State Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Jay Costa say its time to close what they call loopholes in Pennsylvania’s law regulating smoking in public places. That would mean ending exemptions for places like casinos and private clubs.Watch the full report in the video player above. “If we cannot count on private businesses to do the right thing, even when it’s the financially smart thing to do, then it’s time for political leaders to step in and insist on the protection of the health of our constituents,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny, 23rd District.Frankel said when casinos were open with pandemic mask requirements, it meant no smoking for gamblers and casinos did not lose revenue. He and Costa argue that the damage to health from secondhand smoke is a danger to casino employees who are faced with exposure while serving smoking customers.Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 sought reaction from Rivers Casino.John Donnelly, counsel to Rivers Casino, said, “It’s a controversial issue. A lot of people, a lot of our patrons do smoke and like to smoke. A lot of patrons don’t like it. It’s a national issue and a local issue, it’s happening all over the country.” Donnelly said Rivers Casino is not taking a stand against or for the proposal to entirely ban smoking in casinos.”We’re a highly regulated industry. The most regulated industry in the country, really. We will abide by whatever the wisdom of Harrisburg is,” Donnelly said.Some casinos elsewhere have decided not to bring back smoking since masking has been lifted.”They’ve not lost revenue, but patrons are continuing to come to those locations. And we need to make sure that not only casinos but other locations are doing the same thing that needs to be done,” Costa, D-Allegheny, and PA Senate Minority Leader, said.Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, “We need to make this same thing happen in our casinos and in other private clubs, that these workers are protected.””Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between their jobs and their health,” Frankel said.Former Rivers Casino employee Nichole Gallagher spoke at the lawmakers’ news conference. She has mild asthma and says she kept developing bronchitis while working as a server to smoking customers.”I worked when I was sick because I had to work and the money was good and I got worse from working in cigarette smoke,” Gallagher said.Molly Pisciottano of the American Lung Association and the Breath Free PA Coalition said lawmakers should close loopholes in the PA Clean Indoor Air Act.”We know people do have the right to breathe clean air and should not be exposed to these harmful toxins can cause lung cancer and exacerbate other lung health issues such as asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),” Pisciottano said.Some smoking and non-smoking gamblers who spoke with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 outside Rivers Casino said they favor having some sort of smoking area available there.”I want to give them a place to go because I’ve actually left a winning machine in a casino, just because somebody was smoking next to me and the smoke was going literally right in my face,” said Peggy Franzese, a non-smoker from Hopewell Township. Mona Spehar, a smoker from Shaler said, “I probably would resort to more online betting if they don’t permit smoking inside.” She said she doesn’t agree with the proposal to pass a tougher law in Pennsylvania.Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 2008. It regulates smoking in public places and workplaces.

PITTSBURGH —

State Rep. Dan Frankel and Sen. Jay Costa say its time to close what they call loopholes in Pennsylvania’s law regulating smoking in public places. That would mean ending exemptions for places like casinos and private clubs.

Watch the full report in the video player above.

“If we cannot count on private businesses to do the right thing, even when it’s the financially smart thing to do, then it’s time for political leaders to step in and insist on the protection of the health of our constituents,” said Frankel, D-Allegheny, 23rd District.

Frankel said when casinos were open with pandemic mask requirements, it meant no smoking for gamblers and casinos did not lose revenue. He and Costa argue that the damage to health from secondhand smoke is a danger to casino employees who are faced with exposure while serving smoking customers.

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 sought reaction from Rivers Casino.

John Donnelly, counsel to Rivers Casino, said, “It’s a controversial issue. A lot of people, a lot of our patrons do smoke and like to smoke. A lot of patrons don’t like it. It’s a national issue and a local issue, it’s happening all over the country.”

Donnelly said Rivers Casino is not taking a stand against or for the proposal to entirely ban smoking in casinos.

“We’re a highly regulated industry. The most regulated industry in the country, really. We will abide by whatever the wisdom of Harrisburg is,” Donnelly said.

Some casinos elsewhere have decided not to bring back smoking since masking has been lifted.

