READ: Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

READ: Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter

(2 RC) - On February 7, 2024, EPA strengthened the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter to protect millions of Americans from harmful and costly health impacts, such as heart attacks and premature death. Particle or soot pollution is one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution, and an extensive body of science links it to a range of serious and sometimes deadly illnesses… (EPA, Feb 2024)

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READ: Emergency Management Accomplishments Report

READ: Emergency Management Accomplishments Report

(2 RC) - This report details major response and removal actions from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022, and outlines regulatory actions to protect community health through chemical accident and oil spill prevention and preparedness. It features science-based solutions that EPA utilizes during all phases of crisis and consequence management… (EPA, Sept 2022)

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READ: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines Chapter 6

READ: WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines Chapter 6

(1 RC) - The WHO air quality guidelines set goals for protecting public health on a worldwide scale. They were established through a rigorous process of revision and evaluation of scientific evidence on the health effects of air pollutants and, like other WHO guidelines, are not legally binding recommendations… (WHO Global AQG, 2021)

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READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Toxicology

READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Toxicology

(2 RC) - Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione have a long history as components of food, suggesting that exposures can occur in diverse work-places. They occur as natural products in many foods. Diacetyl imparts the flavor and aroma of butter to many common foods and drinks including butter, cheese, yogurt, beer, and wine… (NIOSH Standard, Oct 2016)

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READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Risk Assessment

READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Risk Assessment

(3 RC) - The goal of this chapter is first to present a numerical estimate of the risk of developing respiratory disease due to occupational exposure to diacetyl using standard epidemiological methods. This estimate is based on statistical models that describe the relationship between exposure to diacetyl and the development of impaired lung function in a known population of exposed employees… (NIOSH Standard, Oct 2016)

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READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Hazard Prevention

READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Hazard Prevention

(4 RC) - Work practices are procedures followed by employers and employees to control hazards in the workplace. The use of good work practices, incorporated into the facility’s standard operating procedures, can help reduce exposures to diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and other flavoring compounds while at the same time maximizing efficiency and product quality… (NIOSH Standard, Oct 2016)

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READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Exposure Monitoring

READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione - Exposure Monitoring

(.50 RC) - Employers should develop and implement comprehensive occupational safety and health programs to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and deaths. To be successful, safety and health programs should be developed and implemented as part of an employers management system, with strong management commitment, employee involvement, and occupational safety and health expertise. A safety and health program designed to protect employees from the adverse effects of exposure to diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and other flavoring compounds… (NIOSH Standard, Oct 2016)

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READ: Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws

READ: Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws

(4 RC) - This database includes laws that address a wide range of pollutants, practices and building types. The purpose of the database is not to indicate how many IAQ laws exist, but rather to provide examples of various types of policy strategies that states have employed. The following are general guidelines used to develop the database… (ELI, 2022)

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READ: EPA updates its Indoor airPlus program

READ: EPA updates its Indoor airPlus program

(4 RC) - EPA regularly receives partner questions and comments regarding various aspects of the Indoor airPLUS program requirements. This Policy Record format will be used to provide regular updates on the resolution of future issues, including changes to program requirements and clarifications or refinements to the specifications. The primary purpose of this document is to allow stakeholders equal access to the latest policy issues and resolutions. This document also serves as an official program update… (EPA, Dec 2021)

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READ: EPA Indoor airPlus requirements for low-emission products

READ: EPA Indoor airPlus requirements for low-emission products

(.50 RC) - The Low-Emission Materials requirements address composite wood products, interior paints and finishes, and carpets and carpet adhesives used in the construction of Indoor airPLUS qualified homes. Products meeting the referenced standards are generally widely available in the market. This document is intended to help builders, designers, and Raters identify and locate compliant products… (EPA, Oct 2015)

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READ: EPA issues IAQ construction specifications

READ: EPA issues IAQ construction specifications

(1 RC) - These specifications were developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to recognize new homes equipped with a comprehensive set of Indoor Air Quality features. They were developed with significant input from stakeholders, based on best available science and information about risks associated with IAQ problems, and balanced with practical issues of cost, builder production process compatibility, and verifiability… (EPA, Feb 2008)

