| Health fears lead schools to dismantle wireless networks |
| Parents and teachers are forcing some schools to dismantle wireless computer networks amid fears that they could damage children's health. |
| Read more at Times Online UK | 20 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| EU watchdog calls for urgent action on Wi-Fi radiation |
| Europe's top environmental watchdog is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile phones and their masts. It suggests that delay could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking and lead in petrol. Posted by Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor |
| Read more at SafeWireless.org| 16 September 2007 | Back to Top |
| Is There a Ten Year Latency for Cell Phone Tumor Development? |
| This is the question prompted by a new epidemiological
study, released on Friday (January 27) which shows bonce againb that one may
be more than twice as likely to develop certain types of tumors after using a
cell phone for more than ten years. A German research team, which is part of the
Interphone project, has reported a 2.2-fold increase in the incidence of gliomas,
a type of brain tumor, among those who had used a mobile phone for at least ten years.
... What makes the ten-year latency for brain tumors compelling is that the Swedish Interphone group has observed a similar ten-year latency for acoustic neuromas. Related Links: Mobile phone use and risk of glioma in adults: case-control study and Cell Phones and Your Health |
| Read more at MicroWave News | 29 January 2006 | Back to Top |
| Keep that Laptop Off Your Lap |
|
" ...Putting a laptop on your body may be okay for a photo shoot, but it's
probably not such a good idea to leave the computer there for a long time.
In addition to
delivering heat to sensitive organs, there can be significant exposure to
EMFs. In fact, it's probably not a good idea to keep any electronic or electric
appliance flush to your body on a regular basis. Let me be clear: We don't know whether EMFs from appliances are a health hazard. What we do know is that some appliances give off strong localized fields with complex waveforms. While they diminish very quickly with distance, up close they can pack a wallop. |
| Read more at Microwave News | 13 August 2005 | Back to Top |
| Electrical Fields can make you sick! |
| A Government agency has acknowledged for the first time that people can suffer nausea, headaches and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, electricity pylons and computer screens. The condition known as electrosensitivity, a heightened reaction to electrical energy, will be recognised as a physical impairment. A report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), to be published next month, will state that increasing numbers of British people are suffering from the syndrome. While the total figure is not known, thousands are believed to be affected to some extent. The report, by the agencybs radiation protection division, is expected to say that GPs do not know how to treat sufferers and that more research is needed to find cures. It will give a full list of the symptoms, which can include dizziness, irregular heartbeat and loss of memory..." |
| Read more at The Times Online | 11 Sep 2005 The Times Online | Back to Top |
| New Report:Health Risks from Mobile Phone Base Stations |
| "Concerns about possible adverse health effects of mobile telephony have focused mainly on the risk of brain tumours in users of mobile phones, but other types of illness have also been linked with the technology. In particular, several epidemiological surveys have suggested associations with non-specific complaints such as headache, tiredness, sleep disturbance, loss of memory, and dizziness. These findings, which echo reports of illness associated with other types of radiofrequency (RF) radiation,1 relate not only to use of mobile phones,24 but also to residence near to mobile phone base stations.5 Further evidence on the latter is provided in a paper by Hutter et al in this issue.6 They found that symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and difficulty in concentration were more common in people with higher potential exposures to radiation from nearby base stations..." |
| Read more on BMJ/Occupational and Environmental Medicine | 01 May 2006 BMJ/Occupational and Environmental Medicine | Back to Top |
| US: FDA to review wireless phone safety |
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it will review wireless phone safety following a recently published study that raised concerns about a heightened risk of brain cancer... |
| Read more at Reuters News | 06 Apr 2006 Reuters News Agency | Back to Top |
| Canada:Wi-Fi's Electric Shock |
| "A "Wireless Net hoopla masks growing concern over frequency pollution There's something lonely about parties. Especially if you're one of the few who isn't celebrating. And as laptop lovers citywide rejoice in the announcement that downtown Toronto will be a wireless Internet hot spot by the fall, critics worry that we may be feeding a new form of smog that hangs in the air without a trace and makes a growing number of us sick: electrical pollution. Whether it's fluorescent lights, cellphones or computer screens, more and more of us are realizing that the technology we've welcomed into our homes and offices is making us ill. According to stats from Sweden and Britain, about 2 or 3 per cent of the population suffers from potentially debilitating electro-hypersensitivity, or EHS. Symptoms are all over the map, and include nausea, headaches, chronic fatigue, chronic pain, tinnitus and rashes, to name a few..." |
| Read more at NOW Toronto | 09 Mar 2006 NOW Toronto | Back to Top |
| US:Wireless Public Health Crisis |
