READ: WHO publishes guidance on indoor chemical sampling

READ: WHO publishes guidance on indoor chemical sampling

(4 RC) - Indoor air contains a wide variety of chemical compounds. Some of these compounds, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), originate mainly from indoor sources such as paints, building products, furnishings, glues, varnishes, and consumer and household products. Other pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ozone (O3), are classical pollutants of outdoor air that penetrate indoor environments in different ways in additional to releases from indoor sources… (WHO, Jan 2020)

Read More

READ: WI Health Department Investigates Indoor Mercury

READ: WI Health Department Investigates Indoor Mercury

(1 RC) - In response to a request from a health care provider about a patient and husband with elevated mercury levels in blood and urine and related health symptoms, the Wisconsin Division of Public Health investigated for mercury contamination in their west-central Wisconsin house. DPH inspected the house and tested for mercury vapors and found high mercury levels associated with adverse health effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cleaned up elemental mercury at the affected house… (ASTDR, July 2009)

Read More

READ: Wisconsin evaluates polyurethane on gym floors

READ: Wisconsin evaluates polyurethane on gym floors

(1 RC) - Milwaukee Public Schools requested assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, to evaluate potential health concerns associated with mercury-catalyzed polyurethane flooring in the gymnasium of South Division High School, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The intent of this health consultation is to characterize and assess the human health implications of elemental mercury vapor levels in the air of the SDHS gym… (ASTDR, Dec 2010)

Read More

READ: CDC Evaluates Indoor Air Sampling Methods

READ: CDC Evaluates Indoor Air Sampling Methods

(2 RC) - A soil­ gas data screening indicates that 1,4­ dioxane is a concern for vapor intrusion in a WI building occupied by workers and children. As 1,4­dioxane is highly soluble in water, it is possible that its presence in soil­ gas samples indicates the leading edge of the groundwater plume may be approaching the building. A complete indoor air investigation of the WI is necessary to evaluate the potential for current exposures… (ASTDR)

Read More

READ: Survey of Laws on Cannabis Smoking Indoors

READ: Survey of Laws on Cannabis Smoking Indoors

(1 RC) - Secondhand cannabis smoke, like secondhand tobacco smoke, creates unhealthy indoor air quality. Ventilation and engineering techniques cannot reduce this pollution to healthy levels, and complete smoke-free policies are the only way to provide healthy indoor environments. Even so, multiple state and local governments have begun to allow indoor smoking of cannabis in businesses… (AJPM, Aug 2021)

Read More

READ: CDC MMWR - National Toxic Substances Incidents Program

READ: CDC MMWR - National Toxic Substances Incidents Program

(1 RC) - Every year in the United States, thousands of toxic substance incidents harm workers, first responders, and the public with the potential for catastrophic consequences. Surveillance data enable public health and safety professionals to understand the patterns and causes of these incidents, which can improve prevention efforts and preparation for future incidents… (CDC, Mar 2020)

Read More

READ: CDC - Principles of Biosafety

READ: CDC - Principles of Biosafety

(3 RC) - A fundamental objective of any biosafety program is the containment of potentially hazardous biological agents and toxins. The term containment describes a combination of primary and secondary barriers, facility practices and procedures, and other safety equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), for managing the risks associated with handling and storing hazardous biological agents and toxins in a laboratory environment… (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Jun 2020)

Read More

READ: Principles of Pediatric Environmental Health

READ: Principles of Pediatric Environmental Health

(4 RC) - Environmental factors play a large role in children’s health. According to the World Health Organization, more than 30% of the global burden of disease in children is due to environmental factors. Children’s growth and development are dynamic processes; they can be viewed at the molecular, cellular, organ, and whole-child levels. What determines the nature and severity of environmental factors’ health effects is exposure occurrence within the different developmental stages… (ATSDR, Feb 2012)

Read More

READ: IEQ impacts of World Trade Center attacks

READ: IEQ impacts of World Trade Center attacks

(1 RC) - The draft proposed sampling plan provides an overview of how buildings (residential, office, and public) south of Houston Street, in Manhattan, would be sampled to determine if any remaining WTC-related contamination is present. As proposed, only dust samples would be taken from buildings made available by the owners or managers. Samples would be taken from locations where exposures are likely to occur, such as in elevated horizontal surfaces.… (ATSDR, Mar 2005)

Read More

READ: Ventilation & Formaldehyde Sampling of FEMA Trailers

READ: Ventilation & Formaldehyde Sampling of FEMA Trailers

(3 RC) - This report addresses two questions. First, are air formaldehyde levels in closed, unventilated trailers high enough to be associated with health effects in humans? Second, can simple measures such as running air conditioning or opening windows lower the levels of formaldehyde? Accordingly, the data were generated by conducting air sampling for formaldehyde in new, unoccupied trailers under three specific conditions.… (ATSDR, Oct 2007)

