppm (800 mg/m3). The first signs of intoxication appeared at a concentration of 300 ppm (1200 mg/m3) and mortality at about 600 ppm (2400 mg/m3).22,23 The acute lethal oral dose in rats was reported to be 680 mg/kg bw.24 In male and female CD-1 mice, the acute lethal oral doses were 489 and 413 mg/kg bw, respectively.25 The LD50 for skin exposures in rabbits was estimated to be between 2.8 and 4.9 g/kg bw.6
In a subchronic study, 15 rats of each sex, eight guinea pigs of each sex, one female and two male rabbits and two male monkeys were exposed to 1,2-dichloroethane vapour at concentrations of 400 and 100 ppm (1600 and 400 mg/m3) for 7 h/d, five days per week for six months. In addition, a further 15 rats of each sex and eight guinea pigs of each sex were exposed to 200 ppm (800 mg/m3) for 30 and 36 weeks, respectively.22 No adverse effects were observed in any of the four species exposed to 100 ppm. At the 200 ppm level, no adverse effects were seen in rats, but slight parenchymatous degeneration of the liver, with some vacuolization, was seen in guinea pigs. Severe effects, including hepatotoxicity and death, were observed in rats and guinea pigs exposed at the 400 ppm level.
Chronic studies with 1,2-dichloroethane in animals have been limited to those that were primarily designed as cancer bioassays. There have been two principal studies, one in which both sexes of rats and mice were dosed by gavage with solutions in corn oil26 and the other in which the same species were exposed by the inhalation route.27
In the National Cancer Institute study,28 the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and one-half the MTD, determined from preliminary studies, were administered by gavage on five consecutive days per week to 50 Osborne-Mendel rats of each sex, beginning at eight weeks of age, and to 50 B6C3F1 mice, starting at five weeks of age. In addition, 20 animals were given no treatment, and 20 animals were dosed with the vehicle alone for each dose and sex group. Early signs of toxicity in both species indicated that the selected MTDs were inappropriate and necessitated several changes in the administered dosages during the 78 weeks of the study. Thus, the time-weighted average doses received by the male and female rats were 97 and 47 mg/kg bw (MTD and one-half the MTD). For male mice, the doses were 195 and 97 mg/kg bw, and for female mice, 299 and 149 mg/kg bw.
Multiple tumors were induced in both species. A statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in the incidence of squamous cell carcinomas of the fore-stomach, hemangiosarcomas of the circulatory system and fibromas of the subcutaneous tissue occurred in male rats. There was also a statistically significant increase in the incidence of adenocarcinomas of the mammary gland and hemangiosarcomas of the circulatory system in female rats. Tumours were also observed at other sites, including the spleen, liver, adrenal glands, pancreas, large intestine, subcutaneous tissue and abdominal cavity.
In B6C3F1 mice, there was a statistically significant increase in incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas in male mice. In female mice, there was a statistically significant increase in incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas, mammary carcinomas and endometrial tumours.
Supportive evidence for the National Cancer Institute study was available from a pulmonary tumor bioassay29 in which mice were dosed intraperitoneally with 1,2-dichloroethane in tricaprylin and from a skin application study in mice.30 Both of these studies showed that 1,2-dichloroethane could induce a significant increase in tumors at sites (e.g., lung and stomach) remote from the point of application.
No evidence of carcinogenicity was found in a recent lifetime inhalation study in which Sprague-Dawley rats and Swiss mice were exposed to concentrations of 1,2-dichloroethane that ranged from 5 to 150 ppm (20 to 600 mg/m3).27 Nor was there any evidence of carcinogenicity from an earlier subchronic study in which Wistar rats were exposed to 200 ppm (800 mg/m3) 7 h/d, five days per week for six months.22 The apparent discrepancies between inhalation and other routes of exposure in oncogenicity studies have led to considerable discussion.15,31 Among other factors it was considered that the delivered dose in the inhalation studies was lower than that received by the animals in the oral dosing study and was probably too low to elicit a statistically significant tumor response in the number of animals used.
A recent review has concluded that 1,2-dichloroethane causes gene mutations in bacteria, plants, Drosophila and Chinese hamster ovary cells.32 The results of reproductive and teratogenicity testing have indicated that 1,2-dichloroethane has little potential for producing adverse reproductive effects or for adversely affecting the developing foetus unless the exposure is high enough to produce maternal toxicity.6,33
