The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about near universal face mask use in indoor environments outside of the home. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) have guided the public and employees to wear “face coverings” that help prevent the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The primary function of these face coverings is to arrest transmissible respiratory droplets generated during talking, coughing, breathing, etc. Continue Reading →
Author: Bob Reiser
Emerging Contaminants: An Update
In December 2020, the chemical industry publication, Chemical Watch 1, reported that New York had joined Washington and Maine in passing legislation restricting the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. The significance of enactment of this and similar PFAS-related contaminant-of-emerging-concern (CEC) legislation at the State level cannot be understated. With the writing on the wall, major companies such as Amazon have taken steps to eliminate PFAS compounds in their Kitchen brand products.2
COVID-19 Cleaning & Disinfecting Agents: Health Issues/Effects In The Workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for everyone across the globe. For those responsible for making workplaces safe with respect to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 disease, these challenges have resulted in additional measures relating to cleaning and disinfecting work areas.
PCBs: Still A Concern After All These Years
In response to evidence of adverse health and environmental impacts, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the manufacture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in 1979 and imposed controls on the majority of PCBs in use at that time.
PCBs are mixtures of synthetic organic chemicals valued for their stability, low flammability, and high thermal conductivity. Because of these properties, PCBs were extensively used as a non-flammable replacement for mineral oil to cool and insulate transformers, fluorescent light ballasts, and other electrical devices. The use and disposal of this equipment has been strictly regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), found in the federal code of regulations at 40 CFR 761.50.
Tetrachloroethene: Contamination And Remediation Options
Tetrachloroethene (PCE) is a colorless, nonflammable, liquid solvent widely used in the dry cleaning industry and in the automotive and metalworking industries as a metal degreaser. PCE is a chlorinated compound with the chemical formula Cl2C=CCl2, and has a sweet odor that is detectable by smell at concentrations as low as one part per million (ppm). PCE and its various breakdown products – trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloroethylene (DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC) – are classified as toxic and carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
Bacterial & Viral Infections…And Wastewater Releases
In this time of COVID-19 – with flu season right around the corner and sometimes conflicting information making the rounds – it is a good idea to go over the basics of bacterial and viral infections. To begin with, what is the difference between bacteria and viruses?
Controlling Water Pollution In The United States: The NPDES Program
Since the first advanced human civilizations were founded on rivers, it has been a challenge to maintain surface water quality. As human populations have grown, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, the old habit of using bodies of water as a convenient dumping ground has proven unsustainable and dangerous. An unfortunate byproduct of the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution was the vastly increased amount of toxic chemical, radioactive, and biological waste that was commonly discharged into rivers and lakes. Disposal of industrial wastes and the sanitary household wastes from rapidly growing dense urban centers resulted in the discharge of an unprecedented amount of pollution to the surface waters of the United States. To further complicate the problem, the environmental and human health impact from these unfamiliar waste constituents was poorly understood. Consequently, at the turn of the twentieth century, a crisis was at hand.
Regulating Formaldehyde In Wood Products
After March 22, 2019, regulated composite wood products must be labeled as TSCA Title VI compliant by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TSCA VI Third Party Certifier (TPC) with all the required accreditations. These products include hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard and particleboard, as well as household and other finished goods containing these products. Laminated products, not exempted from the definition of hardwood plywood, must be tested and certified as meeting the hardwood plywood formaldehyde emission standard beginning March 22, 2024. [For more info see: https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-emission-standards-composite-wood-products.]
Because many of these composite and finished wood products release formaldehyde, there is always concern for the quality of indoor air both in the workplace and the home environments. Many indoor air contaminants – including formaldehyde – can pose serious human health risks. Continue Reading →
The Need For Moisture Intrusion Plans
Hurricanes, tropical storms, floods. Unfortunately many of us have witnessed the havoc and devastation that unwanted water causes to a building or home, not to mention the emotional stress left in the aftermath. But cumulative secondary damage conditions – including adverse health effects from being exposed to compromised indoor air quality and mold – can occur when stagnant water is not dealt with in a timely manner (typically 48 to 72 hours upon discovery). Delays in responding to water events can also cause business interruption and deplete the goodwill of employees and occupants.
Whether the cause of damages is a one-time catastrophic event (i.e., hurricane) or an ongoing hidden slow leak, a moisture intrusion plan can be a vital tool to help reduce the overall risks and save time and money. Continue Reading →
Exoskeletons: Is Wearable Technology Ready To Reduce Workplace Injuries
Many health and safety professionals think of wearable technology in terms of “sensor” instrumentation – such as monitoring devices for body temperature or for sampling air contaminants. However, exoskeletons have elevated this technology to the level of human/robotics interaction. For many years, comic books and more recently Hollywood, have capitalized on these futuristic concepts (for example, The Avengers Iron Man® series). But with the latest available technology, some of these uses are starting to become a reality. Continue Reading →