Small cameras hidden in a clock radio and an air purifier helped a North Stonington woman nab the worker responsible for stealing and tampering with her daughter's medication in a Westbrook home for the mentally disabled.
The worker, an employee of Vista Vocational & Life Skills Center, was fired, prosecuted and sent to prison in 2007 for two years.
Now the employee's transgression is surfacing again, this time in a civil courtroom where Vista is defending itself against a lawsuit filed by Jane and John Couto on behalf of their daughter, Melissa.
The lawsuit says Melissa Couto suffered "serious and severe consequences and damages" as a result of being deprived of her proper medication. The Coutos charge that the damages were caused by Vista's "negligence and carelessness" in failing both to supervise the proper administration of their daughter's medication and to investigate why her behavior changed.
Vista has insisted that it did nothing wrong and has vowed to fight the civil suit.
The lawsuit also accuses the facility of failing to supervise personnel, failing to hire "a sufficient number of competent, qualified personnel," and hiring "incompetent and unqualified persons."
Jane Couto sent her severely mentally disabled daughter to Vista in 2005 so she could learn life skills and get vocational training and counseling. Throughout her stay, Melissa Couto would need the medication Focalin, a stimulant, that prevented her from becoming lethargic and depressed.
At first, Melissa Couto seemed to do well at Vista. In January 2006, however, the Coutos noticed their daughter was becoming so tired that it was difficult for her to stay awake and alert. They wondered why medication that was once effective was no longer helping the young woman's fatigue and depression.
Then one day when Melissa Couto was visiting at home, sunlight shining through a window revealed that a capsule of medicine for Melissa was nearly empty. It appeared that someone at Vista was tampering with her medication.
With the help of her younger daughter, Ashley, Jane Couto hid small cameras inside Melissa's room at Vista. When the tape showed someone was entering Melissa Couto's room in the middle of the night and stealing her medicine, the Coutos called police.
2011年6月29日星期三
As public servants face cuts, one raises a stink about office aroma
Working in the public service stinks, apparently.
A Citizenship and Immigration employee has missed hundreds of hours of work over nearly a decade, claiming the smell of cologne and perfume at the office is so strong he just can’t take it.
At a time when public servants are fearing they may be next to be told their jobs have been eliminated via government-wide spending cuts, temporary resident visa processor Terrence Juba has kept his for years despite calling in sick as much as possible.
“Mr. Juba said that he has been absent from work for hundreds of hours,” states a Public Service Labour Relations Board report released Tuesday and written by adjudicator Paul Love. “He explored the possibility of working from home. Suggestions were made that he quit his job. He requested and was provided an air purifier.”
Reports from the Labour Relations Board often provide a window into the small battles waged inside the public service, where numerous avenues are available for federal employees to file grievances about their work conditions.
One 2006 email listed in the report indicated that Mr. Juba’s contract allowed him 176.5 hours of sick leave. Mr. Juba was asking to have his used sick days returned because his office did not act fast enough to accommodate his condition.
The report states that Mr. Juba’s boss, Paul Snow, took the condition seriously, going so far as to seek help from something described as “JOSH,” the “Joint Occupational Safety and Health Committee.”
The manager then arranged to have an expert on scents come in to teach Mr. Juba’s work colleagues at the Vegreville, Alta., Case Processing Centre about the importance of not being overly fragrant.
“The training was delivered by a person from outside the Centre to avoid stigmatizing those who were scent sensitive and to demonstrate that it was a serious issue,” according to the report.
A sign was also put up in the office that read: “Scent sensitive zone.”
Ultimately, the adjudicator dismissed Mr. Juba’s request.
And that wasn’t the first time the public servant used the various grievance options available to workers inside government.
In 2002 Mr. Juba made a claim for compensation with the Workers’ Compensation Board, on the grounds that he had experienced headaches, a runny nose and occasional nosebleeds from being around co-workers wearing perfume.
A Citizenship and Immigration employee has missed hundreds of hours of work over nearly a decade, claiming the smell of cologne and perfume at the office is so strong he just can’t take it.
At a time when public servants are fearing they may be next to be told their jobs have been eliminated via government-wide spending cuts, temporary resident visa processor Terrence Juba has kept his for years despite calling in sick as much as possible.
“Mr. Juba said that he has been absent from work for hundreds of hours,” states a Public Service Labour Relations Board report released Tuesday and written by adjudicator Paul Love. “He explored the possibility of working from home. Suggestions were made that he quit his job. He requested and was provided an air purifier.”
Reports from the Labour Relations Board often provide a window into the small battles waged inside the public service, where numerous avenues are available for federal employees to file grievances about their work conditions.
One 2006 email listed in the report indicated that Mr. Juba’s contract allowed him 176.5 hours of sick leave. Mr. Juba was asking to have his used sick days returned because his office did not act fast enough to accommodate his condition.
The report states that Mr. Juba’s boss, Paul Snow, took the condition seriously, going so far as to seek help from something described as “JOSH,” the “Joint Occupational Safety and Health Committee.”
The manager then arranged to have an expert on scents come in to teach Mr. Juba’s work colleagues at the Vegreville, Alta., Case Processing Centre about the importance of not being overly fragrant.
“The training was delivered by a person from outside the Centre to avoid stigmatizing those who were scent sensitive and to demonstrate that it was a serious issue,” according to the report.
A sign was also put up in the office that read: “Scent sensitive zone.”
Ultimately, the adjudicator dismissed Mr. Juba’s request.
And that wasn’t the first time the public servant used the various grievance options available to workers inside government.
In 2002 Mr. Juba made a claim for compensation with the Workers’ Compensation Board, on the grounds that he had experienced headaches, a runny nose and occasional nosebleeds from being around co-workers wearing perfume.
2011年6月26日星期日
Twisted ethics of an expert witness
Earlier this year, a four-page document with a bland title, "Stipulation for Dismissal with Prejudice," was filed in a civil matter percolating on the King County Courthouse's ninth floor. Hardly anyone took notice. Most everyone had moved on.