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READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione

READ: NIOSH Standard: Occupational Exposure to Diacetyl and Pentanedione

(2 RC) - This chapter discusses available sampling and analytical techniques for monitoring diacetyl and pentanedione vapor in the workplace; techniques for measuring diace-tyl and pentanedione in airborne dust and bulk materials; real-time techniques for measuring relevant airborne analytes and other flavoring compounds; and results of some occupational exposure assessments by NIOSH and others of facilities that use diacetyl andpentanedione… (NIOSH Standard, Oct 2016)

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READ: NIOSH Issues Guidance for Protecting Temporary Workers

READ: NIOSH Issues Guidance for Protecting Temporary Workers

(2 RC) - The future of work brings new challenges to occupational safety and health, including how to best protect and promote the safety and health of a workforce employed through a variety of non-standard work arrangements. Temporary agency workers are those who are paid by a staffing company and assigned to work for a host employer, including both short- and long-term assignments… (NIOSH, July 2022)

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READ: NIOSH investigates lead exposure at Ohio police department

READ: NIOSH investigates lead exposure at Ohio police department

(3 RC) - The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from employees at a police department in Ohio. The request concerned lead exposures in and around the firing range, a history of water intrusion and mold growth on the ceiling tiles in the juvenile office, and lack of ventilation in the property room where illicit drugs were stored. We made two site visits to the police department to evaluate exposures, work conditions, and employee health concerns… (NIOSH HEE, July 2013)

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READ: OSHA recommends procedures for workplace safety and health programs

READ: OSHA recommends procedures for workplace safety and health programs

(3 RC) - Establishing a safety and health program at your job site is one of the most effective ways of protecting your most valuable asset: your workers. Losing workers to injury or illness, even for a short time, can cause significant disruption and cost to you as well as the workers and their families. It can also damage workplace morale, productivity, turnover, and reputation… (OSHA, Oct 2016)

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READ: SafeWork Australia Explains Emergency Plans

READ: SafeWork Australia Explains Emergency Plans

(4 RC) - An emergency plan may also be aimed at limiting or managing the effects of consequences on property or the environment. Further, emergencies may occur that are not associated with hazardous chemicals, such as those arising from natural events (e.g. flood or fire). It is advisable that a facility not have multiple plans. A single plan facilitates rapid response and avoids confusion about which plan should be executed in the event of a particular type of emergency.… (Safe Work Australia Mar 2012)

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READ: NIOSH investigates officer exposures inside a drug vault

READ: NIOSH investigates officer exposures inside a drug vault

(4 RC) - In November 2009, NIOSH received an HHE request from a police department in Kentucky. The request concerned possible health effects from working inside a vault used to store drug evidence, including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. We conducted evaluations in December 2009 and July 2010… (NIOSH, July 2011)

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READ: Australia Announces Workplace Health & Safety Strategy

READ: Australia Announces Workplace Health & Safety Strategy

(2 RC) - The Commonwealth, state and territory governments, industry and unions have strategies to support and improve work health and safety. The Australian Strategy has been designed to be sufficiently broad and high-level so that governments, industry, unions and other organizations can undertake activities that assist in meeting the desired outcomes… (National OHS Strategy, Mar 2020)

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READ: EPA - Building Codes and IAQ

READ: EPA - Building Codes and IAQ

(3 RC) - Conservation-minded building codes have the potential to reduce naturally occurring air exchange for buildings by tightening the envelope and reducing pressurization of unconditioned spaces (e.g. duct sealing). Indoor moisture, altered airflows, lowered air exchange all have the potential for increasing occupant risk of exposures to indoor generated contaminants..… (EPA, Sep 2009)

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READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Modesto, CA

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Modesto, CA

(3 RC) - The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control asked CDPH for help in responding to a community member in Modesto. The person had health concerns about potential exposures to volatile organic compound (VOC) releases from dry cleaning operations near their home. CDPH met with the person and responded to the concerns.… (ATSDR, Feb 2018)

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