| "A
Medical journalist Blake Levitt, activist Jan Newton, president of the EMR
Policy Institute, and activist Doug Loranger, maker of the film Bad Reception:
The Wireless Revolution in San Francisco, discuss the very disturbing science
showing wireless technology's dangers and how the public can protect itself... Listen to the very upsetting and informative show! |
| Listen now, Your Own Health and Fitness | 06 Feb 2006 Your Own Health and Fitness | Back to Top |
| US/Sun Sentinel: Cell phone risks cited in studies: Three groups find danger of tumors... |
| "A "Adding new fuel to the debate over cell phone safety, three European research groups in separate studies have found an increased risk of brain tumors in people who have used the phones for 10 years or more. "When you put the three large Interphone results together -- the German, English and Swedish -- they tell a story, and it begs for attention," said Louis Slesin, publisher of Microwave News..." |
| Read more at Sun-Sentinel | 01 Feb 2006 Sun-Sentinel | Back to Top |
| UK: Mast concern over epileptic pupil |
| "A 12-year-old girl with epilepsy will be taught at home after claims a police radio mast near her Haverfordwest school made her condition worse. Nicola Packard's mother Jayne has ended a claim against Pembrokeshire Council after it agreed to help with tuition...The mast at Haverfordwest Police Station, part of a Wales-wide upgrade in emergency service communication, was switched on in May despite protests from locals. Mrs Packard, of Hakin, near Milford Haven said: 'Nicola has not been on any medication for quite a few years and her fits were quite well controlled to just one or two a month. But since the Tetra mast is on while she has been in school she has been having a lot more seizures'..." |
| Read more at BBC News | 27 Sep 2005 BBC News | Back to Top |
| Electrical Fields can make you sick! |
| "A Government agency has acknowledged for the first time that people can suffer nausea, headaches and muscle pains when exposed to electromagnetic fields from mobile phones, electricity pylons and computer screens. The condition known as electrosensitivity, a heightened reaction to electrical energy, will be recognised as a physical impairment. A report by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), to be published next month, will state that increasing numbers of British people are suffering from the syndrome. While the total figure is not known, thousands are believed to be affected to some extent. The report, by the agencys radiation protection division, is expected to say that GPs do not know how to treat sufferers and that more research is needed to find cures. It will give a full list of the symptoms, which can include dizziness, irregular heartbeat and loss of memory..." |
| Read more at The Times Online | 11 Sep 2005 The Times Online | Back to Top |
| UK-PowerWatch: Mobile phones may increase brain cancer |
| "The media widely and incorrectly reported that the largest ever study into mobile phone use and brain cancer showed no increase in the first 10 years of use. In fact, this only applied to a rare form benign tumour, Acoustic Neuroma, and that the study did find an increased risk after 10 years of use of 1.8-fold - i.e. almost a doubling in risk. This misreporting seems to have been due to the content of an email send to the media by the Science Press Officer of Institute of Cancer (ICR) Research and the fact that it was almost impossible to get hold of a copy of the actual paper before the news embargo deadline by which time most people had written, filmed and filed their stories. Acoustic Neuromas are very slow growing and few are diagnosed before 10 years have elapsed from the original initation of the cancer. Some take up to 30 years to be diagnosed. So, it is most unlikely that any study would find a significant change in incidence levels before about 10 years had passed. Looking at the results of this study in that light, it confirms some other studies' findings that, after 10 years use, there is a significant increase in Acoustic Neuromas on the side of the head where the mobile phone user victim usually held their handset..." |
| Read more at Powerwatch | 01 Sep 2005 Powerwatch | Back to Top |
| Israeli Research: Cell Phone radiation may cause visual damage |
| "The media widely and incorrectly reported that the largest ever study into mobile phone use and brain cancer showed no increase in the first 10 years of use. In fact, this only applied to a rare form benign tumour, Acoustic Neuroma, and that the study did find an increased risk after 10 years of use of 1.8-fold - i.e. almost a doubling in risk. This misreporting seems to have been due to the content of an email send to the media by the Science Press Officer of Institute of Cancer (ICR) Research and the fact that it was almost impossible to get hold of a copy of the actual paper before the news embargo deadline by which time most people had written, filmed and filed their stories. Acoustic Neuromas are very slow growing and few are diagnosed before 10 years have elapsed from the original initation of the cancer. Some take up to 30 years to be diagnosed. So, it is most unlikely that any study would find a significant change in incidence levels before about 10 years had passed. Looking at the results of this study in that light, it confirms some other studies' findings that, after 10 years use, there is a significant increase in Acoustic Neuromas on the side of the head where the mobile phone user victim usually held their handset..." |
| Read more at PhysOrg | 27 Jul 2005 PhysOrg | Back to Top |
| NZ: Powerlines cast cancer cloud |