But that document — filed by lawyers tangled up in the estate of Stuart Greenberg, a nationally renowned psychologist whose life ended in scandal — signaled the end of a tortuous undertaking.
Greenberg had proved such a toxic force — a poison coursing through the state's court system — that it took more than three years for lawyers and judges to sift through his victims and account for the damage done.
For a quarter century Greenberg testified as an expert in forensic psychology, an inscrutable field with immense power. Purporting to offer insight into the human condition, he evaluated more than 2,000 children, teenagers and adults. His word could determine which parent received custody of a child, or whether a jury believed a claim of sexual assault, or what damages might be awarded for emotional distress.
At conferences and in classrooms, in Washington and beyond, he taught others to do what he did. He became his profession's gatekeeper, quizzing aspirants, judging others' work, writing the national-certification exam. His peers elected him their national president.
But his formidable career was built upon a foundation of hypocrisy and lies. In the years since Greenberg's death, while court officials wrestled over his estate, The Seattle Times worked to unearth Greenberg's secrets, getting court records unsealed and disciplinary records opened.
Those records are a testament to Greenberg's cunning. They show how he played the courts for a fool. He played state regulators for a fool. He played his fellow psychologists for a fool. And were it not for a hidden camera, he might have gotten away with it.
In summer 1984, Cathy Graden, a 27-year-old surgical nurse from Woodinville, was summoned to King County Superior Court for an emergency hearing in her child-custody case.
Her lawyer said a psychologist's report was behind the hearing. But Graden wasn't allowed to read the report. Nor was she allowed in the courtroom while the psychologist testified.
The psychologist, Stuart Greenberg, had been hired to help resolve a custody dispute involving Graden's only child, a 4-year-old boy whose bright, goopy finger-paintings Graden taped up all over the house.
Although appointed by the court, Greenberg was paid by the parties. He had interviewed the boy and both parents, and run a half-dozen tests with impressive names (the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, the Michigan Screening Profile of Parenting ... ).
Graden figured she had nothing to fear. She taught Sunday school; she did volunteer work; she had taken care of her son when the boy's father moved to Alaska after the couple's divorce. "I thought there was no way I could possibly lose this," she says.
Greenberg had arrived in Seattle five years earlier, hired by the University of Washington. A letter written by the department chairman called Greenberg a "last-minute replacement" for a psychology professor who'd resigned. Greenberg's credentials "were on hand," because he'd applied for some other position.
His credentials were acceptable but not extraordinary. He had a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, where his thesis was a word salad: "Stimulus and Response Generalization of Classes of Imitative and Non-imitative Behavior as a Function of Reinforcement, Task, Cues, and Number of Therapists." On Washington's psychology licensing test, one examiner marked Greenberg's professional judgment as "good," his knowledge and skills, "okay."
Teaching, Greenberg earned just $15,300 his first year. His second year, he was assigned only a single evening class. He left the university and moved into private practice. He picked up court appointments in Western Washington as a custody investigator, expert evaluator, arbiter, mediator, guardian ad litem, special master. He became enmeshed in the court system, buddying up to lawyers, judges, fellow experts.
On the stand, he radiated confidence. "He was just kind of a notch above the rest of us," says Nick Wiltz, a fellow forensic psychologist. "He was able to present reports and information in a very powerful way."
But Greenberg also demonstrated dubious judgment and a cavalier attitude toward his ethical obligations, which forbade even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
But that document — filed by lawyers tangled up in the estate of Stuart Greenberg, a nationally renowned psychologist whose life ended in scandal — signaled the end of a tortuous undertaking.
Greenberg had proved such a toxic force — a poison coursing through the state's court system — that it took more than three years for lawyers and judges to sift through his victims and account for the damage done.
For a quarter century Greenberg testified as an expert in forensic psychology, an inscrutable field with immense power. Purporting to offer insight into the human condition, he evaluated more than 2,000 children, teenagers and adults. His word could determine which parent received custody of a child, or whether a jury believed a claim of sexual assault, or what damages might be awarded for emotional distress.
At conferences and in classrooms, in Washington and beyond, he taught others to do what he did. He became his profession's gatekeeper, quizzing aspirants, judging others' work, writing the national-certification exam. His peers elected him their national president.
But his formidable career was built upon a foundation of hypocrisy and lies. In the years since Greenberg's death, while court officials wrestled over his estate, The Seattle Times worked to unearth Greenberg's secrets, getting court records unsealed and disciplinary records opened.
Those records are a testament to Greenberg's cunning. They show how he played the courts for a fool. He played state regulators for a fool. He played his fellow psychologists for a fool. And were it not for a hidden camera, he might have gotten away with it.
In summer 1984, Cathy Graden, a 27-year-old surgical nurse from Woodinville, was summoned to King County Superior Court for an emergency hearing in her child-custody case.
Her lawyer said a psychologist's report was behind the hearing. But Graden wasn't allowed to read the report. Nor was she allowed in the courtroom while the psychologist testified.
The psychologist, Stuart Greenberg, had been hired to help resolve a custody dispute involving Graden's only child, a 4-year-old boy whose bright, goopy finger-paintings Graden taped up all over the house.
Although appointed by the court, Greenberg was paid by the parties. He had interviewed the boy and both parents, and run a half-dozen tests with impressive names (the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, the Michigan Screening Profile of Parenting ... ).
Graden figured she had nothing to fear. She taught Sunday school; she did volunteer work; she had taken care of her son when the boy's father moved to Alaska after the couple's divorce. "I thought there was no way I could possibly lose this," she says.
Greenberg had arrived in Seattle five years earlier, hired by the University of Washington. A letter written by the department chairman called Greenberg a "last-minute replacement" for a psychology professor who'd resigned. Greenberg's credentials "were on hand," because he'd applied for some other position.
