QuanTEM Chronicles - February 2009
QuanTEM Laboratories
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 A Message from John
Barnett, PresidentHi 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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Lead
Recalls: All Lead Recalls
The U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from
unreasonable risks of serious injury or death. CPSC announces all
recalls on their website http://www.cpsc.gov/. Pictures and
descriptions are taken directly from the recall press releases.
Click on the picture or link to see full descriptions of the
recalled items.
To see pictures and descriptions of
recalled items (especially toys) Click
Here
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Attention: Air-O-Cell
Spore Trap Users
Air-O-Cell
Product Advisory
Monday, December 15,
2008
Zefon
International has received a small number of reports related to lack
of tackiness on the collection adhesive of the Air-O-Cell product.
At Zefon, we take these reports very seriously and have worked to
quickly confirm and identify the problem. We have determined that
there was an intermittent problem on certain cassettes that can be
best described as a significantly reduced shelf life.
We have
identified that Air-O-Cell cassettes manufactured between late July
2008 and early November of 2008 may have this problem.
To
maintain the integrity of the Air-O-Cell product and the confidence
of our customers, Zefon International asks that customers check to
see if they have any product on hand from one of the suspect lot
numbers. If you find that you do have product from one of the
suspected lots, Zefon recommends you stop sampling with product from
that lot number and contact us immediately at 1-800-282-0073 to
arrange immediate replacement of the product at no charge.
We
apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you and greatly
appreciate your assistance in this matter. Your continued support
and confidence in Zefon products is our highest priority and we are
working quickly and diligently to make sure all customers are
notified of this matter.
To find a list of suspect lots
Click
Here
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Researchers find gene that
regulates mold's resistance to drugs
Tuesday, December 2,
2008
Montana State University
scientists concerned about lethal mold infections have found a gene
that regulates the mold's resistance to drugs.
The gene,
called srbA, allows molds to thrive during infections even when
inflammation reduces its oxygen supply, said Robert Cramer, senior
author of a paper published in the Nov. 7 issue of PloS Pathogens.
When the gene is removed, the mold becomes much more vulnerable to
lack of oxygen and can no longer grow to cause disease.
The
gene is found in humans and molds, but the researchers studied it in
a common mold called Aspergillus fumigatus, said Cramer, assistant
professor of fungal pathogenesis in MSU's Department of Veterinary
Molecular Biology. A. fumigatus can invade the lungs and cause
dangerous diseases, including Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis.
Patients with compromised immune systems, especially organ
transplant patients, are particularly at risk.
"The incidence
of potentially lethal infections caused by normally benign molds has
increased tremendously over the last two decades," the researchers
wrote.
Read more about this interesting discovery HERE
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NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product
Safety Commission
Office
of Information and Public
Affairs
Washington, DC 20207
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
October 22, 2007
CPSC Staff Study: Home Lead
Test Kits Unreliable
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced the
results of a special evaluation of consumer lead test kits. CPSC
staff used commonly available test kits on a variety of paints and
other products containing different levels of lead. Many of the
tests performed using the kits did not detect lead when it was there
(false negatives); some indicated lead was present when it was not
(false positives). Of 104 total test results, more than half (56)
were false negatives, and two were false positives. None of the kits
consistently detected lead in products if the lead was covered with
a non-leaded coating. Based on the study consumers should not use
lead test kits to evaluate consumer products for potential lead
hazards. These findings are consistent with previous CPSC staff test
results.
CPSC staff studied two common types of home lead
test kits that are based on chemical reactions involving rhodizonate
ion or sulfide ion. Most test kits were developed to detect levels
of lead in household paint that are usually much higher than CPSC's
regulatory maximum level of 0.06%. As a result, staff found that
these kits may not be useful for detecting relatively low lead paint
concentrations or for detecting lead in other materials, such as
metal jewelry or vinyl products. Also, both types of kits may be
affected by substances such as iron, tin, or dirt, or by paint
colors that can cause the color in the test kit to change or hide
the color change, thereby interfering with interpretation of the
test results.