| "Two neighbours of high-profile cancer victim and film-maker Cameron Duncan have been diagnosed with the disease - adding further weight to concerns about the apparent dangers of verhead power lines. While overseas investigations have found clear links between electromagnetic radiation and childhood leukaemia and other forms of cancer, little research has been done in New Zealand. The Auckland District Health Board has carried out an investigation into the apparent cancer cluster in Massey, West Auckland, but found cancer rates there were no higher than in other areas of a similar population level. But the research data was based on who was living in the target area up until 2001 and did not take into account the recent cases, which included Cameron and four others at Masseys Royal Road school. An Auckland urologist, who has studied the connection between high-voltage power pylons and cancer, has found strong links between high-tension power lines and childhood cancer, breast cancer and depression..." |
| Read more at New Zealand Herald | 24 Apr 2005 New Zealand Herald | Back to Top |
| US: Making waves - DNA damage by microwave confirmed |
| "On Dec. 21, UW Bioengineering Professor Henry Lai could be found with a big smile across his face. Research into cell phone radiation that he and N.P. Singh had pioneered 10 years ago at the UW was finally being corroborated. In 1995 the two published a paper that documented DNA damage in the brain cells of rats exposed to radiation similar to that emitted by cell phones. In press interviews and scientific conferences, Lai has always said there are no solid answers regarding his research, but there is cause for concern and more work needs to be done..." |
| Read more at UW Alumni Magazine | 05 Mar 2005 UW Alumni Magazine | Back to Top |
| IE: One in 20 may have mobile phone illness |
| "Up to 5% of the population may be suffering ill health as a result of radiation from mobile phones and masts, according to a group of Irish doctors fighting for official acceptance of the problem. In a study to be released this week the Irish Doctors Environmental Association (IDEA) have identified 16 people whom they believe have been adversely affected by radiation. The medical report concludes that 'seemingly sensitive individuals' suffer 'devastating effects' from exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The survey outlines symptoms that include fatigue, confusion, tingling, temperature changes, dizziness and difficulty sleeping. It estimates that between 1% and 5% of the population could be sensitive to radiation and experience illness as a result"... |
| Read more at The Times Online | 30 Jan 2005 The Times Online | Back to Top |
| UK: Mobile phones tumor risk to young children |
| UK:
Mobile phones tumour risk to young children "CHILDREN under the age of eight
should not use mobile phones, parents were advised last night after an
authoritative report linked heavy use to ear and brain tumours and concluded
that the risks had been underestimated by most scientists. Professor Sir
William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB),
said that evidence of potentially harmful effects had become more persuasive
over the past five years. The news prompted calls for phones to carry health
warnings and panic in parts of the industry. One British manufacturer
immediately suspended a model aimed at four to eight-year-olds. The number of
mobiles in Britain has doubled to 50 million since the first
government-sponsored report in 2000. The number of children aged between five
and nine using mobiles has increased fivefold in the same period.
In his report, Mobile Phones and Health, Sir William said that four studies have caused concern. One ten-year study in Sweden suggests that heavy mobile users are more prone to non-malignant tumours in the ear and brain while a Dutch study had suggested changes in cognitive function. A German study has hinted at an increase in cancer around base stations, while a project supported by the EU had shown evidence of cell damage from fields typical of those of mobile phones"... |
| Read more at The Times Online | 12 Jan 2005 The Times Online | Back to Top |
| Indoor Air Quality |
| New Details in 'Hidden Basement' case. |
| .. As they investigated further, the Davis family found the basement was full of water and the house was loaded with toxic mold. ... |
| Read more at ABC12-WJRT | 20 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| Putting poison in its place |
| .. their areas of expertise and used the latest scientific research to confirm or debunk many of our collective fears, about substances from toxic mold to benzene .. |
| Read more at Hartford Courant | 28 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| Push is on to protect little lungs; Some Morris districts curbing bus, car idling |
| .. The Pediatric/Adult Asthma Coalition of New Jersey has helped renew interest in the pledge by giving out awards to school districts that take six measures to help reduce asthma episodes in school, [Melinda Dower, outreach coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Protection's diesel risk reduction program] said. One of those measures ... a school representative should complete an EPA indoor air quality training session. ... |
| Read more at Daily Record | 26 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| San Francisco prepares to ban certain chemicals in products for kids but enforcement will be tough -- and toymakers question necessity |
| Widely used chemicals with suspected links to cancer and developmental problems in humans are present in common baby products like the yellow rubber ducky, bath books and clear plastic bottles, a Chronicle analysis confirmed |
| Read more at San Fransisco Chronicle | 19 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| Chemical Burns |