His credentials were acceptable but not extraordinary. He had a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, where his thesis was a word salad: "Stimulus and Response Generalization of Classes of Imitative and Non-imitative Behavior as a Function of Reinforcement, Task, Cues, and Number of Therapists." On Washington's psychology licensing test, one examiner marked Greenberg's professional judgment as "good," his knowledge and skills, "okay."
Teaching, Greenberg earned just $15,300 his first year. His second year, he was assigned only a single evening class. He left the university and moved into private practice. He picked up court appointments in Western Washington as a custody investigator, expert evaluator, arbiter, mediator, guardian ad litem, special master. He became enmeshed in the court system, buddying up to lawyers, judges, fellow experts.
On the stand, he radiated confidence. "He was just kind of a notch above the rest of us," says Nick Wiltz, a fellow forensic psychologist. "He was able to present reports and information in a very powerful way."
But Greenberg also demonstrated dubious judgment and a cavalier attitude toward his ethical obligations, which forbade even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Kahitna Meriahkan Sharp Historia
Sharp Historiaroad show di atrium e-Walk Balikpapan Superblock (BSB) berhasil menyedot ribuan warga Kota Minyak. Terlebih malam tadi. Orang-orang berkerumun menyaksikan secara langsung penampilan band kenamaan Kahitna yang diboyong oleh produsen eletronik asal Jepang itu.
Band yang diawaki oleh Hedi Yunus ini tampil pada pukul 08.00 Wita. Banyak lagu-lagu yang sempat hits di medio 90-an ikut dibawakan dalam penampilan band ini sekitar 2 jam in.
Itulah bagian dari serangkaian kemeriahan acara Sharp Historia yang digelar dari tanggal 24 hingga 26 juni 2011 di atrium e-Walk BSB. Sejak Jumat (24/6) produk kenamaan ini menggelar pameran dengan harga spesial, gratis lucky dip, diskon menarik, games dan belajar seni budaya Jepang dengan gratis.
Setelah sukses menggelar Sharp Historiaroad show yang pertama di kota Makassar pada tanggal 1 hingga 5 Juni 2011 lalu, kota berikutnya yang mendapat giliran adalah kota Balikpapan. Selain pameran produk terbaru, Sharp juga menampilkan produk zaman dulu seperti televisi, radio dan kulkas. Ini sesuai dengan tema acara Sharp Historia.
“Salah satu daya tarik dalam eksibisi ini adalah time tunnel display yaitu booth yang akan mengajak pengunjung menyaksikan perjalanan panjang sejarah perusahaan, evolusi teknologi dan produk-produk Sharp dari masa ke masa,” ujar SEID Brand Strategy Group Senior General Manager Yukihiro Nono.
Band yang diawaki oleh Hedi Yunus ini tampil pada pukul 08.00 Wita. Banyak lagu-lagu yang sempat hits di medio 90-an ikut dibawakan dalam penampilan band ini sekitar 2 jam in.
Itulah bagian dari serangkaian kemeriahan acara Sharp Historia yang digelar dari tanggal 24 hingga 26 juni 2011 di atrium e-Walk BSB. Sejak Jumat (24/6) produk kenamaan ini menggelar pameran dengan harga spesial, gratis lucky dip, diskon menarik, games dan belajar seni budaya Jepang dengan gratis.
Setelah sukses menggelar Sharp Historiaroad show yang pertama di kota Makassar pada tanggal 1 hingga 5 Juni 2011 lalu, kota berikutnya yang mendapat giliran adalah kota Balikpapan. Selain pameran produk terbaru, Sharp juga menampilkan produk zaman dulu seperti televisi, radio dan kulkas. Ini sesuai dengan tema acara Sharp Historia.
“Salah satu daya tarik dalam eksibisi ini adalah time tunnel display yaitu booth yang akan mengajak pengunjung menyaksikan perjalanan panjang sejarah perusahaan, evolusi teknologi dan produk-produk Sharp dari masa ke masa,” ujar SEID Brand Strategy Group Senior General Manager Yukihiro Nono.
2011年6月22日星期三
Design space: personal zone air purifier
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Traditional air purifiers claim to clean all the air in a room. Unless a room is completely sealed, however, new contaminants can get in.
Humanscale wanted to create a more targeted air purifier that would focus on cleaning the air being breathed – the so-called breathing zone around the user’s mouth.
The office furniture company teamed up with Swedish inventor Andrzej Loreth, who had developed an air-purification technology for big areas such as subway stations. Humanscale’s 20 designers and engineers in New York set about shrinking Mr Loreth’s technology down for personal use.
They built a device with an electric field at the back, which negatively charges all the particles as they are drawn into it by fans, so that the polluted particles stick to a positively charged paper filter inside. The air then passes through a carbon-based filter to eliminate odours and leaves the front of the unit, delivering purer air to the user’s breathing zone. The result is a near-silent, breeze-free device, so it can be positioned near the user.
The Personal Zone Air Purifier removes 96 per cent of airborne particulates at a range of 18in from the user, compared to a rate of 50 per cent for the best-in-class of the most common form of filters.
Traditional air purifiers claim to clean all the air in a room. Unless a room is completely sealed, however, new contaminants can get in.
Humanscale wanted to create a more targeted air purifier that would focus on cleaning the air being breathed – the so-called breathing zone around the user’s mouth.
The office furniture company teamed up with Swedish inventor Andrzej Loreth, who had developed an air-purification technology for big areas such as subway stations. Humanscale’s 20 designers and engineers in New York set about shrinking Mr Loreth’s technology down for personal use.
They built a device with an electric field at the back, which negatively charges all the particles as they are drawn into it by fans, so that the polluted particles stick to a positively charged paper filter inside. The air then passes through a carbon-based filter to eliminate odours and leaves the front of the unit, delivering purer air to the user’s breathing zone. The result is a near-silent, breeze-free device, so it can be positioned near the user.
