MENOMONIE, WI — After a recent steam pipe leak at the University of Wisconsin at Stout's Harvey Hall exposed insulation believed to contain asbestos, officials quickly addressed concerns about proper containment and other safety issues, according to the Dunn County News.
According to the story, the original leak was found November 12 and abatement was performed two days later.
Classes were held in the room on November 16, but a maintenance worker reported that there were additional questionable areas in close proximity to the portion of the ceiling that was abated and that plastic containment was needed, the story stated.
Doug Mell, director of university communications, said: "We were notified by maintenance that there was a potential small problem with a pipe in the ceiling of Harvey Hall. We had two certified asbestos people who went in to inspect the ceiling. They closed the room, sealed the pipe and then reopened the room. The whole system worked the way it was supposed to. Our written policy was followed to the 'T' and that policy is posted on our website."
Dirty Ducts Cleaning was contracted to perform the asbestos abatement, and upon completing the job, performed an indoor air quality test to ensure the building was safe for occupation, the story noted.
According to the article, it is believed that the contractor missed a spot "about the size of a fingernail," and a trained in-house employee abated the area in question.
Click here to read the complete article.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The growth of green roofs begins down on the farm
MD — Since 1998, Emory Knoll Farms has focused solely on growing plants used in green roofs, according to the Capital.
Millions of small sedums, delosperma and nearly 80 other varieties of green roof plants are grown at Emory Knoll Farms and distributed to more than 400 clients each year, the story stated.
According to the story, Emory Knoll Farms has noted a 70 percent increase in sales over the past five years, something owner Ed Snodgrass says reflects a growing national interest in green roofs.
Snodgrass and his business partner, John Shepley, say they take pride not only in their service and quality of plants, but on "being a resource for the green world as a whole," the story noted.
Snodgrass said: "I went broke dairy farming. We couldn't control the pricing. I had a lot of faith that green roofs would happen, but didn't envision it being this successful."
Through connections in the horticulture world and a few horticulture conferences, Snodgrass, who instantly became fascinated by green roofs, began growing a small number of plants that were used in research; the business grew rapidly from there, the story added.
Millions of small sedums, delosperma and nearly 80 other varieties of green roof plants are grown at Emory Knoll Farms and distributed to more than 400 clients each year, the story stated.
According to the story, Emory Knoll Farms has noted a 70 percent increase in sales over the past five years, something owner Ed Snodgrass says reflects a growing national interest in green roofs.
Snodgrass and his business partner, John Shepley, say they take pride not only in their service and quality of plants, but on "being a resource for the green world as a whole," the story noted.
Snodgrass said: "I went broke dairy farming. We couldn't control the pricing. I had a lot of faith that green roofs would happen, but didn't envision it being this successful."
Through connections in the horticulture world and a few horticulture conferences, Snodgrass, who instantly became fascinated by green roofs, began growing a small number of plants that were used in research; the business grew rapidly from there, the story added.
Study notes 90 percent increase in MRSA cases
PRINCETON, NJ — A recent study by the Princeton Environmental Institute, in connection with the ecology and evolutionary biology department at Princeton University, reports that the number of cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has increased by more than 90 percent over the last decade, according to the Daily Princetonian.
The study, which focused on the spread of MRSA infections from 1999 through 2005, found that as many as 17,280 people infected with MRSA died in 2005, more than the number of people who died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the same year, the story stated.
Researchers found that the percentage of hospital outpatients who reported community-associated MRSA infections had jumped drastically from about 10 percent to roughly 50 percent between 1999 and 2005, the story noted.
Eili Klein, co-author of the study that was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, said: "Every time somebody uses an antibiotic, that reduces the number of times the antibiotic can ever be used because it's going to create resistance."
According to the story, hospital-associated MRSA infections have been more common than community-associated MRSA infections, prompting the need for more extensive and effective cleaning regimens in health care facilities.
Klein, along with the other co-author, Ramanan Laxminarayan, stress that MRSA should be "considered a national priority for disease control," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
The study, which focused on the spread of MRSA infections from 1999 through 2005, found that as many as 17,280 people infected with MRSA died in 2005, more than the number of people who died of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the same year, the story stated.
Researchers found that the percentage of hospital outpatients who reported community-associated MRSA infections had jumped drastically from about 10 percent to roughly 50 percent between 1999 and 2005, the story noted.
Eili Klein, co-author of the study that was published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, said: "Every time somebody uses an antibiotic, that reduces the number of times the antibiotic can ever be used because it's going to create resistance."
According to the story, hospital-associated MRSA infections have been more common than community-associated MRSA infections, prompting the need for more extensive and effective cleaning regimens in health care facilities.
Klein, along with the other co-author, Ramanan Laxminarayan, stress that MRSA should be "considered a national priority for disease control," the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving from Green News 4U
I would like to wish the readers of Green News 4U a Happy Thanksgiving.
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Mel W.
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You can also follow me on:
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_______________________
Mel W.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a global crisis
Recognizing the rapid growth in cases of infection like MRSA and ventilator-associated pneumonia being picked up in hospitals, Kimblery-Clark Healthcare has put together a website called "Not on My Watch" at http://www.haiwatch.com/ to educate patients and healthcare professionals. Their goal is to eliminate these preventable illnesses and their often tragic consequences.
I briefly spoke with Barbra via e-mail and I found this site very useful. I will be pulling some information from this site that will benefit the community. Thanks Again Barbra.
Follow the site here: http://haiwatchnews.com/Crews clean building after four-day student protest
Numerous demonstrators occupied the building for days to protest a 32 percent increase in University of California fees, an increase that was approved to help California's higher education system recoup losses from the recent budget crisis, the story stated.
The cost of the damage and subsequent cleanup remains unknown and it is unlikely that charges will be brought against any of the students involved in the occupation, the story noted.
At least four truckloads of trash and other refuse have been removed from the building, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
Bill seeks to limit phosphorus in cleaning products
According to the article, H.R. 3946 would help protect the Great Lakes by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide the U.S. Congress with recommendations on how to address the problem of high levels of phosphorus in the water system.
Though several states have previously instated similar bans with success, many feel that a national phosphorus limit is necessary, the story stated.
Stupak said: "Healthy Great Lakes ecosystems are vital to the economic and cultural well-being of the state of Michigan. As too many nutrients, including phosphorus, are dumped into our waters, the Great Lakes suffer harmful effects such as algae blooms. This legislation ensures a comprehensive plan to address high levels of phosphorus and protect our Great Lakes for generations to come."
The proposed bill would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to limit cleaning products from containing more than 0.5 percent phosphorus, the story noted.
When too much phosphorus enters the waterways, it causes excessive growth of algae, which, in turn, robs the water of the oxygen aquatic life needs to survive, the story added.
Click here to read the complete article.
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