Alliance Environmental

Thinking of the folks in Oklahoma!

Wendy Stackhouse — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:23:46 +0000

And hoping for the best possible outcome, especially with the children trapped in the elementary school. So devastating!

Monday Links: May 20, 2013

Wendy Stackhouse — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:42:58 +0000

Happy Last-Week-of-School to those of you who celebrate! We are celebrating our first graduation from Middle School with the joy that only no more projects for a while can bring!

Some people have other things on their minds:

Here is an interesting response to an article in the Wall Street Journal about fraud in the asbestos trusts set up to compensate victims.

Students and parents visiting Penn State came home with more than they bargained for–bed bug bites!

Community pools will soon be open–Yay!–but we should all be aware that some public pools are cleaner than others. Where we live, the pools close down quickly when they test positive for contaminants. What about yours? Check with your pool staff and find out about their testing program and policies before you dive in.

Demolition has been halted on a building at the campus of Michigan State University after a fire at the site may have exposed asbestos.

The Vermont Department of Public Health is trying to raise awareness of lead-safe work practices at pre-1978 buildings to minimize exposure to lead and cases of lead poisoning.

Bill Moyers is doing the same, as you can see in an interview with Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner about how to protect yourself and your family from toxic chemicals, including lead. There is a link to the video in this extremely informative blog post.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that indoor air quality is one of the five top environmental risks to public health. “[I]ndoor air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, dust mites, pollen, radon, mold, excessive carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds and other chemicals identified by the EPA [are] contributing to poor indoor quality that causes or contributes to health concerns such as asthma, headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue…”

Moving on to a new chapter in life can bring anxiety, but also the prospect of building new relationships and happy memories of new adventures. We hope you and yours are having a wonderful week of happy endings and new opportunities to recharge your batteries!

Wendy Stackhouse is the Online Community Manager for Alliance Environmental Group and AirTek Indoor Air Solutions. We welcome your comments! For more news and tips or to ask questions of our experts, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter! For updates on indoor air challenges, Like us at AirTek on Facebook!

Bed Bugs: Not the Best Summer Vacation Souvenir!

Wendy Stackhouse — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:06:14 +0000

School is almost out and you have probably already made your summer travel plans. We are waiting for dates on a summer program, you may be luckier!

Whenever you travel, however, it is a good idea to take some precautions against bringing home unwanted stowaways–bed bugs!

Here is a short video with some travel tips. After you watch, scroll down for some of ours!

Our travel tips for avoiding bed bugs hitching a ride:

Before you go, check the Bed Bug Registry and make sure that there have been no reports of bed bugs where you are planning to stay.

Inspect your hotel room before you bring your luggage in: check mattresses, head and foot boards for any signs of bed bug infestation like stains or skins that have been left behind. It’s a good idea to also examine couches and upholstered chairs.

If you find signs of bed bugs, ask for another room, but make sure it is not adjacent, directly above or below the infested room.

When you get home, launder or dry clean everything you took with you, even if you didn’t wear it. Don’t put anything straight into the drawers or closet.

When your suitcases are empty, vacuum them before putting them into storage.

If you think you have brought home a bed bug infestation, call a professional as soon as possible. The earlier they are discovered, the easier they are to eradicate.

Alliance Environmental Group uses ThermaPureHeat to kill bed bugs at all stages of development, eggs, nymphs and adults, in one treatment without dangerous chemicals or their residue. No need to move out for days, wash all of your curtains or bag all your food. We raise the interior temperature to over 130 degrees and keep it there long enough to kill bed bugs, roaches, termites—any pests that might be anywhere in the house. Heat penetrates wood, gets behind drywall and reaches into every crack and crevice.

If you discover that you have brought a bed bug infestation home with you from your vacation, don’t panic. Call Alliance!

Is Mineral Wool the New Asbestos?

Wendy Stackhouse — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:23:53 +0000

Since asbestos was exposed as a known carcinogen, the search has been on for other substances to replace asbestos for many uses:

Cement Pipes

Elevator Brake Shoes

Cement Wallboard

HVAC Duct Insulation

Cement Siding

Boiler Insulation

Asphalt Floor Tile

Breaching Insulation

Vinyl Floor Tile Ductwork

Flexible Fabric Connections

Vinyl Sheet Flooring

Cooling Towers

Flooring Backing

Pipe Insulation

Heating and Electrical Ducts

Acoustical Plaster

Electrical Panel Partitions

Decorative Plaster

Electrical Cloth

Textured Paints/Coatings

Electric Wiring Insulation

Ceiling Tiles and Lay-in Panels

Chalkboards

Spray-Applied Insulation

Roofing Shingles

Blown-in Insulation

Roofing Felt

Fireproofing Materials

Thermal Paper Products

Packing Materials

Fire Doors

High Temperature Gaskets

Caulking/Putties

Laboratory Hoods/Table Tops

Adhesives

Laboratory Gloves

Wallboard

Fire Blankets

Joint Compounds

Fire Curtains

Vinyl Wall Coverings

Elevator Equipment Panels

Spackling Compounds

I was going to make this a shorter list, but since it is only a sample list from the EPA, it had better all stay there.

