Minnesota asks for Action

Officials at the Minnesota department of Health are asking for steps to be taken to improve indoor air in schools. Though it’s true that state law requires school districts to have plans for indoor air quality, the law doesn’t require schools to use them. Health department officials say that most children do better in class when there’s fresh, unpolluted air and that 1 in every 11 Minnesota children have asthma. Now that all of this has been proven and stated, it’s time to see action being taken, REAL action.

Natthew Stone
Public Relations

Too much Time to Risk

The EPA says that we normally spend 90% of our time indoors. With the climate cooling down, the time indoors increases. This is a significant problem, as the air indoors is more polluted than the air outdoors.
Though an air-filtration system is an ideal step, it is not the only step you can take to maintain a green environment. A simple and cost-efficient step is to reduce and/or remove pollution sources. Though complete elimination is not possible (a reason you need an air-filtration system), reducing emissions helps.
Since the air outdoors is healthier than indoor air, a good ventilation system also helps. However, the air outdoors still isn’t that clean.
An air-purifier is an ideal solution, but it never hurts to take the extra steps.

Matthew Stone
Public Relations

www.consumerreport.org gives advice for Child Safety

ConsumerReport.org published a list of product warnings. They mention that just because a product has a label saying “nontoxic” or “nonirritating” doesn’t mean it’s safe. Those labels are, “not clearly defined or labeled.” Many art supplies like paint, glue, glazes and metals, especially products intended for adults, may contain lead and/or emit chemical toxins. Products with the AP mark (Approved Product” are supposed to be nontoxic, though the tests were preliminary and not fully verifiable. Antifreeze for cars is considered very dangerous and led to more than 1000 emergency room visits in 2003. Pesticides are known poisons, but while the poison may be designed for insects, it can have harmful effects on humans, especially children.

Matthew Stone
Public Relations

Japanese reaction to Asbestos

Japan is playing role model in asbestos awareness. A government survey examined more than 20,000 Japanese appliance makers and found that 19 items currently manufactured contain asbestos. Included in these items are a bicycle from Bridgestone, refrigerators made by Hitachi and Mitsubishi and a hairdryer made by Toshiba. At the same time, Japanese government has proposed legislation that will compensate victims of asbestos-related illness, even if they haven’t filed workers accident insurance within the mandatory five year period. Though asbestos companies are paying a large part of this, the government is kicking in because many of the companies responsible went under after stricter asbestos regulations were enforced.

Matthew Stone
Public Relations

Workers are Protesting Canadian Export

Union members in Australia and Japan are joining those around the world already protesting against Canadian exports of asbestos. Unionists claim that Canada exports over $100 million worth of asbestos, a known carcinogen, to developing countries every year. This includes areas of Asia hit by the tsunami. Unionists are disgraced that a first-world country would target devastated areas and think that Canada should stop exporting asbestos all together.

Ever wonder why dust seems to trigger asthma?

The National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS) at the University of Iowa seems to have found out. After conducting a nationwide survey that has recently been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, research has concluded that household dust contains bacteria that generate chemicals that can cause asthma symptoms and attacks. The research concluded that houses with higher concentration of these endotoxins had more respiratory difficulties, and homes with these endotoxins in the bedroom floors and bedding had significantly higher cases of asthma.

Matthew Stone
Public Relations

Naturally caused Carcinogen at Home and Work; Research

A recent study by UC Davis researchers is the largest study to date to look at the links between asbestos exposure and cancer. In this study, researchers found a consistent and dose-dependent association between mesothelioma (a rare form of cancer affecting the lining of the lung) and residential proximity to ultramafic rock, the predominant source of naturally occurring asbestos. To put the mesothelioma risk in perspective, the disease is responsible for about the same number of lung cancer deaths each year as passive smoking. About 2,500 people a year die from mesothelioma in the United States. Research concluded that the odds of having mesothelioma fell by 6.3 percent for every 10 kilometers farther a person lived from the nearest asbestos source.

What are kids Adsorbing in School

Well, it's that time of year again; the kids are heading back to the classroom. Though school may be providing children with a valueable edjucation, they may be getting more than that in class. A mid 90s report by the General Accounting Office found that more than half the schools in the U.S. have problems that affect indoor air quality. The poor indoor air quality is said to account for more than 14 million missed school days per year.

Matthew Stone
Public Relations