To improve chemical safety and provide more streamlined access to information on chemicals, EPA has built and is populating a new database. This new database, named ChemView, greatly improves access to health and safety data on chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It contains information EPA receives and develops about chemicals including those on EPA’s Safer Chemical Ingredient List.

ChemView is part of EPA's commitment to strengthen its chemicals management programs by improving access to and the usefulness of chemical information. The goal is for people to easily get information they need to make safe chemical choices. It can help businesses, individuals and others make more informed decisions about the chemicals they use.

While the current version of ChemView contains a substantial amount of information, when fully populated, ChemView will contain data for thousands of chemicals regulated under TSCA. In the months ahead, EPA will be continually adding chemicals, data, assessments, functionality, and links to source documents.

More at source: EPA

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Provided by Britt Faulstick, Drexel University

Some of the same chemical reactions that occur in the atmosphere as a result of smog and ozone are actually taking place in your house while you are cleaning. A researcher in Drexel’s College of Engineering is taking a closer look at these reactions, which involve an organic compound – called limomene – that provides the pleasant smell of cleaning products and air fresheners. His research will help to determine what byproducts these sweet-smelling compounds are adding to the air while we are using them to remove germs and odors.

Secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) are microscopic particles created when ozone reacts with gases such as limonene – the chemical name for the smell of oranges – or its cousin α-pinene, which is part of the smell of pine trees. Outdoors, this reaction happens all the time. It drives the formation of much of the atmospheric organic aerosol present in our environment. And in, population-dense urban areas – where enough suspended particles can be amassed – it contributes to the formation of the visible haze called smog. 

While a large amount of aerosols that exist in the Earth’s atmosphere are naturally occurring – created by processes such as mechanical suspension by wind or sea spray – much is produced as a result of industrialization. And while researchers are still striving to fully understand the health and environmental impact of increased levels of secondary organic aerosols in the atmosphere, studies have linked exposure to outdoor aerosols generally to morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Read more at source: Red Orbit

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More at source: News 4 

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Long Island vitamin maker NBTY will eliminate 73 jobs in building cleaning and maintenance early next year, outsourcing the work.

Spokeswoman Andrea Staub of Ronkonkoma-based NBTY said the changes will be effective Jan. 19 when the new company, ABM Janitorial Services, takes over at all 12 of NBTY's buildings on Long Island.

More at source: Newsday

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A family contacted 23ABC after the carpet cleaning company they hired made matters worse and they ended up hiring another company to fix the problem.

We looked into how homeowners can educate themselves to keep a similar scenario from happening to them.

"At first, I thought he did a good job. However, after a couple of days the house started smelling like mold and the carpet was still wet," said Rick Keel.

Keel tried to contact the company several times, but they were either unreachable or they hung up on him when he inquired about their mistake.

At that point, Keel was concerned that he would have to fork up several thousand dollars for brand new carpet.

Keel shared his plight on social media and several people responded offering recommendations or reputable carpet cleaning companies. One of those companies is Sun Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning.

More at source: ABC

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A hazmat clean-up crew was on the way today to the apartment of the New York Ebola-stricken doctor, an official revealed.

Councilman Mark Levine, of the 7th district in Harlem where Dr Craig Spencer lives, told MailOnline on Friday that a contractor would carry out an environmental clean-up at the fifth floor home after it was sealed. The NYPD began putting up barriers late on Friday morning. 

A biohazard truck arrived on the block today which had large blue sealed containers in the back.  

Mr Levine said: 'They're going to be looking for body fluids and they're going to be looking for any item which would have been in contact with Dr Spencer's body, like sheets and pillow cases and tooth brushes and bath towels.

'The apartment will be cleaned and sanitized so it can be used again safely. We're hoping that Dr Spencer himself can return home soon.' 

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More at source: Daily UK

On every Wednesday since the start of the school year, a small group of parents equipped with gloves, brushes, brooms and other cleaning supplies descend on the school on the border of Los Feliz and Silver Lake to clean up bathrooms and other areas  while educating its approximately 1,500 students on how to keep their campus clean.

“We want to bring back a sense of pride and community that will build morale and help the students,” said Renae Plant, who organized the cleans up as part of her work on the school’s beautification committee.

After hearing many concerns and complaints from students and their parents about how dirty the bathrooms were, Plant, whose daughter attends King, took matters into her own hands by organizing the Wednesday cleans up between 10 a.m. and 1 pm.

More at source: LA East Sider

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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho -The East Idaho Public Health District is preparing for flu season with vaccinations.

According the the Center for Disease Control, two people have died in the U.S. this year due to flu-related illnesses. About 36,000 people die each year and 90 percent of those people were over the age of 65. Seniors and children are the most susceptible, and account for most flu-related hospitalization and deaths. Immunization coordinator James Corbett recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, as it's the only sure way to prevent the disease.

More at source: ABC

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A large number of students from Kyrene de la Colina Elementary School were sent home Thursday after the school experienced several bouts of norovirus undefined a common stomach virus.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus can be transmitted from an infected person, contaminated food or water or by touching a contaminated surface.

The most common symptoms of norovirus, which usually begin 24 to 48 hours after exposure, consist of diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and nausea.

The Kyrene School District took precautions to curtail the virus by coordinating with the Maricopa County Health Department; securing a professional cleaning company to clean the Colina’s facilitates and buses; and having the district Crisis Team leader and nurses coordinate to determine additional steps to prevent the illness from spreading.

More at source: East Valley Tribune

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