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| Air Ducts Are the Lungs of the Building |
Showing posts with label indoor air quality consulting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label indoor air quality consulting. Show all posts
Friday, February 18, 2011
Indoor Environment Connections Discusses Fungal Infection
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Asthma Control Study Indicates a Home Visit Strategy is Successful.
Image via WikipediaIn a study published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology (Volume 23, Number 2, 2010) called “Home Is Where the Triggers Are: Increasing Asthma Control by Improving the Home Environment” by James Krieger, MD, MPH discusses effectiveness of a home visit strategy. A home visit strategy should include an environmental component that addresses multiple triggers. Visitors assess home environmental conditions, tailor education on how to eliminate triggers to the client’s sensitization status and exposures found in the home, provide trigger reduction resources (eg, vacuums, cleaning supplies, bedding encasements and referral to smoking cessation), help with cockroach and rodent integrated pest management, make minor repairs and provide social support. An important part of the strategy is that visitors build trusting relationships with clients, thus enhancing their effectiveness in motivating behavior changes. These home visits reduce exposure to triggers, decrease symptoms and urgent health-care use, and increase quality of life. Home visit program cost per client ranges from $200 to $1500 based on the type of home visitor and the intensity of the intervention. However, a cost-effectiveness analysis concluded that these home visits have a return on investment of 5.3 – 14.0 and a cost of $12 - $57 per symptom-free day gained. It is important to note that the annual cost of inhaled fluticasone (220ug) is approximately $1567. The study discusses the Seattle-King County Healthy Homes program as an example of a successful program.The study also talks about the strong evidence that links exposure to allergens commonly found in homes such as those derived from dust mites, cockroaches, rodents, molds, and pet dander, to sensitization and subsequent asthma incidence and morbidity. Exposure to indoor allergens is widespread, with >92% of homes containing sufficient concentrations of at least one allergen in dust to cause symptoms in sensitized individuals and 46% with exposure to three or more. In addition to allergens, other indoor asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, nitrogen oxides from combustion devices, irritants from volatile organic compounds, and fungi.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
NYC Schools In The News Again for PCBs.
Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found three more schools in New York City with leaking polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) lighting ballasts. The agency took 14 samples from light fixtures at an East Harlem School complex consisting of P.S. 206, P.S. 37 and P.S. 112 and found that 12 were above the regulatory limit. The three schools are located at 508 E. 120th St, Manhattan. This is the fifth school site testing positive for PCBs, other sites included Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Bronx. According to Metro, New York City Department of Education spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said they’ve replaced all the toxic lights found by the EPA thus far, but the estimated cost for checking and/or replacing all the lights in public schools throughout the five boroughs is $1 billion, which NYC does not have. EPA has been studying this problem for years and has produced a website covering the "Proper Maintenance, Removal, and Disposal of PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts". The purpose of this website is to provide information to school administrators and maintenance personnel on the risks posed by PCBs in light ballasts, how to properly handle and dispose of these items, and how to properly retrofit the lighting fixtures in your school to remove the potential PCB hazards. The website covers the following areas:
- Why Should I Be Concerned about PCBs in My School?
- What Are the Health Effects of PCBs?
- Do My Fluorescent Light Ballasts Contain PCBs?
- Should the Light Ballasts in My School Be Removed?
- What Should I Do if My Fluorescent Light Ballasts Contain PCBs?
- Is It Really Necessary to Retrofit the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
- What Are the Risks and Potential Costs of Not Replacing the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
- Are Students and Teachers in Danger if There are Leaking PCB-Containing Light Ballasts in Their School?
- What Are the Special Procedures for Cleanup and Decontamination after a Ballast Leak or Fire?
- How Do I Retrofit the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
- What Type of Waste Will Be Associated with a Retrofit and How Do I Handle It?
- What Are the Cost Savings Associated with a Retrofit?
- What if a Retrofit Is Not Feasible in My Current Budget?
Related articles
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
AIHA Registry Programs Launches New Program For XRF Field Measurement Registry
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| Peeling lead-based paint is an indicator that lead dust may be on the floor and surfaces |
The FMR program is designed to recognize organizations and their affiliated operators that perform in-situ XRF measurements of lead paint surface coatings in the field. The program maintains minimum standards of conduct for all FMR participants through adherence to the programs policies and registration process.
The FMR program will provide:
- Connections – clients, customers, and employers can find or hire the right kind of professional
- Consistency -- standardization of processes and methods across state lines and country borders
- Continuous improvement – a venue for collaboration and sharing of best practices
Registered organizations and enrolled operators perform in-situ field measurements of lead surface coatings utilizing an XRF. Registered organizations have met the qualifications for inclusion on the registry: personnel training, adherence to an established and documented quality system that is based on the most current version of the FMR Policy. All enrolled operators must be affiliated with an FMR Registered organization that oversees the Quality Assurance and Quality Control program that monitors the operator and be properly trained and licensed for the work to be performed.
