HAPPY NEW YEAR! We trust that 2021 will be year of great growth and prosperity and most of all…. health!
From all of us at DustWatch / Dust Monitoring Equipment
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
It has been a difficult year. Take tomorrow to reconnect with family and friends. Be thankful for all that we have made it through!
Wishing all our clients a joyful Christmas.
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
It’s really important to know where and how to dispose of our waste. Rachelle Dragani tells us how we should be disposing of our batteries.
The Effects of Improper Waste Disposal
Source – https://sciencing.com/scented-cleaning-products-the-new-smoking-13710351.html
Updated October 09, 2019
By Rachelle Dragani
“It’s easy to forget about dead batteries once you toss them or the stink of a baby’s diaper that you chuck in the trash. But all of the waste that’s created has a life long after it’s out of your hands.
Improper waste disposal is a leading contributor to pollution, carbon emissions and disease around the world. Learning more about the issue can help you understand how best to get rid of your own junk, as well as encourage your own cities or companies to improve their waste management systems.
Types of Hazardous Waste
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) characterizes hazardous waste by having at least one of the following four characteristics:
Ignitability: Anything with a flashpoint at or below 140 degrees Fahrenheit is considered ignitable hazardous waste. If improperly disposed of, these materials could start fires or endanger the lives of workers managing the waste. Some common examples include gasoline, thinners, oil-based paints and oxidizers like hydrogen peroxide.
Corrosivity: Waste at risk of being corrosive has a pH level less than two or greater than 12.5. At those levels, it’s possible for the waste to wear down metal containers, such as waste storage bins, and leak harmful materials. Examples you might find in your home include battery acid, cleaning solutions with high acidity or alkalinity and rust removers.
Reactivity: This category includes waste that could cause explosions or toxic gases when mixed with water, certain temperatures or pressure. Examples aren’t often found in homes, as they include explosives and lithium sulfur batteries.
Toxicity: Toxic waste is anything that can cause harm when it comes into contact with skin or is ingested. This category can include mixed waste material that is also reactive, corrosive or ignitable. Some of the most common toxins found in waste are asbestos, cyanide, cadmium, mercury, lead, persistent organic pollutants, arsenic and clinical waste.
These toxins can be found in products like old building materials, pesticides, batteries, medical waste, certain types of plastics, paints and ammunition. Toxins can also be found or generated in one of the growing leaders of contamination: electronic waste (or e-waste). Old computers, phones, household appliances and TVs can all emit toxins that contribute to pollution.
Public Health Disaster
Improper sewage disposal is another giant public health concern. In areas where cities don’t properly manage waste, at least 2 billion people use drinking water sources that have been contaminated with feces. The effects of improper sewage disposal can sometimes lead to outbreaks of deadly diseases, such as:
diarrhea
cholera
dysentery
polio
typhoid
Causes of Improper Waste Management
There are several reasons that waste gets improperly managed. One is a lack of knowledge about hazardous waste; some people don’t understand how many products can be hazardous, or don’t know how to properly dispose of them.
One of the other causes of improper garbage disposal is inaccessibility. Many people, business owners and city leaders, particularly in developing or rural areas, want desperately to properly dispose of waste, toxic garbage and sewage that contaminates their food, land and water supplies. Unfortunately, they might lack the funds, access to professionals, infrastructure or transportation resources to properly dispose of it, continuing the cycle of contamination.
Another one of the biggest causes of waste disposal gone wrong comes at the hands of business and municipal leaders. Despite learning the dangers and negative effects of improper sewage disposal, they continue to use methods like incineration, which can release harmful toxins into the air, land and oceans.
Concerned citizens can contact their local leaders or favorite businesses to make sure that they take measures to dispose of waste in responsible ways.”
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
Have you ever thought that the fragrances in your cleaning products might actually be harmful? They just might be the new smoking!!
Scented Cleaning Products: The New Smoking?
Source – https://sciencing.com/scented-cleaning-products-the-new-smoking-13710351.html
Updated March 20, 2018
By Sylvie Tremblay
“It’s no secret that indoor air quality is a health concern; the Environmental Protection Agency notes that indoor air can actually be more polluted than outdoor air, even if you live in a large and industrialized city. Continued exposure to pollution, dust and other allergens can aggravate your lungs and airways, worsening asthma and even increasing your risk for cancer.
Clearly, it’s important to keep your place clean to remove as much dust as you can. But there’s a double-edge sword: many cleaning products are loaded with chemicals that can also harm your health, and manufacturers are not required by the Food and Drug Administration to prove that the ingredients in their products are safe. So when you’re planning your spring cleaning, it’s crucial to choose safe cleaning products to help keep your air clean.
