U.S. EPA Settles with Lead Acid Battery Manufacturer; Company to Install Air Filters to Capture Lead Particles

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company has agreed to pay $167,300 to resolve federal Clean Air Act violations. U.S. Battery, located in Corona, Calif., failed to comply with federal emissions monitoring and reporting requirements, including performance testing requirements for its lead emission control devices. In addition to paying the penalty, the company will install secondary high efficiency air filters to capture additional lead particles.

“By failing to monitor and test its pollution controls, the company increased the health risks for employees and the nearby community,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "EPA will remain vigilant in enforcing the Clean Air Act."

EPA discovered the violations after the company failed to provide a thorough response to an information request sent by the agency in February 2010. After further review, federal investigators found that U.S. Battery failed to perform semi-annual inspection and maintenance to ensure proper performance of its equipment, failed to submit performance reports and failed to conduct performance testing of its air pollution control devices.

In addition to the fine, U.S. Battery has agreed to improve its work practices by voluntarily installing High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to further reduce lead emissions. These HEPA filters will serve as secondary filters that will be used to capture remaining lead emissions that pass through the existing air pollution control equipment. HEPA filters can capture more than 99.9% of particles.

The facility has been operating as a lead acid battery manufacturing plant in Corona since 1991 and is located within a mile of several schools and a residential neighborhood.

Lead is a major environmental health hazard for young children and pregnant women. Exposure to lead can result in lowered intelligence, reading and learning disabilities, impaired hearing, reduced attention span, and hyperactivity.

Sawmills ordered to control dust after deadly explosions

Sawmills have to do more to
protect workers from sawdust,
regulators say.

After two recent mill explosions in Canada’s British Columbia, sawmills must remove all accumulated sawdust from their premises

High levels of sawdust in sawmills have proven to be unpredictable occupational health risks.

This week, a devastating blast destroyed a sawmill in Prince George, killing two workers and wounding many others. In January, a sawmill exploded in Burns Lake, also claiming two victims.

The dust has been cited in reports before as a major concern, and now authorities are making it official that mills have to control the dust in their operations and clear it away on equipment and the ambient air.

The air in sawmills should be well ventilated and the sawdust removed from all species and types of wood, officials said.

Potentially dangerous conditions could put workers at other mills at risk.

Source: Globe and Mail

Sawdust also a respiratory risk

It’s not only explosions sawmill workers have to worry about – they could also risk their health by breathing in high levels of dust over a long time.

Extensive dust exposure can lead to cancer of the lungs, throat and nose as well as other lung conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) that involves chronic bronchitis and emphysema, studies have shown.

Doctors say that woodworkers face 70 to 80 times the risk of a particular for of nasal cancer, which may develop decades after exposure to wood dust. Many other woodworkers report developing asthma as a result of their exposure to wood dust.

Clean the air with high-efficiency air cleaners

Electrocorp's Dirty Dog air cleaner
can be mounted onto the ceiling
or used on the ground.

In sawmills, woodshops and other high-dust environments, an industrial-strength air filtration system designed to handle a lot of fine dust can help reduce risks and provide cleaner air.

With a special bag filter option designed for large particle filtration, Electrocorp products such as the Dirty Dog or the I-6500 with Cyclone attachment are well equipped to work in environments with heavy sawdust or drywall dust.

The bag filters are easy to clean and reusable. This is an excellent option for situations where a HEPA filter would become blocked too quickly to be effective.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
 

Workers exposed to silica dust much more likely to die: Study

Silica dust exposure was linked to higher risks of
death from all causes.

Long-term exposure to silica dust puts industrial workers at a substantially higher risk of death from all causes than workers who have not been exposed, researchers say.

And the risk of death from lung and cardiovascular disease increases with increasing exposure.

Researchers in China examined 74,040 workers at different metal mines and pottery factories between 1960 and 1974, and followed up until the end of 2003.

Their results showed that death from all causes was much higher among workers who have been exposed to silica dust compared to workers who were not.

The more exposure they had, the bigger the risk of death from all causes, including respiratory diseases, respiratory tuberculosis and cardiovascular disease.

The researchers estimated that in 2008, 4.2% of deaths among industrial workers in China could be linked to silica dust exposure.

The findings add persuasive power to calls for improved occupational safety standards for workers exposed to silica dust, not only in China, but in all parts around the world.

The findings were published in PLoS Medicine.

