Free Carbon Monoxide Alarms Available!

The Air Quality office now has home carbon monoxide alarms available for the Grand Portage community. These alarms detect dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas that causes thousands of deaths each year. These are battery powered alarms similar to smoke detectors and should be placed near the bedrooms of the home. These detectors are required in all new construction but many older homes lack them and this could be deadly. I also have equipment to test your appliances and check for carbon monoxide production.

Please stop by my office or give me a call and I will install it for you. My office number is 475-2027 and is located at 27 Store Road in the Trust Lands building.

Free Radon Monitors Available!

The Air Quality office now has free radon monitors available now for the Grand Portage community. These monitors test the air in the home over a period of time and are then mailed in for analysis. Since home ventilation levels vary over the seasons a one-year test is the most accurate but the detector can be analyzed with as little as a 14 day exposure. Here is how the company describes them:

Each RSSI Alpha-track radon gas detector contains a detector element, called a foil.  When radon atoms decay inside the detector, they release alpha particles.  If the alpha particles strike the foil, they make microscopic tracks in the surface of the foil.  When the detector is analyzed, the foil is chemically treated to enlarge the alpha tracks, which are counted on an automated system.  The average radon level is calculated from the number of tracks and the number of days the detector was exposed.  This level is reported in picocuries per liter (pCi/L).  

Radon levels vary in daily and seasonal cycles, and in response to weather conditions and ventilation patterns.  For these reasons, it is preferable to make the test period as long as possible.  A full year test provides the most reliable prediction of future radon exposure and health risk.  However, RSSI's Alpha-track detector can be used for tests as short as 14 days.

Call my office at 475-2027 or stop by at 27 Store Road and I can set one up in your home. If you have any questions about indoor air quality or would like your house tested Just let me know and we can set it up.

Invisible and Deadly - Carbon Monoxide

The heating season is upon us again, and with furnaces firing up along with ovens baking holiday goodies the hidden danger of carbon monoxide (CO) in the home becomes greater. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and can kill without warning. This silent killer is responsible for hundreds of deaths each year and thousands more are sickened by it. In the last week there was an incident in Duluth where a hockey arena was evacuated because players and coaches were becoming sick and it turned out they had elevated levels of CO in the blood. Another incident a few days later at the Duluth Goodwill prompted the fire department to check for CO but levels turned out to be insignificant. These are only a few instances where high CO levels have been suspected or confirmed to adversely affect human health.





CO poisoning symptoms include; mild nausea, mild headaches, and shortness of breath at low levels, severe headaches, dizziness and confusion at medium levels, and death at high levels. If you suspect CO then get out of the house and to fresh air immediately. Get medical help and tell them you suspect carbon monoxide, they can give you a blood test to check.

Many of us use portable generators as back-up in case of power failures. These generators often produce far more CO than a car due to the lack of pollution control devices. If you use a portable generator it should be at least 25 feet from the house and well away from any windows, doors, or air intakes. Never use a generator in an attached garage and never use a charcoal grill indoors. The EPA has an excellent site with information on carbon monoxide, please take some time and check it out.

A carbon monoxide detector is a great idea near bedrooms and is required in new homes but check the date of manufacture since they wear out over several years. I have equipment that can test your appliances and equipment for CO output so if you would like them checked please give me a call at 475-2027 or stop by my office at Trust Lands - 27 Store Road. Don't think that just because an appliance is new it won't produce CO, I have seen newer gas ranges that produce much more than older, cheaper stoves. When in doubt, check it out. it only takes a few minutes and it could save your life.

Mercury Exposure in Your Home

Human exposure to mercury is primarily caused by consuming fish that contains methylmercury. Another common cause of exposure is contact with elemental mercury, a silver colored metal that is liquid at room temperature. Exposure to a small amount of elemental mercury over time can cause serious health effects, especially in children and fetuses. Mercury is present in thermometers, barometers, thermostats, blood pressure instruments, and compact fluorescent (newer energy saving) light bulbs. The most common cause of mercury contamination in homes is from broken fever thermometers. Humans are exposed to the mercury by inhalation of mercury vapors or by absorbing the mercury through the skin.

