Floorings Affect on Indoor Air Quality

Mold growing on wood tacking under carpeting.

When Future Environment Designs performs an indoor air quality assessment we typically look at what's on the floor to see if that is hindering or contributing to the air quality problems.  Carpeting is a problem because the average person cannot clean it properly and if it gets wet you have to make sure you dry it completely to ensure mold (fungi) won't grow on it or in it.  We have seen mold grow even on the wood used for the tacking down the carpet as seen in the photo.  My preference is non-porous materials on the floor.  Researchers are now concerned about certain non-porous floors containing vinyl.  As the above linked article at Rodale.com "Caution: Floor May Be Toxic" discusses vinyl (PVC) and why it should be avoided.  The article says that researchers found that "PVC building materials, namely, vinyl flooring and coated wallpaper, were seven times more likely to contain hazardous additives when compared to nonplastic flooring options."  Vinyl flooring was also found to contain asbestos, cadmium, lead, and flame retardants.  "These substances are linked to asthma, fertility problems, learning disability, hormone-related diseases, and cancer."  It seems we will have to change our typical recommendation of vinyl floor tiles to linoleum, cork, bamboo and/or hardwood floors.  These floors are also approved for points under the Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system.  The next time you are having problems with your flooring or considering remodeling look at linoleum, cork, bamboo and hardwood as better alternatives to vinyl floors or carpeting.

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• Study Finds Flooring & Wallpaper Contain Hazardous Additives (healthychild.org)
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• Kitchens & Baths: Clean & Easy Flooring (floortalk.wfca.org)
• Recycled Flooring Recognized by Industry Leading Publication & Highlights the Rise of Green Building in America (prnewswire.com)
• Tests Uncover Hidden Chemicals in Wallpaper, Flooring (greenbiz.com)
• Study of Home Improvement Products Finds Lead, Phthalates, Cadmium, Organotins, Other Harmful Ingredients (yubanet.com)
• Best Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality (planetsave.com)

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).  

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Watertown Daily Times | Asbestos suspected in cellar of plaza

Code enforcement official (CEO) stops illegal asbestos removal work.  This is a good sign that some CEOs are starting to learn the asbestos requirements and bodes well for the asbestos industry.  Maybe we'll see less cheating, which will create more work for the asbestos industry.

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Federal jury finds Syracuse company guilty of mail fraud

Image via Wikipedia Federal jury finds Syracuse company guilty of mail fraud

We have discussed this asbestos air monitoring and laboratory consultant case in class. Follow the link which describes the guilty verdict against Certified Environmental Services (CES).  Remember one of the more interesting points of this case was that two individual asbestos air monitors were indicted on their illegal work. Making them individually responsible for aiding and abetting the illegal work of the contractors. It will be interesting if this has an impact on the industry.

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Carl Potter's Safety Code of Conduct

Scaffolding improperly installed missing mud sills, etc.

Mr. Carl Potter is a safety speaker and his website is an excellant resource for information regarding occupational safety and health.  We have received many of his articles and writings, and have always found them informative.  To emphasize this point, please click on the title above to read his latest post regarding setting up a Safety Code of Conduct and the reason why employees typically don't follow safety rules.  Our experience and discussions with many of you, has led us to the same conclusions.  We agree with Mr. Potter come up with your own Safety Code of Conduct and decide to be safe when performing your work.  

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EMLab P&K Products Division Blog Features - Proper Maintenance of Sampling Equipment



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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NYS Requires Crane Operator Certificate of Competence

With the new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation gradually going into effect, one of the more interesting parts of the regulation is the fact that the regulation does not pre-eminent state and local regulations. 
Crane operators in New York State must realize in addition to complying with the new OSHA regulation, they must also comply with New York State requirements that requires them to get a Certificate of Competence.  This requirement applies to all cranes having a manufacture’s maximum rated capacity exceeding five tons or over forty feet of boom length and to all tower cranes. This applies whether the crane is used for construction, demolition, or excavation work.

