Air Pollution Contributes to Allergies

March 30, 2009

At its monthly regulatory hearing, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) reviewed the results of a national study that linked exacerbation of childhood allergies to increased air pollution.

A survey of more than 70,000 children, aged three to 17, revealed that exposure to greater amounts of ozone or particulate matter triggers more symptoms of hay fever and respiratory allergies.

"Children are growing and learning constantly and the added burden of allergies can only limit them from reaching their full potential," said ARB board member Barbara Riordan. "This study underlines the need to clean our air. Our future is dependent on protecting children's developing minds and spirits."

The study results, published in the January 2009 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives, found that for even small increases in the ambient amount of ozone or particulate matter, the population of children could expect a significant increase in the likelihood of hay fever and respiratory allergy symptoms. In California, the ARB estimates that one million school absences annually are associated with ozone exposures alone.

Created when the soup of pollutants are heated in the sun, ozone has long been the focus of air pollution regulations. It is the main constituent of smog and a serious threat to those with cardiopulmonary disease. Ozone inflames nasal passages and lung tissue. Recently it has also been associated with diminished lung development in children and the exacerbation of asthma.

The other respiratory antagonist found in the study was particulate matter, an assortment of very small liquid and solid particles floating in the air. When inhaled, these particles easily penetrate deeply into lungs increasing the number and severity of asthma attacks, aggravating bronchitis and other lung diseases, and reducing a body's ability to fight infections.

The study's findings support the state's effort to further reduce pollution through local and state level regulations. Over the last two decades, ozone concentrations throughout the state have been halved.

"We have grown accustomed to allergies and operate on the assumption that the only relief is medication for symptoms," continued Riordan. "But, reducing ozone and particulate matter also helps. Children can use more energy on their school work and less on struggling with runny nose and itchy eyes."

Web-based Pesticide Illness Surveillance Data Query System

Illness and injury data associated with pesticide exposure in California can now be queried on the Department of Pesticide Regulation’s (DPR) website. 

CalPIQ includes illness and injury data from 1992 to 2007. The system enables users to analyze the data with individual, user-defined queries based on several variables, including year of incident; agricultural or non-agricultural use; county of occurrence; and pesticide by category, active ingredient, or intended use. In 2007, DPR’s bilingual staff began attending dozens of community meetings, health fairs, and other events to educate workers and their families about safe pesticide use. Staff also have reached workers through Spanish-language radio and television and through contacts with health and social services organizations and advocacy groups—all with the goal of making it safer to use pesticides.

"We are pleased with the positive response to our efforts to reach out to workers who are closest to pesticide use, especially those who speak limited English," Warmerdam said. "Increasing accessibility to information through CalPIQ is complementary to our efforts to expand pesticide safety outreach to workers and their families."

The 2007 illness and incident data show:

  • Of the 1,479 illnesses investigated, pesticide exposure was a possible contributing factor in 982, or 66%, of them
  • 664, or 45%, of the total illnesses investigated were associated with non-agricultural circumstances such as structural, sanitation, or home garden use
  • 318, or 22%, of the total illnesses investigated were attributed to pesticides used for agricultural purposes

 

These data come from many sources and include both occupational, such as agricultural and structural use, and home-use incidents of pesticide-related illnesses and injuries. DPR continues to work with other state and local entities to ensure it captures the majority of significant illness and injury incidents associated with pesticide use.

DPR evaluates the reports and uses the information to improve efforts to protect workers and others from adverse effects of pesticide exposure. In 2007, 538 of the cases were reported through the California Poison Control System (CPCS), which previously offered this service through a federally funded pilot program that expired in 2002. CPCS resumed its reporting of pesticide illnesses in October 2006 under a new contract funded by DPR.

In 2007, the number of illnesses and injuries investigated returned to a level typical of recent years after a dip in 2006. In 2006, only 680 illnesses were identified, the lowest number since pesticide illness records were computerized in 1982. In 2005 and 2004, more than 1,300 and 1,200 cases were identified, respectively.

If an illness results from illegal practices, state and county enforcement staff take appropriate action. Enforcement actions often are still under consideration when DPR receives investigative reports and identification of violations is difficult. Based on information available at the time of evaluation, DPR concluded that 407, or 41%, of the 982 pesticide-associated cases might have been avoided if pesticide users had strictly followed safety procedures on the pesticide labels and California regulations.

