Vapor intrusion forcing people out of their homes

Toxic chemicals from contaminated soil can find their
way inside homes and affect the residents.

Whenever homes, schools or other buildings are constructed on top of previously contaminated land, toxic chemicals and gases may find their way inside, where they can affect people’s health and well-being.

This is supposedly what happened in a Scottish neighborhood near Glasgow.

Built on a site that was used by industrial plants from the 1940s until the 1970s, homes that were tested showed high levels of toxic chemicals in the ambient air.

The toxins were

• Trichloroethylene (an industrial solvent)
• Tetrachloroethylene (dry-cleaning fluid)
• Polychlorinated biphenols
• Polyaromatic carbons

The air inside 25 homes was tested in June and July 2011 and found levels of the chemicals at much higher levels than deemed acceptable by WHO standards. Apart from the high levels of chemicals, experts also worried about the mixture of toxins people are exposed to.

One family moved away after the wife developed nose bleeds, headaches and nausea a few years after moving there.

The family is suing the landlord over the toxic fume exposure in a test case that may be of interest to more than 40 families living in the area.

The plaintiffs allege that a required remediation of the place did not take place.

The chemicals in question have been linked to irritations, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and developmental disorders.

Source: The Scotsman

Air cleaners for vapor intrusion and environmental concerns

Soil vapor intrusion is a common concern in buildings atop contaminated sites, and the right air cleaners with deep-bed activated carbon filters can help reduce gaseous pollutants inside those homes.

Electrocorp, an industry leader in air cleaners for commercial and industrial applications, works with environmental consultants to help improve the indoor air quality in single- and double-family dwellings.

The air cleaners from Electrocorp feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas, and the company also offers more than 40 different carbon types and blends to address specific chemical concerns.

The air cleaners are portable, affordable and long-lasting, and the carbon filters can be refilled according to need.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

A greener resting place: Formaldehyde and funeral homes

Most Americans still choose
burial over cremation.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

The business of death is often a difficult one. How does a family put their loved one to rest? Do they choose cremation or burial? 

In 2010, more than 50 percent of Americans chose to bury their loved ones. 

Traditionally, burial practices have been difficult on the environment. What many people don’t realize, however, is that it is also very difficult on the morticians.

Although there is a trend toward greener burial practices:

• Using biodegradable caskets
• Dressing the deceased in clothing made from natural fiber
• Using a combination of ethyl alcohol-polyethylene glycol for embalming

most bodies are still preserved with formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, and morticians need to work with it almost daily as it is one of the major components used for embalming. 

From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s, arsenic was the chemical of choice for embalming. When its poisonous long-term effects were revealed, arsenic was replaced with formaldehyde.

Since the 1980s, formaldehyde has been studied for its ill-effects.

Many funeral homes have made some changes in the way they handle the product, but most continue to use it regardless of the greener alternatives that are now available. 

Though more effective protective gear is used and many mortuaries have installed ventilation units at their work benches, the noxious fumes are simply being moved from inside to outside. 

Source: The New York Times

A safer, greener option for formaldehyde removal

The best way to rid both the indoor and the outdoor air of formaldehyde is to use an air cleaner, which can be attached to a ventilator. 

Electrocorp's RAP series is a perfect
complement to a ventilation system

Electrocorp’s RAP series will take the air ventilators have sucked out from the room and clean it with activated carbon filters. The carbon will adsorb the chemicals and either release clean air back into the workroom or push it outdoors (depending on the air-flow configuration of the ventilation system).

Using an air cleaner to complement the ventilation system will not only help eradicate the toxic effects of formaldehyde for people working in the industry, but it will also create a greener working environment that reduces its toxic output.

Have you considered what imprint you’d like to leave on earth?  Will you support green practices in funeral homes? 

Post your comments, questions and concerns and we’d be happy to reply.

Show your support for a greener, healthier work environment by becoming a follower of this blog.

For more information on Electrocorp’s air cleaners, call us toll free at 1-866-667-0297 or contact us through our website.  
   

