Asbestos Removal News
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Puerto Rico Prepares for Hurricane Season and Tips to Help Safeguard Homes and Businesses
Hurricane season in the Caribbean and Atlantic begins on June 1st and runs through November 30th. The residents of Puerto Rico are no strangers to the destruction caused by hurricanes and tropical storms. These powerful storms have resulted in hundreds of billions of dollars in property damage in the last decade alone for the islands’ residents. To help prepare the public, the Centers ...
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Ceilings Tiles Containing Asbestos Could be Lurking in Some Schools and Offices in Puerto Rico
Asbestos was used in numerous types of ceiling tiles, as well as thousands of other products, in the past. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends testing suspect materials, including ceiling tiles, if they are damaged (fraying, crumbling) or if a renovation is planned that would disturb the suspect material. That is what happened recently at a high school in Bermuda. An air ...
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FAAM and BOHS welcome updated HSE Guidance on Asbestos-it will contribute to better management of asbestos risks
The British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), a scientific charity and the Chartered Society for Worker Health Protection has joined the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM), a leading professional body for those who identify and manage asbestos risk, in welcoming the Health and Safety Executive’s publication of a new updated version of HSG248 Asbestos: The ...
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FAAM responds to ECHA’s recommendation on Asbestos Workplace Exposure Limits
The EU’s Chemicals Regulator, ECHA, has just closed consultations on a scientific report which will form the basis of the review of the occupational exposure limits (OELs) for asbestos fibres in workplace air. In the midst of the Global Asbestos Awareness Week, the Faculty of Asbestos Assessment and Management (FAAM) the professional body supported by the British Occupational Hygiene ...
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National Public Health Week and Protecting Workers and Building Occupants in Puerto Rico from Exposure Hazards
Building Bridges to Better Health is the theme for this year’s National Public Health Week. The event officially takes place from April 5th through the 11th and is a time to focus on timely public health topics. Last year’s themes ranged from healthy housing to environmental health and this year’s focus includes COVID-19 and protecting public health workers. Key components of ...
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British asbestos charities, professional bodies and industry unite to send message for Global Asbestos Awareness Week
At the start of the Global Asbestos Awareness Week, organised by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (1st April-7th April 2021), British charitable and professional bodies and industry have joined together to affirm a simple message; “Asbestos is a current and critical risk to workers and the public. It is still a significant cause of chronic disease and death in the UK. ...
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Global Asbestos Awareness Week and Protecting Workers and Building Occupants in Puerto Rico from Exposure Risks
The 17th annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week takes place from April 1st through the 7th. It is meant to raise public awareness of asbestos hazards and diseases that continue to impact so many people around the globe. Asbestos is a generic name given to six fibrous minerals that have been used in commercial products. Asbestos is still used in some countries, but even in places like the United ...
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DONIT, a Perfect Fit for the EU “Hydrogen Strategy”
DONIT is a top-world manufacturer of asbestos-free gasket sheets with the largest single site-production of its kind in the EU, and possesses decades of accumulated know-how in application engineering. Diversified DONIT products portfolio includes a gamut of gaskets and sealing solutions in the service of the various industries (from the light to the heavy ones). DONIT has been at the forefront ...
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Exposure Concerns Following a Fire in a Multifamily Residential Building
Millions of people across the United States live in multifamily residential buildings. These include apartments, town houses, row houses, condominiums and other tenement properties. Unfortunately, fires in multifamily residential buildings happen all too frequently. In fact, the National Fire Data Center reports that multifamily residential building fires accounted for an estimated 109,700 ...
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Cruise Industry Recovery in Puerto Rico Linked to Preventing the Spread of Germs Onboard
As recently as 2019, an estimated 1.7 million cruise ship passengers visited Puerto Rico. These vacationers arrived on hundreds of cruise ship visits that generated over $150 million for the local economy. This all changed in 2020 when COVID-19 appeared causing a global pandemic, including several high profile outbreaks on cruise ships, which eventually caused the temporarily shut down of the ...
