What do you know about hazardous waste?

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Hazardous Debris After Hurricanes

Hurricanes bring out the worst in hazardous waste. Flooding takes out power lines and other electrical equipment, overloads sewage and storm drains, brakes buildings, releases dangerous animals, causes gas leaks (storage tanks, etc.), releases/picks up harmful chemicals and substances like lead, batteries, or e-coli, and more. Anything in and around town is up for grabs by the tempestuous waves of water collecting every bit of garbage, every leak or spill, and making the water absolutely unsafe to swim in or drink.

Can you imagine a day without water?

No water for drinking, washing hands, taking a shower, flushing the toilet, cooking, etc. Is your neighborhood prepared for a day+ without water?

We all know water is essential to life, human health, and our economy. Natural disasters like tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes, along with old infrastructure among other things can really destroy a communities chances for getting back on its feet. Being prepared as a community and having an action plan will provide better chances for rapid recovery.

http://images.sciencedaily.com/2013/04/130409095410-large.jpg

Is it safe?

How do I know whether my water is drinkable or not?

If it is contaminated, it should not be used for drinking, washing, making ice, brushing teeth, washing or preparing food, etc. Many boil water until they are certain that harmful microorganisms are removed. How do contaminants (germs and chemicals) get into my drinking water? Since there are many, I will only list the most common sources of contaminants (pollutants):

Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (e.g. arsenic, radon, uranium, excessive sediments)
Local land use practices (fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, etc.)
Manufacturing processes
Sewer overflows
Malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems (e.g. nearby septic systems)

Many contaminants that are harmful to human health are regulated by the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). They pretty much put a limit on what can be polluted, but it is always higher than the actual amount or concentration that could harm us.

Dealing with debris and broken buildings is almost anyone's job, but along with the National Guard, the Red Cross, and amazing people all over the United States, the EPA is also heavily involved as there is an environmental degradation issue. We as citizens also have a responsibility. We may not be able to control mother nature, but we can prevent the majority of contamination issues as a result of precipitation and hurricanes.

For example, Hurricane Sandy stirred up pollution and debris that not only threatened human health, but also the coastal waters, which is another ecosystem in and of itself. Many of these sites turn into Superfund sites, where the government comes in and cleans up this "toxic soup" of a mess. Surprisingly, sediments are one of the top pollutants. Have you ever thought or heard of that? Well it is easy to understand when you think about how much we have altered the land's surface. With deforestation, farming practices, urbanization, etc. more soil erosion is occurring and more sediments get dumped into our streams and rivers and eventually the ocean. Sediment particles are very good at adsorbing chemicals on their surfaces and carrying them down to be dumped into the Gulf of Mexico or the Chesapeake Bay (for example).

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Storm Drain Project

Purpose of a storm drain (drainage system): to remove excess rainwater from paved streets, parking lots, etc., to decrease the chance of flooding.

Hopefully we all know the basics of surface runoff. Urban sprawl includes more buildings and roads, yes, but this includes more impervious surfaces (surface runoff can also occur in super-saturated soils). Here in Bloomington/Normal, Illinois most of the streams in and around the "twin cities" are lined. Having cement lined streams like Sugar Creek is nice in the sense that the nasty stuff we find dumped on the roadside and sidewalks that act as waste and potential water contaminants will less likely enter the groundwater...

The problem with this is that with impervious surfaces in town, eventually downstream will no longer have cement to act as a barrier. On its trip through town, the creek has collected nasty cigarette butts, oil leaks, discarded milk and other harmful trash. This waste water is then dumped out on the south end of town full of high loads of fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc.

What prevents all of this concentrated nasty storm water from entering the unsaturated zone and therefore groundwater aquifers?

This project is focusing on a relatively small study area around the Bone Student Center and Milner Library, the majority of the project is boxed in from the four streets surrounding the campus buildings (minus the church property). There are more than 100 storm drains located in this ~14 acre area and all of it ends up in Sugar Creek.

Bing Map of Bloomington/Normal, IL with the study site within the red box and the outsource of stormwater into Sugar Creek.

Tasks: Find the direction of stormwater flow into each storm drain and go out during or after a storm event to see which drains gain the majority of the surface runoff and take photos of any potentially hazardous sites where there is garbage or spills entering the drains.