* This estimate was based on a 70-kg man breathing 20 m3 of air per day.
Classification and Assessment
1,2-Dichloroethane is classified in Group II --probably carcinogenic to man (sufficient evidence in animals, inadequate evidence in man) -- on the basis that it has been shown to be carcinogenic in both sexes of two animal species. Incorporating a surface area correction and using the robust linear extrapolation model, one can calculate the unit lifetime risk associated with the ingestion of 1 µg/L 1,2-dichloroethane in drinking water to be 1.6 x 10-6 (based on hemangiosarcomas in the circulatory system of male Osborne-Mendel rats)*.26 These tumors were selected because they represented the most sensitive response and occurred at locations remote from the site of contact with the agent. The estimated concentrations in drinking water corresponding to lifetime risks of 10-5, 10-6 and 10-7 for the same tumor type based on the model described above are 6.2, 0.62 and 0.062 µg/L.
* Average adult body weight = 70 kg; average daily intake of drinking water = 1.5 L.
Rationale
Because 1,2-dichloroethane is classified as a probable human carcinogen in Group II, the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) is derived based on consideration of available practicable treatment technology and estimated lifetime cancer risks. Because the MAC must also be measurable by available analytical methods, the PQL is also taken into consideration in its derivation.
An interim MAC (IMAC) of 0.005 mg/L (5 µg/L) for 1,2-dichloroethane was established, therefore, on the basis of the following considerations:
(1) The estimated unit lifetime risk associated with the ingestion of 1 µg/L 1,2-dichloroethane in drinking water is 1.6x 10-6 (based on hemangiosarcomas in male rats). Therefore, the estimated lifetime risk associated with the ingestion of drinking water containing 5 µg/L 1,2-dichloroethane is 8x 10-6. The MAC is considered interim because intake in drinking water is approximately 9% of the total intake, and the estimated total risk from all sources therefore will exceed 1 x 10-5, which is above the maximum value in the range considered "essentially negligible."
(2) It is unlikely that 1,2-dichloroethane concentrations are reduced significantly during conventional water treatment processes. However, it is possible to achieve concentrations below 1µg/L using packed tower aeration or granular activated carbon adsorption.
(3) The PQL (based on the ability of laboratories to measure 1,2-dichloroethane within reasonable limits of precision and accuracy) is 5 µg/L.
References
1. Valvani, S.C., Yalnowsky, S.H. and Roseman, T.J. Solubility and partitioning. IV. Aqueous solubility and octanol-water partition coefficients of liquid non-electrolytes. J. Pharm. Sci., 70: 502 (1981).
2. International Agency for Research on Cancer. ARC Monogr. Eval. Carcinog. Risk Chem. Man, 20: 429 (1979).
3. International Joint Commission. 1981 annual report, Committee on Human Health Effects of Great Lakes Water Quality (1981).
4. Corpus Information Services. CPI product profiles: ethylene dichloride (ECD). Toronto (1985).
5. Senes Consultants Ltd. Drinking water criteria reviews for 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. Contract for the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (1985).
6. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Health assessment document for 1,2-dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride). EPA/600/8-84/006F, Office of Health and Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC (1985).
7. Otson, R., Williams, D.T. and Bothwell, P.D. Volatile organic compounds at thirty potable water treatment facilities. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem., 65: 1370 (1982).
8. Ayotte, P. Micropollutants organiques, campagnes d'échantillonnage 1986. Direction des eaux souterraines et de consommation, Ministère de l'environnement, Gouvernement du Québec (1987).
9. Lebel, G.L. Volatile organic compounds in Atlantic area drinking water sources. Unpublished report, Monitoring and Criteria Division, Environmental Health Directorate, Department of National Health and Welfare (1987).
10. Environment Canada. Data summary reports; federal-provincial drinking water sources, toxic chemical survey, 1985-1986, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island. Water Quality Branch, Atlantic Region, Moncton (1987).
11. Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Survey of Niagara area and selected Lake Ontario municipal drinking water supplies. Toronto (1984).
