EPA Considering Formaldehyde Regulations

On November 25th, the United States Environmental Protection Agency published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) regarding formaldehyde emissions from pressed wood products. This is the first step towards regulations that would limit the off-gassing of formaldehyde from composite wood materials, such as those responsible for the elevated levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers used following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The EPA is soliciting comments, information, and data related to formaldehyde emissions from pressed wood products. Written comments may be submitted by February 2nd to regulations.gov using docket number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2008-0627. Additionally, the EPA will be holding six public hearings in January in Triangle Park, N.C.; Portland, Ore.; Chicago, Dallas, and Washington DC. Conspicuously missing from the list of hearing locations is any gulf coast city where so many individuals were effected by the FEMA trailers. This oversight was severely criticized by the Sierra Club and other advocates. As a result of public pressure, an additional hearing on the Gulf Coast is likely to be announced.

EPA’s decision is largely a response to a petition submitted in March by the Sierra Club, dozens of other organizations including the Alliance, and signed by approximately 5,000 individuals. The petition called for the EPA to make the strict formaldehyde regulations established by the California Air Resources Board nationally applicable. Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen and causes airway and eye irritation.

For more information on EPA’s ANPR, the dates of the public hearings, or a copy of the petition, see http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/formaldehyde/index.htm. For information on the attempt to include the gulf coast as a hearing location, see http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=80681.0.

Sick Buildings Cause Serious Illness

Swedish researchers have found that people affected by so called sick-building-syndrome can stay ill for a significant period of time. Sick building syndrome is caused by problems with the building’s environment, like poor ventilation or dampness.

Researchers at Umeå University looked at 189 patients who became ill due to their working conditions and followed them for up to 20 years. They found that almost half of the patients were still seriously ill after seven years, and registered for at least part time incapacity benefit as a result.

The scientists hope that their study will get this syndrome taken more seriously in the future, as seeking help early is crucial to long term chances of recovery.

Dangers Of Going Green

Industrial hygienists found that mold, rot, and corrosion are dangers that must be accounted for when builders construct energy-efficient homes. Recycled materials used in this type of construction are likely to absorb more water than new materials. Air quality can also become an issue because of a heightened focus on insulation which, in addition to reducing heating and cooling costs, can limit the movement of water vapor and potential pollutants.Green building is a growing trend across the country. Eco-friendly homes are being built with recycled wood, solar panels and energy efficient appliances -- but what is healthy for the environment could hide a growing problem in its walls.

Read the Science Daily article and watch the video at http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2008/1001-dangers_of_going_green.htm

Mould Toxins More Prevalent And Hazardous Than Thought

ScienceDaily (Dec. 9, 2008) — Mould toxins in buildings damaged by moisture are considerably more prevalent than was previously thought, according to new international research. Erica Bloom from the Division of Medical Microbiology at Lund University in Sweden has contributed to research in this field by analyzing dust and materials samples from buildings damaged by mould. Virtually all of the samples contained toxins from mould.

REad the entire article at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081209085622.htm

ETS linked to behavioral problems

ScienceDaily (Dec. 5, 2008) — Boys with asthma who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke have higher degrees of hyperactivity, aggression, depression and other behavioral problems, according to researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Read the full story here... http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081204133553.htm

GREEN building programs evaluated

The National Center for Healthy Housing issued an analysis of various GREEN building programs in September. Titled, "How Healthy Are National Green Building Programs?" it can be downloaded from http://www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/Green_Analysis_2008.pdf

HUD drafts Strategic Plan for Healthy Homes

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued it's draft version of a Healthy Homes Strategic Plan in September, 2008. You can access it at http://www.hud.gov/offices/lead/library/hhi/DraftHHStratPlan_9.10.08.pdf

Healthy Buildings 2009

SyracuseCoE and Syracuse University will host Healthy Buildings 2009, a premier international conference and exhibition, in Syracuse, NY, USA on September 13-17, 2009.

The conference website is now open and is accepting abstracts through an on-line abstract submittal system. You can access their website at www.hb2009.org for more information.

Women's Hands Have Much More Bacteria Than Men

WOW!! Who knew?

Read the blog at...

http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/womens_hands_have_much_more_bacteria_men

Nothing to do with mold, but interesting.

Fungi Geneticist Warns of Sick Building Syndrome

MedPage Today story of a Fungi Geneticist who previously decried SBS, but is a convert now that her home has been affected. I guess a dose of reality can change someone's mind.

Read the story... http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ICAAC-IDSA/11529

New Home Test Kit

The below press release about a new user-friendly self test kit sounds very much like the EPA ERMI. Anyone interested in knowing more about ERMI can contact me via this BLOG and I'll be happy to send you info.