September 4 2014 - Gasoline Leak

9.4.14 08:14 In Bone Parking Lot facing south toward the Bone Student Center - gasoline spill/leak

9.4.14 08:14 In Bone Parking Lot facing south toward the Bone Student Center - gasoline spill

9.4.14 08:15 In Bone Parking Lot facing south toward the Bone Student Center - gasoline leak

September 4, 2014 - Oil & Trash Leak

9.4.14 09.21 N of BONE Student Center facing west - Spill into drain (container is open at the top, precipitation will enter and wash through, picking up all nastiness inside)

9.4.14 09.22 N of BONE Student Center facing west - Source of spill

September 4, 2014 - Spill & Trash

9.4.14 09.33 N Milner Library Loading Dock facing east - Spill and garbage

9.4.14 09.33 N Milner Library Loading Dock facing north - Spill and garbage

9.4.14 09.33 N Milner Library Loading Dock facing northeast - Covered containers, no evidence of spills

9.4.14 09.33 N Milner Library Loading Dock facing north - Corrosive materials, what are these used for?

Sugar Creek has minor water quality issues, but as you saw in the map, it goes right through town and collects all of our solid and liquid wastes. Eventually it will end up in our soil and percolate through the subsurface. Soils, as well as water bodies, can get contaminated and are actually harder to remediate.

Further Research:

Combined Sewer Overflows
Many counties still have these older sewer drainage systems that no longer work because of increasing population, housing, and businesses all sharing a system meant for a much smaller dependence. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/cso.html

Difference between Sanitary and Storm Sewers
http://www.grand-ledge.com/pdf/GLRC.Storm%20vs.%20sanitary%20sewer%20article.pdf

Climate Change

Climate Summit

So, this semester I was busy with my internship preparing for Winona State's first Climate Summit!
It had begun in Bolivia when their Chacaltaya glacier (used to be the world's largest ski run located in the Andes Mountains) completely disappeared in ~2009. They decided something needed to be done and people needed to be aware that their actions were inducing an increase of greenhouse gas emissions which not only endangers the lives of polar bears and people from sea level rise, but also threatens the survival of people dependent on the freshwater springs that glaciers provide.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30832182@N03/8705013754/in/photostream/lightbox/

During the internship we had the opportunity to see real examples of what the effects of climate change were on health, declining water resources, contamination of water quality (due to sea level rise and salination of groundwater aquifers) and health effects.

Climate Change seems to be highly debated, but in fact, all of the scientists, statisticians, and researchers agree. The only folks who don't agree, are those who simply do not understand what it is or prefer to be ignorant of the issues climate change creates so they do not have to deal with the consequences and responsibilities.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30832182@N03/8705013772/in/photostream/lightbox/

I thought one of the best videos about relaying information to a broad audience came from scientist Anthony Leiserowitz, (a director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication who specializes in the psychology of risk perception) who spoke on Bill Moyers show. He describes his efforts to stimulate people to action over what could be seen as "the greatest single threat facing humanity" and gives great examples for how to change communities' behavior to make a difference.

It is called "End the Silence".

So, what can we do?

*Use less electricity, or at least waste less. Sun is a free light and heat source, use it when you can and you'll save your energy bill and overall lifetime of appliances.

*Improve vehicle fuel-efficiency either by personally changing driving habits or getting a car that doesn't suck your money out of your pockets and is fuel-efficient.

*Conserve energy at the workplace, home, your yard, etc.

At Home At Office At School On The Road

Monday, November 12, 2012

Waterborne and Water-Related Diseases

Like any normal water flea, Georgia enjoyed midnight swims and doing water exercises in quiet pools of water. Unbeknown to her, she houses a microscopic larva called the guinea worm. An elderly man enters the pool for a few laps. While performing the front stroke he gasps and swallows some pool water. Along with the chlorine, he ingests our friend Georgia and her baby parasite. The stomach acid in his body dissolved the water flea and the worm larva migrates down to the connective tissue, finding some soft cavity of flesh to burrow into.

It begins growing. And growing.

A year goes by and the old man continues golfing and playing with his grandchildren while growing deeper laugh wrinkles around the eyes. The full sized guinea worm has now grown as tall as his three year-old granddaughter. Being so large, cramped inside a human body is no place for an adult guinea worm. The parasite tunnels through to the surface of the skin and creates a blister along with a burning sensation. This makes the old man want to dunk his leg into some water. This is exactly what the worm wants. When it senses that the limb is immersed, the worm wriggles through, pokes its head out of the blister, and releases a milky cocktail into the water, containing hundreds of thousands new larvae. More Georgias promptly eat them and the process starts all over again.

http://www.redpepper.co.ug/?p=1065

This is just one type of parasite one may find in your backyard.