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Preventing Exposure Risks to all Forms of Asbestos in Puerto Rico as EPA Releases Final Risk Evaluation for Chrysotile
This past December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its Final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, Part 1: Chrysotile Asbestos. The document addresses the agency’s determinations on which conditions of use may present unreasonable risks to the environment and human health, and was completed as part of the agency’s mission under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). ...
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New Study Examines Exposure to Heavy Metals in Puerto Rico
A new study was recently published in the journal Environmental International by researchers from Rutgers School of Public Health. It examined how exposure to heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, cobalt and nickel, may alter a pregnant woman’s hormones during pregnancy. For the study, researchers analyzed urine and blood samples from over 800 women enrolled in the Puerto Rico Testsite for ...
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National Cancer Prevention Month and Protecting Workers in Puerto Rico from Exposure to Carcinogens
According to the Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cancer is a leading cause of death in Puerto Rico, accounting for 17.7% of all deaths. While cancer mortality has gradually declined over the past several decades, there is still much that can be done to help prevent new cases. The American Association for Cancer ...
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Occupational Exposure Risks to Fiberglass and Other Synthetic Vitreous Fibers in Puerto Rico
In Puerto Rico and throughout the rest of the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports there are many workers exposed to fiberglass and other synthetic vitreous fibers (SVFs) in manufacturing and end-use applications. SVFs are man-made fibrous materials used for thermal and sound insulating purposes and to reinforce other materials. It is used in ...
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National Cancer Prevention Month and Potential Carcinogens in the Home and Workplace Discussed in New Online Video
The IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates today announced the release of their latest educational video. Their newest production covers National Cancer Prevention Month which takes place every February. “While family history, diet, exercise and many other factors can all impact a person’s chances of developing cancer over their lifetime, environmental exposures can occur ...
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Multifamily Residential Building Fires in Puerto Rico and Exposure Issues Building Occupants Encounter Afterwards
Fires in multifamily residential buildings happen all too frequently in Puerto Rico and across the rest of the United States. In fact, the National Fire Data Center reports that multifamily residential building fires accounted for an estimated 109,700 reported fires each year from 2013 to 2015. This is a significant number of fires for multifamily residential buildings, which include structures ...
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Indoor Environmental Quality Concerns after a Fire in a Multifamily Residential Building Discussed in New Online Video
Today the IAQ Video Network and Cochrane & Associates announced the release of their latest educational video. Their newest production discusses potential indoor environmental quality (IEQ) concerns that are common in multifamily residential buildings following a fire. “Multifamily residential buildings, which include structures such as apartments, town houses, row houses, condominiums ...
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Heavy Metals Found Along U.S. Roadways Linked To Brake Pads
A recent environmental impact study revealed that the majority of pollutants found near U.S. roadways did not come from tailpipes, but instead from brake pads and tires. Water and air samples were collected by scientists in the study and they found bits of the brake pads which contained mercury, lead and cadmium. These heavy metals can cause cancer and birth defects. In 2010, The Better Brake ...
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Local Engineer and Industrial Hygienist are the Latest Management Team Promotions at Zimmetry Environmental
Zimmetry Environmental is pleased to announce that Dilia Rosado, MEM and Onell González, PhD(c), CIEC, LEED AP O+M have both been promoted to managerial roles as part of the company’s growth initiatives. Together, they bring extensive combined environmental, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene and engineering experience to benefit Zimmetry’s diverse client base. Mrs. Dilia ...
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Potential Hidden Exposure Hazards Found in DIY Home Improvement Projects
With the COVID-19 pandemic causing millions of people to be stuck at home for much of 2020, do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement projects have become increasingly popular. Unfortunately, depending on the type of project, and the age and condition of the home, many DIYers may come into contact with hidden exposure risks. In addition to building code compliance issues, laws, permit requirements, ...
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