Archive for October 2017
Post-Harvey relief and the Texas mold law
By Elizabeth Glass Geltman JD, LLM, Nicolas Wilhelm, JD, and Abraham Gutman, MA Hurricane Harvey was called “the most extreme rain event in U.S. history.” In just a few days, the storm dropped 50 inches of rain on Houston. Now that the storm has ended, the response is moving from relief efforts to repair and…
Read MoreAsbestos Imports Higher than once Thought
WASHINGTON – The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the largest independent nonprofit asbestos victims’ advocacy group in the United States – along with the Environmental Working Group, a consumer advocacy group that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment – released a statement in response to new data showing asbestos imports nearly doubled…
Read MoreConsumer Groups File Petition to Ban Lead Acetate in Hair Dyes
Popular men’s cosmetic products are raising concerns over a potentially harmful ingredient. Lead acetate can be found in Grecian Formula and Youthair hair dye products in the U.S. Consumer groups filed a petition to the FDA to crack down on this lead compound, which is a known neurotoxin. For nearly a decade, Europe and Canada…
Read MoreRadon Prevention in Your Home
Natural odorless gas can cause lung cancer can be found in homes, offices It’s a well-known fact that smoking can lead to lung cancer. The answer to lung cancer prevention seems simple – just don’t smoke or be around a person while he or she smokes. Another leading cause of lung cancer has nothing to…
Read MoreHow to Make Your Hotel Room Healthier
By Shivani Vora, New York Times News Service Monday, April 10, 2017 | 2 a.m. Did you know that your hotel room has the potential to make you sick? “Hotel rooms can be a hotbed for germs, and the lighting and poor circulation in some make for an unhealthy environment,” said Deepak Chopra, a doctor…
Read MoreOSHA Delays Silica Standard Enforcement Deadline 3 Months
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a delay in enforcement of the crystalline silica standard that applies to the construction industry to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers. OSHA has determined that additional guidance is necessary due to the unique nature of the requirements in…
Read MoreWhy Houseplants Are a Good Idea
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that air in sealed-up houses, schools and offices can have concentrations of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) up to 10 times higher than those outdoors. Poor indoor air can sicken occupants, with chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene causing fatigue, headaches and longer-term health hazards. The cumulative effects of indoor air…
Read More3 Direct Ways to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution
When you think of pollution, your mind may conjure images of car exhaust fumes and toxic factory smoke clouding the sky. But your sanctuary – the indoor space you call home – is two to five times more toxic than your outdoor environment? At least that is what the Environmental Protection Agency reports. Luckily, there…
Read MoreHow to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home
Mold plays an important role in nature. Mold breaks down dead organic matter, including fallen leaves, and speeds up the decomposition process so nutrients can return to the soil as quickly as possible. But mold inside a home can be a formidable foe, triggering allergic reactions and increasing a person’s risk of developing respiratory problems.…
Read MoreKeeping Your Front-end Loading Washer Free of Mold
SAN ANTONIO (NEWS 4) — An appliance that’s in millions of homes across the country could be a magnet for mold and mildew, and you may not even realize it. It’s a problem more than six million owners of front-loading washing machines sued over. A settlement was reached, and the deadline to join has passed.…
Read More