Pathogenic microorganisms, also known as disease producing bacteria, viruses and parasites that enter water through defecation by swimmers or the flooding of sewage drains can cause serious health damage. Several problems include paralysis, heart inflammation, fever and diarrhea. Parasites vary from tiny, one-celled protozoa to multi-cellular worms that can easily be seen ranging from 1 micrometer to 2 meters long. They can be consumed from contaminated food or water, a bug bite or sexual contact. They live protected in other host bodies such as fish, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, snails or humans and either manipulate, mutilate, or consume nutrients from us. Some choose a permanent host and others go through different stages of growth or feeding in different hosts.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/malaria.htm

No one likes mosquitoes. Not only do they spread horrifying diseases like malaria, caused by injecting the parasite Plasmodium into our bodies therefore disrupting the blood supply to vital organs and causing fevers, comas or death, but these dirty needles also inoculate filarial worms. Spending a year maturing in our bodies, these worms finally move into the lymphatic system. Doesn’t sound so bad, right? Well, here’s the kicker. The lymphatic system is the part of the circulatory system responsible for allowing our excess fluids to keep moving out of our body. When the worms clog it up, causing vessels near the lymph nodes to become obstructed and inflamed, tissue starts inflating like a hot air balloon. As a result and the addition of gravity, we find ourselves with unbearable enlargements of our legs and genitalia. In conjunction with this condition’s common name Elephantitis, we can now lumber around as human elephants, our skin billowing out and folding over itself. This might be a stretch, but we probably could have replaced the rock monster in the fight against Tim Allen’s character from Galaxy Quest.

When considering malaria, yellow fever, Dengue fever, or cholera, most often a picture of a wild tropical jungle swarming with thirsty mosquitoes or the dirty brown surface waters of many African countries. The climate and humidity is optimal but it is not restricted to conditions in the tropics for disease spreading organisms. Serious epidemics have occurred worldwide since ancient times to the present day Haiti cholera outbreak. Not all cases result in death. In some cases no symptoms of the disease are seen.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/typhoid-mary-villain-or-victim.html

MaryMallon had never intended to inflict pain, but she was a murderer. By the age of 32 she had killed her first victim, an innocent laundress. In her eyes she was completely innocent and no one was going to convince her otherwise.

Mary was born in Cookstown, Ireland in 1869. When she was 15 years old she immigrated to the United States and became a cook in New York City. From 1900 to 1907 Mary had a hard time keeping a job. She would move from family to family leaving a trail of ill household members in her wake. Mary had always been a healthy girl and during her time spent in the U.S. she maintained a deceptively healthy appearance.

Her life became this predictable pattern of getting hired, infecting people and quitting her job. Three weeks after being hired by a family, a number of residents would develop seriously high fevers. She would then leave about three weeks after the outbreak occurred. Her short stay in each home was either due to her removal or the wise choice to leave before the family chose to fire her. In a period of 6 years she had left eight or more homes with members suffering from fevers, diarrhea and even death. These were cases of typhoid fever.

Typhoid is an illness spread by bacteria called Salmonellatyphi. Salmonella, like tropical Mike and Ikes, is consumed by many who have contaminated water, drink or food. In the early 1900s an estimated 3,000 to 4,500 new cases of typhoid fever were reported in NYC. 3% of typhoid victims became carriers, which meant that there were around 100 new carriers each year. Mary Mallon was one of them. Unknowingly Mary was the host of a hungry hoard of bacteria. Like the ship she took to reach the shores of the United States, she was shipping multitudes of bacteria to the expectant mouths of those she cooked for.

The seemingly harmless act of preparing a meal was the source of severe diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, delirium, hallucinations and bloody stools for many who depended on her for their source of nutrition. Once consumed, this infection traveled, carried by white blood cells, into the intestines then into the bloodstream where they get to the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Salmonella typhi multiplied in the cells of these organs then reentered the bloodstream. Invading the biliary system, gallbladder and lymphatic tissues of the bowels, they continued to release bacteria in body waste for years.