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ADA Construction Caught Illegally Mining Sand in Melville

Image via WikipediaA joint investigation between Huntington Code Enforcement Officials and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) found that ADA Construction Corp. had mined 6,000 cubic yards of raw sand and then dumped 8,000 cubic yards of solid waste to backfill the excavation behind Bagatelle Court in Melville, Long Island. 
A separate inspection by the NYS DEC of ADA Construction Corp's Solid Waste Management Facility in Inwood found the site had exceeded its authorized storage limit.  The NYS DEC inspection found 23,000 cubic yards of debris and the facility was only allowed to store 5,000 cubic yards (it was over its limit by 18,000 cubic yards).
ADA Construction Corp is owned by Anthony Frank Falcone, president, and his son, Anthony Vincent Falcone, also owner of Varatech Industries Inc., were found to be in violation of multiple state environmental conservation laws.  The Falcones signed a consent order that required them to remove all of the solid waste from the Melville site, restore the illegal excavation with clean fill material, reduce the volume of material at its Inwood facility, and pay a $150,000 penalty.

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NYS Labor Department Issues Stop Work Order in Lockport

Image via WikipediaIt seems Mr. Scott Krzyzanowski, the owner of 89 Mill Street in Lockport, does not know New York State has one of the strictest asbestos regulations in the country.  He has been told by the New York State Department of Labor numerous times to hire an asbestos contractor to cleanup the "eyesore" at 89 Mill Street, Lockport, NY.  It appears he is ignoring the Department of Labor and they have issued a "Stop Work Order" on the project.  If he continues to ignore the Department of Labor he will be subject to penalties and jail time.  It looks like a showdown at the OK Corral will be happening.  We will see who blinks first?

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Future Environment Designs Sponsors Asbestos Video

Future Environment Designs sponsored this video to assist with Keeping Your Family Safe by being aware about the dangers of Asbestos.  Realize New York State and New York City asbestos regulations are some of the strongest in the country and both regulate residential asbestos isnpections, removal, and monitoring.

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At Blue Cat Restaurant in Burlington, Vermont

At Blue Cat Restaurant, had a great pork chop meal with cabernet sauvignon. I am in heaven!

Gulf Oil Spill - Knowledge Gained.

Image by lumis via Flickr Just finished and posted the Summer 2010 Future Focus newsletter.  I discuss the Gulf Oil Spill and knowledge gained on how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) handled this emergency.

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9/11 Responder Helping First Responders And War Veterans Heal

Helping first responders heal from Long Island Business News on Vimeo.


John Sferazo, former 9/11 First Responder Ironworker, founded the non-profit organization American Greenlands Restoration.  John Sferazo as a first responder knows what 9/11 first responders went through, he himself suffers from severe lung problems and post-tramautic stress syndrome.  The American Greenlands Restoration uses 1,000 acres of land in Maine as a wildlife and nature retreat to help 9/11 first responders and veterans from the Iraq and Afganistan Wars sufferring from psychological and physical disabilities, heal through Nature Therapy.  Just a warning the video is not very good.  But you can hear the report all the same.

Painting and Decorating Inc. Fined Again for Scaffold Violations



Proper scaffold construction starts on the ground in the first bay.  If the first bay is plumb and level, the rest of scaffold will follow. 

Painting & Decorating Inc. was in the news again for scaffold violations. The painting and stucco contractor continues to have problems properly erecting scaffolds and providing fall protection for its workers. The violations stem from two Kings Point, New York job sites.

Painting & Decorating Inc. was issued eight willful citations with $200,000 in fines for not fully planking scaffolds, providing an access ladder, ensuring scaffolds rested on base plates and providing fall protection at both locations.  Six serious citations with $5,200 in fines were issued for missing railings, toeboards and bracing at both job sites.  Painting & Decorating was issued one repeat citation carrying a $20,000 fine for not training workers on scaffold assembly and work.  The citation is a repeat offense for Painting & Decorating who had similar violations in 2007 and 2008.  In 2008, Painting & Decorating received seven citations from OSHA worth $147,000.

OSHA issued Painting & Decorating, Inc a total of 15 citations worth $225,200 in fines for these two jobsites in Kings Point, New York. The contracting firm has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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Future Environment Designs sponsors PCB video

In addition, to sponsoring this video to assist with Keeping Your Family Safe by being aware about Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs).  We want you to be aware that New York Communities for Change is calling on the New York City Board of Education to test all schools for possible PCB contamination and devise an aggressive plan for remediation.  After watching the video click on the title to learn more about New York Communities for Change's demand.

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