One of six departments and boards within the California Environmental Protection Agency, DPR regulates the registration, sale, and use of pesticides to protect people and the environment. 

OSHA Cites Contractor for Safety Violations Following Power Plant Fatality

OSHA has cited LandCoast Insulation Inc. for three alleged safety violations following six injuries and one employee fatality last November when a scaffold collapsed inside a boiler at Mississippi Power's Plant Daniel in Moss Point.

OSHA is issuing one willful violation with a $63,000 proposed penalty for substituting weaker, horizontal scaffold components in 14 locations. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Two serious citations are being issued with $9,000 in proposed penalties for the company's use of damaged scaffold components in the construction process and for failing to provide employees with effective training. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

"LandCoast Insulation's substitution of weaker parts directly led to the structure's collapse and one worker's death," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's area director in Jackson. "This worker died and others were injured because the company improperly constructed the scaffold."

CSB Chairman John Bresland Encourages Florida Governor to Support Workplace Safety Rules for State's Public Employees

In a letter released by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), Chairman John Bresland urged Florida Governor Charlie Crist to support worker-safety legislation to protect state, county, and municipal employees in Florida.

During its investigation of the tragic explosion and fire that took the lives of two municipal workers and seriously injured a third at the Bethune Point wastewater treatment facility in Daytona Beach, Florida, on January 11, 2006, the CSB determined that public workers in that state are not protected by federal OSHA worker safety regulations or their state equivalent. In its final report on the accident, the CSB recommended that the Florida legislature and governor adopt OSHA coverage or the equivalent safety and health protections for public employees, who often perform the same work as their counterparts in the private sector and who are covered by OSHA regulations.

Following the CSB's recommendation, a Florida Public Task Force on Workplace Safety was appointed to examine the issue and determine whether the state should adopt such worker protections. In its final report the majority of the task force concurred with the CSB and affirmed that the state should require public employers and employees in Florida to comply with OSHA standards within 3 years.

CSB Chairman John Bresland said, "The CSB believes that all workers should be provided proper workplace protections. Extending OSHA coverage to public employees will protect the well-being of an invaluable sector of Florida's workforce." 

OSHA Orders Flight Charter Company to Pay Employee Who Raised Safety Concerns

OSHA has ordered West Jet Aircraft of Scottsdale, Arizona, to pay $94,900 in back wages, compensatory damages, and medical and legal fees to a former employee who was wrongfully terminated after she raised aircraft safety concerns.

The charter coordinator was terminated after accessing the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) website in order to prepare a complaint she intended to file with the FAA against West Jet. During previous months, the employee had repeatedly informed West Jet of suspected violations of federal aviation regulations, including not performing a grounding inspection on an aircraft that landed overweight after being illegally topped off with fuel, attempting to schedule an unqualified pilot-in-command, and ordering an unqualified pilot to perform a test flight while carrying passengers.

A whistleblower investigation by OSHA found that West Jet terminated the employee in retaliation for her preparing to share her air carrier safety concerns with the FAA, and for her repeated aviation safety complaints to management. OSHA's investigation found merit to the employee's allegation that she had been discharged in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21). The U.S. Labor Department does not release the names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.

"It is vital that employees be able to raise safety concerns to their employers and appropriate public safety agencies without fear of retaliation," said Richard S. Terrill, OSHA's acting regional administrator in San Francisco, whose office investigated the complaint. "This order reaffirms both the right of employees to raise air carrier safety concerns and the Labor Department's commitment to take the necessary steps to protect that right."

OSHA administers the whistleblowing provisions of 16 statutes, including AIR21, designed to protect employees who report violations of various trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, and securities laws.

OSHA Orders Wells Fargo to Make Whistleblower Whole

OSHA has ordered Wells Fargo & Co., based in San Francisco, to pay back wages and lost bonuses, with interest, and $25,000 in reputational damages to an employee who was wrongfully transferred after he questioned the legality of a co-worker's sales activities.

The action resulted from a whistleblower investigation conducted by OSHA's regional office in San Francisco. The investigation substantiated the employee's complaint that he was improperly transferred from one Bay Area bank branch to another in retaliation for alerting management that a co-worker violated Securities and Exchange Commission rules by recommending unsuitable investments to customers and encouraging them to purchase securities held by a separate company.

