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Monday, August 15, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Mycobacterium tuberculosis: TB Video.
Friday, August 12, 2011
White House and EPA Misled Public on Air Quality After 9/11 Attack.
In a separate but similar article by CBS News titled "W. House Molded EPA's 9/11 Reports", the EPA's internal watchdog found that the White House influenced the statements released by the EPA and that the data did not support the statements that were released. Making the 9/11 tragedy even deeper considering the amount of harm we did to ourselves by these actions.
Related articles
- Federal Court Asked to Order Deadline for Action on Smog Standards (yubanet.com)
- Former Pres. George W. Bush to be in NYC to mark 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks (nj.com)
- US Concerned Over 9/11 Anniversary Attacks (israelnationalnews.com)
- Firefighters will fetch World Trade Center beam for 9/11 memorial in Federal Way (pnwlocalnews.com)
- New World Trade Center Now Officially Tallest Building In Lower Manhattan (newyork.cbslocal.com)
- US EPA releases scientific integrity policy (blogs.nature.com)
- Don't Blame EPA for What the Clean Air Act Requires (volokh.com)
- E.P.A. Chief Stands Firm as Tough Rules Loom (nytimes.com)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Mold Exposure Has Greater Impact on Infants
"Early life exposure to mold seems to play a critical role in childhood asthma development," says Tina Reponen, PhD, lead study author and University of Cincinnati (UC) professor of environmental health. "Genetic factors are also important to consider in asthma risk, since infants whose parents have an allergy or asthma are at the greatest risk of developing asthma."
Mold growth is linked to environments with elevated levels of moisture. For example, basements are a common spot for mold because of underground moisture, periodic flooding from storms, and lack of air flow. Mold will start growing on surfaces like drywall, concrete, plywood, and other building materials. Microscopic spores can then be released into the air and find their way into the lungs. Once in the body, the spores can cause fungal infections, allergic reactions, irritation of the eye, nose, and throat, etc. Long-term effects include serious respiratory infections like asthma or bronchitis.
The recent study, conducted by researchers from UC and Cincinnati Children's Hospital, utilized seven years of comprehensive data for 176 children. The data was used to evaluate the effects of mold exposure from early life. The analysis took into account the likelihood of developing allergies based on family medical history.
The children in the study came from a much larger study in the Cincinnati area. The 176 children selected come from homes which contained mold. Mold was measured in the their homes using an EPA method known as environmental relative moldiness index (ERMI). In this method, mold exposure levels are measured using a DNA-based analysis tool which combines the analysis of 36 different mold types into a single index. Link to published article: http://www.annallergy.org/article/S1081-1206%2811%2900313-9/abstract
Related articles
- Mold Exposure in Infancy Raises Asthma Risk (webmd.com)
- Household Mold During Infancy May Trigger Asthma (nlm.nih.gov)
- EPA Issues Press Release On Reducing Asthma Attacks During Summer (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Antibiotic Use May Be Linked to Kids' Asthma Risk (webmd.com)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Rudy Giuliani and Air Quality After 9/11: Part 1 & Part 2
Related articles
- CMM Realty Alleged to Have Violated OSH Act and Clean Air Act (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA at 40 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA Announces Three-month Enforcement Phase-in for Residential Construction Fall Protection (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
NYSDOL Asbestos Inspector Indicted in Kensington Towers Probe

A state inspector and two City of Buffalo inspectors are among nine individuals and two companies indicted Thursday on felony charges related to an asbestos removal project in the city. The 23-count federal indictment also charges six of the contractors' employees with improperly removing and disposing of asbestos at the Kensington Heights housing project on Fillmore Avenue. Federal and state officials would not confirm the likelihood that workers or neighborhood residents were put at risk during the asbestos removal, but they would not rule it out either.
"These are very serious charges," U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. told reporters. "Asbestos is a highly dangerous substance."
The charges outlined in the 62-page indictment center around the work done by two companies -- Johnson Contracting of Buffalo and JMD Environmental Inc. of Grand island -- and the allegations that they violated the federal Clean Air Act by improperly disposing of asbestos. The indictment also charges a state Labor Department inspector, Theodore Lehmann, and two city inspectors, Donald Grzebielucha and William Manuszewski, with falsifying inspection reports.
"They certified false documents or lied about what they saw," Hochul said.
Prosecutors said one of the inspectors has reportedly retired but two others remain on the job. State and city officials declined to comment, and Lehmann, Grzebielucha and Manuszewski could not be reached to comment. When asked if bribes were involved, Hochul said his office has yet to uncover any evidence of payoffs.
