air quality service News
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Volatile Organic Compound Exposure Risks in the Built Environment
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a diverse group of chemicals that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. These chemicals can be found in numerous products and materials used to build, furnish, clean, and maintain homes and buildings. They can also be found in a number of personal care products and consumer goods where they can become airborne pollutants. Exposure to elevated ...
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Respiratory Protection Week in Puerto Rico and Resources to Identify and Mitigate Exposure to Airborne Risks
Each year, respiratory protection makes the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) top ten list of the most frequently cited safety and health violations. This, despite the fact that millions of workers from across the country, and in a wide range of occupations, are required to wear respirators while performing various tasks. Recognizing the vital role that respiratory ...
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Identifying and Mitigating Exposure Risks to Indoor Particulate Matter
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently shared information about common sources of indoor particulate matter (PM). The agency reports it is especially concerned about tiny particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller as they can be inhaled deep into the lungs where they can cause serious health effects, including decreased lung function and other adverse health ...
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Air Quality Awareness Week and Protecting Workers, Students, and Building Occupants from Airborne Pollutants
Since 2007, Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) has been recognized throughout the United States. AQAW takes place this year from May 1st through the 5th and the theme for this year is Working Together for Clean Air. The annual event is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and AirNow, home of the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI). Other partners include the Centers for Disease ...
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Identifying and Mitigating Exposure to Airborne Allergens in Homes and Buildings across Puerto Rico
Allergies can not only affect a person’s quality of life, each year they cost society billions of dollars in medical care and lost productivity, not to mention allergies are responsible for countless missed school days. With most people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, exposure to allergens, respiratory irritants and asthma triggers in the air in their homes, schools and work ...
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Carbon Monoxide Hazards in Puerto Rico from the Use of Portable Generators
Many businesses, institutions and residential property owners in hurricane prone areas, such as Puerto Rico, have come to rely on portable generators for access to electricity following hurricane or tropical storm damage. Portable back-up generators powered by fossil fuels can help to keep critical appliances on, or to power a worksite, but they can also expose people to carbon monoxide (CO) if ...
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EarthSense Announces New Air Quality Reporting Service
The new Air Quality Reporting service provides EarthSense customers with standard, enhanced, and bespoke reports, giving them an option to receive reports that include appropriate levels of information, from a top-level analysis of air quality measurements to a comprehensive investigation into air quality, sources, exceedances, and more. Tom Hall, Managing Director at EarthSense said: ...
By EarthSense
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Respiratory Protection Week in Puerto Rico and Identifying and Mitigating Occupational Exposure Risks
Workers from a wide range of industries in Puerto Rico and across the region are required to wear respirators to protect against airborne hazards, including atmospheres that are oxygen-deficient. On the islands of Puerto Rico, respiratory protection standards for most workers are enforced by the Puerto Rico Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PR OSHA). Federal OSHA enforces it for some ...
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Crystalline Silica Hazards for General Industry and Construction
Crystalline silica as a common mineral that can be found in materials such as sand, stone, concrete, and mortar. Respirable crystalline silica can easily become airborne during the cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing of these materials. Exposure can lead to lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, and other life-altering and debilitating ...
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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Confirmed as Cause of Tourist Deaths at Caribbean Resort
Last month, the Royal Bahamas Police Force confirmed that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning was the cause of death for three American tourists that died during their stay at a luxury resort on the island of Great Exuma. The mysterious deaths made international headlines earlier this year and according to the police department, the matter remains under active investigation as the source of the carbon ...
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EPA’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge and Resources for Building Owners and Operators
Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its Clean Air in Buildings Challenge. It is a call to action and a set of guiding principles and best practices to assist building owners and operators with reducing risks from airborne viruses and other indoor contaminants. The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge highlights a range of recommendations and resources available ...
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EPA Awards Grant to Reduce Respiratory Hazards from Diesel Emissions in Puerto Rico
Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $1.4 million Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant to the University of Puerto Rico – Medical Sciences Campus. The grant provides funding to replace a number of old heavy duty drayage trucks. The university is also developing seminars and resources for diesel vehicle owners and the general public in Puerto ...
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IoT World & MtoM - September 2020
As a designer and manufacturer, ECOMESURE offers a complete solution (hardware and software) for environmental monitoring and analysis. This solution combines connected sensors dedicated to measuring indoor and outdoor air quality that are fully configurable and a web platform for remote data management and device control. ECOMESURE has launched a new air quality data analysis service ...
By Ecomesure
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COVID-19 Makes Indoor Environmental Quality a Top Priority for Reopening Schools and Universities in Puerto Rico
As schools and universities begin the new semester, with combinations of in-person and online classes, preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus is essential for keeping these institutions open and protecting the health of students, teachers and other faculty. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of COVID-19 spread increases in school settings as ...
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CDC COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection Guidance for Workplaces in Puerto Rico if someone gets Sick
With thousands of confirmed cases of COVID-19 already in Puerto Rico, businesses and institutions across the islands need to have plans in place if an employee, customer or building occupant is found to be infected. To help in this matter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidance for organizations faced with cleaning and disinfecting a building or facility where ...
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CDC Cleaning and Disinfection Guidance for Reopening Businesses and Institutions across Puerto Rico
After the COVID-19 pandemic had already caused the closure of all non-essential businesses and institutions in Puerto Rico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guidance document to help with the reopening of these entities as the orders are gradually lifted. The publication, Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting – Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools ...
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Common Sources of Formaldehyde in the Home and Ways to Prevent Exposure Risks
The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has listed formaldehyde as known to be a human carcinogen. The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that studies of workers exposed to high levels of formaldehyde, such as industrial workers and embalmers, have found that formaldehyde causes myeloid leukemia and rare cancers, including cancers of the paranasal sinuses, ...
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Building Assessments and the Role of Indoor Environmental Quality in Helping to Prevent the Spread of Pathogens in Puerto Rico
Earlier this month, a state of emergency was declared by Puerto Rico’s governor and a few days later, people were ordered to stay in their homes in an effort to battle the coronavirus pandemic. These actions, designed to slow the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are especially important for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions that are most vulnerable to having a severe ...
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OSHA Publishes New National Emphasis Program Instructions for Respirable Crystalline Silica
Last month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published instructions for implementing a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to identify and reduce or eliminate worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica (RCS) in general industry, maritime and construction. The new instructions apply OSHA-wide and because it describes a federal program change, State Plan adoption is ...
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Protecting Workers from Occupational Exposure to Glutaraldehyde and Other Chemicals
Back in 2006, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released Best Practices for the Safe Use of Glutaraldehyde in Health Care. The 48-page document provides information for health care employers and employees to understand and control exposures to glutaraldehyde to prevent adverse health effects. In the healthcare industry, glutaraldehyde is most often used to disinfect ...
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