Health effects from long-term exposure to a small amount of elemental mercury:

· Personality changes, including mood swings and irritability

· Tremors

· Muscle weakness or twitching

· Insomnia

· Headaches

· Reduced cognitive function

Children and fetuses are extremely sensitive to mercury contamination, so pregnant women and women of child bearing age should avoid exposure.

What to do with mercury thermometers:

The easiest way to avoid exposure to mercury is to remove anything in your home that contains mercury. Replace old mercury thermometers by taking them to the Grand Portage hazardous waste collection or to your local hazardous waste collection. The Grand Portage Clinic will replace a mercury thermometer with a new one, so call the Clinic for more information.

Image courtesy of projectmindwake.blogspot.com/2011/02/end-of-mercury-thermometers-is-near-due.html

What if I already spilled mercury in my home?

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is willing to come to Grand Portage to test homes for mercury spills. If you have spilled mercury, they can test to ensure that all mercury has been removed. It is extremely important to remove all mercury, especially if there are children or you expect there to be children in your home. Call Yvette at Trust Lands to set up an appointment.

How to clean up a small amount of mercury (from the Minnesota Department of Health):

1. Isolate the spill. Open all windows and exterior doors in the room where the spill occurred. Close all interior doors and air ducts and turn off air handlers or heaters to ensure that mercury vapor does not travel through the house.
2. Keep everyone away from the spill, and children and pregnant women should leave the house.
3. Only clean the spill yourself if it a small amount, such as the amount in a fever thermometer. Otherwise, call professionals.
4. Remove any clothes or shoes that may be contaminated with mercury and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Take a shower to remove mercury from your skin.
5. Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the mercury because the mercury will be broken into smaller drops and will evaporate quicker.
6. Wear gloves to clean up the spill. If the mercury spilled on a hard surface, push the beads of mercury together using a piece of cardboard and place it into a container that can be sealed. Use a flashlight to look for any additional mercury. The drops of mercury can spread far and can drop into cracks and crevices.
7. If the spill occurred on a carpet, cut the contaminated area of the carpet and pad, and fold the carpet piece so that the mercury is trapped inside. Place into a plastic bag. If you refuse to cut out the carpet, use wet paper towels or an eyedropper to pick up the drops of mercury.
8. Place the mercury and anything that has been contaminated by mercury into a plastic bag, label the bag Mercury: Hazardous, and dispose of at your local Hazardous Waste Collection.

Bed Bugs

Travel Tips to Remain Bed Bug Free

Bed bug infestations are increasing in the United States. You can take some simple steps when you travel to avoid bringing bed bugs back with you. First, know what they look like. Bed bugs are small, wingless insects that are oval, flattened, brown, and about 1/4 to 3/8 inches long. They like to find dark, confined places to hide, so be sure to check cracks, seams, and folds in all personal items. When staying in a hotel room, immediately check the mattress before bringing in your suitcase. You may want to set your suitcase on a luggage rack or even place it in the bathtub.

How to Check for Bed Bugs:

• Pull back the sheets and examine the folds in the mattress and box spring. Also be sure to look for bed bug droppings, which are small, dark spots.

• Check the bedside table and the wall next to the bed. You can also check the headboard and remove it if possible. A flashlight might be helpful.

• You may not be able to see the bed bugs if it is a small infestation, so it is a good idea to keep your suitcase closed and never leave clothes lying out.

If you find bed bugs in your hotel room, ask for another room and perform another bed bug inspection. If you find you have stayed in a room infested with bugs, clean all items before bringing them back into your home. Wash all clothes and hand wash all suitcases with hot, soapy water. Be sure to use a scrub brush to thoroughly clean the seams, and then inspect all items carefully.

Bed Bugs on a Mattress

Image courtesy of http://bugbusterzzz.com/bedbugs/