Source: Public Library of Science

Protect workers by controlling dust

Even at or just below acceptable levels of silica dust, exposure may affect workers’ health and well-being.

Personal protective equipment, training and air cleaning can help protect workers from excessive dust exposure.

Electrocorp offers portable, ceiling-mountable and highly versatile air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications that can remove dust and particles from the air.

These include units recommended for wood shops and similar dust-heavy working environments that feature the best HEPA filters, easily cleanable bag filters and the most effective particle filters for any situation.

Many Electrocorp air cleaners can also easily be turned from particle to chemical filtration if the need arises.

For more information, please contact Electrocorp.
  

Landmark ruling on asbestos compensation

Insurance companies will have to pay compensation
to families that are affected by asbestos exposure.

The Supreme Court in Britain decided that insurers who had offered coverage at the time asbestos victims inhaled fibers will have to honor that and pay compensation.

Four insurance companies have been fighting in court to pay the least amounts possible to 6,000 families, who have a family member that either died or suffers from mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos.

The Supreme Court’s decision could bring the compensation bill to more than 600 million pounds and even up to 5 billion pounds if up to 25,000 families enter their claims in the future.

The lawsuit went from High Court to the Court of Appeal and has been running since the year 2006.

Many cancer patients that initially started the claims have died, and their family members have kept pursuing the case.

Asbestos exposure has turned out to be one of the biggest killers in the British workplace even though it has been banned for a while.

The fibers can be in a person’s lungs for half a century before causing cancer, so that experts predict a peak of deaths only in 2016. Currently, about 4,000 people die of asbestos-related diseases in the UK each year.

It has been common knowledge since 1955 that inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause fatal lung cancer.

Employers or their insurers are liable to compensate those who are affected, even if it takes decades to develop.

Observers of the controversial drawn-out case say that a lot of money was wasted in the courts, which could have been given to victims’ families. The average compensation payments for mesothelioma are 200,000 pounds.

Before the lawsuit went to court, insurance companies were paying claims from 1967 until 2006.

Source: The Independent

Watch out for asbestos fibers exposure

The AirRhino is a portable air cleaner
that can go from particle to chemical
control on the site.

Asbestos exposure still remains a problem today because asbestos-containing materials were used extensively before the ban and a lot of older homes and buildings are affected.

Renovations, demolition and other work on those buildings can expose workers and occupants to the deadly fibers.

It is important to let professional asbestos remediation companies handle these projects to minimize exposure and risks.

Electrocorp also offers high-quality air cleaners for mold and asbestos remediation that can help keep the air clean and healthy (along with other measures).

The air cleaners feature the most efficient HEPA and dust/particle filters and they can be used for positive and negative air configurations.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
 

EPA proposes rules to curb uses of toxic chemicals

Additional testing on health and environmental impacts of PBDEs requested by agency

The EPA wants to control the use of certain
chemicals that could be harmful to human health.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants companies to report all new uses of five groups of potentially harmful chemicals.

This would apply to new uses in domestic or imported products, including paints, inks, pigments and dyes in textiles, flame retardants in flexible foams and plasticizers.

The five chemicals targeted by EPA are

1. polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs)
2. benzidine dyes
3. a short chain chlorinated paraffin
4. hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
5. phthalate di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnPP)

Even though many of these chemicals are no longer used in the United States, people could be exposed to them in imported products, according to the EPA.

The proposed regulatory actions are known as significant new use rules (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

If the rules are passed, it would mean that any company that intends to manufacture, import or process any of the above chemicals will have to notify the EPA at least 90 days before, so that the EPA can respond and limit the use if necessary.

Source: EPA

Curb toxic chemicals at work

Many companies and employers do work with potentially harmful chemicals that may affect their workers’ health and well-being.

Electrocorp offers powerful air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications that can help remove dangerous chemicals, odors and fumes as well as particles and other pollutants from the ambient air.

The air cleaners feature a multistage filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA, optional UV and other filters.

Industry-specific solutions are also available.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.
 

Dust problem costs companies $1 M in fines

HEPA filters can remove particles
and dust as well as pathogens.

After an OSHA inspection showed willful, serious, repeat and other violations, a trailer manufacturing company and subsidiary have been cited with proposed penalties of almost $1 million.

The inspectors found that workers were exposed to unguarded machinery, fall hazards and large amounts of potentially hazardous dust.