| So I was astonished to learn recently that the same chlorinated Tris that I helped eliminate from childrenbs pajamas is being used today in the foam inside furniture sold in California to meet standards there for fire retardancy ... |
| Read more at New York Times | 19 November 2006 | Back to Top |
| Top 10 States at risk for mold |
| Contrary to popular belief, climate is not a good gauge for mold risk, according to a ranking of states at risk for mold contamination on commercial and residential property. Areas with dry climates like Nevada and Arizona made it to the top ten while some Gulf States did not come close. Because mold damage is now excluded or severely limited on standard property insurance, concerns about the financial impact of a mold outbreak in a home or business continue to rise. ... See further Coverage:
|
| Read more at Green Guard Environmental Institute (Press Release) | 10 July 2006 | Back to Top |
| Smoking ban with kids in car signed; 15 Bills wait for Blanco's Signature |
| Smoking in a car or truck where there are children will soon become a costly proposition in Louisiana under legislation signed this week by Gov. Kathleen Blanco. ... Starting Aug. 15, violators will face fines of up to $150 or a minimum of 24 hours of community service. ... Also see a letter published on 2theadvocate: "Smoking ban OK proves Blanco is unfit" |
| Read more at Times Picayune - New Orleans LA | 07 July 2006 | Back to Top |
| Real Estate: Look for clues of homes energy efficienty |
| ... The [range] hood [over the kitchen stove] will also help from an indoor air quality perspective, keeping unwanted odors as well as heat out of the home. You'll thus be keeping the home more comfortable while helping cut down on energy use. ... |
| Read more at Detroit Free Press - Detroit MI | 09 July 2006 | Back to Top |
| Tommy Franks takes up fight against mold |
|
Retired General Tommy Franks has joined Innovative Decon Solutions, a Tampa
mold remediation company, as a partner. The company has developed a
decontamination process to eliminate mold and other contaminants in schools,
hospitals, government facilities and public and private buildings. The process
was originally developed for the U.S. military to fight chemical and biological
warfare agents in the Gulf War and now has been reformulated for public and
private use. ...
Note: A video clip available online at the Innovative Decon Solutions Web site contains Gen. Franks saying the following: "... IDS has been literally innovative enough to be able to figure out how to get this work done using a fogging technique after having used some technology that enables them, without being terribly intrusive, to see into walls and into structures to determine whether there is a problem to begin with and, if a problem is identified, they have the technical capability to go in very quickly -- in a matter of hours, not days or weeks -- without any tenting, and treat the problem and then subsequently come back to ensure that the problem remains controlled. ..." |
| Read more at Tampa Bay Business Journal | 05 June 2006 Tampa Bay Business Journal | Back to Top |
| AQS develops test method for testing chemical hazards in new cars |
| ... AQS recently conducted a study ... that measured VOCs in the passenger compartments of three automobiles ... and found more than 100 different VOCs, many of which are known to cause potentially serious health problems. Other researchers around the world are finding similar results, including The Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which recently released a comprehensive report on levels of PBDEs and phthalates in new cars. These studies are summarized in an AQS white paper, "Indoor Air Quality Hazards in New Cars," which is available at no charge from the Aerias-AQS IAQ Resource Center at www.aerias.org. ... |
| Read more at Air Quality Sciences (Press Release) | 01 June 2006 Air Quality Sciences | Back to Top |
| Home developer faces another mold-related lawsuit |
|
... Air sampling done by a privately hired home inspector and sent to a testing
lab showed black mold spores in his home office. The man also supplied the
6NEWS Investigators with photos showing sores and lesions on his body, letters
from his doctors documenting "toxic mold exposure", and home videos of his
moldy crawlspace and frequently flooded backyard. ... See also previous stories: "Home sick home," | "Mold problems at one Charlotte area neighborhood," | "Home sick home pt. 3" and "Homeowners, builder prepare for court fight over mold." |
| Read more at WCNC 6NEWS Investigators | 01 June 2006 WCNC NEWS Charlotte, NC | Back to Top |
| Death in the air |
| "Canadians have the impression indoor air is better than outdoor air -- for a number of substances, it's not," [says Jay Kassirer, executive director of the Healthy Indoors Partnership]. ... Yet many indoor environments in Canada are just as polluted as 30 years ago, despite decades of reports and conferences. Canadians don't see the air they breathe at home as a threat. Almost three-quarters of people surveyed for Healthy Indoors reported potential health threats in their homes. Nearly one in 10 families with children, for example, had visible mould. ... |
| Read more at London Free Press | 01 June 2006 London Free Press, London Ontario Canada | Back to Top |
| Study finds air pollution significantly higher at smoky bars |
|
The following is the Oregon Air Monitoring Project, a month-long study launched
by the state Department of Human Services to examine indoor air quality in a
sample of hospitality venues in Oregon. The study also looks at the the [sic]
relation between indoor air pollution and the presence of on-premise smoking.