An investigation was made of the outbreaks and Mary was found to have a rare case of typhoid fever that showed no external effects. Forever remembered as Typhoid Mary, Mary Mallon had the best opportunity to infect people. As a cook in the 1900s, she made the mistake of not washing her hands thoroughly and many suffered as a result.

From a young age we are taught to wash our hands after using the toilet and before preparing food. In many developing countries there may not be clean water to wash with or drink, but even in areas that have appropriate sewage disposal, health education, proper hygiene and good sanitation may have the same issues from natural disasters such as flooding.

Those of us most likely at risk of parasites or waterborne diseases include young children, those with weaker immune systems, daycare providers, International travelers, hikers, campers or anyone else who drinks untreated or contaminated water whether it be while swimming in lakes or rivers or simply using ice cubes in your soda. There are many waterborne diseases caused by human or animal excrement, but it would be a crime to neglect those caused from chemical pollutants such as fertilizers, pesticides or heavy metals such as lead from pipes.

Nitrates, phosphates, lead and so many other chemicals in high concentrations can be quite harmful to our health. Water is rarely a huge source of lead exposure unless the pipes used are old. Unto this day, there is still no known biological benefit of lead metal to humans. Too much can damage the kidneys along with the nervous and reproductive systems. Consumption could lead to high blood pressure or even anemia, an insufficient amount of red blood cells and transported oxygen to the body’s tissues. Young children or those of us with weaker immune systems may develop learning disabilities, mental retardation, convulsions, comas or possibly death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_baby_syndrome

Nitrates are even worse because it is much more frequent and causes “blue baby” disease. If there are too much fertilizer added that isn’t taken up by plants, it ends up in the groundwater. If babies drink water that contains too much, they will lose oxygen flow to their brains and can cause pulmonary disease (chronic obstructive airway), cardiac failure, severe hypoxemia, death.

Of these waterborne and water-related diseases, the bacteria causing diseases are probably easily cured through the use of antibiotics, unless they adapt and become immune. The most sustainable and sensible way to prevent these diseases is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Some ways to prevent microorganisms from contaminating your body or water source is through vaccines (oral and injectable), purifying water, having good hygiene and sanitation. Health education is crucial for all ages whether it concerns washing a child’s hands or helping a farmer know the optimal amount of fertilizer that his crop can handle so there is no excess.

River Blindness

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/onchocerciasis/

How To Purify Water

http://www.wikihow.com/Purify-Water

During An Emergency

http://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/EmergencyPreparednessandResponse/Factsheets/WaterPurification.aspx

http://www.cartercenter.org/health/river_blindness/index.html

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Recycling Jobs

As you may know, I have a minor in Sustainability and my house-mates and I are die hard recycle-manias, have our own vegetable and herb garden, as well as our own compost bucket.

http://facilities.ucsb.edu/departments/recycling/faq/default.asp

In Winona, we have switched to a recycling system where they (the city of Winona) sort out your recyclables for you. I was thinking the other day how nice it is to put all of the recycling bottles, cans, boxes, papers, etc. in one place as it is easier for more people to recycle. Then I considered those who actually end up doing the sorting. According to Recycling Jobs Now Even Dirtier and More Dangerous, the workplace they sort the materials is unsafe, dirty, and doesn't pay much. Also according to a Forbes article, sanitation and recycling employees have the 7th most dangerous job in the U.S. with "25 deaths per 100,00 workers." This is because they breathe in toxins and if they cut themselves on the job, they risk infection or contamination as it is all done by hand.

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/s4iT0RSlXfk/Volunteers+Begin+Clean+Up+After+137+000+Fans/PNTL32UO9p7

I think there should be (if it hasn't already been done), a Dirty Jobs episode about those who have this job. Maybe that would spark some simpathy as they aren't getting paid nearly as much as they should. You would think, along with other dangerous jobs, that they would get paid more for their labor and risking their health and lives. I really appreciate those who recycle and those who do the actual sorting.