This was not the first time the companies had been cited for hazards like these. Previous abatement fixes were abandoned to accommodate production, according to OSHA.

OSHA took the opportunity to remind employers that they have a responsibility to keep their workers safe and healthy.

Source: BLR

The health effects of dust

Dust describes small particles in the air that can be inhaled through the nose and mouth.

If the dust is small enough it can penetrate deep into the lungs. Exposure to dust has been linked to cancers of the lungs, throat and nose, lung conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma, allergies and even heart disease, among others.

If the dust is allowed to build up, it can also be an explosive hazard.

Air filters remove airborne dust

An industrial air cleaner with HEPA filtration, pre-filters, bag filters and/or micro-HEPA can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particle at 0.3 microns and keep the air clean.

Some of the filters are also cleanable or washable.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s air cleaners for woodshops, art restoration and many other commercial applications, or contact us directly.
 

Cleanup method for dangerous chemicals in the textile industry

Is it possible to end up with clean water
after the textile dying process?

Clothing and fabrics are often defined by their color and patterns – but the textile dying process is one of the most environmentally hazardous aspects of the textile industry.

During the dying process, harmful chemicals are used and released into the ambient air and the environment, as waste is often disposed of in rivers and on agricultural land.

A new, environmentally friendly purification process developed by Biotechnology doctoral student Maria Jonstrup at Lund University promises a much greener way of getting rid of the chemicals by leaving only clean water at the end.

The research has been tested only at the lab, not at the factory, but "in the long term it should be possible for textile factories in India, China and Bangladesh to use the technique. If it works on a laboratory scale it is quite likely that it will also work in a real-life situation", Jonstrup says in a news release.

The new method combines two types of purification processes, one biological and one chemical.

In the biological step, microorganism break down the dyes in a reactor and the chemical step involves the use of small amounts of iron and hydrogen peroxide in combination with UV light.

The research will next be tested in larger volumes of water to reflect industry conditions, and researchers will try to use sunlight instead of UV.

Source: Lund University news release

Capture airborne chemicals and other toxins in industrial applications

Electrocorp has designed versatile industrial air cleaners that combine the most efficient filtration technologies to remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, pathogens and other contaminants.

The air cleaners are equipped with deep-bed carbon filters, the most effective filtration media to adsorb gaseous pollutants, HEPA and particle filters for particulate matter and other options such as UV germicidal filtration to neutralize bacteria, viruses and molds.

The air cleaners come in many different styles, sizes, filter combinations and customizable forms. They can be used as stand-alone air treatment systems, hung up on the ceiling or on the wall or attached to existing HVAC systems.

Speak to an Electrocorp representative about industry-specific solutions and recommendations based on your needs and requirements.
  

Old dry cleaning businesses in need of contamination cleanup

Dry cleaning. Photo by Simon Law

When a longtime dry cleaning operation in Little Chute shut down after almost 50 years in business, the real work started.

That’s because the owners left not only decaying machinery at the downtown facility, but high levels of tetrachloroethylene, a popular dry cleaning chemical commonly known as “perc.”

Perc is a colorless liquid and sometimes called "dry-cleaning fluid." It has a sweet odor detectable by most people and it can cause a reaction in people who are chemically sensitive.

NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) considers the chemical a possible carcinogen.

The site needed official remediation services by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which cleaned up the contaminated soil and groundwater.

This is certainly not a unique example of perc contamination caused by dry cleaners.

The use of perc is widespread. While it is slowly being phased out, between 65 and 70 percent of the country's estimated 25,000 dry-cleaning facilities still use the solvent, industry representatives have said.

Many businesses have been operating since before environmentally safe waste disposal regulations existed and it was a common practice to dump the cleaning chemical in the backyard or down the drain.

Often, the contaminated soil needs to be dug up and replaced with clean dirt.

Source: Post Crescent article

Use industrial strength air cleaners to breathe healthier air

Electrocorp specializes in portable, highly efficient air cleaners for businesses and commercial applications.

The air cleaners remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants with a multistage filtration system that contains activated carbon, HEPA, UV (optional) and pre-filters.

The units can also be customized with custom carbon blends, special bag filters, or deeper carbon beds to target industry-specific pollutants.

For dry cleaning operations and businesses with high levels of airborne chemicals, consider Electrocorp's versatile RSU Series, which features air cleaners in various sizes and filter configurations.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.