Find the
policies in full HERE
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Asbestos suit against 58 defendants cites 'Pustejovsky'
decision
1/6/2009 12:16 PM
By Marilyn Tennissen
The wife
of a local refinery worker already received a settlement for a
non-malignant illness allegedly caused by her husband's asbestos
exposure. Now a new suit has been filed on her behalf after she died
from an asbestos-related malignancy.
Denise Clements filed
the suit on behalf of decedent Lola Thomas on Dec. 29, 2008, in
Jefferson County District Court, and names nearly 60 companies as
defendants.
The suit alleges Thomas was exposed through her
husband's employment as a mechanic and laborer where he was required
to work with and around asbestos containing materials.
Mr.
Thomas's exposure "caused him to indirectly expose his wife, Lola
Thomas, in which she suffered from asbestos-related diseases and
other industrial dust diseases caused by breathing the
asbestos-containing products," the suit alleges.
The
plaintiff is now seeking damages pursuant to Pustejovsky v.
Rapid-American Corp., the 2000 Texas Supreme Court ruling that a
victim may file an additional suit for asbestos-related cancer if he
develops a second illness from the same cause at a later
date.
The rest of the story HERE |
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Multi
Layered Asbestos Sample Guidance
There seems
to be confusion among some asbestos consultants as to how
multi-layered samples are handled at the laboratory. The
federal government requires each material found in a sample to be
analyzed separately. A clarification to EPA's asbestos NESHAP
details several examples of different materials (December
1993). Also, OSHA requires each material to be analyzed
separately.
Asbestos inspectors are taught in
their inspection class to identify each "homogeneous area" in a
building. A ""homogeneous area" means an area of surfacing
material, thermal system insulation material, or miscellaneous
material that is uniform in color and texture" (40CFR763.83).
So each different material is a unique homogeneous
area and is required to be analyzed by itself even if other
materials are adhered to it. Some examples:
A floor tile is one homogeneous area and the mastic on the back
is a second homogeneous area.
A plaster skim coat is one homogeneous area and the underlying
"brown" coat is a separate homogeneous area.
The drywall texture over the surface of a gypsum wallboard is
one homogeneous material while the wallboard is a second homogeneous
area and the material found at the joints is a third homogeneous
area.
When your samples are received at the
laboratory, we must analyze each layer (homogeneous area) found
within the sample container unless specifically directed otherwise
by the inspector. So, for example, if you already know the
mastic in a flooring sample is asbestos containing and you only want
the floor tile analyzed - state this on the chain of custody - we
will only analyze the tile.
State in clear terms what
you want the analysts to do (making sure, of course, that your
request is legal). Think of it this way: The chain of
custody is the direct link of your thoughts to our analysts.
And contrary to what you may have heard on the CSI shows, we are not
magicians, mind readers, or miracle workers. So throw us a
bone and give us clear directions. If you have any questions
regarding multi-layered systems or would like a copy of the NESHAP
clarification mentioned above, give us a call.
Jeff
Mlekush
QuanTEM
Laboratories
800-822-1650
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Medical Expert Demands 'Call For Action' with Asbestos
Industrial Manslaughter Cases
Several researchers,
scientists and professors who recently attended the President's
Cancer Panel in September were prompted by a professor of
environmental and occupational health sciences at SUNY Downstate
Medical Center to halt the threat of asbestos among industrial
workers by amending government policy on asbestos and mesothelioma
cancer as well as all carcinogens in the workplace.
Jeanne
Mager Stellman, PhD, explained to the panel of individuals that
"decades had been wasted on examining the problem of carcinogens"
among the workplace and had contributed to the demise of American
workers' health. Dr. Stellman also explained to the panel that the
government was responsible for the "lack of the will to prevent
occupational disease, death and disability" among workers across the
United States.
The President's Cancer Panel is an extension
of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and is derived of experts who
strive to "improve the investment in preventing cancers" that harm
the American people, according to NCI's Web site.
However,
Dr. Stellman, who gave a deposition of industrial carcinogens
claimed that the toxic effects felt by many workers had manifested
through the years and eventually caused the development of cancer
among thousands, and basically stated that the panel was not doing
enough to protect workers from carcinogens such as asbestos in the
workplace.
To read more on this story Click
Here
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