"It is vital that employees be able to raise fraud concerns to their employers without fear of retaliation," said Ken Atha, OSHA's regional administrator in San Francisco, whose office investigated the complaint. "This order reaffirms both the right of employees to raise concerns regarding violations of Securities and Exchange Commission rules and the Labor Department's commitment to take the necessary steps to protect that right."

In addition to requiring compensation be paid to the complainant, OSHA's order instructs Wells Fargo to immediately reassign the complainant to the original branch, to expunge the personnel file of references pertaining to the complaint, and to post a notice to employees in all California branches outlining employee whistleblower protections.

UL Readies for California Assembly Bill 1953

Signed into law on September 30, 2006, AB 1953 revises the existing law which defines lead free as not more than 8% lead content when used with respect to pipes and fittings and not more than 4% lead content by dry weight with respect to plumbing fittings and fixtures. AB 1953, which has an effective date of January 1, 2010, will require all products intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption to not exceed 0.25% weighted average lead content. Similar legislation has also been signed into law in Vermont.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is establishing testing protocols for low-level lead compliance with AB 1953 based on the results of the round-robin study currently being conducted to validate the testing protocol for inclusion in Annex G of ANSI/NSF Standard 61.

UL has been actively engaged with both the State of California and the industry to determine what protocols, including Annex G, will be accepted by the State. UL is an active member of the ANSI/NSF Standard 61 Lead Task Group that developed Annex G. Completion of the round-robin study is anticipated in the next two to three months.

"With the effective date less than one year away, UL recognizes the urgency for manufacturers to submit products and demonstrate compliance with the new low lead requirements," said Jeff Smith General Manager, UL Global Water Business. "UL anticipates launching its lead content verification services by the end of April, which will contain testing protocols based on the latest results of the round-robin study. This will give our customers the highest degree of confidence that the evaluation we provide will be recognized by the State of California and in compliance with AB 1953."

YouTube Safety Message Urges More Government Action, Increased Industry Vigilance to Prevent Catastrophic Dust Explosions

Marking the first anniversary of the Imperial Sugar explosion that killed 14 workers in February 2008, CSB Chairman John Bresland has released a new video safety message which asks federal regulators and businesses to increase efforts to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions.

 

In the safety message, Chairman Bresland noted that of eight catastrophic industrial dust explosions since 1995, all but one occurred during cold weather months. Four disastrous dust explosions occurred during the month of February alone.

"Yesterday's reports of a coal dust explosion near Milwaukee that caused injuries and damage underscore the danger from these accidents," Chairman Bresland said on the day the messages were released. Several contract workers suffered burn injuries from an explosion Tuesday morning involving a coal dust collection system at a power plant in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

"I call on all of industry to take this hazard seriously—during the winter months and throughout the year," Mr. Bresland said in the video. "And I urge the incoming leadership at OSHA to act upon the CSB's recommendations from 2006 to develop a comprehensive regulatory standard for combustible dust."

The CSB completed a major study of combustible dust hazards in November 2006, identifying 281 fires and explosions that killed 119 workers and injured 718 others. The CSB urged OSHA to develop a comprehensive regulatory standard designed to prevent dust explosions. OSHA has not issued a standard but has developed a program to increase enforcement of existing regulatory provisions.

On February 7, 2008, a catastrophic dust explosion destroyed the massive packaging plant at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, fatally burning 14 workers and injuring 38 others. In Senate testimony in July 2008, Chairman Bresland noted that the Imperial explosion and other major dust explosions would likely have been prevented if the companies had followed existing National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommendations for controlling dust hazards. Those measures—including appropriate equipment and building design, worker training, and rigorous dust-cleaning programs—should form the basis of a new regulatory standard for industrial workplaces, Mr. Bresland said.

"Despite the efforts of NFPA, OSHA, the Chemical Safety Board, and many others, serious dust explosions and fires continue to occur," Mr. Bresland said in the new video. "As CSB chairman, my commitment is do everything possible to make these tragedies a thing of the past. Stronger, clearer regulations and more robust safety programs in industry will prevent most dust explosions—and save lives."

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

 

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