For general information and information detailing the registry program and processes, please visit the web site: http://www.aiharegistries.org/. For specific inquiries, contact the AIHA Registry Program at info.RegistryLLC@aiha.org.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Save The Date For PACNY's 15th Annual Environmental Conference
 Image via Wikipedia |
| Table-level view of Live Poker at Turning Stone. |
2010 Environmental Conference
2009 Environmental Conference
2008 Environmental Conference
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
CDC Website Has Indoor Safety Tips Regarding Winter Weather
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| Snow at Brewery Ommegang |
- Use fireplace, wood stoves, or other combustion heaters only if they are properly vented to the outside and do not leak flue gas into the indoor air space.
- Never use a charcoal or gas grill indoors—the fumes are deadly.
- Never leave lit candles unattended.
- Keep as much heat as possible inside your home.
- Check the temperature in your home often during severely cold weather.
- Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
- Eat well-balanced meals to help you stay warmer.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Mold Complaint Dismissed
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| Water-damaged ceiling tiles is an indication of a moisture control problem |
In a motion for dismissal, however, School Board attorney Wendell Waller noted that the school system had not been indifferent to Hood’s medical condition. The response states that the school’s management had allowed Hood to put a dehumidifier in her classroom and frequently inquired as to her condition. The School Board also retained a professional company to inspect Hood’s classroom for mold. The assistant director for facilities and planning also inquired about Hood’s past medical condition and her symptoms, inspected the classroom for mold and took air samples.
The school division also had Hood’s classroom cleaned thoroughly several times and was willing to transfer her to a middle-school position teaching seventh-grade math, but Hood was licensed only up to sixth grade.
“The facts alleged … fail to meet the strict ‘shock the conscience’ standard because the defendants did not ignore Hood’s complaints but did in fact take steps to remedy conditions in Hood’s classroom,” the motion for dismissal stated.
This case shows it is important for facility directors to take the concerns of individuals complaining about indoor air quality seriously. Facility directors should implement an indoor air quality management program to ensure you document all that was done to resolve the indoor air quality complaint.
Friday, January 07, 2011
NYS Toxic Mold Task Force Completes Final Report
- assess and measure, based on scientific evidence, the adverse environmental and health effects of mold exposure, including specific effects on population subgroups at greater risk of adverse effects;
- assess the latest scientific data on mold exposure limits;
- identify actions taken by state and local government and other entities;
- determine methods to control and mitigate mold;
- and prepare a report to the Governor and Legislature.
- health effects of molds in indoor environments;
- exposure limits and assessment of mold in buildings;
- approaches to mold mitigation and remediation;
- building codes, regulations and other actions taken by other governments and private-sector organizations that relate to building mold problems.
- Since mold problems in buildings are preventable with proper building construction, maintenance, and housekeeping aimed at preventing excess building dampness, mold exposure is preventable.
- Overabundant growth of any mold or other dampness-related organisms is undesirable and can be addressed by removing contaminants and correcting water problems. Whether or not exposure to mold toxins is likely when mold growth occurs in a damp building does not substantially change the need for mitigation of the water and mold problem.
- Continue to improve building code requirements that address building design, construction techniques, and property maintenance so that they prevent or minimize the potential for water problems to occur.
- The presence and power of the code enforcement official (CEO) can also help minimize the potential mold problems in buildings when approving construction documents, during construction inspections of new buildings, and when issuing property-maintenance violations related to moisture conditions in existing buildings during required inspections.
- Regulating the mold assessment and remediation service industry is dependent upon how desirable it is to have persons poperly trained and following acceptable protocols. The main public health goal of any regulation or additional guidance to the mold industry will be to reduce the potential for mold exposures and the risk of health effects in damp buildings. Costs for such a program can range from $150,000 for using already developed general recommended work practices and certification programs to $4.5 million per year for a full regulatory program like the NYS asbestos program.
- The development of reliable, health-based quantitative mold exposure limits is not currently feasible.
- Their is limited evidence of the benefits of chemical disinfectants or encapsulant treatments for mitigating or preventing mold growth on building materials.
- The main approach to mold control and mitigation should be focused on identifying and repairing water damage in buildings and removing mold source materials. This method of mitigation is less complicated to implement than mitigation based on attaining a numerical clearance critertion, because the main goal is to return the building to a clean and dry condition.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
New York Times Lists the Top 10 Reasons Small Businesses Fail
Image via WikipediaNew York Times posted an excellent article regarding the top 10 reasons small businesses fail. As a small business owner myself I can say that all of these are definitely issues that make it hard to run a business over a long period of time. Poor accounting, lack of a cash cushion, and operational inefficiencies have all played a part at one time or another for causing me problems with running my business. However, though at times I have looked back and said what was I thinking going into business for myself, I feel it has been one of the best decisions in my life. I highly recommend that if you have this dream you go out and just do it!