Read More

READ: Evaluation of Follow-up Indoor Air Samples - Nutrition Center

READ: Evaluation of Follow-up Indoor Air Samples - Nutrition Center

(2 RC) - This health consultation evaluates health risks from exposure to tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene associated with the operation and/or contamination at Pacific Cleaners. The owners of an adjacent health food store, Randy’s Nutrition Center, and the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department had raised concerns regarding potential exposure to PCE and TCE in indoor air.… (ATSDR, Mar 2005)

Read More

READ: Air Quality Health Assessment Davis County, UT

READ: Air Quality Health Assessment Davis County, UT

(1 RC) - The indoor air monitoring for homes surrounding Hill AFB began in 2003 and currently continues. Both homes residing directly over the plume as well as homes outside of the plume boundaries were sampled. During the routine sampling, indoor air samples were collected and analyzed for VOCs. One of the contaminants routinely detected in indoor air samples is 1,2-DCA; it has been detected in approximately 90 homes in Layton.… (ATSDR, May 2009)

Read More

READ: IAQ Sampling Midwest School, Wyoming

READ: IAQ Sampling Midwest School, Wyoming

(1 RC) - On May 24, 2016, CO2 alarms outside the school went off, prompting an evacuation of students and staff. Air monitoring and investigation began two days later on May 26. ATSDR recommends that the building not be reoccupied until thorough investigation and sampling demonstrate no potential health hazards from building indoor air. … (ATSDR, Sept 2006)

Read More

READ: Evaluation of Vapor Intrusion into Buildings - Colorado

READ: Evaluation of Vapor Intrusion into Buildings - Colorado

(2 RC) - Schlage Lock Company, located in Security, Colorado, discovered that the groundwater beneath their manufacturing facility was contaminated with the chemical tetrachloroethylene, which is also known as perchloroethylene (PCE). Schlage utilized the solvent as a metal cleaner and degreaser during the production of door locks and related hardware… (ATSDR, Nov 2006)

Read More

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)

Read More

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Salem, OR School District

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Salem, OR School District

(2 RC) - The Environmental Toxicology Program (ETP) at Oregon State Public Health issued a public health advisory to all school districts in Oregon. The advisory was prompted by the release of two public health consultations from Ohio and Michigan related to flooring manufactured by the 3M Corporation from the early 1960’s to 1980. According to 3M, mercury was used as a catalyst when mixing the polymer to form the floor… (ATSDR, July 2006)

Read More

READ: Environmental Health Assessment - School Bus

READ: Environmental Health Assessment - School Bus

(4 RC) - The Oregon Public Health Division Environmental Health Assessment Program (EHAP) was asked by the Salem-Keizer School District to conduct this Health Consultation (HC). The purpose of this HC is to evaluate the public health risk for children who may have come into contact with contaminants found on several school buses in the Salem-Keizer School District. Following a fire that destroyed and/or damaged several school buses… (ATSDR, Feb 2009)

Read More

READ: Evaluation of Follow-up Indoor Air Samples - Barbershop

READ: Evaluation of Follow-up Indoor Air Samples - Barbershop

(2 RC) - The owners of Farmer’s Insurance expressed concerns about the potential for exposure to dry-cleaning chemicals in indoor air from subsurface and aboveground sources at Eastside Laundry. To address these concerns, DOH and TCHD conducted indoor air sampling at Eastside Laundry and two adjacent businesses (Farmer’s Insurance and Roy’s) in the winter of 2002. This sampling event revealed PCE levels in indoor air… (ATSDR, Sept 2007)

Read More

READ: ATSDR Evaluation of IAQ - Corona Del Sol HS, Arizona

READ: ATSDR Evaluation of IAQ - Corona Del Sol HS, Arizona

(2 RC) - Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) was requested to provide assistance in addressing concerns about air quality at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, AZ. This health consultation follows up a previous report produced by ADHS in May 2008 and addresses previously unaddressed issues regarding possible exposure to and potential health risks from formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor air at the school… (ATSDR, Sept 2008)

Read More

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Gila River, AZ

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation Gila River, AZ

(2 RC) - Samples had an asbestos content greater than 1%, which is the regulatory level used to define an ACM. All three samples were found to contain 2-5% chrysotile asbestos. After receiving these sample results, GRIC OSH recommended that the Gila Crossing Presbyterian Church be closed until the ACM could be properly remediated… (ATSDR, Mar 2005)

Read More