IAQA Digest is your weekly summary of newspaper articles, press releases and widely distributed reports about indoor air quality and mold. It is distributed exclusively to the members of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) as a member benefit to assist you in keeping on top of all the latest industry news. For more information, contact
[email protected]
 

May 28, 2014 
In This Issue
TOP STORIES
ASTHMA & ALLERGIES
GOING GREEN
MOLD
IAQ AND SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE
ASSOCIATIONS
GASES & PARTICLES
VIRUSES & BACTERIA
SMOKING BANS
COMPANY RELEASES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Top Stories

IAQA WEBINAR - COMMERCIAL HVAC SYSTEMS AND IAQ

Friday, June 13, 2014, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT 

If you are trying to identify or resolve an indoor air quality problem in a commercial building, you will need to understand the fundamentals of the heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. In this webinar, you'll learn about common equipment and systems used in commercial buildings, with a special emphasis on their impact on indoor air quality. If you don't fully comprehend the functions of chillers, cooling towers and VAV boxes, this webinar is designed for you. Understanding the big picture of the HVAC system is one of the first steps to both identifying and resolving IAQ problems in commercial buildings. Register

  

IAQA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Thank you for being members of the IAQA and for the work you do to take care of our clients on a daily basis. I know that what each of us does makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve. The adventure that started in Nashville at our Annual Meeting in March is off and running at full speed. The newly elected Officers, Board of Directors (BOD), Committee Chairs, and Chapter Directors are all excited about the upcoming year. More

 

DRYWALL MAKER TO FACE LAWSUITS IN U.S. COURTS

Indoor Environment Connections

A federal appeals court has ruled that American courts have jurisdiction over the Chinese manufacturer Taishan Gypsum Ltd., the company that made the toxic drywall that has sickened thousands of Americans. A U.S. government report recently confirmed previous findings that the sulfur emitted by the defective drywall has caused adverse health effects such as headaches, irritation of the eyes and throat, and tiredness, as well as asthma and other respiratory conditions.

 

PROGRAM FOR GREEN HOME FINANCING IS EXPANDED

Indoor Environment Connections

The federal government is expanding its Green Preservation Plus program, which supports the preservation of affordable multifamily housing by providing additional funds to improve the energy and water efficiency of properties. Green Preservation Plus offers financing to owners to acquire multifamily affordable housing properties or to refinance existing Fannie Mae mortgage loans.

 

SC CONTRACTOR HEADING TO PRISON FOR LETTING ASBESTOS BLOW ONTO BEACH

The State

A contractor who allowed cancer-causing asbestos to blow onto the beach while his company renovated an oceanfront condominium tower will spend six months in prison for violating the federal Clean Air Act, a federal prosecutor said Thursday. David Braswell -- whose company, Cool Cote LLC, was contracted to remove and replace siding at the Regency Towers in Myrtle Beach in March 2009 -- also will face six months of home confinement and three years of probation following his release from prison.

 

THIS WEEK ON IAQ RADIO

Hosted by: Joe Hughes & Cliff Zlotnik

Next episode: June 6, 12noon EDT

Guest:Hung Cheung, M.D. -- President, OEM Advisor LLC: Healthy Buildings & the 2014 Healthy Building Professional Summit.

Listen live or download the show later at www.iaqradio.com

 

 

Asthma and Allergies

RICHMOND TOPS LIST AS 2014'S 'LEADING' ASTHMA CAPITAL 

Allergic Living

For the second year running, Richmond, Virginia sits atop the Asthma Capitals list, suggesting it is the most difficult city in the list for people with asthma to live in. While Richmond is better known for its historic monuments, museums and architecture, it has also held AAFA's dubious No. 1 in asthma distinction in 2010 and 2011. "Our Asthma Capitals report helps to shed light on the asthma burden in each city, but it also provides a roadmap for improvements," said spokesperson Talisa White. "Some patients have a hard time avoiding their triggers, others just don't take daily medications like they should or they don't have access to proper asthma care and education."

 

FAMILY LEARNS HOW TO COPE WITH ASTHMA

DesMoinesRegister.com

The Zooks have learned to be prepared. They keep rescue inhalers nearby and have nebulizers that can be plugged into the car for breathing treatments. They also moved near the fire department in Mitchellville in case one of the boys encounters a severe asthma attack.

 

Going Green

ALLOW GREEN BUILDING COMPETITION

The Hill

Competition is one of the hallmarks of capitalism and has allowed America's economy to grow and thrive-yet environmental activist groups are urging Congress and state governments to reject competition and award a monopoly on green building rating systems to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a multi-million dollar private non-profit.

 

GBI STUDY CLAIMS GREEN GLOBES IS CHEAPER THAN LEED

Indoor Environment Connections

The Green Building Initiative (GBI), a business-backed group that developed the Green Globes certification system, has released a study that says Green Globes "is significantly less expensive to conduct and faster to complete" than the LEED system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. "Green Globes certification currently gives the market a choice among certification systems and provides competition that helps improve results for users, resulting in more innovation and lower costs over time," GBI president Jerry Yudelson said.