What are we using to replace asbestos in those products and materials?

In a continuing series, today we are looking at another substance which is being used in many applications that previously used asbestos: Mineral Wool.

What is Mineral Wool?

According to Wikipedia, “Mineral wool, mineral fibers, or man-made mineral fibers are fibers made from natural or synthetic minerals. The term “man-made mineral fibers” is generally used to refer solely to synthetic materials including fiberglass, ceramic fibers and stone wool.”

The first Mineral Wool was called Slag Wool and it was made in 1840, but the production process soon had to be discontinued because the fibers “floated about the works with the slightest breeze” and caused illness in the people who worked with it. Sounds like they were more proactive with slag wool than anyone has ever been with asbestos.

Stone Wool is made from molten rock blown by steam or air into a fibrous form. It can also be spun in a process similar to that for making cotton candy. But don’t eat it!

You can read about Fiberglass on our blog: Is Fiberglass the New Asbestos?

It has taken literally hundreds of years for us to understand that it is important to stop using and working with asbestos, but have we really learned our lesson? We are producing other fibers similar to asbestos from both natural and man-made substances, but they may very well come with the same dangers.

Ceramic fibers are “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.”

Glass wool fibers are also classified by the National Toxicology Program as ”[r]easonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Workers in fiberglass factories suffer from more lung cancer than other workers. Fiberglass may even be more carcinogenic than asbestos and the danger is exacerbated by the fact that fiberglass is literally everywhere. There are measurable levels of fiberglass particles in the air we all breathe. –Is Fiberglass the New Asbestos? on the Alliance Blog

Stone Wool is currently listed as ”not classifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans” but we are hoping that the necessary studies will be done.

Insulation is important and asbestos is everywhere because its properties are so valuable. But we need to be careful replacing asbestos and remember the millions of people who have been made sick and died of asbestos-related diseases already and those still to come when we replace it with other materials.

If you find exposed asbestos in your home or other construction or renovation project or want to replace asbestos-containing materials with something safer, do not do the work yourself! Working with asbestos is not safe! Call a professional asbestos removal company like Alliance Environmental Group to remove it, contain it and dispose of it properly. Don’t take any chances! Even one exposure to airborne asbestos can be dangerous!

Monday Links: May 13, 2013

Wendy Stackhouse — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:52:36 +0000

Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day Weekend!

We came across some interesting news stories and thought you might like links to a few:

First ever Class Action Suit for bed bugs moving forward in Des Moines, Iowa–Hundreds of tenants in two apartment buildings have been suffering with bed bugs since at least 2008. The State Supreme Court is deadlocked on whether to certify the case for class-action status so the lower court’s ruling in favor will stand. Stay tuned!

Plaintiffs lost an expensive case against the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara for exposure to mold and asbestos. The court dismissed all neurological, neurobehavioral and psychological claims as well as all evidence relating to mycotoxins and poisons.

Are you sneezing already? My daughter is coughing up a storm and the 2013 Allergy Season is Expected to be Worse than Normal. [cough]

We’ve been reading about hefty fines for asbestos violations, but an Illinois man has been sentenced to 8 months of confinement for violations of the Clean Air Act as well as safety rules related to asbestos removal and labeling. Hire a professional asbestos removal company!

San Marino City Hall’s renovation has been delayed due to one of the bidders on the contract not listing a sub-contractor for asbestos removal. Wonder if we will get the call!

Putting in a new floor is a great renovation project, but some older floor tiles contain asbestos. Read in the Chicago Daily Herald about the dangers of removing asbestos floor tiles yourself–not a DIY project!

It’s another hot one out there and we are out today playing golf with the International Facility Management Association. It might be too hot for golf…in May…at 91° at 10:08am. Just saying. Stay cool!

Guest Blog: The Importance of Surveying and Managing Asbestos

Wendy Stackhouse — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:00:02 +0000

Some building owners are required to perform regular asbestos management surveys. Federal regulations mandate these surveys for all public schools and most government buildings, as well as all older buildings that are set for demolition or renovation. However, other building owners can conduct these surveys on their own schedule – or not at all.