“They’ve not lost revenue, but patrons are continuing to come to those locations. And we need to make sure that not only casinos but other locations are doing the same thing that needs to be done,” Costa, D-Allegheny, and PA Senate Minority Leader, said.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said, “We need to make this same thing happen in our casinos and in other private clubs, that these workers are protected.”

“Pennsylvanians should not have to choose between their jobs and their health,” Frankel said.

Former Rivers Casino employee Nichole Gallagher spoke at the lawmakers’ news conference. She has mild asthma and says she kept developing bronchitis while working as a server to smoking customers.

“I worked when I was sick because I had to work and the money was good and I got worse from working in cigarette smoke,” Gallagher said.

Molly Pisciottano of the American Lung Association and the Breath Free PA Coalition said lawmakers should close loopholes in the PA Clean Indoor Air Act.

“We know people do have the right to breathe clean air and should not be exposed to these harmful toxins can cause lung cancer and exacerbate other lung health issues such as asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease),” Pisciottano said.

Some smoking and non-smoking gamblers who spoke with Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 outside Rivers Casino said they favor having some sort of smoking area available there.

“I want to give them a place to go because I’ve actually left a winning machine in a casino, just because somebody was smoking next to me and the smoke was going literally right in my face,” said Peggy Franzese, a non-smoker from Hopewell Township.

Mona Spehar, a smoker from Shaler said, “I probably would resort to more online betting if they don’t permit smoking inside.”

She said she doesn’t agree with the proposal to pass a tougher law in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act was passed in 2008. It regulates smoking in public places and workplaces.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

• File: Courtney Lamdin ©️ Seven Days

• A sign outside Burlington High School’s Institute Road campus

Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation officials are asking state legislators for a two-year extension on the deadline to test schools for airborne PCBs. They say the extra time will allow them to better support schools that detect contamination from the toxic chemicals, also known as polychlorinated biphenyls .

Last year, lawmakers allocated $4.5 million to test every Vermont school constructed before 1980 for PCBs. The deadline: July 1, 2024. The legislation followed the discovery of airborne PCBs at Burlington High School in the fall of 2020 — as the school district prepared for extensive renovations — that led to the campus’s closure. Last year, Burlington school commissioners voted to raze the existing building and build a new one on the high school’s Institute Road campus.

State officials have prepared for statewide PCB testing by surveying schools to see which ones qualify and contracting with six environmental consulting firms to conduct the work. They’ve also released updated guidance that details what schools must do if certain levels of contaminants are found. 

Lawmakers Pass Historic $7.3 Billion Budget Laden With Stimulus Funds

Lawmakers Pass Historic $7.3 Billion Budget Laden With Stimulus Funds

By Kevin McCallum

Off Message

But in a meeting of the Senate Education Committee last week, DEC Commissioner Peter Walke and senior environmental program manager Patricia Coppolino told lawmakers that the 2024 deadline won’t allow them to provide a personalized response to schools with elevated airborne PCB concentrations.

“I think we set ourselves up for an inability to provide that level of service that Vermonters are going to want in response to the discovery of PCBs in school if  we try to rush the testing process,” Walke told lawmakers.

Of Vermont’s approximately 450 schools, at least 318 qualify for PCB testing because they were constructed or renovated in the days when the chemicals were used in building materials like window caulk, lighting ballasts and tile adhesive. Seventy more schools have yet to respond to the state’s survey that determines their eligibility, Coppolino said.

Tests will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 for each school, Walke said. The full testing process — from figuring out what rooms need to be tested to getting the results back to the community — will take six to eight weeks.

In an interview on Tuesday, Coppolino elaborated on his desire to have the deadline pushed.

“It’s a lot of schools, and it’s technical information, and I want to make sure that staff can have the opportunity to review everything carefully [and] provide considerate responses and assistance to the schools,” Coppolino said. “Just sampling the schools is easy, but it doesn’t take into account what happens if indoor air issues are identified in a school.”

Coppolino said testing will likely begin between April and June of this year. 

In the committee last week, Sen. Brian Campion (D-Bennington) questioned Walke and Coppolino about whether it was wise to draw out the testing process, given that it could potentially mean that students were exposed to harmful chemicals for a longer amount of time. Walke said the DEC would make sure that schools most likely to have contamination — for example, those built during the “heyday” of PCBs, between 1960 and 1980 — would get first priority for testing.

