ALLENDALE, NJ — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently settled a third pesticide enforcement case against Lonza Inc., the nation’s largest manufacturer of hospital-grade disinfectants, for multiple violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) — the federal law that regulates pesticides, according to a press release.
The combined fines for all three cases exceeds $640,000, making it one of the largest civil penalties assessed under FIFRA, the release stated.
George Pavlou, acting EPA regional administrator, said: "It may surprise people to know that part of EPA’s job is to make sure disinfectants are as effective as they claim, and we take this job very seriously. Products that make claims that are not met put people at risk of getting sick. We are pleased that Lonza has agreed to not only pay penalties but to take steps that will go a long way toward rectifying the problem."
The two products cited for inefficacy in the most recent case were: Saniphor No. 450, registered as a tuberculocide, but found ineffective against a bacterium that causes tuberculosis; and 7 Healthcare Disinfectant Neutral Cleaner, which EPA tests determined did not kill the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as claimed on the label, the release noted.
According to the release, before any pesticide is sold in the U.S., it must go through EPA's vigorous registration process, during which companies must provide health studies and environmental information about the product to ensure that its proper use does not cause any negative human or environmental effects.
In addition to monetary fines, the EPA’s earlier settlement with Lonza Inc. required the company to develop a $390,000 supplemental environmental project to institute rigorous quality assurance and product efficacy testing at more than 470 formulators of Lonza products nationwide, the release added.
Click here to read the complete release.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Mold, leaky pipes and more mold
BEECH GROVE, IN — The Beech Grove City Hall is a health inspector's nightmare and an unfortunate reality for city employees, according to WTHR-TV.
Inspectors cited the building for a number of health violations after discovering puddles on tables, rotting ceiling tiles, warped walls and carpets and mold on every level from the vents to the water-logged basement, the story stated.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold has been shown to weaken the immune system, trigger asthma attacks, cause infections and migraines and over time can attack the brain and even cause death.
Although Mayor Donald Wright and his assistants, along with city council meetings and court hearings have all been moved to alternate locations, some city employees are still required to work in the hazardous, mold-infested building, the story noted.
According to the story, city council members say they were told the meetings were being moved because the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system wasn't working; there was no mention of a mold problem.
A Marion County Health Department inspection report lists violations due to mold as far back as March 2008, the story added.
City Council Member Ed Bell said: "It was clearly obvious that mold was the reason we were moving out. It's a slap in the face. We've asked the mayor to come before the council and answer questions but he refuses to do that. He wants to do it in private but we've had enough of the private. They're trying to put a Band-Aid on the situation when it's a serious problem."
Click here to read the complete article.
Inspectors cited the building for a number of health violations after discovering puddles on tables, rotting ceiling tiles, warped walls and carpets and mold on every level from the vents to the water-logged basement, the story stated.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold has been shown to weaken the immune system, trigger asthma attacks, cause infections and migraines and over time can attack the brain and even cause death.
Although Mayor Donald Wright and his assistants, along with city council meetings and court hearings have all been moved to alternate locations, some city employees are still required to work in the hazardous, mold-infested building, the story noted.
According to the story, city council members say they were told the meetings were being moved because the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system wasn't working; there was no mention of a mold problem.
A Marion County Health Department inspection report lists violations due to mold as far back as March 2008, the story added.
City Council Member Ed Bell said: "It was clearly obvious that mold was the reason we were moving out. It's a slap in the face. We've asked the mayor to come before the council and answer questions but he refuses to do that. He wants to do it in private but we've had enough of the private. They're trying to put a Band-Aid on the situation when it's a serious problem."
Click here to read the complete article.
JC Penney's first LEED-certified store
PLANO, TX — JC Penney Company Inc. recently held the grand opening of its first store designed to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, according to a press release.
The 115,000-square-foot store, which is an anchor at The Village at Fairview, is designed to use 41 percent less energy than a similar sized, non-LEED building, the release stated.
Sustainable features of the new store include: A reflective white roof; energy-efficient lighting; landscape materials that will reduce irrigation needs by 50 percent; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 20 percent; use of recycled materials during construction; and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that is 21 percent more energy efficient, the release noted.
The store has also been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "Designed to Earn the Energy Star," making JC Penney the first national retailer to receive this designation from the design stage, the release added.
According to the story, based on its design, the store's annual energy performance is expected to be in the top 25 percent of comparable retail buildings.
Click here to read the complete article.
The 115,000-square-foot store, which is an anchor at The Village at Fairview, is designed to use 41 percent less energy than a similar sized, non-LEED building, the release stated.
Sustainable features of the new store include: A reflective white roof; energy-efficient lighting; landscape materials that will reduce irrigation needs by 50 percent; low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 20 percent; use of recycled materials during construction; and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system that is 21 percent more energy efficient, the release noted.