Take steps to prevent illness and injury in the lab

Laboratory workers handle a variety of chemicals, solvents, etc.

Lab technicians and managers are routinely exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals, gases, particulate and biological contaminants.

Those toxins as well as other occupational hazards can affect the health and well-being of workers and hurt the bottom line.

The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says that injuries and illnesses sustained in the workplace cost the U.S. more than $53 billion in worker’s compensation in 2008.

One way to keep those costs down and workers healthier and safer is to put one or more programs in place that are designed to limit sickness and injury on the job.

OSHA recommends the following three options:

• Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP), which includes collaboration between OSHA, workers and management, training, worksite analysis and hazard prevention and control.
• The Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) recognizes and rewards small businesses that implement health and safety management systems.
• The OSHA Challenge Program advocates preventive measures to stop workplace accidents and rewards companies making gradual improvements in safety and health.

Source: Lab Manager Magazine

Lab managers can always contact OSHA or their respective health and safety agencies to obtain information on voluntary and essential health and safety standards and requirements to protect workers.

One important aspect of lab health and safety concerns the workplace's indoor air quality.

Generic air cleaning solutions are usually ineffective to keep the indoor air quality in laboratories at a satisfactory level and to contain the fumes, chemicals and odors that may affect workers even if they wear personal protective equipment.

Electrocorp specializes in customized air quality solutions and versatile units that remove a wide range of serious airborne contaminants to maintain safe, healthy and comfortable working environments in laboratories.

Laboratory air purifiers with many pounds of activated carbon and custom carbon blends can adsorb chemicals and help clean the air 24/7.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and personalized recommendations.

Welding industry looking for young workers

Electrocorp's welding fume extractors capture many toxins
right at the source.

While it may be difficult for people in some industries to find a job these days, it doesn’t look like qualified welders will run into that problem anytime soon.

According to some sources, there is a mass shortage of skilled welders, as more than 50,000 workers retire each year and only 25,000 new prospects enter the workplace annually.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be 450,000 open welding positions by 2014.

The average welder is in his or her mid-50s, according to the agency, and the job, with its toxic fumes and ultrabright flames that can damage the eyes, isn't amenable to older workers.

Welding is one of those professions dominated by men, although women's share of the field inched up from 5 percent to 6 percent in the five years ending in 2005, according to the Department of Labor.

Protect yourself from harmful welding fumes

Welding is a respected profession with good pay, but risks include loud noise, intense heat, glaring light and toxic welding fumes.

The Fume Extractor LD450

Welders are protected under occupational health and safety standards, but being aware of the risks and making sure that individual protection is adequate is essential for long-term job viability.

The dangerous fumes and gases originate from the metals that are welded and the coatings, residues and solvents. A wide range of toxins can be captured at the source with ventilation hoods and/or an industrial-strength air cleaner with fume extraction.

Electrocorp’s portable fume extractor series is designed for TIG, MIG and arc welding operations. The air cleaners feature a spark arrestor, a flexible source capture arm, a 40 to 80 lb. activated carbon filter to adsorb and trap welding fumes, gases and chemicals, custom carbon blends to enhance the adsorption power for certain gaseous pollutants, and HEPA filters for particle control.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options and ask about our free webinars: 1-866-667-0297.  

TCE more dangerous than previously thought

TCE contamination is a public health risk.

The industrial solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) just got an upgraded risk assessment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which found that it causes kidney and liver cancer, lymphoma and other health problems.

As one of the most widespread groundwater contaminants in the nation, TCE may thus be more dangerous than previously thought.

The findings could lead to higher cleanup costs and a new federal drinking-water standard for the contaminant, which currently stands at 5 parts per billion in water and 1 microgram per cubic meter in the air.

According to EPA officials, the new risk assessment could affect cleanup strategies at 761 Superfund sites. TCE has been found in almost every state, but a lot of it is in California, including two Superfund sites on military bases Camp Pendleton and Edwards Air Force Base.

Underground plumes of TCE often lead to high ambient levels of the chemical in the air and affect people in their homes, at work or on the move. Soil vapor intrusion in homes above contaminated groundwater is a major concern, experts say.

What is TCE?

The chlorinated solvent was developed by chemists in the late 19th century and was widely used after the Second World War as a metal degreaser, as a chemical intermediate and extractant, and as a component of some consumer products.

