Create and Promote a Healthy Workplace Environment

A January 26 article in TransWorldNews titled “Create and Promote a Healthy Workplace Environment” indicated that indoor air quality (IAQ) is becoming a significant concern for businesses and building managers, as well as their employees and tenants.  The reason?  Poor indoor air quality can impact the health, comfort, wellbeing, and productivity of building occupants.

Building managers that are only concerned with maintaining their buildings may be failing to see the bigger picture. Is that nice looking office space also a healthy place to work?  Many maintenance efforts can, in fact, hurt the wellbeing and the productivity of employees by lowering the quality of the air in the building.

One point that the article made, is that the EPA’s 20-year old assertion that “improved indoor air quality can result in higher productivity and fewer lost work days,” has now been clarified further:  “The EPA estimates that poor indoor air may cost the nation tens of billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and medical care.”

Check out the full story at http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=1001664

Phthalates May Contribute To Childhood Obesity

Medical News Today has a new article worth reading: Environmental Chemical Exposure May Contribute to Childhood Obesity. The article identifies Phthalates as a risk factor to be considered (avoided). Phthalates use includes softeners of plastics, oily substances in perfumes, additives to hairsprays, lubricants and wood finishes. Obesity is only ONE risk. Keeping our indoor environments pure is a big task, but an important one. Check out the article at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/240622.php

More details on phthalates can be found on the “Our Stolen Future” book website: http://www.ourstolenfuture.org/newscience/oncompounds/phthalates/phthalates.htm

www.EWG.org is another helpful resource.

Sanjay Gupta: Indoor Air Quality Affects Student Success

Did you miss the CNN news piece this past weekend on the dismal state of indoor air quality in schools? According to the story, studies estimate that indoor air quality (IAQ) problems are present in one-third of U.S. schools.   The increasing rate of asthma and other respiratory issues among school children has alarmed parents, teachers and the community at large.  School officials are concerned and searching for answers. 

We count it a privilege at Gositti Indoor Environmental to help schools and other facilities find solutions to mold, dust, airborne chemicals and other IAQ issues. 

CNN Video Preview Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-J1NnwD2S0&feature=youtu.be

CNN Article: http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/health/school-indoor-air-pollution/index.html?hpt=he_t2

IAQ Video Network Clip – IAQ & Student Performance: http://www.youtube.com/user/gositti#p/f/10/8QxdcORr-1M

VOCs – Best to Avoid Them

Proactively planning for high indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important part of building an environmentally friendly and healthy living and/or working space. Addressing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) is an important part of that effort.  VOCs are chemicals made up of carbon-based molecules. They are emitted by quite a number of products and are harmful to human and pet health. 

VOCs can be found in many paints, adhesives, engineered wood products (MDF, OSB, plywood, etc.) and sealants, as well as other sources.  It is well advised to carefully consider the products that are used in building new or remodeling existing structures.  Some VOCs are known carcinogens and can cause both chronic and acute health problems.

The easiest step, as a starting point, is to select products with labels marked low-VOC or no-VOC.  An increasing number of manufacturers are making versions of their products with out VOC components, and many are leaving them out of their product lines entirely. 

Do your homework before starting a new building project, and make smart, health-friendly decisions for you, your family, your tenants and your employees.

Saddle Up

I’ve been having to make a lot of big decisions lately, and I thought I’d pass along an encouraging quote (from John Wayne) that my wife left on my desk last week:  “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.”

That sure is the truth.  And even beyond that, the “scared to death” part does not even have to come in to play – even when things would naturally be scary.  In the book of Joshua in the Bible, we find this statement:  “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

Let’s saddle up!