The store has also been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as "Designed to Earn the Energy Star," making JC Penney the first national retailer to receive this designation from the design stage, the release added.
According to the story, based on its design, the store's annual energy performance is expected to be in the top 25 percent of comparable retail buildings.
Click here to read the complete article.
Mold discovered in school's HVAC system
COLFAX, NC — Mold was recently discovered in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system at Colfax Elementary School, according to WGHP-TV.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends keeping the school closed until the problem is completely remedied, the story stated.
Haley Miller, a spokesperson for Guilford County Schools, said: "The mold found can be cleaned with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) [filter equipped] vacuum, per the industrial hygienist."
It is suggested that the school: Remove the carpet; decommission the HVAC system rather than simply clean the ductwork; adjust moisture levels by installing a vapor barrier in the crawl space under the building; and remediate any mold discovered during the process, the story noted.
Guilford County Schools Board of Education members were urging school officials that the HVAC system was contributing to poor indoor air quality as far back as 2005, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends keeping the school closed until the problem is completely remedied, the story stated.
Haley Miller, a spokesperson for Guilford County Schools, said: "The mold found can be cleaned with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) [filter equipped] vacuum, per the industrial hygienist."
It is suggested that the school: Remove the carpet; decommission the HVAC system rather than simply clean the ductwork; adjust moisture levels by installing a vapor barrier in the crawl space under the building; and remediate any mold discovered during the process, the story noted.
Guilford County Schools Board of Education members were urging school officials that the HVAC system was contributing to poor indoor air quality as far back as 2005, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
EarthRight-certified dental office
EDEN PRAIRIE, MN — A two-year, $1 million renovation project of a dental office that focused on making the building more environmentally friendly is now complete, according to the Eden Prairie News.
Bruce Hultgren, D.D.S, said: "With the changes that we made, we’ve been certified by an organization called EarthRight."
The building includes a green roof, energy efficient lighting, a low-maintenance heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and landscaping that requires minimal watering, the story stated.
The green roof feature of the building is expected to pay for itself within five years because of the energy savings it will promote, the story noted.
Patients are able to see the hard work Family Dentistry did in planning and implementing the green roof with a view of the sedum-covered roof from the dental chair, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Bruce Hultgren, D.D.S, said: "With the changes that we made, we’ve been certified by an organization called EarthRight."
The building includes a green roof, energy efficient lighting, a low-maintenance heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and landscaping that requires minimal watering, the story stated.
The green roof feature of the building is expected to pay for itself within five years because of the energy savings it will promote, the story noted.
Patients are able to see the hard work Family Dentistry did in planning and implementing the green roof with a view of the sedum-covered roof from the dental chair, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Sustainable Prisons Project gains support
LITTLEROCK, WA — The Sustainable Prisons Project, a partnership of the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) and Evergreen State College, began with a pilot program at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in 2004, according to the Examiner.
The aim of the project is to reduce operational costs and the environmental impact of prisons by teaching staff and inmates sustainability skills, the story stated.
There are several projects participants are partaking in, including: A greenhouse and garden which produces roughly 15,000 pounds of vegetables annually, saving more than $17,000 per year; composting and recycling to cut down on landfill waste; and beekeeping, which has added honey to the dining hall menu and created beeswax for the on-site production of lotion, the story noted.
The program stands to serve as a model for other prisons and enforced residential institutions to help scientists conduct and share ecological research to improve the welfare of society as a whole, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The aim of the project is to reduce operational costs and the environmental impact of prisons by teaching staff and inmates sustainability skills, the story stated.
There are several projects participants are partaking in, including: A greenhouse and garden which produces roughly 15,000 pounds of vegetables annually, saving more than $17,000 per year; composting and recycling to cut down on landfill waste; and beekeeping, which has added honey to the dining hall menu and created beeswax for the on-site production of lotion, the story noted.
The program stands to serve as a model for other prisons and enforced residential institutions to help scientists conduct and share ecological research to improve the welfare of society as a whole, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
U.S. Marshals seize sanitizing products from Clarcon
ROY, UTAH — The U.S. Marshals have seized all skin sanitizers and skin protectants at Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory, according to the Associated Press.
According to the story, the seizure came after a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that revealed that there were high levels of potentially disease-causing bacteria in Clarcon products.
The seizure of these finished products, as well as their ingredients, occurred after Clarcon did not agree to promptly destroy them as was requested by the FDA, the story stated.
Deborah Autor, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Office of Compliance, said: "The FDA is committed to taking enforcement action against firms that do not manufacture drugs in accordance with our current good manufacturing practice requirements."
Clarcon produced and distributed over 800,000 bottles of hand-sanitizing products throughout the U.S. since 2007, the story noted.
Some of the bacteria present in the contaminated products can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues and according to the FDA, such infections may need medical or surgical attention and may result in permanent damage, the story added.
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