TCE is designated as a Hazardous Air Pollutant, is a common groundwater contaminant, and has been found at more than 1,500 hazardous waste sites, according to EPA.

TCE can be released to indoor air from the use of TCE-containing consumer products, volatilization from water supplies, and vapor intrusion through walls and floors from contaminated soil and groundwater.

Air cleaners for better indoor air quality

RAP 204:
Strong air cleaner

Only an industrial-strength air cleaner with a large activated carbon filter can remove airborne chemicals, odors, gases and fumes that contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Electrocorp’s portable air treatment systems are equipped with the largest carbon filters in the industry as well as HEPA and other filters to capture the widest range of contaminants from the ambient air.

Electrocorp works with environmental consultants and government agencies to provide cleaner air in many indoor spaces and also offers residential air purifiers with carbon + HEPA filtration for single- or double-family units that may be affected by soil vapor intrusion or other IAQ concerns.

Contact Electrocorp today for more information on our air cleaners, our exclusive carbon blends to target specific contaminants and other available options.

Source: Los Angeles Times, EPA
  
Related posts:

• TCE in Havertown Superfund site
• Vapor intrusion in Ohio spurs health concerns
• Vapor intrusion: Danger seeping out of forgotten wells

  

Hospitals: If it’s dusty and dirty, what’s in the air?

A clean environment is important in hospitals and clinics.

An unannounced inspection at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the UK found four out of nine wards had unacceptably high levels of dust and dirt, especially on curtain rails, overhead lights and cable trunking.

The inspectors also found dirty toilets, dusty floors and badly stained walls, according to an article by UKPA.

These surprise inspections are an effective method to remind hospital staff and healthcare personnel about the importance of keeping a clean and healthy patient environment.

After all, if the floor is dusty, what kind of pollutants may be in the air?

Previous air quality studies in hospitals have found that hospital staff and patients are breathing high levels of PCBs, bacteria, viruses, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particles, mold and many chemicals used in cleaning products, sterilizing and preservation fluids and other procedures.

Remove indoor air pollutants with industrial-strength air cleaners

Electrocorp is a global innovator when it comes to making portable, versatile air cleaners for a variety of applications, including hospitals and healthcare centers and laboratories.

The high-performance industrial air cleaners are engineered to treat complex indoor air quality concerns and feature an activated carbon + HEPA filtration system to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

RAP Series: Powerful air cleaners.

Options include UV germicidal filtration for the neutralization of bacteria, viruses and mold mycotoxins and custom carbon blends for the targeted adsorption of certain chemicals, gases and odors.

Apart from the stand-alone air cleaners, Electrocorp also offers HVAC-compatible units and ceiling mount air cleaners.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations based on your needs and requirements, space size and budget.
  
Related posts:

• Hospital workers and patients breathing poisoned air
• Indoor air concerns in the healthcare industry
• Pediatricians want tougher chemical safety law

Health and safety program to be shut down at WSU

Health and safety is an important workplace requirement.

A Wayne State University program training scientists to recognize and monitor health and safety risks in the workplace and in the environment is set to be terminated due to financial cutbacks.

The Board of Governors voted Sept. 21 to shut down Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences program at the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, after the college was asked to cut 1.7 percent from its total budget.

The request came as part of university-wide budget restrictions, but the decision to shut down the program has divided staff members at the university.

Board members are hoping that parts of the program will be reinstated in another capacity, so that some occupational health programs would be a part of the public health department, for example.

Health and Safety at the workplace

Many occupations require stringent health and safety measures to protect workers, companies and clients – but even the “average office job” needs to provide a safe and healthy environment to increase productivity and minimize health risks.

Granular activated carbon removes odors
and adsorbs chemicals and VOCs.

Indoor air quality has become a main concern for workers.

That is why Electrocorp specializes in the development and manufacturing of air treatment systems for the workplace.

Whether it’s an air cleaner for the office and office printer fumes, an air scrubber for odor and chemical removal, a source capture unit for welding fumes or hair treatments, or an air cleaner for labs and healthcare settings, Electrocorp offers these and more as part of its diverse product lineup.

The industrial air cleaners remove a wide range of indoor air pollutants from the ambient air, including chemicals, gases, odors, particles, pathogens and other toxins, with a multistage filtration system featuring a deep bed of granular activated carbon, a HEPA, micro-HEPA or Super-HEPA, pre-filters, optional UV germicidal filtration and other specialized options to meet the needs and requirements of your specific industry. Ask about Electrocorp's custom carbon blends.