The Personal Zone Air Purifier removes 96 per cent of airborne particulates at a range of 18in from the user, compared to a rate of 50 per cent for the best-in-class of the most common form of filters.
Is your air cleaner hazardous to your health?
If you're shopping for an air cleaner, you'll find two main types. The best kind simply filter bad stuff (pet dander, dust, pollen, smoke, etc.) out of the air you breathe. But other air purifiers try to "clean" the air by pumping out ozone -- a chemical that's actually helpful as long as it lingers in Earth's stratosphere, screening out the sun's damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays, and that turns dangerous when it descends into the air we breathe. ("Good up high, bad nearby," as the U.S Environmental Protection Agency says.) These so-called "air purifiers" can actually pollute your home's air and trigger breathing problems, experts warn in our latest report on air purifiers.
Ozone irritates the lungs and throat and can worsen asthma, weaken your body's ability to fight infections, and cause other health problems -- even in healthy people, the EPA warns. In fact, long-term exposure to even low levels of ozone can kill you, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The EPA cautions against using air cleaners that produce ozone. So does Good Housekeeping magazine. "Don't buy them," is Good Housekeeping's advice on ozone-generating air purifiers. Adding: "We feel so strongly that these products are hazardous to your health that we will not allow them to apply for use of the Good Housekeeping Seal or advertise in Good Housekeeping." If you already have one, "stop using it and cut the cord before you discard it so no one else can use it either." ConsumerReports.org refuses to recommend or even test them. And as of October 2010, the state of California has banned the sale of home-use air cleaners that produce more than 50 parts per billion of ozone.
So, how can you tell whether your air purifier is safe? Unfortunately, it can be tricky. If you see the word "ionic" or "electrostatic" on your air cleaner, it's probably dribbling out small amounts of ozone as a by-product. Also look for code words like "pure air," "energized oxygen," "saturated oxygen" or "trivalent oxygen" -- all of which can really mean ozone. You can also test for ozone with a free kit from the not-for-profit International Association of Air Cleaner Manufacturers (IAACM). To be on the safe side, avoid such electrostatic air cleaners, ConsumerReports.org advises: "We now believe that air purifiers that emit even small amounts of ozone (less than 50 parts per billion) are not your best choice."
To avoid the whole ozone problem, simply choose an air cleaner that uses filters only (usually HEPA and/or carbon filters). Experts say these do the best job of cleaning the air, anyway, and without any potentially dangerous side effects. All of the Best Reviewed air cleaners in our latest report produce zero ozone, from the elite IQAir HealthPro Plus (*Est. $900) to the more affordable Austin Air HealthMate (*Est. $490) and Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N (*Est. $195) to the inexpensive 3M Filtrete 2200 Elite Allergen Reduction Filter (*Est. $23), a disposable filter that slips into your forced-air heating or cooling system.
Ozone irritates the lungs and throat and can worsen asthma, weaken your body's ability to fight infections, and cause other health problems -- even in healthy people, the EPA warns. In fact, long-term exposure to even low levels of ozone can kill you, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The EPA cautions against using air cleaners that produce ozone. So does Good Housekeeping magazine. "Don't buy them," is Good Housekeeping's advice on ozone-generating air purifiers. Adding: "We feel so strongly that these products are hazardous to your health that we will not allow them to apply for use of the Good Housekeeping Seal or advertise in Good Housekeeping." If you already have one, "stop using it and cut the cord before you discard it so no one else can use it either." ConsumerReports.org refuses to recommend or even test them. And as of October 2010, the state of California has banned the sale of home-use air cleaners that produce more than 50 parts per billion of ozone.
So, how can you tell whether your air purifier is safe? Unfortunately, it can be tricky. If you see the word "ionic" or "electrostatic" on your air cleaner, it's probably dribbling out small amounts of ozone as a by-product. Also look for code words like "pure air," "energized oxygen," "saturated oxygen" or "trivalent oxygen" -- all of which can really mean ozone. You can also test for ozone with a free kit from the not-for-profit International Association of Air Cleaner Manufacturers (IAACM). To be on the safe side, avoid such electrostatic air cleaners, ConsumerReports.org advises: "We now believe that air purifiers that emit even small amounts of ozone (less than 50 parts per billion) are not your best choice."
To avoid the whole ozone problem, simply choose an air cleaner that uses filters only (usually HEPA and/or carbon filters). Experts say these do the best job of cleaning the air, anyway, and without any potentially dangerous side effects. All of the Best Reviewed air cleaners in our latest report produce zero ozone, from the elite IQAir HealthPro Plus (*Est. $900) to the more affordable Austin Air HealthMate (*Est. $490) and Honeywell Enviracaire 50250-N (*Est. $195) to the inexpensive 3M Filtrete 2200 Elite Allergen Reduction Filter (*Est. $23), a disposable filter that slips into your forced-air heating or cooling system.
2011年6月20日星期一
Contest seeks ideas for $300 houses to shelter world's poor
What started as a theoretical question posed on the obstacles to global housing-for-the-poor has reached fruition as voting closed June 15th on the 300House project. Contestants around the world were challenged to design a house that could be constructed for less than US$300. Prize money of $25,000 was shared among the top sixteen ranked ideas, with two-week prototyping workshops worth $15,000 for the first, second and third designs ranked by the online voting community, and three awarded the Jury Prize.
The problem of housing is one faced by two billion people around the world. Initially a conceptual argument by bloggers Vijay Govindarajan and Christian Sarkar, the hypothetical idea of a house constructed for under US$300 received an overwhelming response and they began to bring together a collective of thinkers, designers and investors from around the world. Eventually, with partners Jovoto, a crowd-sourcing forum for sponsored design competitions, and US$25,000 prize money underwritten by international industrial firm Ingersoll Rand, a challenge was thrown down to bring affordable housing to the world's poor.