Cabinet maker sues company for toxic chemical exposure

The plaintiff says the machinery
released toxic chemical fumes.

A man who worked for a cabinet company says he developed respiratory problems after being exposed to toxic chemicals in the machinery.

The man filed a lawsuit against the company and machine supplier.

He claims that the toxic chemicals came from a machine that glues veneer to cabinet surfaces called an edge bander, which required a special adhesive.

The glue was supplied in solid form and had to be heated inside the edge bander to attach the veneer.

The litigant claims that the adhesive was polyurethane that emitted diphenyl methane diisocyanate, a toxic chemical that caused damage to his lungs.

The former worker is asking for more than $150,000 in damages for medical bills, loss of income and court fees.

Source: Madison Record

Air cleaners for chemical and odor concerns at the workplace

When employees are working with glues, adhesives, solvents and other potentially hazardous materials, chances are the ambient air is filled with airborne pollutants that can affect their health and well-being.

An industrial-strength air cleaner with the right types of filters can help remove those airborne chemicals, odors and gases and provide cleaner and healthier air.

Electrocorp has developed portable and powerful air cleaners for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.

The air cleaners feature some of the most trusted and efficient filtration technologies, with a deep bed of granular activated carbon, HEPA and UV germicidal filtration.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations based on your specific concerns: 1-866-667-0297.
  

Manufacturers to pay out millions for trailer fumes

Class-action plaintiffs were exposed to high levels
of formaldehyde from pressed wood products.

It was supposed to be a relief effort – but the trailer homes made available to hurricane Katrina and Rita victims turned out to release harmful chemical fumes.

Government tests on hundreds of trailers found formaldehyde levels that were, on average, five times higher than what people are exposed to in most modern homes.

Formaldehyde, used to manufacture many building materials, can irritate the skin, eyes, nose and throat. High exposure levels may also cause cancer.

A class-action settlement is asking about two dozen companies to pay a total of $37.5 million to resolve claims.

Four large manufacturers - Gulf Stream Coach Inc., Forest River Inc., Jayco Inc. and Monaco Coach Corp. – already agreed to pay about $22.7 million of the total amount.

The money will be distributed among 60,000 plaintiffs from Louisiana, Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, if they qualify.

The trailers were made with a lot of pressed wood products (particleboard and plywood), which were the main source of the indoor air pollution. The temporary homes also did not provide adequate ventilation, the lawsuit claimed.

A previous CDC study showed average formaldehyde levels in trailers and mobile homes was about 77 parts per billion -- high enough to raise the odds of cancer and respiratory diseases.

Source: Star-Telegram

Air cleaners to remove formaldehyde and other chemicals

Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can affect people’s health and well-being, but many workers and homeowners are still exposed to high levels of fumes.

A portable air cleaner with a deep-bed activated carbon (activated charcoal) filter can help remove those airborne chemicals and odors.

Electrocorp has designed a wide range of units and sizes provide the most fitting solution for virtually any indoor air quality concern.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
  

Workplace exposure to solvents can affect thinking skills: Study

Less educated people may have cognitive problems later in life after working with solvents

More education may protect workers from the effects of
exposure to solvents and other chemicals over a lifetime.

Researchers found that people with less than a high school education may be affected by reduced thinking skills later in life if they have been exposed to solvents at work.

However, the same amount of exposure did not affect the thinking skills of people who have completed more education.

More education earlier in life may help build up a buffer for cognitive skills, the researchers theorize, building up a denser network of connections in the brain.

The study included more than 4,000 workers who were employed at the French national gas and electric company for most of their careers.

The researchers assessed their lifetime exposure to four types of solvents:

1. Chlorinated solvents
2. Petroleum solvents
3. Benzene
4. Non-benzene aromatic solvents

The participants’ thinking skills were tested when they were 59 years old. A total of 58 percent of the workers had less than a high school education, and 32 percent had cognitive impairment (problems with thinking skills), compared to 16 percent of workers with higher levels of education.

Non-benzene aromatic solvents showed the highest risk of cognitive problems, followed by benzene solvents and then chlorinated and petroleum solvents.