Contact Electrocorp for more information: 1-866-667-0297.
 

Police officer dies after breathing toxic cleaning chemicals

A Chicago policeman died after exposure to toxic
cleaning, chemicals, an autopsy report says.

The case of a Chicago police officer, who died after accidentally inhaling noxious fumes from a cleaning product sprayed at his workplace, serves as a stark reminder of how toxic certain chemicals can be.

The 42-year-old officer succumbed to a pneumonia-like illness a few weeks after the product was used on his desk.

In the weeks leading up to his death he was treated for breathing problems at the hospital and at home.

The chemical makeup of the cleaning product is not known, according to an article by the Associated Press, but an investigationhas been opened under the Illinois occupational safety and health plan for public employees, sources said.

Family members say he had never before suffered from breathing problems.

The officer’s death has been ruled an accident, but many people are demanding answers about the chemicals that could cause such dangerous breathing problems.

Clean the indoor air at the workplace

Employers everywhere are realizing the importance of healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) when it comes to workers’ health, well-being and productivity.

IAQ can be compromised by VOCs and harmful chemicals from cleaning products, building materials, electronic devices, inks and office printers, personal care products and scented products.

Electrocorp's RAP Series:
Portable, small-footprint air cleaners

Many buildings do not have a proper ventilation system for the number of people there and employees may react to mold, biological contaminants such as bacteria, and viruses as well as high dust levels and particulate matter.

Electrocorp offers a wide range of industrial air cleaners to treat these indoor air problems. With a powerful carbon + HEPA filter system, these air cleaners can remove chemicals, odors, particles and pathogens from the ambient air.

Electrocorp offers cleaners of all sizes and different designs – choose from portable, small-footprint units, HVAC-compatible air scrubbers and specialized air cleaners with features such as source capture attachments, negative air configuration, reverse flow and more.

Contact Electrocorp for more information, or visit our website: www.electrocorp.net

Health risks associated with dry cleaning

Wool garments retain dry cleaning chemicals.
Photo credit: madelinetosh

Rarely do people stop to think about what dry cleaning really means.

The term is used for any cleaning process for clothing and textiles that utilizes a chemical solvent rather than water.

What is the nature of these chemicals? And do they pose a risk to people wearing a lot of dry cleaned clothes?

Those were the questions a high school student set out to answer for a science fair project, and she found willing research partners at Georgetown University’s chemistry department.

An article in the Washington Post describes the chain of events that led to a published paper in a peer-reviewed environmental journal, giving detailed information about the amount of toxic chemicals that linger in wool, cotton and polyester clothing after the dry cleaning process.

The research team found that perchloroethylene, a dry-cleaning solvent that has been linked to cancer and neurological damage, stayed in the fabrics and that levels increased with repeat cleanings, particularly in wool.

Between 65 and 70 percent of the country's estimated 25,000 dry-cleaning facilities use the solvent, known as PCE or perc, industry representatives said.

The study was published online Tuesday in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.

The data opens up new questions about the risks of dry cleaned clothes in the home, and it may speed up efforts to phase out the toxic chemical in the dry cleaning business.

Source: Washington Post/Seattle Times

Clean air for dry cleaners and homeowners

Electrocorp is North America’s premier manufacturer of air cleaners for industries that need to remove gaseous pollutants and particles from the ambient air.

For best chemical filtration, an industrial air cleaner needs a large activated carbon air filter, which can adsorb chemicals, odors, gases, vapors, fumes and VOCs.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners feature the deepest activated carbon beds, the largest adsorbent surface areas and the most complete filtration systems with carbon + HEPA filters.

As part of AllerAir Industries, Electrocorp also markets the most efficient portable air purifiers for the home and office.

Contact us to find out more and get a product recommendation based on your needs and requirements.


Related Posts:

• Dry cleaning industry looking for new solvents
• Jersey's dry cleaning industry gets health boost
• RAP Series: Robust air cleaners with small footprint design

Toxic dust particles a risk to workers, union leaders say

Dust exposure can lead to a wide range
of health effects, UK union leaders say.

Union leaders in the UK are calling for urgent action to reduce dangerous dust levels at the workplace, according to a recent report by UKPA.