12. Alberta Environment. Drinking water survey, 1978-1985. Municipal Engineering Branch, Pollution Control Division, Edmonton (1985).
13. Page, B.D. and Kennedy, P.P.C. Determination of methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride and trichloroethylene as solvent residues in spice oleoresins, using vacuum distillation and electron capture detection. J. Assoc. Off. Anal. Chem., 60: 710 (1975).
14. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. National primary drinking water regulations; volatile synthetic organic chemicals. Fed. Regist., 50(219): 46902 (1985).
15. Reitz, R.H., Fox, T.R., Ramsey, J.C., Quast, J.F., Langvardt, P.W. and Watanabe, P.G. Pharmacokinetic and macromolecular interactions of ethylene dichloride in rats after inhalation or gavage. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 62: 190 (1982).
16. Withey, J.R., Collins, B.T. and Collins, P.G. Effect of vehicle on the pharmacokinetics and uptake of four halogenated hydrocarbons from the gastrointestinal tract of the rat. J. Appl. Toxicol., 3: 249 (1983).
17. Tsuruta, H. Percutaneous absorption of organic solvents. II. A method for measuring the penetration rate of chlorinated solvents through excised rat skin. Ind. Health, 15: 131 (1977).
18. Withey, J.R. and Karpinski, K. The fetal distribution of some aliphatic chlorinated hydrocarbons in the rat after vapor phase exposure. Biol. Res. Pregnancy, 6: 79 (1985).
19. Guengerich, F.P., Crawford, W.M., Domradizki, J.Y., McDonald, T.L. and Watanabe, P.G. In vitro activation of 1,2-dichloroethane by microsomal and cytosolic enzymes. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 55: 303 (1980).
20. Anders, M.W. and Livesey, J.C. Metabolism of 1,2-dichloroethanes. In: Ethylene dichloride: a potential health risk? B.N. Ames, P. Infante and R. Reitz (eds.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. p. 331 (1980).
21. Withey, J.R. and Collins, B.T. Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons used in the foods industry: the comparative pharmacokinetics of methylene chloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, chloroform and trichloro-ethylene after i.v. administration in the rat. J. Environ. Pathol. Toxicol., 3: 313 (1980).
22. Spencer, H.C., Rowe, V.K., Adams, E.M., McCollister, D.D. and Irish, D.D. Vapor toxicity of ethylene dichloride determined by experiments on laboratory animals. Ind. Hyg. Occup. Med., 4: 482 (1951).
23. Heppel, L.A., Neal, P.A., Perrin, T.L., Endicott, K.M. and Porterfield, V.T. Toxicology of 1,2-dichloroethane. III. Its acute toxicity and the effect of protective agents. J. Exp. Pharmacol. Ther., 83: 53 (1945).
24. McCollister, D.D., Hollingsworth, R.L., Oyen, F. and Rowe, V.K. Comparative inhalation toxicity of fumigant mixtures. Arch. Ind. Health, 13: 1 (1956).
25. Munson, A.E., Sanders, W.M., Douglas, K.A., Sain, L.E., Kaufmann, B.M. and White, K.L. In vivo assessment of immunotoxicity. Environ. Health Perspect., 43: 41 (1982).
26. National Cancer Institute. Bioassay of 1,2-dichloroethane for possible carcinogenicity. Department of Health, Education and Welfare Publication No. (NIH) 78-1361 (NCI Carcinogenesis Technical Report Series No. 55), Washington, DC (1978).
27. Maltoni, C., Valgimigli, L. and Scarnato, C. Long-term carcinogenic bioassays on ethylene dichloride administered by inhalation to rats and mice. In: Ethylene dichloride: a potential health risk? B.N. Ames, P. Infante and R. Reitz (eds.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY. p. 3 (1980).
28. Weisburger, E. Carcinogenicity studies on halogenated hydrocarbons. Environ. Health Perspect., 21: 7 (1977).
29. Theiss, J., Stoner, G., Schimkin, M. and Weisberger, E.L. Test for carcinogenicity of organic contaminants of United States drinking water by pulmonary tumor response in strain A mice. Cancer Res., 37: 2717 (1977).
30. Van Duuren, B., Goldschmidt, B., Loewengart, G., Smith, A., Mechionne, S., Seldman, I. and Roth, D. Carcinogenicity of halogenated olefinic and aliphatic hydrocarbons in mice. J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 63: 1433 (1979).
31. Hooper, K., Gold, L. and Ames, B. The carcinogenicity potency of ethylene dichloride in two animal bioassays: a comparison of inhalation and gavage studies. In: Ethylene dichloride: a potential health risk? B.N. Ames, P. Infante and R. Reitz (eds.). Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY (1980).
32. Fishbein, L. Potential halogenated industrial carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals. III. Alkane halides, alkanols and ethers. Sci. Total Environ., 2: 223 (1979).
33. Lane, R.W., Riddle, B.L. and Borzelleca, J.F. Effects of 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane in drinking water on reproduction and development in mice. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 63: 409 (1982).

