Mold in libraries is no small matter; just ask the staff of the Carnegie Library in our nation’s capital. In order to protect patrons and employees from potential harm due to mold-related IAQ problems, the Washington, DC building was closed for nearly four months beginning in September of last year while indoor air quality and mold remediation efforts were underway.
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Back in 1903, German coffee merchant, Ludwig Roselius, invented the first commercially effective decaffeination method. The “Roselius Process” blended steamed coffee beans with a brine solution then coated the mix in a natural chemical solvent to extract the caffeine. Though successful, the practice was no longer used once the extraction compound was deemed unsafe.
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Ski Equipment Manufacturing, Indoor Air Quality, and Occupational Risks Snow skiing. Once used as a method for hunting game on snow and ice, the activity was built out of necessity, not for sport or exercise. Modern skiing, however, began as a recreational endeavor. In 1849 the first public ski tour was organized in Norway. Less Read More
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In the last 20 years, craft brews have amassed a following that would have been unimaginable back when our Founding Fathers briefly entertained the idea to create a federal brewery to curb the growing popularity of spirits with the American public. Though the idea was eventually dismissed, malt beverages remained a favorite among the signers of the Declaration Of Independence. So much so, that when Thomas Jefferson retired from public service, he engaged in the art of beer making full-time. President Jefferson and his wife used hops and malts grown near their Monticello estate and developed their first bottled home brew in 1812.
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The energy crisis during the 1970s created a need for environmental reform. Among other topics, indoor air quality became a line item on the agenda for change. Today, workplace IAQ broadly refers to the quality of air in any place of employment.
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Walk into most shopping malls and you’ll find a feast for the senses. Soothing music piped in to relax; lighting meant to please. The smells from food court staples like fresh baked cookies and waffle ice cream cones are expected to rouse your appetite while scents drifting from department store cosmetic counters are emitted so as to calm and drive you to buy things. For many people, these efforts prove successful. They browse. They eat and socialize. They shop.
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Cancer. The word evokes many feelings in people, sadness and fear top the list. It’s no wonder. On a global scale, nearly 13 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries, including the United States.
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In the early 20th century, public awareness of occupational-related illnesses was not yet a reality, but advocacy for the safety of US laborers was beginning to grow. Physicians, research scientists, and medical experts began documenting worker health problems. Pioneers of the labor-advocacy movement led efforts to improve industrial hygiene after finding conclusive evidence linking worker Read More
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More than a half a million people work in laboratories across America. No matter their field of scientific study, lab workers can be exposed to occupational hazards whether chemical, biological or radioactive in nature.
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For centuries, cobalt has been used to produce brilliant blue colors in glass, porcelain, pottery, tiles and enamels. This brittle, reflective gray compound found within the earth’s crust also plays a vital role in the health of humans and animals
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