The union TUC says that current standards for the assessment of dust exposure in factories and offices are inadequate and that exposure to inhalable dust in general and respirable dust in particular can lead to serious health effects.

Inhalable dust describes the larger particles that can be inhaled but are often filtered out by the nose and mouth, while respirable dust is made up of smaller particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs.

In a new guidance document they published, the union warns that dust exposure can lead to cancer of the lungs, throat and nose as well as other lung conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder) that involves chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

According to union leaders, official estimates of workplace diseases related to dust are too low.

The TUC said it had studied a range of dusts that are often found in the workplace, including silica, coal dust, talc and kaolin, adding that even at current legal levels, a significant number of workers could be developing reductions in their lung function, with profound results for future health.

Often, it is difficult to trace the origin of a disease, especially in industries with high turnover (like construction), they say.

The document stresses the importance of a good risk assessment at the workplace and outlines steps employers and health and safety representatives can take to protect workers from dangerous dust levels.

Source: UKPA; Download TUC's guidance document.  


Industrial air cleaners for dust and odor control

The Dirty Dog air cleaner includes
a cleanable bag filter and can be
mounted on the ceiling.

Electrocorp offers a wide range of industrial air cleaners designed to provide cleaner indoor air at the workplace.

The company’s extensive product line includes dust and particle filtration systems such as the Dirty Dog Series and the I-6500 with Cyclone collectors.

Since many workplaces are also contaminated with persistent odors and airborne chemicals, Electrocorp offers units with a powerful activated carbon and HEPA filtration system.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and personalized recommendations.
  

Pesticide complaint settled by EPA

Chemical pesticides can affect
children's health and well-being.

Latino school children were put at risk when California pesticide regulators approved the use of a dangerous pesticide near their schools, the US Environmental Protection Agency said last week.

A civil rights complaint was filed in 1999, alleging that the annual approval of methyl bromide affected the health of the school children nearby.

An AP article said this was the first time the EPA announced this kind of settlement in a civil rights complaint case.

Methyl bromide - which is injected into the soil to kill pests, weeds and diseases before crops are planted - is being phased out by 2015 under international treaty because it depletes the Earth's ozone layer.

Some farmers continue to use it, because they are granted an exemption by pesticide regulators.

In California, 17.1 million pounds of methyl bromide were applied in 1995, while 5.57 million pounds were applied in 2009, according to state regulators.

As part of the settlement with the EPA, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation has to expand monitoring of methyl bromide air concentrations by adding one monitor in the area of highest risk, a school in Watsonville.

But the measures and the settlement don't provide any remedy to the parents or children whose civil rights were violated, said Brent Newell, a lawyer with the San Francisco-based Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment who filed the complaint 12 years ago on behalf of parents and children in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Ventura.

"It provides no substantive relief or remedy to the people who were affected," Newell said. "Those school children have since graduated from high school and the EPA gave them no remedy."


Source: The Ledger


Remove airborne chemicals indoors quickly and efficiently

Electrocorp's RAP Series

Electrocorp specializes in the adsorption and removal of airborne chemicals and gases with its industrial air cleaners. The company offers air cleaners for schools and universities and is proud to work with administrators to provide better indoor air quality in their buildings.

The air purification units feature a deep bed of granular activated carbon, HEPA and UV (optional) to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants – not only chemicals, but also particles, dust, biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, mold mycotoxins and mold spores, allergens and pollen.

Electrocorp offers portable or HVAC-compatible air filtration systems of all kinds and sizes and provides the most relevant filtration media, the largest adsorbent surface area and the most customizable options at the best price.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and suggestions: 1-866-667-0297.
  

IAQ industry expected to grow

Continuous improvement, collaboration
and innovation is needed in the IAQ industry.

Good news for the makers of air cleaners like Electrocorp: The demand for cleaner air has helped the indoor air quality (IAQ) industry grow, according to an analysis by Frost + Sullivan as reported by Consulting-Specifying Engineer.

A growing number of employers, workers, facility managers and environmental consultants have become aware of the health concerns that arise from indoor air pollutants like tobacco, bacteria, mold, chemicals and other substances, which means that the industry benefits from an increased demand for air cleaners.

However, the report also warns that the industry needs to adapt and continue to make improvements to existing technology to remain sustainable and profitable.

The experts suggest that air filters are the best choice for providing cleaner air in indoor spaces, which includes filters in an HVAC system as well as portable air purifiers.