Read:

Job Description
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/51-9199.01
Recycling Workers' Rights
http://blog.witness.org/2012/06/video-advocacy-example-waste-and-recycling-workers-rights-in-los-angeles/

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Furnace Dangers

Did you know that hundreds of Americans die every year from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning?

http://en.rian.ru/infographics/20091209/157175942.html

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, but can kill a human in minutes with even small amounts if it is concentrated enough. It is actually the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the world with 500 deaths in the U.S. per year. It is dangerous because it is attracted to the hemoglobin in our bloodstream and if we inhale CO, it replaces the oxygen that our cells need in order to function properly. It accumulates in our blood and is often hard to tell if you are contaminated, but a few of the signs include headaches, symptoms liken to the flu, nausea, dizzy spells, brain damage, etc. Those who need the most oxygen such as babies, children, elderly, and those with respiratory problems are the greatest at risk.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/consumer/09939.html

Above is shown the possible areas of CO problems in your home.

CO clues you can see:

a. Rusting or water streaking on vent/chimney.
b. Loose or missing furnace panel.
c. Sooting.
d. Loose or disconnected vent/chimney connections.
e. Debris or soot falling from chimney, fireplace or appliance.
f. Loose masonry on chimney.
g. Moisture inside of windows.

CO clues you cannot see:

h. Internal appliance damage or malfunctioning components.
i. Improper burner adjustment.
j. Hidden blockage or damage in chimney.
Only a trained technician can detect and correct these hidden problems.

Carbon monoxide poisoning comes from many places around your home including the furnace. It is created when gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned from fireplaces, space heaters, wood burning stoves, gas refrigerators, and gas or oil furnaces. When you use these appliances that burn fuel properly and make sure they are clean and maintained, the amount of CO emitted is not usually considered hazardous. If otherwise, in such an enclosed place as a house with no adequate ventilation, it can be deadly. New homes usually do not come across this problem, but vents can become blocked, homes can be too "tightly constructed", furnace heat exchangers can crack, etc. According to nationalfurnance.com, you should replace or clean your furnace filter 3-4 times a year. If you have a newer furnace, they should have features that shut it off if there is a problem, but the older ones need more maintenance.

Other mistakes during the colder months is turning on your vehicle with the garage door still shut. Whether or not it is connected to your home, it can begin to accumulate and the best way to detect it is to install a CO detector. Ways to tell if your furnace is not "feeling well" click HERE and The Senseless Killer.

Warnings

Never have a car running in a garage, even with the garage door open.
Never burn charcoal in houses, tents, vehicles, or garages.
Never install or service combustion appliances without proper knowledge, skills and tools.
Never use a gas range, oven or dryer for heating.
Never operate unvented gas-burning appliances in a closed room or in a room in which you are sleeping.

Read More:
Carbon Monoxide Emissions
http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/co-emissions.html
Effects of CO Poisoning
http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/effects.html
Furnace Air Purifiers
http://www.indoor-air-health-advisor.com/furnace-air-purifiers.html

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Questions to ask before buying a home or renting.

Sure, the house looks great and it is in your price range, but what are some questions you should prepare before you buy?

Condition of the home such as:
How old is the roof? New roofs have a life expectancy that depend on the materials used and can be between 15-50 years. Make sure it does not have any leaks because it will be a huge waste of energy and heat/cooling expenses. How is the house heated? Is the house tight? Is it too tight? (link to definition of TIGHT).
What is the type of foundation? Is it solid? Old homes usually have foundation issues, which are expensive! You want a house that will last so check for signs of cracks or shifting. Depending on the geology, the house also may be sinking. Check for mold as well.
How old is the electric wiring? In my current house the wiring was all bad before my uncle came and replaced it all. It turned out to be a huge fire hazard, especially in the attic. Old wiring should be updated. We were lucky to have it done for free, but even though it can be costly, it is better to be safe than sorry.
How old is the plumbing? If your house has cast-iron pipes, there may be mineral build up, corrosion, or leaks. These should be inspected as well as the exposed pipes in the basement.
Does the home have insulated walls and attic? If so, what type? Each locale sets standards for the R factor.
The R factor value stands for the insulation ratings given on a home. Good insulation does not depend on thickness or weight and the average recommended R value in North America is R-12. This value is lowered if your home has leakage or too much moisture. This weekend I went on a field trip with my Energy and Sustainable Development class and we learned that there are three types of insulation materials including fiberglass, cellulose, and polystyrene, but the best choice is blown in Cellulose.

http://www.homeenergysavingspro.com/insulation-r-values-indiana.htm

How does this relate to hazardous waste you may ask...well, my answer is you can definitely have problems in your home that are hazardous and I'll get there soon (Check out the link to 9 Home Health Hazards).