The Health Impacts of Cleaning Products
It’s easy to shrug off the effects of cleaning products; out of sight, out of mind, right? However, they can be significant. Research from the American Thoracic Society found that women who often clean in the home or the workplace face significant lung issues. The 20-year study, which was published in the “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine” in February 2018, found that frequent cleaners had a decrease in lung function that was comparable to the decline seen in smokers. Additional research has found that cleaning products can worsen asthma, providing further proof that these chemicals aren’t good for your airways.
Chemicals to Watch out For
While you may not know how every cleaning product ingredient affects your health, and many are likely completely harmless, there are a few big hitters to avoid. Steer clear of products containing parabens and phthalates, which are often added to scented products to help the scent linger, such as that laundry detergent that keeps your bedding smelling fresh for a week. These compounds may affect hormone levels and can trigger asthma. Look out for triclosan, often found in antimicrobial cleaners and soaps, because it might mimic the effects of estrogen, explains the University of Illinois Cancer Center.
How to Clean Safer
You’ll be able to avoid some harmful chemicals by opting for natural cleaners that are unscented, or scented with essential oils instead of synthetic fragrance. Your best option, though, is to make your own cleaning supplies. Everyday substances like vinegar, baking soda, salt, lemon juice, rubbing alcohol and borax are all you need to make all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner, or even cleansing scrubs and drain cleaners. If your allergies are bad, consider investing in a HEPA air filter that will help remove dust, pollen and other allergens from the air 24/7.”
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
We hear the word “toxins” a lot these days. But what are they and are they actually all that harmful? Take a read.
What Exactly Are “Toxins,” Anyway?
Source – Sciencing.com – https://sciencing.com/what-are-toxins-13724903.html
Updated February 28, 2020
By Sylvie Tremblay
“If we had to pick one health buzzword from the past decade, it’d be “toxins.” From celebs selling “detox tea” on Instagram to “clean” cosmetics that claim to be free of harmful compounds, the concept of “cleansing away toxins” is everywhere.
But what does “toxin” actually mean?
On its most basic level, a toxin is any compound that can have a harmful effect on your body. And when you think of toxins, you probably picture poisons – like cyanide – that are dangerous and deadly, even in small doses.
But the truth is, you’re exposed to toxic substances every day. That’s because any compound can become toxic. Even water, in high enough doses, can be toxic. Sounds crazy, right? It’s strange but true, as this woman unfortunately found out when she entered a water-drinking contest and died.
Exposure to toxic substances can pose a serious risk to your health. So that means detox teas and cleanses are great for you, right?
Unfortunately, no. While “detox” products might not hurt you, they aren’t going to rid your body of toxins, either. Here’s why.
Your Body Can Already Deal with Toxins
That’s because your body already has a built-in system for filtering toxins out of your body. Your liver can help detoxify your body from turning harmful compounds into less harmful (or virtually harmless) ones. And your kidneys help detox your body, too. They continually filter your blood, and allow some harmful substances to leave your body via your urine.
Your lungs get in on the action, too. While they aren’t major detox organs, your airways are lined with molecular “oars,” called cilia, which help move any particles or toxins up and out of your body.
What Happens if Your Natural Detox Systems Fail?
Of course, if your body could handle every toxin perfectly, nothing would truly be poisonous. Some toxins can overwhelm your body’s built-in detox systems – if, for instance, your liver can’t process a toxin quickly enough, it can build up in your body. Other toxins dissolve in fatty tissue, so they can stay in your body, dissolved in your fat cells, and cause ongoing problems.
With that said, detox teas and cleanses won’t do a thing to remove toxins from your body. They can’t make your liver or kidneys work any better. They might make you lose a few pounds, but that’s about it – and that’s the best-case scenario.
As Rush University Medical Center explains, some detox products might actually harm you. Some common detox procedures, like enemas, can damage your intestines – ironically, making it harder to remove toxins from your body via your poop. Other detox practices, like juice cleansing, can leave you temporary malnourished, which could mean you’re more likely to get sick.
What’s more, relying on detox products might keep you from seeking medical attention if you have been exposed to a toxin. And delaying medical attention gives a toxin more time to harm your body, potentially putting you in danger.
So Should You Worry About Toxins?
Kinda, but you need to keep your nerves in check. Environmental toxins do exist, which is why it’s important to fight pollution and demand safer ingredients in your food, cosmetics and household products.
But you should pass on products that claim to help flush toxins from your body. They’re a waste of money because they can’t truly detoxify you. And, as you just read, they can cause more problems than they solve.
If you’re worried about the toxins in your environment, talk to your doctor. They can put your nerves in check – and offer proven treatments if you truly are exposed to too many toxins.”
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
