QuanTEM Chronicles - November 2008
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A Message from John Barnett,
President/CEO
Hi friends,
It seems to me that the Thanksgiving Season often gets lost somewhere
between Halloween and gift buying. That's too bad, because Thanksgiving is
maybe one of the most important parts of our lives.
It doesn't matter what your religion is, what your background is, or where
you grew up. It doesn't even matter what your political views are.
All that matters is that we each stop and take a minute to consider what we
have. I don't know how high money ranks, but I know family and friends
are most likely at the top of the list. Maybe the fact that we have a
job or a business is a reason for being grateful. I had an uncle who
was blind and although he could do amazing things I can't think about him
without being grateful for my eye sight.
Also, I'm very grateful for you, our friends and fellow environmental
professionals. Working with you is what makes this business
rewarding.
Thanks for being a friend.
John E. Barnett
President
QuanTEM Laboratories, LLC
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QuanTEM's
Christmas Family
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Dear
QuanTEM Customers:
The holiday season is once again upon us, and with all the fuss and fury it
is so hard to keep the Christmas Spirit. But QuanTEM has found that
Spirit and a way to spread it around. Every year QuanTEM provides
families with much needed Christmas Cheer.
One of the hardest things for a parent is not being able to see the joy of
Christmas on their children's faces, because they can not afford gifts such
as nice clothes, school supplies, toys or even a wholesome meal at times.
So our employees donate items and money, and they buy bikes,
educational toys, computers, clothes and food, etc. so that these families
can celebrate the season when otherwise they would not be able to do so.
But this year the economy is taking its
toll on all of us. So we are asking you, our customers, to help by
donating to this worthy cause.
Although not tax deductible, the result is very rewarding. If you
would like to donate, please make your check out to QuanTEM Laboratories
and mark it: For the Christmas Families.
Here are some of the families we have helped in the past years:
Dad and Mom with 3 children. Dad was injured and could not work.
Single Mom with 3 children.
Dad and Mom with 4 children. Dad had lost his job.
Grandmother raising her 5 grandchildren.
To keep this tradition going, your help would be greatly appreciated by our
Christmas Families and us. Every little bit helps, and we will keep
you informed by emailing you and telling you about the families that we
have helped this year.
Thanks,
Your QuanTEM Staff.
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AIHA Survey Names Top Occupational And Environmental Health And Safety
Issues
November
12, 2008
Fairfax, VA - The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
recently announced the results of its biennial membership survey that
projects the top public policy issues of concern to AIHA members and the
occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) profession over the
next two years.
"This list of policy issues allows AIHA to focus our efforts on the
priorities of our members," said AIHA President Lindsay E. Booher,
CIH, CSP. "Industrial hygienists and other OEHS professionals are on
the front line of worker safety and public health, and these regulatory and
legislative issues have a key impact on the work that they perform."
AIHA has identified the following as the top public policy issues for
2009-2010:
Find the policies in full HERE
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Judge
in Detroit tosses asbestos case
testimony
DETROIT - A Wayne
County judge has
thrown out medical evidence and expert testimony in asbestos litigation
from a doctor who diagnosed thousands of patients with asbestos-related
ailments.
Circuit Judge Robert Colombo Jr.'s ruling Wednesday involves Dr. R. Michael
Kelly, a Lansing
internist and occupational medicine specialist. Colombo ruled standards related to expert
testimony weren't met.
The Detroit Free Press reports the ruling could put more than 2,000
asbestos lawsuits on Colombo's
docket in jeopardy, since cases that used Kelly as an expert for diagnosis
would need to find new experts.
Kelly testified that his methods were exact and radiologists not
experienced in diagnosing asbestos disease could overlook the indicators he
saw.
Read the reasons why he was discredited HERE
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Mold forces home
foreclosure
Knoxville,
TENN. (WVLT) -- A West Knoxville
family says mold has ruined their health, home, and finances. So much so,
the House family says it's forced them into foreclosure. But they're not
alone.
Tennessee now ranks 18th in the nation when it comes to the
number of home foreclosures, according to the online foreclosure tracking
company RealtyTrac. The company says 1 in every 504 Sevier county housing
units were foreclosed on in October, which is the third highest rate in the
state.
The House family bought a brand new home nearly two and half years ago, and
they say they've battled mold problems just about ever since.
Now, they've given up that battle and their home.
Full coverage HERE
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EPA Asbestos Standards Weakened
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to ignore the
recommendations of its own scientific advisory panel on asbestos exposure.
In August 2008, the agency's Scientific Advisory Board issued a report
strongly urging the EPA not to change how it determines health risks to
workers from exposure to asbestos. Earlier in the summer the EPA held
hearings on its proposal to change how it would evaluate the hazard of
chrysotile, the commonest form of asbestos, at Superfund sites.
Asbestos fibers occur in two basic forms: amphiboles, which are straight
needle-like fibers, and serpentine asbestos, whose fibers are curled and
more flexible. Chrysotile or white asbestos is the most commonly
encountered form of asbestos, accounting for approximately 95% of the
asbestos in place in the United
States, and the commonest means of
exposure for workers in industries which use asbestos.
Early studies had suggested that only amphiboles caused cancer.
Considerable epidemiological research has established that inhalation of
Chrysotile fibers, which are serpentine, can cause mesothelioma.
The hearings, held by the EPA's panel of 20 scientists, were to gather
testimony about changes the agency was proposing in the way it measured
chrysotile concentrations. The changes were made in response to pressure
from industries which still manufacture or use asbestos, and also from the
White House. The changes would have ignored decades of solid
epidemiological studies documenting the high toxicity of chrysotile.
The
rest of the story HERE
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Mold
spot checks ensure only chaos
By Michael A. Smith
The Daily News Published November
18, 2008
If we were to spend a year carefully devising a policy to drive ordinary
working people and small, independent businesses off the island, we doubt
we could improve on the program the city has under way.
The latest example occurred
Thursday when a majority of Galveston City Council declined to give property
owners a small break on building permits.
At issue was whether to waive the
permit requirement for people needing to hang drywall. Council members
Tarris Woods and Danny Weber voted for the waiver. Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas,
council members Karen Mahoney, Elizabeth Beeton, Linda Colbert and Susan
Fennewald voted against.
The story from the Galveston County Daily News
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N Dakota Department Of Health
Department Cautions Residents About The Dangers Of Lead-Based Paint
In conjunction
with Home Indoor Air Quality Month, the North Dakota Department of Health
is cautioning residents about the dangers of lead-based paint. Governor
John Hoeven has proclaimed October 2008 as Home Indoor Air Quality Month to
encourage North Dakotans to learn more
about indoor air quality issues.
You can get more details HERE
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