... See also "Study: Air more toxic in smoky Ore. Bars; Bend's bars among dozen cities tested" from KTVZ in Bend, OR, and "Study compared air in 107 Ore. bars, restaurants" from KGW in Portland. |
| Read more at KATU, Portland OR | 01 June 2006 KATU 2 Portland OR | Back to Top |
| To improve indoor air quality |
| A new branch of the Environment Protection Services Company (EPSCO), which offers services to improve indoor air quality, was recently opened in the city. Kelvin Bruce, Managing Director of EPSCO, spoke about the necessity of properly cleaning air conditioners and home furnishings. He said that 15 per cent of Indians suffered from asthma. ... |
| Read more at Hindu - Chennai, India | 07 June 2006 The Hindu - Chennai, India | Back to Top |
| Minnesota law requires carbon monoxide protectors |
| A new state law will require that carbon monoxide detectors be installed within ten feet of each bedroom in every Minnesota home and in many apartments. ... |
| Read more at KELOLAND TV - Souix Falls, SD | 05 June 2006 KELOLAND TV Souix Falls SD | Back to Top |
| More smoke free areas? Proposed smoking ban would include bingo parlors and bowling alleys |
| [Bowler James] Pearl said some alleys have nonsmoking hours during nonleague nights, and he wouldn't mind if AMF [Bowling Center] did the same thing. He compared it with some restaurants that are smoke-free until late at night, when most families are gone. Dejaynes said AMF allows smoking only on the upper level of its seating area, not down by the lanes. It uses a ventilation system and ceiling fans to keep most of the smoke out of the air. The ban is "still a silly idea," he said, "especially if businesses have a designated smoking area like we have." ... |
| Read more at Columbian Missourian Columbia, MO | 05 June 2006 Columbian Missourian, Columbia MO | Back to Top |
| Builders invest in energy star seal of approval; More efficient homes pay off over time |
| ... According to Jeff Thatcher, the infiltration test creates negative air pressure in the home by use of the fans. They simulate a 20 to 25 mph wind blowing on all sides of the house and allow the testers to see where air is leaking in. The Energy Star standard is that homes must have less than 28 percent air loss per hour, he says. The home being tested came in about 18 percent to 24 percent. "You want air to come into your house to make sure it's not too tight because of concern about indoor air quality," Jerry Thatcher says later. ... |
| Read more at Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne IN | 04 June 2006 Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne IN | Back to Top |
| US EPA cites plastic plant over release of contaminants |
| The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited plastics maker Lanxess Corp. for air contamination at its Addyston plant. ... The Three Rivers School District closed an elementary school across the street because of high levels of 1, 3-butadiene and acrylonitrile, presumably from Lanxess. Both chemicals are linked to cancer in humans. ... Hamilton County has set up air-quality monitors on top of the elementary school. More monitors should be in place by the end of the month to monitor indoor air quality and chemical levels during emission "spikes," said Mike Kramer, of the county's Department of Environmental Services. ... |
| Read more at Cincinnati Enquirer - Cincinnati, OH | 14 June 2006 Cincinnati Enquirer - Cincinnati, OH | Back to Top |
| UC Early exposure tied to later allergies |
| University of Cincinnati researchers have concluded that exposure to a specific group of fungal spores can make young children more susceptible to developing multiple allergies later in life. They found that infants exposed to penicillium/aspergillus and alternaria spores were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen dust mites, pet dander and certain foods. The UC team reports its findings in an upcoming edition of "Pediatric Allergy and Immunology." ... |
| Read more at Cincinnati Post - Cincinnati, OH | 14 June 2006 Cincinnati Post - Cincinnati, OH | Back to Top |
| Study finds Louisville smoking ban of little help |
|
Overall air quality in Louisville bars, restaurants and entertainment spots
hasn't improved since the city's partial smoking ban took effect last November
... See also "UK tobacco researcher: Louisville indoor air quality still a danger" from the University of Kentucky News. |
| Read more at Louisville Courier-Journal | 19 June 2006 Louisville Courier-Journal Louisville, KY | Back to Top |
| Be wary of mold contractors |
| ... The term is worth knowing. Mold remediators are experts who work on-site to rid homes of this omnipresent problem once household mold has been identified. ... |
| Read more at Orlando Sentinel | 18 June 2006 Orlando Sentinel - Orlando, FL | Back to Top |
| Airborne mold spores increase kids' chance for multiple allergies |