The study authors say that education earlier in life could serve as a protective shield against a variety of known and unknown exposures during a lifetime.

The study is published in the May 29, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Source: American Academy of Neurology

Air cleaners for airborne chemicals and VOCs

Solvents are a major source of exposure to chemicals and VOCs for workers that inhale them on a regular basis.

Along with other health and safety measures, a portable air cleaner with many pounds of the right type of activated carbon can help remove those airborne gases and chemicals and provide cleaner and healthier air.

Electrocorp manufactures highly efficient air cleaners for industrial and commercial applications that feature some of the largest adsorbent surface areas and longest lasting carbon filters.

Contact an Electrocorp air filtration expert for more information.
  

Vapor intrusion rising as main cleanup concern

Vapor intrusion can become a concern in any
home or building, experts say.

When it comes to human exposure to pollutants, regulators have traditionally been most concerned with contaminated soil and water – but polluted air caused by vapor intrusion is fast becoming a major cleanup issue, experts say.

According to the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, polluted ground and water have been around for centuries, while vapor intrusion entered the public debate about two decades ago, making it the new kid on the block.

New guidelines, issued in 2010 by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, describe how to investigate and prevent vapors from entering homes or buildings.

Health effects of vapor intrusion

Regulators are becoming concerned about the health effects that potential vapor intrusion issues can cause in building occupants. Many chemicals and solvents have been linked to cancer and other serious health effects.

The EPA is still working on its own guidelines.

Well-known vapor intrusion offenders include dry cleaners. When dry cleaning operations contaminated the ground underneath their business with perchloroethylene (perc), the dry cleaning fluid, the chemical could often be detected in adjacent homes or buildings, having entered through cracks or opening in the foundation or building envelope.

Other solvents and chemical substances can become vapor intrusion concerns, including 1,1 dichloroethene and trichloroethene which were used in industrial applications.

Consultants and industrial hygienist often recommend indoor air mitigation systems similar to those used for radon to reduce risks of exposure.

Source: Sheboygan Press

Air cleaners for the removal of chemicals, gases and fumes

Electrocorp works with environmental consultants to provide industrial air cleaning solutions for facilities and residential dwellings affected by vapor intrusion.

Contact an Electrocorp air quality representative today for more information on vapor intrusion and our advanced activated carbon filtration systems designed to safely remove chemicals, gases, fumes and odors.

Study links air pollution from fracking with health risks

Chemical intruders? Living close to a fracking site
can be harmful to human health, researchers say.

Hydraulic fracturing, a booming oil and gas drilling method, may cause air pollution that may contribute to acute and chronic health problems for people living near natural gas drilling sites, a new study from Colorado School of Public Health shows.

Researchers monitored Colorado fracking sites for three years and found that the air near the wells was polluted with potentially harmful chemicals, including benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene.

Benzene is a known carcinogen and the other toxins have been linked to a wide range of symptoms.

Living within a half mile of a natural gas drilling site increased the health risks substantially. In Colorado, companies are allowed to drill for natural gas within 150 feet of homes.

Since hydraulic fracturing involves injecting water and sand laced with chemicals into shale formations in the ground, opponents have been focusing on the effect the process has on the underground and surface water.

However, the focus may now shift to the air pollution that comes with fracking sites and the potential health effects that those living close by may experience, including eye irritation, headaches, asthma symptoms and cancer.

The EPA is looking at new rules to curb air pollution at oil and gas drilling sites.

The study report will be published in Science of the Total Environment.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Filter out harmful chemicals with carbon air cleaners

Potentially harmful chemicals like benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene can be removed from the ambient air with the right granular activated carbon air filters.

Electrocorp works with environmental consultants and other professionals to help residents and companies close to fracking sites breathe cleaner and healthier air indoors.

Electrocorp’s air quality specialist will help determine the right carbon blend or impregnation to be the most effective for these chemicals.

For more information and recommendations, please contact Electrocorp today.
  
