Indoor Air Quality


OSHA to Hold Informal Meetings on Proposed Combustible Dust Standard

The agency is conducting the two meetings in Atlanta to make it easier for families of those who perished in the 2008 Imperial Sugar Co. explosion in Port Wentworth, Ga., to attend.

Women's Health Provider Settles Hazwaste Violations

The company offers in vitro diagnostic kits, and analyte-specific, general purpose, and research-use-only reagents for nucleic acid analysis. EPA said the company failed to obtain a hazardous waste storage license, among other things.

3 Confined Space Deaths Lead to Fines

"Unfortunately, this incident was a classic example of a multiple-fatality event where would-be rescuers are themselves overcome in their attempt to save the initial victim," said Kay Gee, OSHA's area director for Queens, Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

EPA: Now Is the Time to Test for Radon

The colorless, odorless, tasteless gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, behind cigarette smoking, the agency notes.

EPA Issues Caveat Emptor on H1N1 Disinfectants

There are no products registered by EPA for use in residential settings that will disinfect or sterilize the air or a room by fogging. Claims for disinfecting carpeting, drapes, and other porous surfaces are also false, the agency says.

Study Correlates Workplace BPA Exposure to Male Sexual Dysfunction

"This study raises the question: Is there a safe level for BPA exposure, and what is that level? More studies like this, which examine the effect of BPA on humans, are critically needed to help establish prevention strategies and regulatory policies," said lead author De-Kun Li, M.D., Ph.D., of Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.

Heating, Air Conditioning, Carpets Could be Hazardous to Health

Damp environments, poorly maintained heating and air conditioning systems, and carpeting may contribute to poor indoor air quality, according to experts at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Miami Beach, Fla. Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, where they are repeatedly exposed to indoor allergens and airborne particles that can lead to respiratory symptoms and conditions.

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NASCAR's Jeff Gordon Hosts Free Training DVD on Air Toxics Reductions

In December 2007, EPA issued a rule requiring reductions in air toxic emissions from auto body shops that use spray application to paint cars or that use paint strippers containing a toxic substance called methylene chloride. Existing shops must comply with the rule by January 2011; new shops have to comply by 180 days after startup.



EPA Releases Data on Compliance with Hazwaste, Air Regulations

The reports include online graphs, trend information on enforcement and compliance in each state, and comparative reports. Data such as compliance monitoring activity, violations discovered, enforcement actions taken, and penalties assessed are available.

Study Shows How Carbon Nanotubes Can Affect Lining of Lungs

Carbon nanotubes are being considered for use in everything from sports equipment to medical applications, but a great deal remains unknown about whether these materials cause respiratory or other health problems.

Sustaining Acceptable Indoor Environmental Quality

I'm fortunate to practice industrial hygiene for an employer with millions of square feet of space, the most aggressive modernization plan in decades, and a talented group of leaders, facility managers, engineers, technicians, and ES&H professionals.

ASHRAE Wants Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Homes

The proposed change to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, would require them to be installed outside each sleeping area. Comments are due by Oct. 26.

Research Update: Roots of Hospital Workers' Asthma Examined

"Work-related respiratory symptoms in hospital workers may be associated with diverse biological contaminants," the researchres concluded.

This DualDraw, LLC photo shows a worker using the TB3048 downdraft booth with vented back.

Control of Airborne Particles

The responsibility of today's maintenance and engineering managers to maintain a clean indoor air environment has increased markedly in recent decades.

Bosch Boilers Recalled for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hazard

This recall affects Buderus gas-fired, floor-standing boilers sold by plumbing and heating wholesale distributors to plumbing and heating contractors nationwide from April 2008 through February 2009 for between $12,000 and $24,000 installed.

Safety Blunders in Underground Facility Lead to $117K in Penalties

The serious violations OSHA unearthed related to inadequate process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, lack of emergency preparedness and response procedures, and poor respiratory protection for workers.

Radon Specialists Descend on St. Louis

A panel presentation and discussion on "The State of the Granite Debate," focusing on the issue of radon and radioactivity from granite countertop materials, will be part of AARST's 21st International Radon Symposium next week.

Researchers Create Electronic Nose to Sniff out Toxins

Imagine a polka-dotted, postage stamp-sized sensor that can sniff out some known poisonous gases and toxins and show the results simply by changing colors.

OSHA Publishes Ethylene Oxide Exposure Monitoring Guidance

Ethylene oxide exposure levels and monitoring requirements are addressed in OSHA's recently published Small Business Guide for Ethylene Oxide. The guidance document helps employers understand the ethylene oxide (EtO) standard and explains how to monitor the air quality in workplaces where EtO is processed, used, or handled.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers is based in Atlanta.

ASHRAE Again Raises More than $2 Million for Research

"It is especially heartening that given today's economy, ASHRAE chapters and members as well as industry companies continue to see the value of supporting our research program," said Gordon Holness, president of the society.

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