| ... The team found that infants who were exposed to basidiospores and other airborne fungal spores--specifically penicillium/aspergillus and alternaria--early in life were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and certain foods as they grew older. This is the first study to show a relationship between specific airborne fungal spores and an increased risk for multiple allergies in children, the UC team reports in an upcoming edition of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology and an early online edition. ... |
| Read more at University of Cincinnati (Press Release) | 15 June 2006 Univ of Cincinnati (Press Release) | Back to Top |
| Fast facts |
| ... Many ionizing air cleaners emit ozone beyond levels deemed safe by the Environmental Protection Agency, but the EPA does not regulate their output. ... |
| Read more at Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ | 17 June 2006 Arizona Republic - Phoenix, AZ | Back to Top |
| Earthtalk: Houseplants that clean indoor air |
| Unfortunately, however, many of these materials have compromised indoor air quality due to their tendency to "off-gas" various airborne toxins, including ... |
| Kansas City Infozine - Kansas City, MO | 19 June 2006 Kansas City Infozine - Kansas City, MO | Back to Top |
| Does Air-duct cleaning degrade air in your home? |
|
EPA doesn't recommend cleaning for everyone. ... "I think our house is dustier now than before we started, " Kirk Rogers said, just before the baby sneezed. The family contacted the KETV NewsWatch 7 I-Team, who took special cameras to the house to investigate the ductwork. ... Cory Miller is certified with National Air Duct Cleaners Association. He did not work on the Rogeres's house. He took a look at videotape from their ductwork. "If it's not done correctly, you can actually cause more problems in the house than before you were there," Miller said. ... |
| Read more at KETV Omaha | 17 May 2006 KETV 7 Omaha | Back to Top |
| Air-Freshening chemicals may lead to cancerous cells |
| Common household chemicals such as those used for moth repellents and air fresheners may be harmful because they can change normal cells into ones that could become cancerous, a study has found. ... The chemicals have long been thought of as carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, though no apparent genetic damage was found in previous tests. ... |
| Read more at Denver Post | 15 May 2006 Denver Post | Back to Top |
| Ozone Generators Create Home Smog |
|
You can create dangerous smog levels in your own home with an ozone-generating
air purifier. The finding comes from a study of ozone-emitting air purifiers by
Sergey A. Nizkorodov, PhD, and colleagues at the University of California,
Irvine. ... See also last week's press release from the University of California-Irvine, "Indoor air purifiers that produce even small amounts of ozone may be risky for health." |
| Read more at WebMD | 11 May 2006 WebMD | Back to Top |
| Health experts say allergy season one of the worst |
| Health experts say it's one of the worst allergy seasons in decades because of an unusually warm and wet spring in Wisconsin. ... Allergist Gary Steven tracks pollen and mold counts. He says a typical tree pollen count is between 500 and 700 grains per cubic meter. The reading this week has been in the eleven-hundred range. ... |
| Read more at WBAY Green Bay | UNDATED WBAY Green Bay | Back to Top |
| Battling a sick office |
|
5 Tips: We'll help you control the germs invading your workplace. ... It's not just the germs on your desk, but the allergens on your office plants that can be harmful to your health. Jeffrey May, author of "My Office is Killing Me!" says that the dead leaves in the dirt is a ripe source for mold. ... One of the biggest causes of employee illness is air quality. ... According to May, up to 80 percent of air conditioning samples he sees are contaminated with mold. And keep in mind there are no federal standards for indoor air quality, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. ... |
| Read more at CNN Money | 10 May 2006 CNN Money | Back to Top |
| Indoor air pollutants linked to asthma |
|
Australian researchers find that higher levels of indoor air pollutants are
linked to worsening symptoms in children with asthma. ... For both indoor air
pollutants, higher exposure levels were linked to increased asthma symptoms,
according to the study published in the May Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine. ... See also the original press release about the study: Indoor pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in children." |
| Read more at UPI | 10 May 2006 United Press International | Back to Top |
| Does Air-duct cleaning degrade air in your home? |
| EPA
doesn't recommend cleaning for everyone. ... "I think our house is dustier now than before we started, " Kirk Rogers said, just before the baby sneezed. The family contacted the KETV NewsWatch 7 I-Team, who took special cameras to the house to investigate the ductwork. ... Cory Miller is certified with National Air Duct Cleaners Association. He did not work on the Rogeres's house. He took a look at videotape from their ductwork. "If it's not done correctly, you can actually cause more problems in the house than before you were there," Miller said. ... |