One critical question is how PCB cleanup will be funded. Act 74 gives the DEC authority to require remediation when elevated levels of PCBs are found — but provides no funds.

Last week, Campion urged Walke to reach out to Vermont’s federal delegation to try to secure funds to address any contamination. Walke also floated the idea of working with the attorney general’s office to file litigation to get funding. Monsanto, the sole producer of PCBs in the U.S. from 1935 to 1977, recently paid millions to students, parents and teachers exposed to the chemicals through PCB-laden light ballasts at Sky Valley Education Center in Washington state.

The DEC plans to bring a more detailed timeline for testing to legislators later this spring. Lawmakers would have to pass new legislation in order to extend the testing deadline to 2026. 

Vermont Again Adds New PCB Guidance Ahead of Testing in Schools

Vermont Again Adds New PCB Guidance Ahead of Testing in Schools

By Alison Novak

Off Message

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

A cofounder of Safe Schools Coalition B.C. recently took a carbon-dioxide monitor to Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver.

Jennifer Heighton did this to demonstrate what consumers can do to reduce their likelihood of contracting COVID-19.

Much to Heighton’s delight, two big stores in the mall—the Bay and Nordstrom—scored exceptionally well.

Her best measurement came in the Bay, which had readings of about 500 parts per million on each floor.

Next best was Nordstrom, which clocked in at 535 parts per million.

Heighton used a portable Aranet4 carbon-dioxide monitor, which tracks this gas.

It can be used as a proxy indicator for human-expelled aerosols, which carry the virus that causes COVID-19.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a level of 800 to 1,000 parts per million of carbon dioxide in indoor air.

In the mood for new shoes? Nordstrom at Pacific Centre is keeping the air clean in the midst of a pandemic. Amanda Siebert

The change rooms in the Bay and Nordstrom remained below the ASHRAE threshold but were still higher than levels on the floor.

Many other stores were in the 600 to 750 parts per million range.

Even the food court in Pacific Centre had a decent reading.

However, that was not the case in the food-court washroom, which posed a dreadful reading of 1,412 parts per million.

You can read Heighton’s entire Twitter thread below.

https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963493115916289https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963509519912968https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963541727969281https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963572774207497https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963602545373189https://twitter.com/jheighton3/status/1503963604848062467

One of Heighton’s followers tweeted that Meeku at Metrotown also has a low level of carbon dioxide in the air.

https://twitter.com/ryderseashells/status/1502884049412534274

The B.C. government’s recent decision to scrap indoor mask mandates has upped the ante for shoppers with compromised immune systems. But with these carbon-dioxide monitors, it’s possible to put one’s mind at ease to a certain extent.

According to ES-Canada.com, an Aranet4 carbon-dioxide monitor costs $299 (as of this writing) with delivery in two to six business days.

More
[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

21,000 people die from cancer caused by radon exposure each year in U.S.

March 16, 2022

LENEXA, KAN. (MARCH 16, 2022) – EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister joined Kansas City, Kansas, Mayor and CEO Tyrone Garner and Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas for a special proclamation signing to fight radon exposure and to encourage all citizens to test their homes regularly for the presence of radon. The special ceremony was held on Wednesday, March 16, at Ilius W. Davis Park, 11th and Oak Street, across from City Hall, Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, are both in EPA Radon Zone One, meaning that both cities have the highest potential to have homes test higher than the recommended radon level assigned by EPA.

“This event today is a significant step forward as we work together to limit unnecessary radiation exposure and achieve healthier indoor air quality in homes, especially for vulnerable populations, said McCollister. “We are working with communities to enhance and leverage EPA funding for states to reduce exposure to radon through home testing and mitigation.”

With the signing, the cities of Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, are encouraging the placement of EPA radon posters in city buildings to raise awareness of the cancer risks of radon exposure.

This partnership also challenges local hospitals and medical health networks in the Kansas City metropolitan area to place EPA radon posters in their medical buildings, waiting rooms, and exam rooms to help raise awareness of the importance of radon testing and mitigation to help prevent lung cancer caused by radon exposure.

Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers and is responsible for 21,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. In Kansas and Missouri, one in four homes have elevated levels of radon. The only way to know if your home has elevated levels of radon is to test it. EPA recommends that homes apply some level of mitigation if the radon level is 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or more. Learn more on EPA’s website.

# # #

Learn more about EPA Region 7

View all Region 7 news releases

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

Follow us on Twitter: @EPARegion7

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

In 2018 Camden Council became the first local authority to adopt the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limits for air pollution.

The WHO has subsequently revised its guideline limits to be more stringent, calling for policy makers and regulatory authorities to adopt these in recognition of the impact of air pollution upon human health, both at an individual level and across society as a whole.

The council remains firmly committed to realising the Camden 2025 vision for a borough in which no person experiences poor health as a result of the air they breathe, and it will now align its air quality targets with the new WHO limits. In doing so, Camden becomes the first authority to commit to meeting the new WHO guidelines.

The revised WHO guideline limits are significantly more ambitious than the current UK legal limits for air pollution and meeting these levels will require collective action not only from the Council but from the communities, businesses and other organisations active in Camden, all with a shared vision for a healthier, more sustainable borough.

A new Camden Clean Air Action Plan will be published later this year which will set out the next four years of headline actions and key outcomes towards the WHO targets. The Council will develop the Action Plan collaboratively with communities, businesses, schools and universities, healthcare, and other stakeholders, before publicly consulting on a draft plan in summer and launching the final plan in the autumn.

As well as setting out a pathway to achieving the WHO guideline limits, the Clean Air Action Plan will address the need to tackle the disproportionate impact of air pollution on certain communities and groups. Additionally, the Action Plan will go beyond the legal requirements for council air quality policy and will set out measures to improve indoor air quality and reduce workplace exposure to air pollution in Camden.

Recent air quality projects in the borough include the installation of electric power supplies along the Regent’s Canal as part of the Camden Electric Moorings project, ongoing work to provide clean power for ice cream traders, and an air quality and health awareness campaign as part of the Somers Town Future Neighbourhoods programme.

‘,
‘window.fbAsyncInit = function() {‘,
‘FB.init({‘,
‘appId:’216372371876365′,’,
‘xfbml:true,’,
‘version: ‘v2.6”,
‘});’
];
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.push(‘_ga.trackFacebook();’);
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.push(‘};’);

var ppFacebookSDK = [
‘(function(d, s, id) {‘,
‘var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];’,
‘if (d.getElementById(id)) return;’,
‘js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;’,
‘js.src = “https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js”;’,
‘fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);’,
‘}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));’
];
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK = ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.concat(ppFacebookSDK);
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.push(”);
ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK = ppLoadLater.placeholderFBSDK.join(“n”);

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Bluffton, SC- Family-operated business Ugly Duct Cleaning is helping every home in South Carolina achieve good air quality through its various services.

Ugly Duct Cleaning guarantees five-star quality Air Duct Cleaning Services Bluffton SC. They also specialize in Dryer Vent Cleaning, Dryer Vent Rerouting, Dryer Vent Installation, and Dryer Line Replacement. These cleaning services help eliminate dust, pollens, spores, fungi, and other pollutants in the heating and cooling system. These pollutants can build up in the air duct systems over time and trigger allergies and other respiratory issues.

This is why Ugly Duct Cleaning is a highly recommended professional cleaning service for every home and business. Comprehensive air duct cleaning increases airflow efficiency in a home or the office. “A clean system will run at maximum efficiency and deliver the best value for the owner’s money,” they say. Air duct cleaning also promotes proper oxygenation. In addition, it filters out dangerous pollutants and home odors.

The Air Duct Cleaning Company is proud to share that they use cutting-edge technology in all their services. “We assure you that your air ducts are expertly taken care of,” they add. Apart from having the right equipment, the Ugly Duct Cleaning team also has the best professional team to do the job. They have a team of skilled, trained, capable, and courteous air duct and vent cleaning professionals ready to assist customers anytime.

Ugly Duct Cleaning also features excellent customer service and a strong work ethic. Their priority is customer safety. This is why all their “duckies” or crew are vaccinated, assuring that utmost safety measures are implemented amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The company also ensures social distance when serving consumers. They use masks and sanitizers. Aside from these precautions, Ugly Duct Cleaning also uses an Environmental Protection Agency-approved bacterial solution to combat coronavirus.