Jeff


National Jewish Health Launches Family Air Care(R) Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit DENVER, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

Retailer Green Depot, home inspectors, green builders and realtors all on board to market and distribute test

Home owners, buyers and renters can now assure that their indoor environment is healthy and safe with an easy-to-use kit manufactured and serviced by the nation's number one respiratory hospital, National Jewish Health. The Family Air Care(R) Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit reports levels of the most common indoor allergens and a relative moldiness index. The product will be especially useful for millions of people with allergies and asthma, who can benefit from lower exposure to allergens and irritants in their environment.

To use, consumers simply attach a small capture device to their vacuum cleaner hose, briefly run the vacuum cleaner in their homes, then mail the collection device to National Jewish Health in a pre-paid envelope provided with the kit. Test results will be posted on a secure Web site, which customers may access with a PIN provided with the kit. In addition to providing specific levels for four allergens (cat, dog, cockroach and dust mite) and a relative moldiness index formulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the results also show how customers' homes compare with homes across the nation. Information will also be provided regarding steps that can be taken to reduce allergen levels within the home.

"The Family Air Care(R) kit is the only commercially available indoor-air testing kit that lets customers compare their results with samples from homes around the nation, and offers specific advice about how to interpret the results and what to do after receiving them," said David Tinkelman, MD, Vice President of Health Initiatives at National Jewish Health.
Green Depot, the #1 supplier of environmentally friendly and sustainable building products, services and solutions, will offer the kit for $349 via its e-commerce site, Greendepot.com, and its 5 retail locations.

National Jewish has also partnered with EcoBroker International, the nation's largest network of environmentally oriented and trained real estate agents, and the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors to market and distribute Family Air Care(R).

The kit and additional information are also available at www.familyaircare.com .

SOURCE National Jewish Health

IAQ Resource Library

Lawerence Berkeley National Laboratory, in cooperation with the EPA, has created an IAQ Scientific Findings Resource Bank. The IAQ-SFRB serves as a resource for public health professionals, building professionals, and others who seek scientific information about the effects of IAQ on people's health or work performance. You can access it at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ied/sfrb/sfrb.html

ACOEM Position Paper

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has published a controversial position paper you should know about. This paper has successfully been used by defendants (insurance companies, contractors, and building owners) in litigation. However, many experts in mold/IAQ contest the findings of this paper and challenge it's use in litigation cases. You can read the ACOEM position paper at http://www.acoem.org/guidelines.aspx?id=850. You can also hear opposing opinions in the Leonard Lopate Radio Show of 9/1/08 (link posted earlier).

New Radio Interview

On Monday, (9/1/08), The Leonard Lopate Show broadcast an interview with two Mold/IAQ experts. A recording of the show (about 40 minutes long) is available at http://www.wnyc.org/player.html#/play//stream/xspf/107561

Toxic mold and its effects on pets

Thought you'd find this article interesting.

http://www.clarksonvillagevet.com/index.php?view=pageView&docid=100049661

Cancer is a FUNGUS

Watch this TV interview about a startling revelation on cancer and the connection to fungi.

http://www.knowthecause.com/Shows/TullioSimonciniMDWithDougKaufmann/tabid/109/Default.aspx

ASHRAE IAQ Guide

Review Period for ASHRAE IAQ Guide Opens July 25.

The 90% Review Draft for the Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practicesfor Design, Construction, and Commissioning will be available for reviewand feedback from July 25-Aug. 17. All remarks must be received by Aug.17. Once received, the remarks will be reviewed, compiled, and responded to in a single Summary Response document posted on www.ashrae.org.

To learn more about the IAQ Guide and the review, click here. <http://images.ashrae.biz/redirect/?url=979> Beginning Friday, July 25,the review draft will be available at this location.

NORMIPro Blog available in 13 languages

With the addition of Bablefish to this site, readers can translate postings into 12 additional languages. With NORMI gaining an International footprint, Bablefish will enable readers from other parts of the world to get up to date information on the IAQ Industry.

Con la adición de Bablefish a este sitio, los lectores pueden traducir fijaciones a 12 idiomas adicionales. Con NORMI ganando una huella internacional, Bablefish permitirá a lectores de otras partes del mundo conseguir la información hasta la fecha sobre la industria de IAQ.

Avec l'addition de Bablefish à cet emplacement, les lecteurs peuvent traduire des signalisations dans 12 langues additionnelles. Avec NORMI gagnant une empreinte de pas internationale, Bablefish permettra à des lecteurs d'autres régions du monde d'obtenir l'information à jour sur l'industrie d'IAQ.

