Future Environment Designs Training Center's Blog

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

EPA Revises Lead Ambient Air Monitoring Requirements

Air Quality Testing for several parameters.

On December 14, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the final lead (Pb) ambient air monitoring requirements. The purpose of this revision was to expand the nation’s lead monitoring network to better assess compliance with the revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for lead issued in 2008. In 2008, EPA substantially strengthened the lead NAAQS by revising the level of the primary (health-based) standard from 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) to 0.15 μg/m3, measured as total suspended particles (TSP). The agency revised the secondary (welfare-based) standard to be identical to the primary standard. EPA in this final rule (Dec. 2010) also changed the emission threshold that state monitoring agencies (such as New York State Department of Environmental Conservation [NYS DEC]) must use to determine if an air quality monitor should be placed near an industrial facility that emits lead. The new emission threshold is 0.5 tons per year (tpy), reduced from the previous threshold of 1.0 tpy. Any new monitors located near an emissions source must be operational no later than one year after this rule is published in the Federal Register. EPA maintained a 1.0 tpy lead emission threshold for airports. However, EPA is requiring a 1-year monitoring study of 15 additional airports (beyond those currently required to monitor at the existing 1.0 tpy emission threshold) for the New York area this includes Brookhaven and Republic airports. The study will help EPA determine whether airports that emit less than 1.0 tpy have the potential to cause the surrounding areas to exceed the lead NAAQS of 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3). The monitors participating in the study must be operational no later than one year after this rule is published in the Federal Register.
EPA is also requiring lead monitoring in large urban areas (Core Based Statistical Areas, or CBSAs, with a population of 500,000 people or more). Monitors will be located along with multi-pollutant ambient monitoring sites (known as the “NCore network”). Lead monitoring at these sites will begin January 1, 2012.

The NCore network will consist of approximately 80 monitoring sites, of which 63 will be in large urban areas. The requirement to add these monitors replaces an existing requirement to place lead monitors in each CBSA with a population of 500,000 or more people.

The above revisions were made based on comments received on EPA’s proposed revisions.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Asbestos Controversy in Troy New York.

Demolition of the Old Troy City Hall in Troy, New York has caused controversy regarding the asbestos discovered in the building. It seems based on the news report it seems like they got caught doing demolition before removal. The City Engineer says he is doing exploratory demolition and New York State Department of Labor approved it. Is he looking for more asbestos? When was this building built? Have they sampled all 46 of the presumed and suspect asbestos materials that is on the New York State Industrial Code Rule 56 list? These are just some of the questions I have regarding this demolition. Additional reports have mentioned a limited asbestos survey. Why is it limited? What hasn't been sampled?

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

NIOSH Science Blog Discusses Helical CT Scans and Lung Cancer Screening

This is an x-ray image of a chest. Both sides ...

Image via WikipediaThe National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) Science blog recently discussed the reported findings regarding the use of helical CT scans for lung cancer screening. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) launched the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) in 2002 to compare the effects of two screening procedures, low-dose helical computerized tomography (CT) and chest x-ray, in reducing lung cancer mortality in current and former heavy smokers aged 55 to 74. The preliminary results from this study indicated this relatively new form of screening using helical CT demonstrated fewer lung cancer deaths among individuals at high risk of lung cancer who received this screening than among a similar group screened with chest radiography (chest x-rays or CXRs). NIOSH has great interest in this finding, and there is hope that this might provide new approaches to cancer screening among workers with increased risk for lung cancer because of past occupational exposures.

Related articles

CDC Website Has Indoor Safety Tips Regarding Winter Weather

Snow at Brewery Ommegang

With another winter storm on the way for Long Island, it is important to remember these safety tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for staying safe inside:

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.

Visit the CDC website linked to the title of this post for more information.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Mold Complaint Dismissed

Water-damaged ceiling tiles is an indication of a moisture control problem

An article published December 23, 2010 in the Suffolk-News Herald (VA) said a lawsuit filed by a former teacher (claiming mold in her classroom made her sick) against the School Board was dismissed by a United States District Court judge last week. The former teacher, Christina Hood, had claimed that she began suffering medical problems after beginning her job as a teacher at Booker T. Washington Elementary School in 2007. She said itchy and irritated eyes, a rash, sinusitis and bronchitis were caused by mold in the school. She had requested damages of $1.5 million. Hood’s complaint accused the School Board of deliberately exposing her to dangerous conditions at the school, claiming that the board knew of the mold and bacteria growths before she was hired. She also alleged that the School Board was deliberately indifferent to her health and safety.
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

Section 1384 of the New York State (NYS) Public Health Law established the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force. The goals of the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force was to:

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.

To achieve these goals the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force activities were organized into four main areas of inquiry:

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.

In reading the executive summary it is clear that the NYS Toxic Mold Task Force came to the usual conclusions regarding mold that the many in the industry already know. For example:

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.

The document is 150 pages including tables and exhibits. It will be interesting to see if this document actually goes anywhere in regulating the mold assessment and remediation industry.

Thursday, January 06, 2011

New York Times Lists the Top 10 Reasons Small Businesses Fail

The New York Times building in New York, NY ac...

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!