| Read more at KETV Omaha | 17 May 2006 KETV 7 Omaha | Back to Top |
| Air-Freshening chemicals may lead to cancerous cells |
| Common household chemicals such as those used for moth repellents and air fresheners may be harmful because they can change normal cells into ones that could become cancerous, a study has found. ... The chemicals have long been thought of as carcinogens, or cancer-causing agents, though no apparent genetic damage was found in previous tests. ... |
| Read more at Denver Post | 15 May 2006 Denver Post | Back to Top |
| Ozone Generators Create Home Smog |
| You
can create dangerous smog levels in your own home with an ozone-generating air
purifier. The finding comes from a study of ozone-emitting air purifiers by
Sergey A. Nizkorodov, PhD, and colleagues at the University of California,
Irvine. ... See also last week's press release from the University of California-Irvine, "Indoor air purifiers that produce even small amounts of ozone may be risky for health." |
| Read more at WebMD | 11 May 2006 WebMD | Back to Top |
| Health experts say allergy season one of the worst |
| Health experts say it's one of the worst allergy seasons in decades because of an unusually warm and wet spring in Wisconsin. ... Allergist Gary Steven tracks pollen and mold counts. He says a typical tree pollen count is between 500 and 700 grains per cubic meter. The reading this week has been in the eleven-hundred range. ... |
| Read more at WBAY Green Bay | UNDATED WBAY Green Bay | Back to Top |
| Battling a sick office |
| 5
Tips: We'll help you control the germs invading your workplace. ... It's not just the germs on your desk, but the allergens on your office plants that can be harmful to your health. Jeffrey May, author of "My Office is Killing Me!" says that the dead leaves in the dirt is a ripe source for mold. ... One of the biggest causes of employee illness is air quality. ... According to May, up to 80 percent of air conditioning samples he sees are contaminated with mold. And keep in mind there are no federal standards for indoor air quality, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. ... |
| Read more at CNN Money | 10 May 2006 CNN Money | Back to Top |
| Indoor air pollutants linked to asthma |
| Australian
researchers find that higher levels of indoor air pollutants are linked to
worsening symptoms in children with asthma. ... For both indoor air pollutants,
higher exposure levels were linked to increased asthma symptoms, according to
the study published in the May Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine. ... See also the original press release about the study: Indoor pollutants linked to asthma symptoms in children." |
| Read more at UPI | 10 May 2006 United Press International | Back to Top |
| Hotel designs lodging for allery sufferers |
| Forty
million people in the United States suffer from allergies. And a new company is
trying to make their hotel stays a little more allergy-friendly, one room at a
time. A Cheektowaga, N.Y., company called Pure Solutions has made improvements
to 75 hotel rooms across the country to reduce allergy triggers, including five
at the Holiday Inn Select Pittsburgh South in Bethel Park. Designated as "Pure
Rooms," they have undergone a special six-step process of cleaning, sanitizing
and nearly eliminating irritants such as mold, fungi, bacteria, dust and pollen
... See also "How is 'pure room' different from others?" from Deseret News in Salt Lake City, UT. |
| Read more at DeseretNews | 16 Apr 2006 DeseretNews.com | Back to Top |
| Tech scientists conclude Black mold is toxic |
| ... Scientists and doctors have believed for years that stachbotrys, or black mold, was making people sick. But a team of scientists at Tech are the first people in the world to conduct a study that proves it. ... "We didn't have the equipment that would allow us to collect high concentrations of air until the Spincon came along" [said Dr. David Straus, a professor in the Microbiology and Immunology Department at Texas Tech]. ... |
| Read more at KAMC 28 | 14 Apr 2006 KAMC News Lubbock | Back to Top |
| 'Green' buildings are a breath of fresh air |
| ... The ventilation system is constantly monitoring the air for carbon dioxide. When those CO2 levels go above a set level, the ventilation system automatically opens flaps in the roof to bring in fresh air. The end result is amazing, especially for people who suffer from allergies, sinus problems and asthma. ... |
| Read more at Herald Today | 13 Apr 2006 Herald Today Bradenton FL | Back to Top |
| Rain can bring on health problems caused by mold |
| Rainy, damp weather can create health problems for you and your family cause by mold. ... At first, there was white mold in the attic. ... |
| Read more at WVEC 13 West VA | 13 Apr 2006 WVEC 13 West VA [Req. free membership] | Back to Top |
| Push for Restaurant smoking ban gets bill |