The detailed briefing was to provide a dwelling that was weather-proof & fire-proof, sustainable, secure, durable (up to fifty years) replicable and dignified, with a guideline cost of $300. The dwelling should be standardized, and yet take into consideration differences in region and available materials. It should therefore also be affordable, and self-improvable. It should be no smaller than 2.2 meters square (23.68 sq ft), with space to sleep and cook, access to light, drinking water and electricity and be secure. Sanitation was not part of the briefing, however, as it was envisaged as part of a centralized communal facility.
The problem of housing is one faced by two billion people around the world. Initially a conceptual argument by bloggers Vijay Govindarajan and Christian Sarkar, the hypothetical idea of a house constructed for under US$300 received an overwhelming response and they began to bring together a collective of thinkers, designers and investors from around the world. Eventually, with partners Jovoto, a crowd-sourcing forum for sponsored design competitions, and US$25,000 prize money underwritten by international industrial firm Ingersoll Rand, a challenge was thrown down to bring affordable housing to the world's poor.
The detailed briefing was to provide a dwelling that was weather-proof & fire-proof, sustainable, secure, durable (up to fifty years) replicable and dignified, with a guideline cost of $300. The dwelling should be standardized, and yet take into consideration differences in region and available materials. It should therefore also be affordable, and self-improvable. It should be no smaller than 2.2 meters square (23.68 sq ft), with space to sleep and cook, access to light, drinking water and electricity and be secure. Sanitation was not part of the briefing, however, as it was envisaged as part of a centralized communal facility.
Can Technology Rescue the Sprouts Industry?
While scientists are scrambling to pinpoint the cause of the E. coli outbreak linked to bean and seed sprouts in northern Germany, a veteran sprouts system designer believes he has developed the technology that can produce "the perfect sprout."
As of June 20, the outbreak had killed 39 people and sickened more than 3,000.
"If this technology had been used in the EU, those people would still be alive. I have no doubt about it," Lincoln Neal, president of Tennessee-based Quicksilver Automated Systems (www.qasc.com/index.html), told Food Safety News.
According to the company's website, Quicksilver provides state-of the art purification, propagation and processing systems for the largest sprout companies in North America.
Neal thinks the pathogen that caused the E. coli outbreak in Germany likely came in on the seeds, a conjecture that echoes warnings to sprout growers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that seeds are most often the source of most sprout-associated outbreaks.
For that reason, the agency recommends that sprout growers soak the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution, such as 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, before sprouting them.
But Neal, a mechanical systems designer with a focus on disinfection, who describes himself as "a bit of a germophobe," said soaking the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution at the onset just isn't enough because the pathogens can lodge themselves into cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Those cracks and crevasses, which he said in the microscopic world can be as large as the Grand Canyon, can provide safe harbor for the wily pathogens.
To make things more challenging yet, the seeds have a "somewhat oily surface" that can repel water. As a result, the surface tension on the outside of the seed can prevent the disinfectant from going into the cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Neal compares that situation to the water that pools into droplets on the surface of a freshly waxed car.
He warns that if a sprout grower only disinfects the seeds at the beginning of the sprouting process, pathogens could still be lurking in the seeds, especially since sprout growers typically soak their seeds in disinfectant for only about an hour.
Neal also said that contrary to what some people in the industry assert, bacteria such as E. coli can not only hide in the microscopic cracks but can also get inside the sprouting seeds through those cracks.
Neal believes that the solution to that dilemma is easy enough: Use a method that sanitizes the seeds as they're sprouting.
"We focus on the first 24 to 36 hours," he said of his method
According to the company's information about its Emerald Purifier/Sprouter, the equipment can get rid of embedded pathogens inside the seed shell by repeatedly flushing the inside of the seed hull with disinfectant solution at the moments it "changes, opens, 'morphs,' and detaches to release the sprout.
"Bacteria-occupied air cups and pockets are flushed out and disinfected," says the company literature. "Full automatic wash cycles occur as the seed pops open and the microbes become exposed."
"We go in when the seed is changing and by doing that we can get into the seed," Neal said. "The machine persistently and automatically washes the product."
Neal said that if the pathogens aren't caught early on in the process, they can get into the sprouts themselves and that no amount of spray misting a disinfectant onto them can reach every square micron of the sprouts.
"Nipping it in the bud early on in the process is essential," he said, adding that persistent disinfection doesn't erode the nutritional value of the seeds and "is in full accord with the life process of the sprouts."
"It doesn't compromise germination or weaken it," he said.
Looking at another FDA guideline for producing sprouts that involves testing the spent irrigation water that has flowed over the seeds, Neal sees drawbacks. FDA's thinking behind that approach is that if there were any pathogens on the seeds themselves, they would multiply under the warm, moist conditions the seeds are sprouted in. If the testing, which typically occurs 48 hours into the sprouting process, reveals the presence of pathogens, then that batch can be thrown away, thus keeping it out of the marketplace.
But Neal said that as valuable as testing is, sprouting is a "hurry-up" sort of industry when it comes to shipping the fresh sprouts out to customers. For that reason, sometimes the sprouts are sent out before the test results of the spent irrigation water come back.
And even if a test-and-hold approach were adopted, Neal said that if the pathogens are deep inside the seed, the water won't be able to reach them. They could actually be trapped and not be able to get out.
"It's rare, but it could happen," he said.
Then, too, Neal said that even with the safeguards many sprout growers are using, including FDA's guidelines, a sobering fact keeps emerging: "Somehow these pathogens are getting by these sprouters."
"That's why I think upfront methods must be incorporated," he said. "You've got to come in again and again and again to get the pathogens out. You have to be persistent -- more persistent than the microbes. They've got brilliant programming in them to stay alive."
These pathogens can be virulent. According to the FDA, a single surviving bacterium in a kilogram of seed can be enough to contaminate a whole batch of seeds.
Neal, who says he was called upon by the industry in 1985 to develop a sprout manufacturing package, has focused on modernizing an industry that had previously been more of a "flower-child kind of business."