RRP Certification

2010-03-16T06:38:00.000-07:00

Lead Update – NEW: EPA Certified Renovator RRP

Everyone is familiar with the hazards of lead and understands the need to minimize the exposure to lead – especially to the young. The EPA recently changed its regulations regarding the disturbance of lead based paint. Below we have included some basic information on those changes to keep you up to date. We hope that you find this newsletter useful, and as always, we look forward to providing you with the quality service and information that has made Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience successful.

Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program (RRP) Details
 A new EPA federal regulatory law
 Affects contractors, property managers and others who disturb lead-based painted surfaces.
 On April 22, 2010, the training, certification, and work practice requirements become effective.
 Activities subject to the RRP program include
 Remodeling, Repair, Maintenance, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Carpentry, Siding, Window
 Companies/employees performing this work are required to be RRP certified and employees must be trained in lead safe work practices.
 This requirement applies to renovation, repair, and painting work for compensation or wages in target buildings and child-occupied facilities.
 Target buildings are those constructed prior to 1978.
 A child-occupied facility is a building or portion of a building regularly visited by children under 6 years of age.
 Child-occupied facilities may include daycare centers, preschools, and kindergarten classrooms. Common areas in these facilities (ex. bathrooms and cafeterias) regularly used by children under 6, are also included as part of a child-occupied portion in a building.
 The new RRP rule also requires that property owners receive certain information before renovation occurs of six square feet or more of painted surfaces in a room for interior projects or more than twenty square feet of painted surfaces for exterior projects.

Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience offers you EPA-required certification training classes for personnel who will be performing renovation work. Compliance with the new RRP Regulations is essential to prevent costly (up to $32,500) fines and to minimize worker exposure. Upon completion of the training, the participants will have fulfilled the regulatory training obligation and will have the practical knowledge to perform the necessary work safely and legally. Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience has years of experience working with the lead regulations and how they affect schools and is offering this service to help you maintain or increase your regulatory compliance.
For training course details visit: www.fando.com/News_&_Resources/Releases/?NID=123

2010-03-09T06:11:00.000-08:00

PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) in Caulk

March 9, 2010

Welcome to the first in a series of regular newsletters that will provide updates and review topics relating to safety in industrial settings including indoor air quality, chemical safety, and environmental issues. The goal of these newsletters is to provide you with relevant and timely information.
This first issue covers a topic that has been on the minds of many of us the past few months – PCBs and caulk. Unfortunately, this has become a widespread issue that has many facilities managers scratching their heads and understandably worried about how to deal with this issue. In this newsletter, I have included some very basic information on how to proceed. I hope that you find this newsletter useful, and we look forward to supporting you with this difficult issue.
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Basic information on how to manage PCBs in caulk:
 Found in many buildings built between 1950 and 1978 (less likely outside these dates)
 No visual differences between PCB and non-PCB caulk
 PCB containing caulk is handled differently than asbestos containing caulk
 Contact an expert to clarify the ramifications if planning to test caulk
 If concerns about PCBs arise, air testing might be first test performed
 If renovating or demolishing, caulk should be tested
 Caulk known to contain ≥50 ppm PCBs must be removed
 Adjacent material, if significantly contaminated, must also be removed
 Remediation and disposal covered under current regulations (40 CFR part 761)
 Cost depends on remediation strategy
 EPA website: www.epa.gov/pcbsincaulk/

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Fuss & O'Neill EnviroScience is a multi-disciplined industrial hygiene and environmental engineering firm that is positioned to provide a wide variety of environmental services – including PCB remediation. Our experts will work with your facility to ensure safe, timely, and legal removal of PCB contaminated materials. This process will include initial assessment, plan preparation and submission to government agencies, oversight of removal/remediation process, confirmation sampling, data management, and final report preparation. The goal of our service is to properly remediate the contaminated material and provide a working and living environment that is safe for the present and future.
For more information on seminar dates and times contact:

Kevin W. MIller, Ph.D.
kmiller@fando.com