According to www.lung.org, in order to keep pollution out of your home you must make it smoke free and have smokers go outside. Other ways to keep your home safe is to keep the humidity levels under 50% and fix all leaks and drips so mold and other pollutants do not grow. When mold cells are inhaled, it can cause such illnesses as allergies, asthma, infections and toxic effects. Mycotoxins in the mold are poisonous to humans if inhaled or ingested. Don't leave food around for pesky pests, don't use scented candles or fragrances to hide bad smells, but rather, find the source and clean it up right away, don't burn wood because it pollutes indoors and outdoors. Don't use hydronic heaters to heat your water because it shoots soot into the air and affects the whole neighborhood. Also when using cleaning products, choose the less toxic ones because you shouldn't store hazardous chemicals in your home.

This weekend I went to Eagle Bluff Center in Lanesboro, MN on a class field trip for CHEM 301 and we learned about keeping your house healthy and safe. One such example is having your home tested for RADON. This is an invisible gas that causes lung cancer and our class discussed how neither geology or elevation has an effect on where radon is located. Your home may not have it, but radon could be found as close as your neighbors house.

http://www.indoor-air-health-advisor.com/radon-poisoning.html

Ventilation is HUGE!---so make sure you use gas appliances with vents to the outside, exhaust fans, etc. Don't turn your car on in your garage if it's attached to the house, and make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector near your bedrooms if you have gas or oil appliances. One way to have your house checked to see if it needs more ventilation (too tight) or if it is tight enough is to have a free energy audit.
Home Energy Audits help you find out how you can improve your home's efficiency. In the end, it also helps you lower the energy costs your homes have. It is possible to do it yourself, but I would get someone who has the equipment and knows what to look for. A professional auditor uses a blower door to measure how much your building envelope leaks and finds areas of air infiltration and missing insulation. This last weekend my class was able to get first hand experience with a professional as he explained what he would do in a normal situation and some examples. He also used an infared camera which he passed around for us to check doors and windows to see the difference between heat and cooled areas.

The following was taken from the August Project.

"Some building materials can cause your home to get sick. These building materials release harmful things into the air which makes it uncomfortable for people. The home ultimately becomes congested with internal pollutants. Winter is especially the time to watch for pollutants in the air becaue the air flow is generally less during that season. Here are some sources of pollutants: carpets, furnace, fireplace, pressed wood cabinets and cupboards, excessive moisture.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a wide array of chemicals that seep into the air over time. A home's “new smell” can sometimes be harmful causing headaches, nausea and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.

You may be able to tell if there's a problem in your home. Your nose can usually tell; however, professionals rely on equipment to diagnose a problem.

Newly introduced VOCs, especially in carpet, can easily be detected by the odor they give off. They smell "new." Open up a cupboard door and smell. If it smells "funny," formaldehyde may be present. If you see discolored walls, it may be mold.

Below, you'll find some simple solutions to reduce or eliminate these harmful polluntants or VOCs.

    Change furnace filter once a month.

    Turn on the bathroom vent fan when showering. This prevents mold growth.

    Clean humidifier and air conditioning drain pans

    Don't allow smoking in your home.

    Air out new carpet, drapes or furniture before bringing them inside.

    Clean the gutters to avoid any moisture seepage.

    Repair cracks in basement/foundation

    Perform regular cleaning maintenance on all fuel-burning appliances/fireplaces

    Seal units like the gas furnace and hot water heater to prevent dangerous gases from entering."

http://www.retscreen.net/

Have you ever heard of RETScreen? Well, I never did before CHEM 301 and after spending quite a few hours on it, I can honestly say I see many benefits from using it. RETScreen is a clean energy project analysis software used worldwide and helps to calculate the "financial viability of renewable energy and energy efficiency project." It is totally free and offered in many languages. I learned a lot more about renewable energy and sustainability, but the biggest thing for me was the amount of air pollution and fatal risks of not having tests done in our homes to find if we have high amounts of carbon monoxide or radon and I would encourage you to do so and tell your friends.

Read More:
Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/airpollution/
Pollution Prevention for Home
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p2au/pps/hs/pphhfp/index.htm
Radon Toxicity
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=8&po=0
9 Home Health Hazards
http://www.sierraclubgreenhome.com/home-health/9-home-health-hazards%E2%80%94and-what-to-do-about-them/
Home Tips
http://www.hometips.com/buying-guides/daylighting-techniques.html