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Consumer Beware! Are you buying toxic lead and phthalates for your children?

envriskjimd — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:16:46 +0000

Buyer Beware! Do you know if you are buying toxic lead and phthalates for your children when you’re buying them toys for Christmas or other holidays?

By now, you’ve likely heard from the media about “tainted” Chinese toys that have lead to huge recalls of various items (toys, clothing, etc).

Now that you, and everyone else is busy with Christmas and holiday shopping, we all need to be aware of the potential for threats from heavy metals and chemicals that can leach from toys we will be purchasing.

Earlier this year a study in the Pediatrics Journal reported on a number of common baby products that may be exposing children to phthalates. Phthalates are used in a number of products as fragrance stabilizers and to keep plastics transparent, flexible and durable.

You may have heard, the federal government passed legislation last year to toughen limits on lead and phthalate levels in toys. Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced, beginning February 10, 2009, consumer products intended for children 12 and under cannot have more than 600 parts per million of lead in any accessible part, which will help reduce childhood exposure to lead.

Of course, the above mentioned legislation is a positive move, but we all know that some products will still make it on the shelves and pose a hazard. Legislation can be helpful as long as enforcement is implement.

Keep in mind, if you make purchases from stores, websites, etc. that sell used toys, at this point, they will not be required to certify their products are within the new federal limits. So, buyer beware.

For more information on environmental or safety topics, please visit our website at http://www.envrisk.com/home.html or contact our professional team of environmental experts at 859-689-9222.

Keep in touch,

Jim Davis, REM
Environmental Risk Management, Inc.

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Do you have potentially toxic PCBs in your caulk?

envriskjimd — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:02:32 +0000

Do you know if you have potentially toxic PCBs in your caulk?

The EPA recently reported PCBs have been found in high levels in building caulk.

PCBs are man-made toxic chemicals which can affect the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. In humans, PCBs are potentially cancer-causing.

The EPA is particularly concerned when PCBs are present during renovation or remodeling activities because these activities increase the potential likelihood of exposure.

If you do not know if your caulk contains PCBs you should treat it as if it does contain PCBs until you have it tested to determine if PCBs are present.

Feel free to contact our office for additional information or to have your caulk tested.

To learn more about our company, please visit our website is http://www.envrisk.com/home.html or contact our professional team of environmental experts at 859-689-9222.

Keep in touch,

Jim Davis, REM
Environmental Risk Management, Inc.

http://envrisk.com/home.html

My LinkedIn profile is http://www.linkedin.com/in/envriskjimd

http://envriskjimd.wordpress.com/

Follow me on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/EnvExpert

http://www.envrisk.com/home.html

Do you know what it takes for you to have eternal life in Heaven? Click here NOW to find out how.

Will renovating your home, office or business make people sick and expose you to major legal liabilities?

envriskjimd — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:22:12 +0000

Another major consideration when renovating any structure is the risk of disturbing building materials that may contain toxic environmental and health/safety hazards such as asbestos, lead paint, mold and PCBs.

When you renovate always be certain to test the areas to be disturbed to ensure you do not contaminate the structure and its occupants. Doing may cause the occupants to become ill and will expose the building owner, the business owner, the business management and the contractor(s) to regulatory (EPA & OSHA), civil and potentially criminal liabilities.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others, please contact our professional team of environmental experts.

Our website is http://www.envrisk.com
My LinkedIn profile is http://www.linkedin.com/in/envriskjimd
Our office number is 859-689-9222.

OSHA issues record breaking $87 MILLION fine to BP!

envriskjimd — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:01:21 +0000

Read about it at http://www.osha.gov/dep/bp/bp.html

EMBRACING IMPERFECTION. Recycled from a friend.

envriskjimd — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:09 +0000

EMBRACING IMPERFECTION

“When I was little, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now & then. I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage, and extremely burned toast in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

Yet all my dad did was reach for his toast, smile at my mom, and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that toast and eat every bite! When I got Up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the toast. And I’ll never forget what he said: ‘Baby, I love burned toast.’

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his toast burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, ‘Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides-a little burnt toast never hurt anyone!’ You know, life is full of imperfect things…..and imperfect people. What I’ve learned over the years is that learning to accept each other’s faults; choosing to celebrate each other’s differences – is the one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing; lasting relationship.

And that’s my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, & the ugly parts of your life & lay them at the feet of GOD. Because in the end, He’s the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where burnt toast isn’t a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship in fact – as understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!!”

“Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket but into your own.”

EPA to recheck Behr neighborhood contamination

envriskjimd — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:09:44 +0000

This is an interesting article. Check it out.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/epa-to-recheck-behr-neighborhood-contamination-307974.html

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Perchloroethylene (PCE) Taints More than 400 Sites in Illinois

envriskjimd — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:27:38 +0000

Earlier this month, the Chicago Tribune reported that, although the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has signed off on cleanups of about 500 dry cleaner sites since the late 1990s, more than 400 polluted locations remain. Dry cleaners have relied on perchloroethylene (PCE) for almost a century, and for much of this time the risks associated with mishandling and improperly disposing of the hazardous chemical were not understood, leaving sites across the country contaminated with PCE, and often putting neighboring properties at risk of migrating plumes. Adding to the problem, many states have regulations to address PCE in soil and groundwater contamination, but stay silent on the vapor intrusion risk PCE can cause. Some states are now seeking to tighten their environmental laws, and sites affected by current or past use as a dry cleaner may be impacted. Illinois, for instance, is looking to force landowners and businesses to evaluate vapor intrusion risks at sites impacted by dry cleaners. Observers are concerned that changes to the state’s regulations could result in the reopening of sites that were cleaned up in the past. For sites that have yet to be cleaned up, it is likely that standards will be much more stringent than they are now, especially for sites near residential areas.