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Happy New Year One & All
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| Angelo Garcia III at a Metro NY AIHA meeting |
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Freeport
Image via WikipediaCarbon monoxide that seeped out from a faulty heating system at La Mar Plastic Packaging on Tuesday December 28, 2010 sent dozens of people to the hospital - two with serious injuries - Nassau County fire and village officials said. La Mar Plastic Packaging located at 216 N. Main St. in Freeport, called Freeport Firefighters about 10:30 a.m., and rescuers evacuated dozens of people complaining of headaches, dizziness and nausea from the structure, said Vincent McManus, a district supervisor for the Nassau fire marshal's office.After a preliminary investigation, fire officials, members of the Freeport Building Department and the county's hazardous materials team determined that the deadly gas came from hanging gas-fired heaters in the building, McManus said.
Mark Stuparich, an assistant chief for the Freeport Fire Department, said it was unlikely the building was equipped with a carbon-monoxide detector. "The thing would have been going off all morning," he said. Assistant Chief Stuparich said readings of indoor air showed upward of 500 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), normal indoor levels are 5 ppm or less. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the permissible exposure limit is 50 parts per million or less in an eight-hour period.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
The Importance of Developing a Marketing Plan
Image by EmaStudios via FlickrThe above linked article by Cochrane & Associates, LLC, an environmental, mold, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and indoor air quality industries' only dedicated marketing, public relations and business development consulting firm, discusses the importance of developing a marketing plan. Now is the time to develop your plan for 2011. The article discusses the important points of a marketing plan these are:- Goals
- Methods
- Frequency
- Timeframes
- Assign Tasks
- Budget
- Methods for Evaluating Success
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Study Indicates Increase in Risk of Childhood Leukemia Based on Living Close to Heavy-Traffic Roads.
Image via Wikipedia A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives called "Road Traffic and Childhood Leukemia: The ESCALE Study (SFCE)" indicated an increased risk of childhood leukemia among children that lived close to heavy-traffic roads. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives on December 8, 2010, the research used the national registry-based case-control study (ESCALE) carried out in France. Over the study period, 2003-2004, 763 cases and 1681 controls less than 15 years old were included and the controls were frequency matched with the cases on age and gender. The study showed acute leukemia was significantly associated with estimates of traffic nitrogen dixode (NO2) concentration at the place of residence greater than 27.7µg/m3 compared to NO2 concentration less than 21.9µg/m3 and with the presence of a heavy-traffic road within 500 meters compared to the absence of a heavy-traffic road in the same area. The basic conclusion of the study was that it supports the hypothesis that living close to heavy-traffic roads may increase the risk of childhood leukemia. This study obviously has significant implications for children living near heavy-traffic roads (i.e., the Long Island Expressway) and the indoor air quality where they live. This puts even more emphasis on reducing the emissions from the vehicles that travel these roads.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Review of Northeast Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition
This Friday, December 3, 2010, we went to the 64th Annual Northeast Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel New Brunswick, NJ. The conference was presented by the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), New Jersey Section, Inc. and co-sponsored by the Metro New York and Philadelphia Sections AIHA. The title of the conference was "Welcome to the Future! Evolving Industrial Hygiene Opportunities." The conference agenda included presentations in Nanotechnology by Dr. Chuck Geraci from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH); Prevention through Design by Ms. Donna Heidel from NIOSH; Managing Risk in the Face of Change by Mr. T.J. Lentz from NIOSH; Industrial Forensics by Mr. Ryan Hall from RJ Lee Group; Bioterrorism Response by Dr. Nancy Connell from University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ); Before and After Measurements of Ergonomic Successes from Mr. Dan MacLeod of Dan McLeod LLC; and then the Bedbugs Invasion Panel that included Mr. Jay Taylor from Chubb and Son, Mr. Roy Viola, Esq. from McGiveny & Kluger, Mr. Rick Cooper of Cooper Pest Solutions, and Dr. Howard Sandler of Sandler Occupational Medical Associates. The exhibition included AJ Abrams Co.; Analytics Corp., Belfor USA, Bomark Instruments, EMSL, Environmental Reports, Nilfisk, Sandler Occupational Medicine Assoc., Unitech Services Group, and Zefon International to name a few. The event like usual is great day for networking and catching up with people you haven't seen in a while. It was great to see you folks, Mrs. Deborah Gul Haffner, Mr. Ed Olmstead, Mr. Stu Mirowitz, Mr. Jack Springston, Mr. Ed Gertz, Mr. Paul DeBiase, Mr. Ken Burns, Mr. Ron Smith, and Mr. Ken Shaw, to name a few. As with most conferences, we go in hopes of learning something new or possibly meet someone who will help your business. Well this conference was duo win on that front for us. The Bedbug Panel provided alot of information that we will discuss in our next newsletter. The Prevention Through Design presentation was our favorite. It discussed "Building Industrial Hygiene into the Plan for Safer and Greener Economy." Discussing the role of industrial hygiene in the green economy, and the need for industrial hygienist to be at the beginning of the design project. Interesting statistic, from this presentation, was from an Australian Study that determined that design continues to be a significant contibutor to work-related serious injury. 37% of workplace fatalities involved design-related issues and another 14% of fatalities, design-related issues may have played a role. If that statistic was not enough for us, the case studies presented emphasized how industrial hygienists involved at different stages of the project affected or prevented risk shifting. The presentation also discussed whether worker safety and health should be included in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system? A building could be rated platinum but were their any fatalities during construction, are the occupants happy with indoor air quality, or what are costs involved with operations and maintenance?