Fast forward to the present, and Neal says he's probably designed more sprouting equipment "than anyone on the planet."
Back then, immediate questions before him were "How can this problem be solved?" "And where are these pathogens coming from and what's allowing them to proliferate."
When evaluating the potential of his equipment to produce the perfect sprout, Neal said there are no "absolutes in microbiology."
"But if the sprout growers follow our methods and don't cheat, they can virtually eliminate the pathogens," he said.
As of June 20, the outbreak had killed 39 people and sickened more than 3,000.
"If this technology had been used in the EU, those people would still be alive. I have no doubt about it," Lincoln Neal, president of Tennessee-based Quicksilver Automated Systems (www.qasc.com/index.html), told Food Safety News.
According to the company's website, Quicksilver provides state-of the art purification, propagation and processing systems for the largest sprout companies in North America.
Neal thinks the pathogen that caused the E. coli outbreak in Germany likely came in on the seeds, a conjecture that echoes warnings to sprout growers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that seeds are most often the source of most sprout-associated outbreaks.
For that reason, the agency recommends that sprout growers soak the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution, such as 20,000 ppm calcium hypochlorite, before sprouting them.
But Neal, a mechanical systems designer with a focus on disinfection, who describes himself as "a bit of a germophobe," said soaking the seeds in a strong disinfecting solution at the onset just isn't enough because the pathogens can lodge themselves into cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Those cracks and crevasses, which he said in the microscopic world can be as large as the Grand Canyon, can provide safe harbor for the wily pathogens.
To make things more challenging yet, the seeds have a "somewhat oily surface" that can repel water. As a result, the surface tension on the outside of the seed can prevent the disinfectant from going into the cracks and crevasses in the seeds.
Neal compares that situation to the water that pools into droplets on the surface of a freshly waxed car.
He warns that if a sprout grower only disinfects the seeds at the beginning of the sprouting process, pathogens could still be lurking in the seeds, especially since sprout growers typically soak their seeds in disinfectant for only about an hour.
Neal also said that contrary to what some people in the industry assert, bacteria such as E. coli can not only hide in the microscopic cracks but can also get inside the sprouting seeds through those cracks.
Neal believes that the solution to that dilemma is easy enough: Use a method that sanitizes the seeds as they're sprouting.
"We focus on the first 24 to 36 hours," he said of his method
According to the company's information about its Emerald Purifier/Sprouter, the equipment can get rid of embedded pathogens inside the seed shell by repeatedly flushing the inside of the seed hull with disinfectant solution at the moments it "changes, opens, 'morphs,' and detaches to release the sprout.
"Bacteria-occupied air cups and pockets are flushed out and disinfected," says the company literature. "Full automatic wash cycles occur as the seed pops open and the microbes become exposed."
"We go in when the seed is changing and by doing that we can get into the seed," Neal said. "The machine persistently and automatically washes the product."
Neal said that if the pathogens aren't caught early on in the process, they can get into the sprouts themselves and that no amount of spray misting a disinfectant onto them can reach every square micron of the sprouts.
"Nipping it in the bud early on in the process is essential," he said, adding that persistent disinfection doesn't erode the nutritional value of the seeds and "is in full accord with the life process of the sprouts."
"It doesn't compromise germination or weaken it," he said.
Looking at another FDA guideline for producing sprouts that involves testing the spent irrigation water that has flowed over the seeds, Neal sees drawbacks. FDA's thinking behind that approach is that if there were any pathogens on the seeds themselves, they would multiply under the warm, moist conditions the seeds are sprouted in. If the testing, which typically occurs 48 hours into the sprouting process, reveals the presence of pathogens, then that batch can be thrown away, thus keeping it out of the marketplace.
But Neal said that as valuable as testing is, sprouting is a "hurry-up" sort of industry when it comes to shipping the fresh sprouts out to customers. For that reason, sometimes the sprouts are sent out before the test results of the spent irrigation water come back.
And even if a test-and-hold approach were adopted, Neal said that if the pathogens are deep inside the seed, the water won't be able to reach them. They could actually be trapped and not be able to get out.
"It's rare, but it could happen," he said.
Then, too, Neal said that even with the safeguards many sprout growers are using, including FDA's guidelines, a sobering fact keeps emerging: "Somehow these pathogens are getting by these sprouters."
"That's why I think upfront methods must be incorporated," he said. "You've got to come in again and again and again to get the pathogens out. You have to be persistent -- more persistent than the microbes. They've got brilliant programming in them to stay alive."
These pathogens can be virulent. According to the FDA, a single surviving bacterium in a kilogram of seed can be enough to contaminate a whole batch of seeds.
Neal, who says he was called upon by the industry in 1985 to develop a sprout manufacturing package, has focused on modernizing an industry that had previously been more of a "flower-child kind of business."
Fast forward to the present, and Neal says he's probably designed more sprouting equipment "than anyone on the planet."
Back then, immediate questions before him were "How can this problem be solved?" "And where are these pathogens coming from and what's allowing them to proliferate."
When evaluating the potential of his equipment to produce the perfect sprout, Neal said there are no "absolutes in microbiology."
"But if the sprout growers follow our methods and don't cheat, they can virtually eliminate the pathogens," he said.
2011年6月15日星期三
We are leaving our children a toxic transportation legacy
THE end of the school year is rapidly approaching and I find myself in a situation millions of Los Angeles parents face each June, how to find safe, healthy summer activities for my 6-year-old son during the summer. Turns out getting him out of school is the safest thing I can do.
Keeping my child at home will prevent him from breathing air full of hazardous, invisible air pollution radiating from the heavily trafficked Interstate 5 freeway, which sits just a stone's throw away from his school's front door. These next two months are especially valuable since the freeway is scheduled to move even closer to his school by the time he starts second grade this fall.