"At this point, I can't comment on the motive," he said of the inspectors.
Most of the indictment focuses on the work of the two companies hired to remove and dispose of asbestos at Kensington Heights. Visible from the Kensington Expressway, the 17-acre public housing project has been a symbol of decay and abandonment for three decades. The complex, made up of six vacant towers behind Erie County Medical Center, is owned by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority and was targeted for demolition two years ago. Tearing down the eight-story towers is the first step in the Housing Authority's proposal for a new $105 million retirement community.
As part of the demolition, Johnson Contracting was hired to remove and dispose of the estimated 63,000 square feet of asbestos in each of the towers. JMD was hired to monitor their work. The indictment alleges that from June 2009 to January 2010, Johnson and two of its managers -- President Ernest Johnson and Supervisor Rai Johnson -- instructed workers to dump asbestos down holes cut through the floors of each building. They also are charged with failing to wet the asbestos and leaving it in open containers for disposal.
Aaron Mango, the assistant U.S. attorney overseeing the case, said Johnson's practices violated a wide range of regulations regarding the disposal of asbestos.
"It is so dangerous," Mango said, "you have to insure you're taking these steps."
The indictment also alleges that JMD, the company hired to monitor Johnson's work, conspired to violate the Clean Air Act. The company was hired to conduct air sampling tests and other oversight work but, according to prosecutors, failed to do those tests properly. The government also claims JMD falsified inspection reports. The indictment also charges four of JMD's employees: Field Supervisor Evan Harnden of North Tonawanda and Project Monitors Henry Hawkins of Buffalo, Chris Coseglia of Niagara Falls and Brian Scott of North Tonawanda.
Each of the 23 counts carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.
"Asbestos is a known carcinogen and we take very seriously these investigations," said David G. McLeod Jr., assistant special agent in charge of the Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the EPA, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung disease, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. State and federal officials would not speculate on the public health risks posed by the asbestos-removal effort at Kensington Heights. They did acknowledge, however, that given the companies' alleged practices and the six-month period in which the alleged violations took place, it is possible the public was put at risk.
"There are plenty of good reasons why the (Clean Air Act) is on the books," Hochul said.
Prosecutors said the indictment is the culmination of an investigation involving a wide range of state and federal agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Work on Kensington Heights stalled last year and prompted the Housing Authority to terminate its demolition contract with developer Hormoz Mansouri in January. Mansouri countered by suing the authority for breach of contract. Federal officials said Mansouri, a politically connected contractor, is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Related articles
- NYS Senate Considering Asbestos Notification Fee Changes (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Did You Know? (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- $2.5 million awarded in asbestos case verdict (newdayunderwriting.wordpress.com)
- CMM Realty Alleged to Have Violated OSH Act and Clean Air Act (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Building owner accuses asbestos removers hired by city of not being safe (newdayunderwriting.wordpress.com)
- Daily Show Exposes Asbestos Hypocrisy in Quebec Canada (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Friday, August 05, 2011
The Engineering Job Interview - How an Engineer Dresses Professionally
Related articles
- Job interview with a billionaire. No fooling. (ask.metafilter.com)
- 3 Things People Hate Most About Job Interviews (And How To Overcome Them) (lifehack.org)
- Where Should Your Necktie Tip Fall? (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- I Wish I Could Say This Would Bag You Your Dream Job (eurekanaija.wordpress.com)
- Powerfully Branding Yourself to Lose the Job Interview (personalbrandingblog.com)
- How to Prepare for a Job Interview (landingexpert.wordpress.com)
- A Job Interview (1stepup2stepsback.wordpress.com)
Monday, August 01, 2011
NYS Senate Considering Asbestos Notification Fee Changes
Related articles
- Did You Know? (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Canada Blocks Asbestos's Placement on UN's List of Hazardous Substances (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYC DEP Plans Increase In Enforcement On Asbestos Investigators (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Daily Show Exposes Asbestos Hypocrisy in Quebec Canada (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYCDEP Creates a New Closeout Process for A-TRU (Asbestos) Permitted Projects (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Summer & Fall 2011 Future Focus Now Available Online (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Related articles
- Daily Show Exposes Asbestos Hypocrisy in Quebec Canada (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- NYCDEP Creates a New Closeout Process for A-TRU (Asbestos) Permitted Projects (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Summer & Fall 2011 Future Focus Now Available Online (futureenv.blogspot.com)
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