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 Recommends Prophylactic Measures for Plague

READ: CDC Recommends Prophylactic Measures for Plague

(3 RC) - This report provides CDC recommendations to U.S. health care providers regarding treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and post-exposure prophylaxis of plague. Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes plague, leads to naturally occurring disease in the United States and other regions worldwide and is recognized as a potential bioterrorism weapon. A bioweapon attack with Y. pestis could potentially infect thousands, requiring rapid and informed decision making by clinicians and public health agencies.…(CDC MMWR, July 2021)

Read More

READ: CDC Investigates Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners for Reducing COVID Exposure

READ: CDC Investigates Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners for Reducing COVID Exposure

(.50 RC) - To investigate the effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners and universal masking at reducing exposure to exhaled aerosol particles, the investigation team used respiratory simulators to mimic a person with COVID-19 and other, uninfected persons in a conference room. The addition of two HEPA air cleaners that met the Environmental Protection Agency recommended clean air delivery rate… (CDC MMWR, Jul 9 2021)

Read More

READ: CDC Examines COVID-19 Outbreaks in Idaho Correctional Facilities

READ: CDC Examines COVID-19 Outbreaks in Idaho Correctional Facilities

(.50 RC) - As of April 16, 2021, U.S. correctional and detention facilities reported 399,631 cases of COVID-19 in incarcerated persons, resulting in 2,574 deaths (1). During July 14–November 30, 2020, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 382 persons incarcerated in Idaho correctional facilities with work-release programs. Work-release programs (which place incarcerated persons in community businesses) have social and economic benefits, but might put participants at increased risk for bidirectional transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19… (CDC MMWR, Apr 23 2021)

Read More

READ: Research suggests aircraft seating related to SARS-CoV-2 exposure

READ: Research suggests aircraft seating related to SARS-CoV-2 exposure

(.50 RC) - Aircraft can hold large numbers of persons in close proximity for long periods, which can increase the risk for transmission of infectious disease. Current CDC guidelines recommend against travel for persons who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and a January 2021 CDC order requires masking for all persons while on airplanes. Research suggests that seating proximity on aircraft is associated with increased risk for infection with SARS-CoV-2… (CDC MMWR, Apr 23 2021)

Read More

READ: Mold Basics for Primary Care Clinicians

READ: Mold Basics for Primary Care Clinicians

(1 RC) - People are constantly exposed to mold in both indoor and outdoor environments and pinpointing one source of exposure can be difficult to impossible. In fact, exposure may come from multiple sources. The general public and some health care providers who are less familiar with the subject have attributed a burden of disease to mold that is disproportionate with symptoms. This document will attempt to give the practicing clinician a synopsis of the state of the art thinking about indoor mold, damp spaces, and health effects… (CDPH, Dec 2009)

Read More

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part Three

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part Three

(4 RC) - The uncertainty and change regarding the identification of emerging bacterial agents and the requirements for containment and safe storage of pathogens continues to accelerate. New infectious agents and diseases have emerged. Work with infectious agents in public and private research, public health, clinical and diagnostic laboratories, and in animal care facilities has expanded… (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Jun 2020)

Read More

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part Two

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part Two

(4 RC) - The uncertainty and change regarding the identification of emerging bacterial agents and the requirements for containment and safe storage of pathogens continues to accelerate. New infectious agents and diseases have emerged. Work with infectious agents in public and private research, public health, clinical and diagnostic laboratories, and in animal care facilities has expanded… (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Jun 2020)

Read More

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part One

READ: CDC - Bacterial Agents Part One

(4 RC) - The uncertainty and change regarding the identification of emerging bacterial agents and the requirements for containment and safe storage of pathogens continues to accelerate. New infectious agents and diseases have emerged. Work with infectious agents in public and private research, public health, clinical and diagnostic laboratories, and in animal care facilities has expanded… (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Jun 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: 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: ATSDR Health Consultation - Lead in Dust Report One

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation - Lead in Dust Report One

(2 RC) - The Canon City area has been the historical site of a number of milling and smelting facilities. Based on environmental contamination from those operations, questions and concerns have been voiced by residents of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Among the various issues are specific concerns that lead contaminated dust from current and historical operations may have migrated into the residential neighborhood… (ATSDR, Nov 2006)

Read More

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation - Lead in Dust Report Two

READ: ATSDR Health Consultation - Lead in Dust Report Two

(2 RC) - The Canon City area has been the historical site of a number of milling and smelting facilities. Based on environmental contamination from those operations, questions and concerns have been voiced by residents of the Lincoln Park neighborhood. Among the various issues are specific concerns that lead contaminated dust from current and historical operations may have migrated into the residential neighborhood… (ATSDR, Nov 2006)

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 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