Furthermore, the Bluffton company offers free and no-obligation appointments for their customers. The customer may instantly acquire a free quote on their requested services through their website, https://uglyductcleaning.com/. The customer fills out the web form, and the firm contacts them.

“Our mission is to provide our customers with clean, safe, energy-saving dryer vents and exceptional indoor air quality. We achieve this by using trained professionals and state-of-the-art equipment,” the Ugly Duct Cleaning states.

To learn more about Air Duct Cleaning, clients may contact Ugly Duct Cleaning at (843) 816-0537 or email at [email protected]. Ugly Duct company is located at 7 Allyan Court Bluffton, SC 29910.

###

For more information about Ugly Duct Cleaning, contact the company here:

Ugly Duct Cleaning
Ugly Duct Cleaning
843-816-0537
[email protected]
7 Allyan Court Bluffton, SC 29910

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

The new executive leads research and development operations for the air purification company

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / March 16, 2022 / ActivePure, the global leader in continuous surface and air purification, today named Vincent Lyons as its new Chief Technology Officer. Lyons brings over 30 years of engineering and product development experience to the position, expanding the company’s expertise in product innovation in air and surface disinfection. Lyons will be based at the company’s global headquarters in Dallas and report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joe Urso.

In his new role, Lyons will help direct ActivePure’s technology and innovation strategy, manage and implement a technology infrastructure and will play a key role in analyzing trends and innovations that will directly impact the company’s products and performance.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of ActivePure. The addition of Vincent’s enormous talent, intelligence and breadth of experience at this critical time of growth will undoubtedly strengthen our company,” said Urso. “Vincent brings passion, leadership and product development and is the right person to drive ActivePure’s innovation and growth.”

For over three decades, Lyons has been making significant moves in the engineering industry, including his previous position as an engineering leader for Raytheon Technologies. Prior to Raytheon, Lyons spent 10 years as the VP of engineering & technology and president of the machinery & technology group at Leggett. Lyons is well recognized for his work and received the national 1989 Black Engineer of the Year Award.

“ActivePure is the leader in indoor air quality, and I am proud to be joining the team. The company is actively working to advance and expand their line of disinfection devices for air and surfaces. Their work to educate and share the importance of clean air is especially crucial during these times,” said Lyons. “The opportunity to work alongside a team of professionals and industry experts like Dr. Deborah Birx allows me to focus on sharing technology backed by science.”

An Arkansas native, Lyons has worked his way to the top from a senior engineer to his new position in a C-Suite position as ActivePure’s chief technology officer. Lyons’ experience includes working in various fields as an engineer and manager. His hands-on experience extends to the automotive, refrigeration, machinery and product innovation industries.

Lyons attended Stanford University where he graduated with honors with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of the Stanford Society of Black Engineers. He later got his Master of Business Administration in management from the University of Phoenix, graduating with the highest honors.

Over the last two years, ActivePure has significantly increased executive leadership with the addition of new C-Suite-level roles. Patented ActivePure Technology provides 24/7 air and surface disinfection that seeks and reduces pathogens while improving indoor air quality. Devices powered by ActivePure are used worldwide in educational and healthcare institutions, commercial and public facilities, and hospitality and residential applications.

ActivePure is dedicated to innovating and providing products and technologies to seek and reduce safe and clean indoor environments, to create protected indoor air and surfaces. To learn more about ActivePure, visit ActivePure.com or call (888) 217-4316.

