A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this year has found that reducing/removing fine particulate matter from the air you breathe can extend life.
In their own words...
"A reduction in exposure to ambient fine-particulate air pollution contributed to
significant and measurable improvements in life expectancy in the United States."
You can download a copy of the 11 page report at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/360/4/376.pdf
Friday, July 3, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
formaldehyde linked to more cancers
USA Today article reports on a new study just published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that links formaldehyde to more, common cancers. You can read the USA Today article at http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-05-12-formaldehyde-cancer_N.htm
Sunday, May 10, 2009
NORMIPro Environmental TASC Force
May 1, 2009 – The NORMIPro Environmental TASC Force has officially launched its Charter Chapters in over 15 states and in 3 provinces of Canada. More chapters are opening daily and there is an overwhelming interest in this organization.
The TASC Force chapters will hold positions for a variety of environmental professionals such as Certified Mold Inspectors and Remediators; Restoration Professionals; Infection Control Specialists; Green Home Designers, Builders & Architects; Environmental Medicine Doctors; Natural Health Practitioners; Licensed Contractors; Alternative Energy and Energy Management Specialists; Water Quality Solutions Providers; Air Quality Solutions Providers; Green Cleaning Providers; Organic Body Care and Cosmetics Providers and many more…
The mission of the TASC Force is to provide resources for these types of professionals who need multi-faceted solutions providers for many of their client jobs. This will enable them to have qualified and trusted environmental professionals to refer out or to subcontract in their projects.
Another important mission of the TASC Force is work in conjunction with local government officials and emergency personnel in the event of a local or regional disaster. These local chapters will be a one-stop resource for any and all of the services that would be needed in such a situation.
Charter Chapter President Applications are being accepted now, as well as member applications for the chapters already established.
For more information contact:
Linda Eicher
Director, NORMIPro Environmental TASC Force
877-751-3100 ext.865
Linda@NORMIPro.com
The TASC Force chapters will hold positions for a variety of environmental professionals such as Certified Mold Inspectors and Remediators; Restoration Professionals; Infection Control Specialists; Green Home Designers, Builders & Architects; Environmental Medicine Doctors; Natural Health Practitioners; Licensed Contractors; Alternative Energy and Energy Management Specialists; Water Quality Solutions Providers; Air Quality Solutions Providers; Green Cleaning Providers; Organic Body Care and Cosmetics Providers and many more…
The mission of the TASC Force is to provide resources for these types of professionals who need multi-faceted solutions providers for many of their client jobs. This will enable them to have qualified and trusted environmental professionals to refer out or to subcontract in their projects.
Another important mission of the TASC Force is work in conjunction with local government officials and emergency personnel in the event of a local or regional disaster. These local chapters will be a one-stop resource for any and all of the services that would be needed in such a situation.
Charter Chapter President Applications are being accepted now, as well as member applications for the chapters already established.
For more information contact:
Linda Eicher
Director, NORMIPro Environmental TASC Force
877-751-3100 ext.865
Linda@NORMIPro.com
Friday, May 1, 2009
Fox News report - mold sickens family
Fox News reported that a Virginia family was sickened by mold in their new, custom built, home. Watch it here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5tXlKN5uFA
Friday, April 24, 2009
Healthy Buildings 2009 conference in New York
Healthy Buildings 2009 (Syracuse, NY)Registration Is Now Open for Healthy Buildings 2009. Visit http://www.hb2009.org/home for more information. Healthy Buildings 2009 will take place in Syracuse, NY, USA from September 13 to 17, 2009. Join the world’s leaders at the Ninth International Healthy Buildings Conference and Exhibition.
Visit http://www.hb2009.org/registration to take advantage of Early Registration rates and choices of accommodations. This international meeting, hosted by Syracuse University and the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), will provide a forum for exchange of leading research and technology developments,a unique opportunity to share information on your company’s innovative products and services, and an extraordinary venue to network with national and global leaders and professionals in the fields of indoor air quality and healthy built environments.
Visit http://www.hb2009.org/registration to take advantage of Early Registration rates and choices of accommodations. This international meeting, hosted by Syracuse University and the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), will provide a forum for exchange of leading research and technology developments,a unique opportunity to share information on your company’s innovative products and services, and an extraordinary venue to network with national and global leaders and professionals in the fields of indoor air quality and healthy built environments.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Air Pollution role in arthritis?
Living near a busy highway may increase the risk for rheumatoid arthritis.
Harvard researchers studied nearly 100,000 women and looked at how far their homes were from roads with more than two lanes of traffic. Those living within 55 yards of a big road increased their risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis by nearly a third, compared with women who lived at least 220 yards away.
This suggests pollutants may play a role.
Harvard researchers studied nearly 100,000 women and looked at how far their homes were from roads with more than two lanes of traffic. Those living within 55 yards of a big road increased their risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis by nearly a third, compared with women who lived at least 220 yards away.
This suggests pollutants may play a role.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
New sofas to blame for rash of allergies
Research is now confirming that pesticides packed into furniture coming from China are causing several health issues. You can read an article from the Sydney Morning Herald just published today at... http://www.smh.com.au/national/new-sofas-to-blame-for-rash-of-allergies-20090411-a3e2.html?page=-1
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Care for your air brochure
The EPA published a new brochure in September of 2008 entitled, "Care for Your Air: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality." It is available in .pdf format at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/careforyourair.pdf or in hard copy by ordering document number EPA 402-F-08-008 directly from the EPA.
This brochure was written for the consumer and provides basic information on common indoor air pollutants and remedies. While not as comprehensive as the NORMI protocols for improving IAQ, this EPA primer can be a useful part of an IAQ education program.
This brochure was written for the consumer and provides basic information on common indoor air pollutants and remedies. While not as comprehensive as the NORMI protocols for improving IAQ, this EPA primer can be a useful part of an IAQ education program.
OSHA releases new respiratroy protection guidelines
OSHA has published a new guideline document, Assigned Protection Factors(APF), that provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for workers exposed to contaminants in the air. The guidelines focus on mandatory respirator selection provisions added to the existing Respiratory Protection standard. OSHA revised this standard in 2006 to add APFs and Maximum Use Concentration (MUC) provisions.
APF refers to the level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is able to provide against particles, gases, or vapors.The higher the APF number (5 to 10,000), the greater the level of protection provided to the user.
MUC represents the limit at which the class of respirator is expected to provide protection. Whenever a hazard's exposure level exceeds MUC, a respirator with a higher APF should be selected.
You can access this new document at... http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.pdf
APF refers to the level of respiratory protection that a respirator or class of respirators is able to provide against particles, gases, or vapors.The higher the APF number (5 to 10,000), the greater the level of protection provided to the user.
MUC represents the limit at which the class of respirator is expected to provide protection. Whenever a hazard's exposure level exceeds MUC, a respirator with a higher APF should be selected.
You can access this new document at... http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3352-APF-respirators.pdf
Thursday, December 18, 2008
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.
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.
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