For decades, our region has sought extensive and expensive freeway projects as a way to solve mobility and congestion problems. This current expansion abutting my son's elementary school affects the area between the 134 and 118 freeways.
Not only are all 450 students at Glendale's Franklin Elementary at risk, but so are the other tens of thousands of students at 30 other school campuses between the 710 to the 14 freeways. These students will inhale dangerous levels of particulate matter pollution not only from increased vehicle traffic along the I-5, but from pollution emanating from chronically polluting construction equipment required
to undertake this multi-year project.
A study in the American Economic Review found that traffic density on the typical interstate roughly doubled from 1983 to 2003, independent of whether new miles had been added. When new pavement is added to existing roads, the AER study found that new commercial traffic and additional trips by current residents made up the bulk of that increase, followed by driving by new residents attracted by the development. In the case of the I-5 project, designed under the premise that new lanes will facilitate existing drivers, this is clearly a fallacy confirmed by anyone who has sat in L.A. traffic.
Across the region, thousands of children living or going to school near freeways subsidize freeway expansions with their health. This collateral damage is felt not only in the 17 percent childhood asthma rates in some L.A. neighborhoods, but in the thousands of annual premature deaths attributed to air pollution. Air quality studies document obvious health effects on children and adults who live close to busy roadways.
Instead of sinking billion of dollars in widening existing freeways, we should invest in healthier transportation alternatives. Changing the transportation infrastructure of Los Angeles will no doubt require more than a few of the daily 6 million cars to stay parked while their drivers take public transportation. But it can be done, and the city of L.A. is already investing in several initiatives through the 30/10 program to make those transit options available.
If CalTrans continues the freeway expansion projects, it must include strategies to protect our kids from the pollution. The safest solution is to relocate schools nearest the freeway. Other measures are higher soundwalls, planting a canopy of mature trees in and around the school, and installing air monitors, purifiers and filters in all the classrooms and buildings.
Before adding more pavement to our region, we should stop and reflect on the transportation legacy we're leaving to the next generation. In 10 years, when my son can legally drive, I don't want him held hostage by gridlock traffic. When the I-5 widening project is finished, my son will be in fourth grade and 9 years old. He will be 6 inches taller, three years older and have three years of toxic diesel pollution in his lungs.
This is not the legacy we should leave our children.
Keeping my child at home will prevent him from breathing air full of hazardous, invisible air pollution radiating from the heavily trafficked Interstate 5 freeway, which sits just a stone's throw away from his school's front door. These next two months are especially valuable since the freeway is scheduled to move even closer to his school by the time he starts second grade this fall.
For decades, our region has sought extensive and expensive freeway projects as a way to solve mobility and congestion problems. This current expansion abutting my son's elementary school affects the area between the 134 and 118 freeways.
Not only are all 450 students at Glendale's Franklin Elementary at risk, but so are the other tens of thousands of students at 30 other school campuses between the 710 to the 14 freeways. These students will inhale dangerous levels of particulate matter pollution not only from increased vehicle traffic along the I-5, but from pollution emanating from chronically polluting construction equipment required
to undertake this multi-year project.
A study in the American Economic Review found that traffic density on the typical interstate roughly doubled from 1983 to 2003, independent of whether new miles had been added. When new pavement is added to existing roads, the AER study found that new commercial traffic and additional trips by current residents made up the bulk of that increase, followed by driving by new residents attracted by the development. In the case of the I-5 project, designed under the premise that new lanes will facilitate existing drivers, this is clearly a fallacy confirmed by anyone who has sat in L.A. traffic.
Across the region, thousands of children living or going to school near freeways subsidize freeway expansions with their health. This collateral damage is felt not only in the 17 percent childhood asthma rates in some L.A. neighborhoods, but in the thousands of annual premature deaths attributed to air pollution. Air quality studies document obvious health effects on children and adults who live close to busy roadways.
Instead of sinking billion of dollars in widening existing freeways, we should invest in healthier transportation alternatives. Changing the transportation infrastructure of Los Angeles will no doubt require more than a few of the daily 6 million cars to stay parked while their drivers take public transportation. But it can be done, and the city of L.A. is already investing in several initiatives through the 30/10 program to make those transit options available.
If CalTrans continues the freeway expansion projects, it must include strategies to protect our kids from the pollution. The safest solution is to relocate schools nearest the freeway. Other measures are higher soundwalls, planting a canopy of mature trees in and around the school, and installing air monitors, purifiers and filters in all the classrooms and buildings.
Before adding more pavement to our region, we should stop and reflect on the transportation legacy we're leaving to the next generation. In 10 years, when my son can legally drive, I don't want him held hostage by gridlock traffic. When the I-5 widening project is finished, my son will be in fourth grade and 9 years old. He will be 6 inches taller, three years older and have three years of toxic diesel pollution in his lungs.
This is not the legacy we should leave our children.
Your essential guide to a sneeze-free summer
Summer looks set to sizzle and while that’s more than welcome after months of drizzle, it has a definite downside if you happen to be allergic to pollen.
Hay fever isn’t going away. With a huge 15 million Brits have the condition and numbers are rising. So here’s our 20-point sneezing-survival plan.
1 Spot the hidden symptoms
A blocked, runny or itchy nose, red and itchy, watery eyes, sore throat and headaches can all be tell-tale signs of hay fever. More people are getting hay fever for the first time in middle-age but because of variations in the pollen count, they might not suffer the same symptoms every year.
“People mistakenly believe they have a cold, so treat it inappropriately,” says pollen and allergy expert Professor Jean Emberlin. If any of these symptoms last longer than a couple of weeks, see your pharmacist. But see your GP if you also have asthma as uncontrolled hay fever can make it worse.
2 Let out the smoke
Cigarette smoke – your own or someone else’s – irritates the lining of the nose, eyes, throat and airways, making hay fever worse, so ban it at home.
3 Boost your defences
Pack in the fruit and veg and get plenty of exercise to strengthen your immune system. Allergies like hay fever occur when the immune system gets confused, mistaking a harmless substance like pollen for something harmful, putting it into overdrive.