However, even when asbestos management surveys are optional, owners should still consider regular testing for the general health and wellbeing of the building’s occupants. If asbestos is present and friable, the building’s occupants are at risk for a number of serious conditions, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. Their risk will remain elevated for several decades, during which they may develop these illnesses at any time. Normally, the life expectancy of someone with mesothelioma is one year.

Asbestos management surveys can help prevent people from developing these conditions. The surveys help building owners identify asbestos-containing materials and determine which ones are immediate health hazards. Inspectors can provide suggestions for remedial action for these products and help owners decide between removal or encapsulation. Asbestos surveys also provide documentation of non-friable asbestos products that may become a threat in the future.

Scheduling Asbestos Surveys

Before scheduling an asbestos management survey, building owners should check the credentials of the company they plan to hire. Accredited asbestos management companies should always perform the surveys, and all inspectors should have up-to-date licenses.

Owners should evacuate the building during the survey, since inspectors may take samples of the fibers. To provide the most accurate results, surveyors should review the following details before the survey:

Site layout
Building specifications
Future building plans
Past asbestos inspection history

Depending on the type of asbestos and its condition, surveyors should inspect an asbestos-contaning building every six to 12 months. If any renovations impact the results of the survey, inspectors should perform another follow-up inspection to ensure the safety of the building’s residents.

Author bio: Faith Franz researches and writes about health-related issues for The Mesothelioma Center. One of her focuses is living with cancer.

Please join the conversation on our Facebook.

Would You Like Bed Bugs With That?

Wendy Stackhouse — Wed, 08 May 2013 19:11:00 +0000

I don’t know about you, but without coffee in the morning, I’m no good at all! But although I like lots of half-and-half in my coffee, I would prefer to have it without bed bugs!

Late last month, the first reported case of bed bugs in a restaurant was reported on ABC TV in the South Bay. The Santa Clara County Health Department received an anonymous report of bed bugs in a Starbucks and confirmed that a specimen was indeed a bed bug.

Starbucks brought in pest control professionals, as they should have, but we hope they used heat to treat the infestation. We would hate to think about all that food being contaminated by pesticides and the level of cleaning they would have to do in a restaurant after use of chemicals! Heat treatment would kill any bugs–even roaches–in a restaurant setting without leaving any pesticide residue behind and with fewer business hours lost to treatment and cleanup.

Here is the news story from ABC-7:

If your home or business is infested with bed bugs anywhere in California, Alliance Environmental Group is ready and waiting to help with ThermaPureHeat treatment to kill bed bugs at every stage of development–egg, nymph and breeding and biting adult. Contact us for quick and safe treatment and let your customers go back to deciding whether they want mocha or whip!

Monday Links: May 6, 2013

Wendy Stackhouse — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:34:48 +0000

Lots of interesting news stories in recent days and we’ve been too busy to report them, so here are some highlights:

Legionnaires’ outbreak in Pennsylvania Veterans Hospital leads to review of an award and bonus given to a Regional Director

Finding, getting into and paying for Summer Camps isn’t bad enough? They probably won’t tell you if they have bed bugs! Remember to unpack your child’s luggage outside and launder everything before putting it away!

Read about a mold remediator in New York who is helping with damage from Superstorm Sandy. This problem is going to get worse before it gets better with the spring thaw and spring rains.

You’ve heard about bed bug detection dogs, but dogs are also being trained to detect mold! Pretty cool. Man’s best friend, indeed!

Scientists in the UK have developed a method for detecting asbestos fibers in the air in real time, very exciting!

Remember the Key Largo Casino in Las Vegas? They had a fire at the demolition site and now dangerous asbestos has been exposed and needs to be removed safely before the project can continue.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced penalties on Friday for 17 violators of the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule we wrote about last week. Violators failed to obtain certification or did not follow safety precautions. Oops!

We had a great weekend for good news! We hope you had the same!

Look for a Guest Blog on Wednesday!

History of Asbestos

Wendy Stackhouse — Fri, 03 May 2013 10:00:33 +0000

It’s History Day at my children’s school today so while I am spending the morning reliving some American History, you can learn about the History of Asbestos with this fantastic infographic from our friends at Ban Asbestos!

Don’t take any chances dealing with exposed asbestos yourself! Asbestos removal is NOT a DIY project! Call Alliance and we will take care of it for you!

And have a wonderful weekend!

SLIDESHOW: Our First Golf Tournament

Wendy Stackhouse — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:36:05 +0000

We are very proud to present…

A slideshow of our first Golf Tournament at South Hills Country Club!

We had a wonderful time hosting lovely contributors and raised $4000 for Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

Enjoy!

We hope you can join us next year!