この場所へのBablefishの付加を使うと、読者は12の付加的な言語に投稿を翻訳できる。 国際的な足跡を得ていてNORMIがBablefishは世界の他の部分からの読者がIAQ工業の最新情報を手に入れることを可能にする。

Powerful video - Death of a Health Inspector

Follow this link to watch an ABC News video about the death of a Nevada Health Inspector caused by mold. This is part one of a two part series.

http://www.ktnv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8695699

LEADING EXPERTS URGE FLOOD-AFFECTED HOMEOWNERS NOT TO USE BLEACH

Proper Steps Include Using EPA-Registered Mold & Mildew Products
To Avoid Widespread Post-Katrina-Type Loss

Abita Springs, July 2008 – The National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI), a not-for-profit cooperative of mold experts and professionals, is urging owners of residential and commercial properties affected by Mississippi River flooding not to use household bleach to remove potentially harmful mold and mildew from water-damaged surfaces.

While bleach may temporarily remove the discoloration caused by mold, the organization said only EPA-registered mold and mildew products labeled as a cleaner, disinfectant, fungicide and/or mildewstat are truly effective at killing the micro-flora that can enable mold to grow, and make property potentially uninhabitable.

Rising mid-Summer temperatures and humidity, and flood-soaked materials of virtually all kinds are a perfect storm for likely rapid mold growth and its attendant effects on air quality and health. Widespread recommended use of bleach alone in post-Katrina New Orleans is believed to have had devastatingly negative effects on owners’ and renters’ abilities to reclaim their homes, because of bleach’s inability to prevent mold and mildew re-growth.

“The bottom line is this—as research and hard experience have proven, bleach does not kill the organism at its root and can promote mold growth, allowing re-growth. While bleach is effective as an everyday quick, cosmetic fix, bleach is not the thing to use in heavy-duty situations where preventing re-growth may be critical to short- and long-term habitability,” said Douglas Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI. “No one wants to see another post-Katrina situation along the Mississippi River, so we want to leave no doubt about these facts—bleach is simply not effective for controlling mold problems.”

NORMI has devoted part of its website to information links Mississippi River-affected property owners can follow to find local mold remediation resources, and commercial- and consumer-grade products that are EPA-registered mold and mildew disinfectants effective at killing mold and preventing its re-growth. “Products like Moldex Disinfectant, Anabec, and BacShield, as examples, are strongly recommended for those who are wanting products that really work,” continued Hoffman. “We encourage consumers to become label-readers, study the ingredients, look at the testing data, and evaluate the company claims to be sure you are using safe, greener technologies.”

For information on flood clean-up, how and where to access federal disaster assistance and on mold cleaning or remediation information, please visit http://www.normi.org/ or call 877.251.2296

Certified Formaldehyde Screening program

The Certified Formaldehyde Screening program is an online or self-study course that trains the IAQ Professional in techniques to screen for and then reduce formaldehyde contamination levels in indoor environments. The class covers the sources of formaldehyde, the deleterious health affects, and the solutions recommended to lower levels and manage the indoor air quality environments. This class is based on information provided by the US Department of Health and Human Services and other resources that are included in the class online or on CD.

Once the student completes this class, he is expected to pass a test evidencing his complete understanding of the issues surrounding formaldehyde and the techniques used to reduce formaldehyde levels on a permanent basis. After the student has completed the online quiz, he is encouraged to activate his membership so he can take advantage of the benefits offered by NORMI to ACTIVE Members.

The NORMI CFS is given direction on how to research more information and, included in the CD or online course, is provided a 468 page document as a reference guide from the US
Department of Health and Human Services. Online resources for this course include equipment spec sheets, a formaldehyde/ozone formula for calculating ozone levels to reduce formaldehyde, and the class handouts in color and black/white for the student to make class notes during the class.

The goal of the CFS is to provide an ongoing IAQ Management program that will insure that levels of formaldehyde have been substantially reduced to levels below the acceptable limits established by the EPA, NIOSH, OSHA, the World Health Organization and the American Conference of Governmental and Industrial Hygienists.

NORMI is in the process of establishing a VOC Certificate of Sanitization to use in conjunction with this training so the NORMI CFS can provide documentation and proof that the techniques and services offered are actually effective in reducing formaldehyde and other VOCs. Special logging equipment is discussed that will record and document pre and postscreening formaldehyde.

The NORMI CFS course is available in a Self-Study CD Version ($149) or an ONLINE version ($99) at http://www.besttrainingschool.com/cfs.php

NEW “BRAG” BLOG OPEN TO NORMI MEMBERS

The newest feature added to the www.NORMI.org website is a blog managed by its own administration and contributed by members. “This is an opportunity for our members to tell the world about the problems they have solved in their client’s homes and office,” announced Douglas Hoffman, Executive Director of NORMI. “Our solution-based mold training is becoming the standard in our industry and we want the world to know that our recommended solutions work every time. Our IAQ and mold professionals are proud of what they do, as they should be, and we want to give them a public forum where everyone can know of their successes.”