ABOUT ACTIVEPURE:
Privately held ActivePure has been the global leader in active, continuous surface and air disinfection systems for health care and educational institutions, commercial and public facilities, hospitality and residential applications since 1924. Patented ActivePure Technology has been proven in independent university and laboratory testing to effectively control and neutralize indoor contaminants. It is the only product in its class recognized by the Space Foundation as Certified Space Technology and inducted into the Space Foundation Hall of Fame. The ActivePure Medical Guardian is registered and cleared as an FDA Class II Medical Device. ActivePure was developed for use in the space program and has since evolved for use in commercial and consumer products used to reduce exposure to pathogens, including RNA and DNA viruses, bacteria and molds, by up to 99.9% in the air and on surfaces. For more information, please visit ActivePure.com or call (888) 217-4316.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jo Trizila, TrizCom Public Relations on behalf of ActivePure
Email: [email protected]
Office: 972-247-1369
Cell/Text: 214-232-0078

Or

Tonie Auer, TrizCom Public Relations on behalf of ActivePure
Email: [email protected]
Office: 972-247-1369
Cell/Text: 817-925-2013

SOURCE: ActivePure Technology

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/693372/ActivePure-Appoints-Vincent-Lyons-as-Chief-Technology-Officer

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Three-quarters of kitchens in low-income homes across 12 major global cities are heavily polluted by cooking emissions, according to research from the University of Surrey and its global partners.

The first-of-its-kind study found that poor ventilation and fuel choices were the most significant contributors to poor air quality in people’s kitchens, but the size of the kitchen and the way food was cooked also mattered. Frying food led to particularly high levels of indoor pollution.

Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of the University of Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), who led the research published in Environment International, said:

“There’s a notable wealth divide when it comes to indoor air quality and also a gender divide, as women are typically disproportionately impacted by pollution caused by cooking, especially in the developing world. This problem must be addressed to improve health and equality.”

The highest average levels of pollution were found in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where kitchens were typically small and people cooked for prolonged periods, often frying food. The cleanest air was found in Medellín, Colombia, due to more space in their kitchens and the use of cleaner cooking fuels.

The way different cuisines are typically cooked also made a difference to air quality in kitchens. The study found that occupants in Dhaka, Nanjing, Dar-es-Salaam and Nairobi spent more than 40 per cent of their cooking time frying, the cooking activity which emits most polluting particles. However, in Cairo, Sulaymaniyah and Akure, roughly two-thirds of cooking time was spent boiling or stewing, which results in fewer particles emitted.

Cooking on charcoal caused the highest levels of kitchen pollution — more than three times the levels when using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). However, the levels of pollution caused by cooking on natural gas were just thirty per cent lower than that of charcoal.

A combination of natural ventilation and mechanical (for example, extractor fans) in Chennai, Cairo and Sulaymaniyah helped halve kitchen pollution, compared with the use of natural ventilation alone in Addis Ababa, Dar-es-Salam and Nairobi.

Professor Kumar said: “Improving airflow, using cleaner fuels, filtering efficiency of cooking hoods, and frying less are all ways to reduce the pollution people breathe from cooking. Around the world, kitchens are often where people congregate, but these findings suggest that cooks should discourage family and friends from being around when they’re cooking.”

The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately four million people die prematurely from illnesses attributed to indoor air pollution caused by polluting stoves operating on solid fuels and kerosene. Exposure to high levels of particulate matter, including that from cooking, has been linked to health conditions including heart disease, pneumonia, stroke, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Next, the research team will further analyse their findings and will develop guidance for reducing exposure to kitchen pollution.

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Surrey. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

Despite this weekend’s winter chill, yesterday’s high-60s temperatures signaled spring’s very welcome arrival to NYC. But along with the approaching Spring Equinox and the glorious sights of sidewalk planter tulips comes a complication — seasonal allergies. Add to that the new joy of wondering whether you have seasonal allergies or COVID-19 and you have a recipe for a very, er, eventful allergy season. But we at W42ST believe that with a quick primer (and above all else, following the advice of medical professionals) we can all breathe easier. 

Urban blossom can be a challenge for urban dwellers. Photo: Phil O’Brien

When is allergy season? 

Spring allergy season begins as temperatures warm and local plants begin to grow again, producing pollen. This period usually begins the second week in March, peaks around Mother’s Day Weekend (Sunday May 8), and fades away in June. 

Which plants trigger allergies in New York City? 

The tiny, cheery flowering buds you encounter along the green patches of Hudson River Park or Central Park are not to blame for your springtime congestion — that falls to maple, elm, and oak trees as well as juniper bushes, the leading sources of allergens in NYC. And in even better news, NYC is not the worst place to be when it comes to allergies — you can thank our concrete jungle where dreams are maaaaaade of and a relative lack of flowering plants compared to more verdant areas of the US. In fact, New York is only #58 in the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s ranking of the 100 Allergy Capitals of the US — take that, Albany (#11)!!!

