Future Environment Designs Training Center's Blog

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

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.

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).

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

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.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Federal jury finds Syracuse company guilty of mail fraud

Structures containing asbestos are marked

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.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

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.