See also:

• Air purifiers for xylene and formalin exposure
• Occupational safety and health: Xylene exposure
• Doctor says studies needed on fracking health concerns

 

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.

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

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

Woman sues Shell for benzene exposure

A benzene exposure lawsuit cites
grave health effects.

A woman filed a lawsuit August 31 in Madison County Circuit Court against Shell Oil Company and a number of its affiliated plants, alleging that she contracted a disease and possibly leukemia while growing up near a Shell Oil Plant.

At the Shell facilities close to the woman’s home and school, Shell and BP processed and stored benzene, a toxic chemical that has been classified as a human carcinogen, according to an article in The Record.

The complaint says that benzene entered the surrounding air and water and that the woman was exposed to the chemical.

The exposure allegedly caused the woman to develop myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood and bone marrow disease that sometimes develops into leukemia. She was diagnosed with the syndrome in November 2010, the suit states.

The lawsuit claims the toxic chemical exposure affected the woman substantially, citing

• Medical costs
• Mental anguish
• Shortened life expectancy
• Work absences that damaged her career

The woman says the defendants were to blame for her situation because

• They used benzene even though they knew it was linked to cancer
• They failed to sufficiently test the effects of the chemical on people living close by
• They failed to notify her and other residents of air and water contamination
• They minimized and hid the dangers of benzene exposure
• They knowingly committed environmental violations

In the two-count suit, the woman seeks a judgment of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.


The right air filter for airborne chemicals

RAP 204 air cleaner

Gaseous pollutants and chemicals need a deep-bed activated carbon filter that provides a large adsorbent surface area to trap gaseous contaminants by way of a chemical reaction.

Electrocorp offers industrial air cleaners with the deepest beds of activated carbon in the industry as well as special carbon blends for targeted chemical adsorption.

Activated carbon has been proven effective in the adsorption of a wide range of chemicals and odors, including ozone, octane, formaldehyde, benzene, acetone, diesel fumes, toluene and smog.

Electrocorp’s air cleaners are among the most trusted and efficient air filtration systems on the market. As part of AllerAir Industries, Electrocorp also offers portable and powerful air purifiers for the home and office with an activated carbon + HEPA filter combination.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations.
  

Health and Safety lawsuit: La Porte company sued for deadly chemical exposure

Company is sued for negligence after
worker allegedly died of chemical exposure.

In a short report published by Ultimate Pasadena, the family members of a man who allegedly died after being exposed to toxic chemicals has filed a claim against the company in La Porte.

The claim cites negligence in the event, when the man was asked to clean a tanker truck and moments later was found unconscious inside the truck. He was rushed to the hospital where he died the next day.

While the company may have thought it was a benign chemical in the tanker truck, the lawsuit alleges that it actually contained the hazardous chemical Styrofoam RS 2030 Polyol, which causes anesthetic effects and reduces oxygen available for breathing.

The family members are asking for wrongful death damages and court costs.

For more details, read the report here.

Industrial air cleaners help remove chemicals, toxins and fumes

Sound health and safety measures include providing good indoor air quality to workers and employees.

Electrocorp specializes in the design, manufacturing and delivery of high-quality indoor air cleaners for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications, including chemical processing plants, facility management, environmental consulting, laboratories and odor control.

As the odor and chemical control experts in the industry, Electrocorp provides the most relevant filtration media, the largest adsorbent surface areas, exclusive carbon blends and the most customizable features and options on the market.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s powerful Carbon + HEPA multistage filtration system.

Contact us today for more information and recommendations.
  

Lung problems most pronounced in India: Study

Many lung problems can be blamed on
air pollution, doctor says.

A worldwide study of lung functions in people from 17 different countries showed that India was the country with the unhealthiest lungs, according to an article in the Deccan Chronicle.

Dr Salim Yusuf, professor of medicine at McMaster University, conducted the year-long ground-breaking study. His findings showed that the lungs of people in India are 30 percent less effective than those of Europeans, who had the healthiest lungs.

India’s growing problem of outdoor air pollution and deteriorating indoor air quality may be to blame, Yusuf explained.