The report points out challenges such as high initial costs and lack of innovation because it is difficult for innovators to enter the market and compete with established companies and technologies.

A potential solution, according to the study, is for companies to work together on projects and work with universities and college students on improvements.

Electrocorp has always valued and supported continued research and development in order to provide the most efficient industrial air cleaners for applications such as

• Universities and Schools
• Hospitals and Healthcare
• Facility Management
• Offices and Office Printers
• Auto Body Shops and Garages
• Laser Engraving and Cutting
• Welding Fume Extraction
• And many more

Electrocorp’s air cleaners remove airborne chemicals, vapors, fumes, heavy odors, particles, biological contaminants and other toxins by drawing the air through dense pre-filters, deep bed of activated carbon, HEPA and UV (optional).

The product line includes portable, stand-alone air cleaners or HVAC-compatible air purification systems.

Contact us for more information on industrial air cleaners, customizable solutions and additional features.
   

Labor department worried about chemical sector injuries

Authorities are concerned about the
work incidents in the chemical sector.

The South Africa labour department has identified the chemical sector as one of the six high risk sectors in terms of occupational incidents, according to a news release.

The other high risk sectors are

• Iron and steel
• Transport
• Agriculture and forestry
• Building and construction
• Food, drinks and tobacco

However, the chemical sector seemed to worry health authorities because of the high number of workers who became injured, ill or were killed because of exposure to harmful chemical substances.

The incidents, of course, caused human suffering, loss of production and high medical costs, and they underlined the importance of effective health and safety measures when dealing with chemicals.

Injuries from chemicals are often very serious, resulting in workers not being able to return to the work force once their injuries have healed and leaving them partially or totally disabled if they live.


Industrial air cleaners can remove airborne chemicals

Along with other health and safety measures, the industrial air cleaners from Electrocorp provide a cost-effective and versatile solution to cleaner, healthier air at the workplace.

The air cleaners from Electrocorp feature a multistage filtration system with a deep bed of activated carbon, HEPA, pre-filters and UV germicidal filtration (optional), which removes the widest range of indoor air pollutants in the industry.

Activated carbon is the most trusted and effective filtration material for the removal of airborne chemicals, odors, gases and fumes, and Electrocorp offers a range of custom carbon blends to target specific pollutants.

Contact Electrocorp to find out about the many different industrial uses, customizable features and successful track record.
  

Jersey’s dry cleaning industry gets health boost

Dry cleaning. Photo by Simon Law

A grant program set up by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in New Jersey helps small business owners replace old dry cleaning machines that use toxic chemicals.

The program aims to reduce the amount of chemicals released by dry cleaning machines, especially older models that use the harmful chemical perchlolroethylene (PCE).

Since the beginning of the program about seven months ago, 285 dry cleaners have applied for the grant and 86 have been approved so far.

Of approximately 1,600 dry cleaning facilities in New Jersey, 1,100 use PCE as a dry cleaning solvent.

For the allocation of the grant money, priority is given to dry cleaning businesses located in residential settings, such as apartment buildings, mixed commercial and residential strip malls and those located within 50 feet of day care centers.


The dangers of PCE

Perchloroethylene, also known as tetrachloroethylene, is a colourless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics. The industrial chemical is sometimes called "dry-cleaning fluid." It has a sweet odor detectable by most people and it can cause a reaction in people who are chemically sensitive.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tetrachloroethene as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means that the cleaning chemical is probably carcinogenic to humans. It has been estimated that about 85% of tetrachloroethylene is released into the atmosphere.

Vapors that escape from poorly maintained or faulty dry cleaning machines can seep through walls and into adjacent apartments or businesses. According to the article, PCE is also one of the more difficult contaminants to deal with if it gets into water through spills or leaks because it sinks to the bottom of water supplies.


Industrial-strength air cleaners a boon for small businesses

The RSU Series can help small and
medium business owners improve
their indoor air quality.

Until PCE-using dry cleaning machines can be phased out, small and medium businesses can help protect themselves and their surroundings by installing powerful air purification systems.

Electrocorp’s units feature the deepest beds of activated carbon on the market to remove chemicals, gases and odors from the air, and they also feature HEPA and pre-filters for superior particle control.

If you are concerned about the air quality in your business or neighborhood, contact us today.

Source: http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/announcements/116795773_Grant_helps_rid_pollutants_from_dry_cleaning_process_.html