If you are experiencing The Pollening™, however, check out the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology’s local pollen tracker for daily updates on the tree, weeds, grass, and mold levels in NYC (fun fact: AAAAI’s city tracker is located not far from Hell’s Kitchen at the Fordham University Lincoln Center campus). 

Does climate change make allergy season worse? 

In more unfortunate news, it does. According to a new study from the National Academy of Sciences, warmer temperatures induced by human-activated climate change are the primary contributor to a longer pollen season. As spring weather begins earlier and fall temperatures linger longer, the growing season (and therefore, pollen production) extends with each passing year. 

Climate change has elongated spring and its accompanying pollen. Photos: Climate Central

According to a study of 200 US locations by environmental media institute Climate Central, allergy season has lengthened 82% over the past 50 years. In addition to a longer season, another study found that pollen doubled with the increase of carbon dioxide, creating concerns that allergens could be at disruptive levels by the end of the century without preventative measures to curb emissions. If the US can manage to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord by mid-century, however, the increased severity and prevalence of allergy and asthma attacks is likely to lessen. Another reason to join local sustainability efforts! 

Is it true that even our pets can have allergies?

Yes — our furry friends are just as susceptible to pollen season as we are. Some breeds of dogs, including Terriers, Setters, Labs and Golden Retrievers, English and French Bulldogs, German Shepherds, Pugs, and Shar Peis are more prone to allergic reaction and experience atopic dermatitis, scratching and biting themselves to seek relief. Pet allergies can lead to more than just discomfort, as those who scratch too much may break the skin and incur a secondary infection. If you notice your pet has watery eyes or is excessively scratching or licking, consult with your veterinarian to see if they recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine or another treatment.

Our furry friends can also have allergies at this time of the year. Photo: Channey Tang-Ho/Unsplash

How can I conquer allergy season?

While everyone’s allergy triggers are different, The Mayo Clinic has a thorough guide to surviving allergy season. Their recommendations include: 

• Staying indoors on windy days and avoiding early morning and late evening outdoor activity (when pollen counts are highest)  — the best time to walk outside is right after rain, when pollen has been temporarily washed away 
• After returning home, changing clothes that you’ve worn outside and may contain trace amounts of pollen
• Wearing a pollen mask for outdoor chores (this one should be easy…)
• Preemptively taking allergy medications before going outdoors during the peak of pollen season
• Keeping indoor air dry with a dehumidifier 
• Using HEPA air filters to clean indoor air
• Visiting an allergy specialist or general practitioner for personal medical recommendations

With that, we wish you a pleasant, clear-sinus spring — full of stopping to smell the roses and frolicking in the streets of Hell’s Kitchen! 

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here

How can building technology help UK hospitals save lives, while simultaneously cutting costs and achieving net zero?

In October 2020, the UK’s National Health Service released its ambitious strategy [PDF] to become the world’s first ‘net zero’ national health service. Even amid the myriad pressures of coronavirus, NHS chief executive Simon Stevens made clear that the climate emergency is one of the most significant health issues to be tackled. In his words: “With poor environmental health contributing to major diseases, including cardiac problems, asthma and cancer, our efforts must be accelerated.”

As the largest employer in Britain, responsible for around 4 per cent of the nation’s carbon emissions, it is clear that the will for a net-zero NHS is there. At the same time, with an ageing population and constant concerns over the costs of delivering high-quality care, the NHS is facing a perfect storm of challenges. What, then, is the relationship between net-zero strategies and the NHS’s other competing priorities? Is there a way healthcare leaders could deliver the triumvirate of patient health, public value and global sustainability?

Could the answer lie in setting a new standard in the UK’s ageing healthcare infrastructure through technical innovation?

With Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and other rapidly developing technologies, hospitals and healthcare facilities have the potential to be truly intelligent, able to sense the needs of the users and respond accordingly. A smart building uses the data generated by IoT-enabled equipment and that gleaned from external sources to allow performance-enhancing, energy-saving decision making. In the context of smart hospitals, the benefits of such approaches are multifaceted.