| ... A proposed bill [in the Tennessee legislature] would ban smoking in restaurants and possibly public buildings. "The debate has increased over the years, and at this point, it is the most intense I've seen it in the last decade," said Rep. Gene Davidson, D-Adams. Davidson is the chairman of a committee overseeing this new bill. He said if it becomes law, smokers wouldn't have much of a choice. ... |
| Read more at News Channel 5 | 14 Mar 2006 News Channel 5 | Back to Top |
| Air Purifiers - Will they be able to help you |
| effectiveness of creating negative ions. Also these types of air purifiers omit ozone, a harmful pollutant. What do I need to look out for? ... |
| Read more at Daily India | 15 Mar 2006 Daily India.com | Back to Top |
| Group warns of polluted air inside cars |
| In-Car Air Is "Toxic At Any Speed," Ecology Center Claims Vehicle interiors have dangerous levels of toxic chemicals, mainly from flame retardants and plastic softeners, an environmental group warns. The study, released by The Ecology Center, a Detroit organization, revealed new information about toxic chemical exposure in automobile interiors. PBDEs, chemicals used as fire retardants, and phthalates, used primarily to soften PVC plastics (and partly responsible for "new car smell"), were found in dangerous amounts in dust and windshield film samples. |
| Read more at Consumer Affairs | 11 Jan 2006 Consumer Affairs | Back to Top |
| Suits allege moldy building made workers sick |
| Workers who claim mold in their office in Baltimore made them sick are going to court. The 51 employees of the City Department of Social Services said the toxic mold was caused by a leak from a sewer pipe at the building on North Hilton Street. The workers want $10 million each for negligence. The families of four workers who died are suing for another $10 million. ... The suits claimed the city failed to maintain the sewer line and claim the landlord -- the Maryland Economic Development Corporation -- was responsible for keeping mold out of the building. ... |
| Read more at WBAL Baltimore | 13 Mar 2006 Channel WBAL Baltimore | Back to Top |
| Schools' bad air may sicken students |
| Some classrooms at Kings Junior and Senior High School have high carbon dioxide levels because of poor ventilation, and students may be sickened, according to an air quality report scheduled to be released tonight [Tuesday, March 14] at a school board meeting. ... Thirteen of the 16 classrooms tested from Feb. 22 to March 3 showed carbon dioxide levels exceeding the federal standards of 800 parts per million. ... High carbon dioxide levels are the latest in a series of indoor air quality problems that have plagued the school since 2001. ... |
| Read more at The Cincinnati Enquirer | 14 Mar 2006 The Cincinnati Enquirer | Back to Top |
| Test shows secondhand smoke pollutes northern Kentucky |
| Hagit Limor measured how much cigarette smoke lingers in the place you like to go for entertainment ... "The particulate matter in the air, which is the particiles from cigarette smoke and secondhand, was 17 times higher than the outdoor air levels and the air levels in five smokefree cities from across the U.S., in which the same type of study was done," said Matt Coleman of the Northern Kentucky Health Department. ... |
| Read more at WCPO News Cincinnati | 14 Mar 2006 WCPO Chn 9 News Cincinnati | Back to Top |
| Health, Safety plan for schools is 'Unacceptable' |
| Teachers and parents on Wednesday criticized a draft plan to improve school health and safety rules, calling it a "toothless feel-good policy" that does little to address concerns about mold on the walls, lead in the water and other environmental toxins that have left children and teachers sick across the state. About a dozen teachers and parents told members of the state Board of Health that the draft -- the first attempt to revise school health and safety rules in 30 years -- is unacceptable. ... |
| Read more at Seattle Post Intelligencer | 09 Mar 2006 Seattle PI | Back to Top |
| Toxic mold: Still no answers for another Region 8 family |
| A Region 8 family was kicked out of their home 5 months ago by a silent, but deadly invader. Toxic mold is to blame for the $45,000 of damage to the Hargett's home. They've called everyone they know for help, but still nothing has been done. Not to mention, the living conditions for the family have drastically changed. They were forced to move in with their in-laws, sharing one bedroom. ... |
| Read more at KAIT Jonesboro AR | 14 Mar 2006 KAIT 8 Jonesboro AR | Back to Top |
| Mold can spread quickly, cause serious damage |
| "Particularly here in Hawaii, mold is very common and somewhat normal," says Jason Princenthal, Aircare president. So normal that we sometimes forget to check and clean those hidden places, like inside air conditioning ducts. When things get really wet, however, you can't put off the cleanup. "Time is of the essence. It's almost like a time bomb when our homes become wet or flooded," says Princenthal. ... |
| Read more at KHON2 Honolulu | 07 Mar 2006 KHON 2 Honolulu | Back to Top |