The study’s results follows in the footsteps of other studies that have linked air pollution to respiratory disorders, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other health conditions.

The study was presented at the American Thoracic Society meet 2011 held at Denver and though the abstract admits that genes and nutrition patterns vary in different ethnic groups, for the first time a direct co-relation has been drawn between poor environment and declining lung capacity.

Source: Deccan Chronicle


Protect yourself from poor IAQ at work and at home

People nowadays spend most of their time indoors, either at home or at work, and indoor air quality has become a growing concern for workers, managers, business owners and health authorities alike.

Activated carbon is the most important
element in air purification (and makes a
great combo with HEPA filters!)

Many buildings are ill-equipped to provide enough fresh air to the people inside, and renovations can be costly and time-consuming. Learn more about facility management.

Electrocorp is an air treatment specialist that manufactures industrial air cleaners with a multistage filtration system containing activated carbon, HEPA and UV (option) to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including VOCs, chemicals, particles, allergens, asthmagens, bacteria, viruses, mold spores and mold mycotoxins.

Electrocorp, the industrial division of AllerAir, also offers air purifiers for homes and offices from AllerAir.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
  

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.
  

Companies face harsh fines for exposing workers to dangerous chemicals

Companies using or making chemicals
need to enforce health & safety standards.

A New Jersey chemical and solvent maker was recently cited for 20 safety and health violation at one of its facilities, after OSHA received complaints about strong solvent odors.

The total in proposed penalties is $135,000.

“By disregarding OSHA safety and health standards, this company is leaving its employees vulnerable to hazards that can cause serious injury and possible death,” said OSHA Area Office Director Lisa Levy.

“It is vital that all identified violations be quickly corrected to protect the workers at this facility.”

OSHA inspections of indoor air quality

OSHA takes industrial hygiene samples as part of its compliance monitoring program. Many of these samples are submitted to the Salt Lake Technical Center for analysis.

The sampling results represent personal, area, and bulk samples for various airborne contaminants.

OSHA carries out inspection at companies and businesses to ensure that employees are not overexposed to hazardous substances. Exposure usually occurs by inhalation, contact, or ingestion.

Monitoring air quality can help prevent employees from inhaling hazardous concentrations of airborne chemicals. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) for chemicals.

For hazardous chemicals not covered by an OSHA standard, departments should comply with other available recommended exposure limits, for example, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV), or the chemical manufacturer's recommended limits.

Most of OSHA's chemical exposure limits are found in the 1910.1000 Air Contaminant Standard. OSHA has also developed several substance-specific standards that regulate exposure to a single chemical.

Other important safety measures include

• Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Wearing appropriate gloves when handling chemicals
• Enforcing good personal hygiene standards
• Not allowing foods and personal care products in areas where chemicals are used

Sources: SafetyBLR.com, OSHA, HealthFirst

Remove airborne chemicals with industrial air cleaners

Electrocorp specializes in the adsorption of airborne chemicals and features the deepest beds of activated carbon and the largest adsorbent surface areas for that purpose.

The multistage filtration systems also feature enhanced HEPA technology, pre-filters and the option of UV germicidal filtration.

Contact one of Electrocorp’s air quality experts for more information and recommendations based on your specific needs.
  

Industrial chemical fumes affecting nearby apartment residents

Residents are worried about chemical
odors coming from the business next door.

We may live in an industrial world, but there is such a thing as too close for comfort.

In Bakersfield, California, the residents of an apartment complex worry about chemical fumes from the industrial tank maker next door drifting over to their apartments.

The company is making above-ground tanks for industrial uses and the residents are most concerned about the irritating odors when their tanks are painted.

The residents have noticed paint droplets on cars and windows and say they worry most about the children living in the apartment complex.

Signs on the outside of Tiger Tanks’ fence warn that cancer causing chemicals are used on the property.
Authorities are investigating the complaints, but couldn’t determine any violations so far.

Source: 23 ABC News

Air purifiers for the home and office
to remove indoor air pollutants.