Changes to regulations have been prompted by multiple cases in which homeowners have discovered their homes were sitting on top of PCE plumes for years without their knowledge. Since PCE is a known carcinogen, regulators are beginning to take a harder line on the use of PCE and cleanup when it is misused. In fact, some states are going as far as completely banning the use of PCE at drycleaners. California’s comprehensive ban begins in 2023 and will include several phase-out steps in the meantime. New Jersey recently passed a law that will completely ban the use of PCE in drycleaners that are co-located with residential space this year, and will require a total ban of PCE by 2021. Massachusetts and New York are also considering similar legislation.

Source: EDR Insider

http://www.elabs7.com/functions/message_view.html?mid=834459&mlid=10412&siteid=29083&uid=833814aba3#top_story

Keep in touch,

Jim Davis, REM
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Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation Poses Health Hazard

envriskjimd — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:45:51 +0000

Asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation poses health hazard
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is warning the public and electricians, plumbers and other contractors who perform work in attics about the potential risks of asbestos exposure from contaminated vermiculite insulation. Vermiculite from a Libby, Mont., mine containing asbestos was sold from 1919 to 1990 and used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the United States. EPA’s guidance document
and vermiculite Web page offer ways to help reduce exposure. Source: www.osha.gov and www.epa.gov

How do you know if your company needs an environmental permit?

envriskjimd — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:46:10 +0000

Some basic information for environmental permits …………………………………….

Some environmental laws require you to obtain a environmental permit before you can emit or discharge a pollutant into the air or water, dispose of hazardous waste, or engage in certain regulated activities. Permits are also used by federal, state and local government agencies to implement environmental laws intended to protect specific types of resources such as wetlands or endangered species.

Most environmental permits are issued by state governments.

Commonly Required Permits

Clean Air Act Permits: Most large sources and some smaller sources of air pollution are required to obtain operating permits required by Title V of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Most Title V permits are issued by state and local permitting authorities and are often called Part 70 permits because the regulations that establish minimum standards for state permit programs are found in 40 CFR Part 70. For more information on Clean Air Permits read the Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act, visit the EPA Web Page on Air Permits or read the answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Permits.

Endangered Species: The Endangered Species Act, with some exceptions, prohibits activities affecting threatened and endangered species unless authorized by a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service. Some activities may also require a state permit. Contact your state wildlife agency for additional information.

Wetlands: If you work in or near wetlands, federal, state, and local governments may all have specific permit requirements. At the federal level, the Army Corps of Engineers regulates the discharge of dredged or fill materials into U.S. waters including wetlands under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act;

For those state without EPA permit authorization authority, EPA issues permits for the discharge of pollutants, including waste water and storm water, from a point source pursuant to Section 402 of the Clean Water Act.

State environmental agencies regulate wetlands under various laws such as those pertaining to water pollution, shoreline management and forest practices. Local governments regulate wetlands primarily through zoning and similar ordinances.

RCRA Permits: Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Permits are designed to help ensure the safe treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes. Permits are issued by authorized states or by EPA Regional Offices. For more information, read Hazardous Waste Permitting Process: A Citizens Guide, use EPA’s RCRA Training Module – “Introduction to Permits and Interim Status” or visit the EPA RCRA Permits and Permitting Web Page.

For state regulation in Ohio, visit http://www.epa.state.oh.us/ocapp/sb/publications/permitguide.pdf

For state regulation in Kentucky, visit the DEP Forms and Permits Application Library at

http://www.dep.ky.gov/formsfpermitapp/

For state regulation in Indiana, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/4088.htm

For additional information and for other state resources, go to http://www.business.gov/business-law/environmental-regulations/permits.html

Source: http://www.business.gov/index.html

For more information please contact me at 859-689-9222 or visit our website at www.envrisk.com

3 Families’ File Lawsuits Blaming Florida Hospital Mold for Children’s Deaths

envriskjimd — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:14:38 +0000

The families claim their children died after contracting fungal infections from renovations being performed at the facility.

Our company regularly performs all types of indoor air quality testing including for mold. In my professional opinion, mold poses very serious health threats, especially to infants, elderly, individuals with mold allergies and individuals with suppressed immune systems.

Over exposure to high concentrations of mold can not be taken lightly and in a case like this lawsuit will likely cost over $1,000,000 in legal fees and potentially hundreds of millions if judgments are awarded.

If you think you may possibly have a mold concern be proactive and call a qualified mold testing firm like Environmental Risk Management, Inc. (http://www.envrisk.com) now.

For more on the story go to: http://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/article973023.ece or http://www.claimsjournal.com/news/southeast/2009/02/09/97666.htm