From ensuring clean air quality to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, incorporating smart systems can reduce friction and improve communications. Such technologies reduce costs while enhancing patient and staff satisfaction, patient care, and quality.

Smart IoT technologies can also enhance patient and clinician experiences; reducing queues, controlling lighting and heating, delivering automatic check-in, tracking of equipment and cleaning. Dignified patient and life care are non-negotiable, and the development of patient-centred care through strategic, smart technology integration results in a safe and enhanced healthcare experience for patients.

In the age of Covid, there is a fresh impetus on smart-building design to incorporate clear-air technology to ensure safe, ventilated spaces. Given the average person spends 90 per cent of their day indoors, indoor air exacts huge control on our general state of health.

Viruses like Covid-19 can spread much faster in poorly ventilated indoor spaces. Achieving optimum ventilation levels while reducing energy use relies on measuring and controlling occupancy and internal air quality (IAQ). Balancing occupancy, sustainability and IAQ can be done through smart-building technology, reducing the risk of airborne viruses spreading. Not only that, but smart HVAC using UV can tackle disinfection. At the same time, airborne isolation rooms can use technology to subtly control air pressure to ensure correct airflow.

It is well established that creating and maintaining a standard for air quality can significantly improve comfort and productivity and overall can help set the right mood for work, learning, wellbeing and beyond. Coronavirus has prompted us all to rethink what we want and need for health and happiness in the spaces we occupy from day to day. Now is a clear opportunity to act on these impulses and make our environments future fit. 

Smart technologies are at the centre of sustainability discussions across varied industries. Digitalisation, decarbonisation and renewable energy goals go hand-in-hand. Healthcare organisations cannot implement zero-carbon and renewable energy goals for their facilities without discussing the digital technology essential to achieving building and operational efficiencies.

As identified by the NHS itself, digital transformation provides ripe opportunities for net-zero through digitising its estate and investing in smart hospitals. Through the use of intelligent, real-time energy monitoring and control, including the use of artificial intelligence, the NHS suggests a 2.3 per cent reduction in carbon emissions could be achieved, alongside a net annual saving of £120m by 2034.

Implementing sustainable infrastructure benefits more than just the environment. Building decarbonisation reduces operational costs by optimising equipment and lighting strategies – the biggest consumers of energy and budget – through preventative and predictive maintenance programmes.

What’s more, increased infrastructure resilience provides hospitals and healthcare facilities with a longer lifespan, requiring fewer energy-consuming upgrades and retrofits. Next-generation building automation – intelligent, data-enabled automation and related controls – make it possible to extend automated control to every building system. Automated HVAC, lighting, security and detection can be optimised to ensure energy efficiency based on real-time data and user needs.

The case for smart hospitals is clear, but delivering on this promise can feel like a challenge for a nationwide organisation with such varied estates and varied needs. The NHS has been responsive to this challenge, with a national framework agreement for the provision of smart-building solutions using the Internet of Things.

The framework will advance plans to support the delivery of smart hospitals, enabling local authorities and wider public bodies to more readily procure smart-building technologies, providing time- and money-saving efficiencies. The solutions represent a profound step-change in the ambition to set a new standard in the UK’s ageing healthcare infrastructure through technical innovation.

With the NHS multi-supplier framework, public bodies now have the opportunity to tap into innovative buildings solutions that enable automated monitoring and control of energy use, building occupancy, and asset visibility. Led by The Countess of Chester Commercial Hospital Procurement Services, the framework will drive the transformation of smart hospitals, creating world-class facilities fit for the future and improving efficiency through data-enabled solutions that respond to the needs of patients, staff and visitors.

To stand a chance of hitting net-zero targets, energy-intensive estates such as hospitals must embrace smart technologies. An energy-optimised building costs less to run, delivering maximum energy efficiencies and transforming user experiences. In a sector facing so many challenges, smart technologies can provide holistic solutions that go beyond single-win strategies.

Mark Bouldin is clean air expert at Johnson Controls.

Sign up to the E&T News e-mail to get great stories like this delivered to your inbox every day.

[ad_2]

Originally Appeared Here