The new webpage, www.NORMIPro.blogspot.com, will help potential clients understand the value of utilizing a NORMI trained professional and evaluate the effectiveness of the solutions they may offer. Mold problems, indoor air quality concerns, and other environmental issues in the construction industry are often indentified by seldom solved to the satisfaction of the client. NORMI is setting a new standard of excellence in these areas. “It doesn’t do any good to find a problem then neglect to offer the solutions,” commented Della White, NORMI Board of Directors. “Our members take great care to provide solutions that are wholistic and, where possible, environmentally safe. We are proud of their efforts and whether they are Mold Inspectors, Remediators, IAQ Specialists, or other NORMI Trained Professional, we want the whole world to know of their success.”

NORMI, the National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors, is an approved training provider for several states including Louisiana and Florida, states that have enormous mold problems that need to be dealt with professionals and effectively. NORMI holds classes throughout the United States and, through its online courses, have trained professionals in Spain, UK, and Brazil. Registration for all classes, whether online, onsite, or self-study courses, can be found at www.BestTrainingSchool.com or for more information call 1.888.856.4803.

ENVIROSCREENING LAB CERTIFIED BY TEXAS

ENVIROSCREENING LAB CERTIFIED BY TEXAS

PRESS RELEASE
Austin, TX December 5, 2007- The EnviroScreening lab has been certified by the Texas Department of State Health Services in the State of Texas to perform as a Mold Analysis Laboratory capable of processing environmental samples for Texas licensed Mold Inspectors, Mold Assessors, and Mold Remediators. "This is a giant step in the right direction toward legitimacy in the field of environmental sampling because the State of Texas is the first and, so far, the ONLY state that certifies mold analysis labs," said Glenn Moore, Micro-Supervisor for EnviroScreening.

"The field of laboratory analysis is very competitive," reports Doug Hoffman, NORMI Executive Director, "and we have tried to provide our members with a less-expensive alternative to laboratories that require more extensive and expensive certifications from AIHA and its competitors. In the screening process and where litigation is not a consideration, the EnviroScreening lab provides a cost-effective alternative for our clients."
EnviroScreening, LLC was founded seven years ago and provides a variety of sample processing dealing with environmental issues including, but not limited to, mold, fungus, bacteria, particulate, and water sampling. EnviroScreening has recently expanded its services and sampling kits to include MRSA and provides these services to the public at www.EnviroScreening.com

Lance Eisen, COO of NORMI, stated, "One of NORMI's goals for 2008 is to provide training courses in the State of Texas that meet their licensing requirements. Being able to provide this lab resource is a step closer to that goal. We are proud of Glenn and the work he has done to achieve this great certification."

For more information regarding EnviroScreening and the services they offer, you may contact 1-888-845-3029 ext 1000 and for more information on NORMI, contact 877.251.2296

EnviroScreening,LLC Texas License Number LAB1001 Control Number 6331

NORMI ANNOUNCES NEW DESIGNATION AAA (ADVANCED ANABEC APPLICATOR)

NORMI ANNOUNCES NEW DESIGNATION AAA (ADVANCED ANABEC APPLICATOR)
03/01/08 Abita Springs, LA

NORMI announces the completion of a new designation entitled AAA (Advanced Anabec Applicator). "By partnering with Anabec Systems," reported Lance Eisen, COO of NORMI, "NORMI takes its training of mold professionals to a new level. Never before has there been such a powerful training program specifically designed for applicators within the indoor air quality industry. The Anabec Systems provides long term protection against mold and bacteria up to 30 years, and we are honored that they have chosen us to facilitate this practical training program. By utilizing on-site, hands-on training, the student will learn the practical side of this industry from estimating to closing."

This training program is a 2-Day class and provides a comprehensive look at the fastest-growing area of the mold prevention industry. The focus of this class is targeted to train professionals in the applications of warranted products on both New Construction and Mold Remediation projects.

"Anabec Systems currently has online training and on site training opportunities available with their systems, as well as marketing and sales guidance. The NORMI AAA Training takes the training to a new level," said Stephen Meyers, President of Anabec Systems. "NORMI brings training skills and learning techniques to the table that will enhance what we are already doing and we believe the synergy will be good for the industry."

The NORMI AAA Training is now available for registration at http://www.besttrainingschool.com/ and seating is limited to 20 people because this is a "hands-on" learning environment. Early registration will assure a spot for those who are interested in offering 20 year and 30 year structural warranties to their remediation and new construction projects.

For more information on NORMI AAA Training, go to http://www.besttrainingschool.com/ or contact the school directly at 888.856.4803