 

HUD AND REBUILDING TOGETHER HOST CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE

Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions at home account for many of the leading causes of preventable fatalities, illnesses and disabilities in the United States today. Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit, is raising awareness and demonstrating the positive impact of safe and healthy housing by joining U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HGTV and DIY Network, Lowe's and other sponsors and volunteers in a series of events throughout Nashville. The events will take place May 28-31.

 

Mold

BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF MOLD INVESTIGATION

al.com

Protesters held signs outside Bush K-8 School in Ensley, alleging the school is making students sick.

 

MOLD LAWSUIT IN NEW YORK

Indoor Environment Connections

A Wall Street money manager is suing over mold contamination in a summer home he rented in New York's expensive Hamptons resort area. A lawsuit filed in a Manhattan trial court says that plaintiff Brian Feuer paid $106,000 to rent the home for the summer of 2013 from restaurant owner Stratis Morfogen. A big selling point was the home's large playroom.

 

BLACK MOLD FORCES CLOSURE OF SARATOGA SPRINGS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER

The Edwardsville Intelligencer

Black mold prompted the closure of Saratoga Springs Neighborhood Center, said a report.

 

MOLD HAS MANY ILL HEALTH EFFECTS

Pensacola News Journal

Tiny mold particles, known as spores, are always present in the air and can germinate and grow in a moist or damp environment on any surface.

 

 

IAQ and Systems Maintenance

POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY CAN LEAD TO HEALTH PROBLEMS

Lincoln Journal Star

How can we keep the air we breathe in our homes, schools and businesses safe? The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has ideas.

 

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

However, while people may be conscious of outdoor air pollution and health hazards, many don't realize that there may also be pollutants indoors.

 

RESEARCHERS INVENT COST-EFFECTIVE FILTRATION SYSTEM

Phys.Org

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Faculty of Engineering has developed a cost-effective solution for the control of indoor air pollution, especially from the haze. The new system is easy to use and ideal for use in a range of indoor environments.

 

CPS TO REMOVE LEAD PAINT FROM GALE SCHOOL AFTER COMPLAINTS

DNAinfo

Chicago Public Schools notified teachers and parents this week it would begin removing lead paint from six Gale classrooms.

 

WHAT IF YOU DISCOVER LEAD PAINT?

MiamiHerald.com

Since 2010, service providers who disturb lead paint in homes built before 1978 are required to get certification that they've completed an EPA training course.

 

DECADE LATE, CHINESE DRYWALL STILL A PROBLEM
Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Homeowners across Southwest Florida are still finding contaminated Chinese drywall in their residences, almost a decade after the toxic material that has been shown to cause medical problems and corrode appliances was discovered in the region. A recent uptick in purchases of foreclosed properties by investors and retiring baby boomers has uncovered the tainted building material in homes from Parrish to Punta Gorda, government records show.

 

Associations

DOE TAKES FIRST STEP IN UPDATING NATIONAL REFERENCE STANDARD FOR COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS TO 90.1-2013
Preliminary analysis from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) shows that the ASHRAE/IES's 2013 energy efficiency standard contains energy savings over the 2010 standard of 8.5 percent source energy and 7.6 site energy. This is the first step by the DOE in issuing a ruling that could establish the 2013 standard as the commercial building reference standard for state building energy codes.

 

ASHRAE GUIDELINE ON HVAC EQUIPMENT FOR RAIL PASSENGER VEHICLES OPEN FOR COMMENT
The unique challenges required for HVAC design in rail passenger vehicles are being addressed in a proposed guideline from ASHRAE now open for public comment.

 

USGBC AND BANK OF AMERICA SEEK APPLICATIONS FOR AFFORDABLE GREEN NEIGHBORHOODS GRANT

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation today announced the opening of the application period for the expanded 2014 Affordable Green Neighborhoods Grant Program. The program, which awards financial and educational resources to developers of affordable housing in North America that are committed to building sustainable communities through the LEED for Neighborhood Development program, is made possible by an $850,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. 

 

Gases and Particles

ARE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AT RISK FOR CANCER FROM RADON?

Lexington Herald Leader

Radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

 

TESTING FOR RADON IN THE HOME SAVES LIVES

Walton Tribune

Last week I attended the Southeastern Radon Conference in Jacksonville. Although much of the information on radon was not new to me after a decade of conducing radon education, the real-life devastation in the lives of those who have had lung cancer caused by radon is always tragic.

 

BILL WOULD TARGET ASBESTOS 'DOUBLE-DIPPING' CLAIMS

News & Observer

State lawmakers are being asked to put new restrictions on asbestos lawsuits after a federal bankruptcy judge's withering criticism.

 

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Viruses and Bacteria 

LAWRENCE COUNTY PASTOR SUES VA OVER LEGIONELLA ILLNESS

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seemed to take responsibility for the Rev. Gerald N. Caskey's Legionella diagnosis, then reversed itself.