Improving indoor air quality in companies and homes

Electrocorp has designed industrial air cleaners for businesses and companies that are concerned about pollutants such as gaseous contaminants, chemicals, particles, dust and pathogens. The units can be portable or attached to existing ventilation systems.

The air cleaners remove odors and chemicals by drawing the air through a deep bed of granular activated carbon with a large adsorbent surface area and trap particles and pathogens in their pre-filter and HEPA filter.

Electrocorp belongs to AllerAir Industries, the premier manufacturer of air purifiers for homes and offices, offering versatile, portable air purifiers that help provide cleaner air.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and recommendations.
  

Law Enforcement Center attacked by mold

A badge won't help protect
officers from mold exposure.

The Douglas County Courthouse and Douglas County Services Center in the Alexandria area have been infiltrated by mold, according to recent reports, prompting air quality tests and causing concern.

The mold may be a result of the heavy rainfalls that have come down on the region this summer, an article in the Alexandria Echo Press said.

Mold was found in the license area and in the library, where walls with vinyl wallpaper were still wet. Water had also entered the child support offices, causing the subfloor to buckle and leading to a musty smell, one of the obvious signs of mold.

The Law Enforcement Center (LEC) also suffered from poor air quality caused by a foul smell, and mold was visible on several walls on the first floor.

Two Stachybotrys spores were found in the crawl space beneath the LEC.

Health effects of mold exposure

Commonly referred to as “black mold”, some strains of Stachybotrys mold are believed to produce mycotoxins that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including headaches, sore throats, fatigue, diarrhea, flu-like symptoms, dermatitis, immune suppression and possible fatal pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, according to many experts.

Federal standards regulating mold concentrations in the air do not exist, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“Most typical indoor air exposures to mold do not present a risk of adverse health effects,” according to an OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin issued March 2010.

“Molds can cause adverse effects by producing allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions). Potential health concerns are important reasons to prevent mold growth and to remediate existing problem areas.”

Symptoms associated with allergic reactions to mold may include red eyes and sinus drainage, respiratory illnesses, skin or mucus infections, asthma attacks, irritation in eyes, skin, nose, or throat. Immuno-compromised individuals may experience infections associated with mold.

Mold needs to be removed, not just killed

OSHA recommended cleaning water leakage within one to two days to prevent mold growth.

“As a general rule, simply killing the mold, for example, with biocide is not enough,” the bulletin stated. “The mold must be removed, since the chemicals and proteins, which can cause a reaction in humans, are present even in dead mold.”

The officers and employees at the LEC had reported sore throats, scratchy eyes and respiratory issues after the July rain.

However, the complaints stopped after some air scrubbers, HEPA filters, and dehumidifiers were employed in the area and adjustments were made to the air-conditioning units for dispatch. Existing ductwork was changed and new ductwork installed.

The discussion is ongoing whether they should stay in the building or find another location.

Source: Alexandria Echo Press


Industrial air cleaners for law enforcement centers and evidence rooms

Electrocorp offers high-value, portable air cleaners for law enforcement applications that may involve Aspergillus and other mold spores and mold mycotoxins, heavy odors, airborne chemicals, fumes, particles and pathogens.

The air cleaners feature a multistage filtration system with the deepest activated carbon beds, the largest circumference adsorbent area, the most relevant filter media at the best price and the most customizable options and features.

RAP Series: Around-the-clock
chemical and particle removal.

Featured units:

• RAP Series, which includes a variety of sizes and models, a 360-degree air intake, optional UV germicidal filtration and a deep bed of granular activated carbon
• I-6500 Series: Ideal for larger law enforcement centers and areas where heavy odors, chemicals or mold is a concern
• AirRhino Series: Versatile industrial air cleaner with interchangeable carbon and HEPA filters
• Numerical Series: The most efficient air purifiers for smaller spaces, offering a large activated carbon filter, HEPA filtration and optional UV lamp; consider the 5000 Exec or 6000 Exec, among others.

Contact Electrocorp today for more information and suggestions uniquely suited to your needs.
  

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.