Kudos to the New Jersey section for an excellant conference.
Related articles 
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Study suggests that being too clean can make people sick
Image via WikipediaA recent study by the University of Michigan School of Public Health suggests that people who are overexposed to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) may suffer more allergies and negative effects to their immune systems. Study suggests that being too clean can make people sick. This study indicates that young people who are overexposed to antibacterial soaps containing triclosan may suffer more allergies, and exposure to higher levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) among adults may negatively influence the immune system. Triclosan is a chemical compound widely used in products such as antibacterial soaps, toothpaste, pens, diaper bags and medical devices. BPA is found in many plastics and, for example, as a protective lining in food cans. Both of these chemicals are in a class of environmental toxicants called endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which are believed to negatively impact human health by mimicking or affecting hormones. "We found that people over age 18 with higher levels of BPA exposure had higher CMV antibody levels, which suggests their cell-mediated immune system may not be functioning properly," said Erin Rees Clayton, research investigator at the U-M School of Public Health and first author on the paper. The study also found that people age 18 and under with higher levels of triclosan were more likely to report diagnosis of allergies and hay fever. There is growing concern among the scientific community and consumer groups that these EDCs are dangerous to humans at lower levels than previously thought.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
5 Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality - My Money (usnews.com)
Image by kqedquest via FlickrThe garage as far as we are concerned is one of the most dangerous areas of the home. Between the car, tool, and chemical storage it can have various items that by themselves would have significant impacts on indoor air quality. Individually, cars can impact air quality with the carbon monoxide they produce that can infiltrate the home, tools, depending on what powers them, can also have the same effect as a car or can generate contaminants like sawdust, silica, asbestos or other hazardous vapors, and chemical storage by itself can generate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous vapors and mists. The above article points out various ways you can improve your air quality and the ideas are excellent.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Floorings Affect on Indoor Air Quality
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| Mold growing on wood tacking under carpeting. |
Related articles
Friday, October 22, 2010
Bedbugs and Lice Make Comeback.
Image via WikipediaIt's interesting how certain news stories can just freak you out a bit. For some its blood, for others it could be molds. Well for me its bugs...in particular very small bugs. Like bedbugs and lice just really gets me itching. So when a story like the one in Newsday discussed the current bedbug and louse issue, it was all I could do to prevent myself from scratching like crazy. Recent news stories have bedbugs present at the Waldorf Astoria (where else would you stay if you visited New York City), at Lincoln Center (I guess they like ballet) and the Central Islip Library (they also like to read..or maybe they are really bookworms?). This shows that bedbugs have evolved, additional proof of this is that these bedbugs are resistant to DDT and malathion, products used in the past to kill them. The article makes interesting reading and other articles have discussed how to avoid bedbugs while traveling or specifically discussed about bedbugs not being a public health emergency. The primary reason being that bedbugs are not known to spread disease. They just want to feed on us (ok, just writing that creeped me out...itch, itch, scratch, scratch).
Friday, October 08, 2010
EMLab P&K Products Division Blog Features - Proper Maintenance of Sampling Equipment
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| Anderson N-6 Bioaerosol Sampler. |
If you use or own indoor air quality equipment we recommend that you read EMLab P&K Products Division Blog. Click on the title of this blog post to read EMLAB P&K's blog post on the proper maintenance of air sampling equipment, such as the Anderson or A6 impact bioaerosol samplers, rotary vane high volume pumps, and Wallchek adapters. In addition, it discusses the importance of proper maintenance to sustain consistent sample collection. The blog reminds us that the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) recommends calibrating pumps before and after sample collection with variances not to exceed 5 to 10%. This calibration should be performed using a primary standard such as a bubble meter (1000 cubic centimeter bubble buret) or an electronic device such as the Dry Cal® DC-Lite Calibrator, Gilian® Gilibrator-2, and Bios Defender™. These primary standard must be traced to a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard. It will keep your equipment running at peak condition.
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