 

GUESS WHERE RESEARCHERS FOUND THE BACTERIA THAT CAUSES LEGIONELLA?
Washington Post

A researcher at Arizona State University has discovered that the bacteria can live in some brands of windshield washer fluid and flourish in the motor vehicle reservoirs that contain it. When sprayed, some of the droplets can be inhaled by vehicle occupants, especially people like bus drivers who are behind the wheel for extended periods.

 

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Smoking Bans  

BOURBON COUNTY'S TOBACCO HERITAGE THWARTS PROPONENTS OF SMOKING BAN

Lexington Herald Leader

Onstage, candidates for city council and magistrate were asked whether they would support a smoking ban.

 

SAN MARCOS BUSINESSES ALREADY EMBRACING INDOOR SMOKING BAN

Austin American-Statesman

The city's indoor smoking ban for bars, restaurants and other public areas might not kick in until next week, but many businesses are already taking action.

 

Compay Releases 

NOT COOL; DELAYING AC REPAIRS COULD DIMINISH INDOOR AIR QUALITY

That's because there is a direct link between a central air conditioning system, indoor air quality and the health of homeowners.

 

REDUCE THE EFFECT OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY

There are many common household areas that can affect indoor air quality. Aire Serv has identified the areas homeowners should focus on.

 

ENVIROGREEN RESTORATION RECOMMENDS AIR DUCT CLEANING

Envirogreen Restoration wants to remind homeowners that with the summer season coming up, it is important to have their air ducts cleaned.

 

 

IAQA APPROVED INDOOR ENVIRONMENTALIST TRAINING

For more information, please click on the links below:

 

Course

Date

Location

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

June 3-4, 2014

Orlando, FL

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

July 14-15, 2014 (Fundamentals Level)

San Francisco, CA

 

July 16-18, 2014 (Intermediate Level)

San Francisco, CA

 

July 14-18, 2014 (All Days)

San Francisco, CA

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

August 18-19, 2014 (Fundamentals Level)

Seven Springs, PA

 

August 10-22, 2014 (Intermediate Level)

Seven Springs, PA

 

August 10-22, 2014 (Advanced Level)

Seven Springs, PA

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

August 19-20, 2014

Chicago, IL

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

December 1-2, 2014 (Fundamentals Level)

Greenville, SC

 

December 3-5, 2014 (Intermediate Level)

Greenville, SC

 

December 1-5, 2014 (All Days)

Greenville, SC

  

For more information on online classes, please click the links below:

  

Course

Format

Training Provider

IAQA Indoor Environmentalist

Online, Video-based

 

Indoor Sciences, Inc.

 

IAQA APPROVED MOLD REMEDIATION TECHNICIAN AND SUPERVISOR COURSES

The IAQA approved Mold Remediation courses have all been revised with the latest information available in 2014.

 

Course

Date

Location

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

June 17-18, 2014

Somerset, PA

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

July 29-30, 2014

Langhorne, PA

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

August 4-6, 2014

New York City, NY

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

September 8-10, 2014

Kalamazoo, MI

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

September 16-17, 2014

Chicago, IL

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

October 7-8, 2014

St. Louis, MO

IAQA Mold Remediation Technician

December 2-3, 2014

Greenville, SC


Course

Date

Location

IAQA Microbial Remediation/ Supervisor (CMR/CMRS)

June 17-19, 2014

Somerset, PA

IAQA Microbial Remediation/ Supervisor (CMR/CMRS)

July 29-31, 2014

Langhorne, PA

IAQA Microbial Remediation/ Supervisor (CMR/CMRS)

September 16-18, 2014

Chicago, IL

IAQA Microbial Remediation/ Supervisor (CMR/CMRS)

October 7-9, 2014

St. Louis, MO

IAQA Microbial Remediation/ Supervisor (CMR/CMRS)

December 2-4, 2014

Greenville. SC

For a full schedule of courses and brochures for each course visit http://www.iaqtraining.com/schedule/course_dates.asp

  

ARIZONA

Phoenix, August 12: Back to Basics, Everything You Need to Know About Encapsulants and Mobile Mini-Enclosures. Wildfires from the Perspective of a Remediation Contractor. November 18: Legally Defensible Combustion Byproducts Analysis Associated with Wildfire Investigations. Water Activity: What is it, and Why Should You Care.  Contact Derrick Denis at [email protected] or call Stephanie at 480-460-8334.

 

FLORIDA

Ft. Myers, July 18: TBA. September 19: TBA. November 21: TBA. December 19: TBA. Contact Tom Ricci at [email protected] or call 954-214-4448.

 

GEORGIA

Atlanta, August 1: TBA. November 7: TBA. Contact Wendy Miller at [email protected] or 706-278-3202.

 

MINNESOTA

St. Paul/Minneapolis, June 24: Impact of Air Supply Duct Leakage on Energy Consumption & IAQ. Radon Testing and Real Estate Transactions. Vapor Intrusions into Buildings and Health Risks. Contact Thomas Kapfer  at [email protected]