During this process, your body produces the chemical histamine, which causes the symptoms. Last year’s Hay Fever Health Report carried out by Professor Emberlin’s team found that people who eat healthily and exercise are less likely to suffer severe hay fever symptoms.
4 Nip it in the bud
The earlier you start treatment, the more successful it should be. When hay fever symptoms are in full flow, one in 10 sufferers has difficulty working while a third have problems sleeping, according to Opticrom.
Start with over-the-counter antihistamine nasal sprays and eye drops for mild symptoms. Otherwise, try long-acting, non-drowsy antihistamine pills, such as those with cetirizine or loratadine – save money with non-branded versions.
5 Find the culprit
Once you know which pollen or pollens cause problems, you can try to avoid them. Keep a diary of when and where you get symptoms and match them against a pollen calendar. You can download one for free at www.zirtek.co.uk.
6 Watch what you eat
If you’re allergic to birch pollen, eating uncooked apples and stone fruits can make symptoms worse.
7 Lighten up
The Lumie Haylight (£49.95) is a pocket-sized phototherapy device, which has two tubes that you insert into your nostrils for three minutes, three to four times a day. It emits light that works on the membranes inside the nose, reducing production of histamine. It might sound odd but it doesn’t have side effects and is scientifically proven. Visit www.lumie.com.
8 Put up barriers
There are plenty of barrier balms that trap pollen before it gets into the respiratory system. But Prevalin (£9.22) is a new nasal spray that goes even further. It deactivates the pollen inside the nose, forms a microgel barrier to protect the nasal lining and helps to remove pollen from the nostrils.
In a study, 75% of hay fever sufferers said they preferred Prevalin to their usual treatment. It’s also safe for kids and pregnant women. Visit www.westonsinternet.co.uk.
9 Clear the air
Air purifiers capture pollen grains that are circulating in the air at home. The best are those given Allergy UK’s seal of approval. Visit www.allergyuk.org.
10 Check the count
On high pollen count days, try to stay indoors and, if you go out, wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes. You can find out the pollen count on weather forecasts.
11 Escape the city
Hay fever symptoms are worse in cities as pollution reacts with the pollen, making it more powerful. Pollen counts are usually lower close to the coast and on higher ground. If you’re going on holiday, pick a low-pollen location with the help of pollen maps. Maps of the UK and Europe, can be downloaded free at www.nasacort.co.uk.
12 Chill out
Stress produces the hormone cortisol, which affects the immune system and prolongs symptoms. The Hay Fever Health Report found seven out of 10 sufferers with high stress suffered severe symptoms.
13 Ignore the old wives’ tales
Many people believe that eating local honey can help. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s a myth. As honey is derived from bee pollination from flowers and most people’s hay fever is triggered by grass or tree pollen, honey might be scrummy, but it will do very little to relieve symptoms.
14 Time it right
Keep windows shut at peak pollen times of day – that’s between 7am and10am and 5pm and 7pm. Try to limit time spent outdoors during those hours if possible.
15 Bin the booze
As well as making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol is dehydrating, which makes the symptoms seem worse.
Hay fever isn’t going away. With a huge 15 million Brits have the condition and numbers are rising. So here’s our 20-point sneezing-survival plan.
1 Spot the hidden symptoms
A blocked, runny or itchy nose, red and itchy, watery eyes, sore throat and headaches can all be tell-tale signs of hay fever. More people are getting hay fever for the first time in middle-age but because of variations in the pollen count, they might not suffer the same symptoms every year.
“People mistakenly believe they have a cold, so treat it inappropriately,” says pollen and allergy expert Professor Jean Emberlin. If any of these symptoms last longer than a couple of weeks, see your pharmacist. But see your GP if you also have asthma as uncontrolled hay fever can make it worse.
2 Let out the smoke
Cigarette smoke – your own or someone else’s – irritates the lining of the nose, eyes, throat and airways, making hay fever worse, so ban it at home.
3 Boost your defences
Pack in the fruit and veg and get plenty of exercise to strengthen your immune system. Allergies like hay fever occur when the immune system gets confused, mistaking a harmless substance like pollen for something harmful, putting it into overdrive.
During this process, your body produces the chemical histamine, which causes the symptoms. Last year’s Hay Fever Health Report carried out by Professor Emberlin’s team found that people who eat healthily and exercise are less likely to suffer severe hay fever symptoms.
4 Nip it in the bud
The earlier you start treatment, the more successful it should be. When hay fever symptoms are in full flow, one in 10 sufferers has difficulty working while a third have problems sleeping, according to Opticrom.
Start with over-the-counter antihistamine nasal sprays and eye drops for mild symptoms. Otherwise, try long-acting, non-drowsy antihistamine pills, such as those with cetirizine or loratadine – save money with non-branded versions.
5 Find the culprit
Once you know which pollen or pollens cause problems, you can try to avoid them. Keep a diary of when and where you get symptoms and match them against a pollen calendar. You can download one for free at www.zirtek.co.uk.
6 Watch what you eat
If you’re allergic to birch pollen, eating uncooked apples and stone fruits can make symptoms worse.
7 Lighten up
The Lumie Haylight (£49.95) is a pocket-sized phototherapy device, which has two tubes that you insert into your nostrils for three minutes, three to four times a day. It emits light that works on the membranes inside the nose, reducing production of histamine. It might sound odd but it doesn’t have side effects and is scientifically proven. Visit www.lumie.com.
8 Put up barriers
There are plenty of barrier balms that trap pollen before it gets into the respiratory system. But Prevalin (£9.22) is a new nasal spray that goes even further. It deactivates the pollen inside the nose, forms a microgel barrier to protect the nasal lining and helps to remove pollen from the nostrils.
In a study, 75% of hay fever sufferers said they preferred Prevalin to their usual treatment. It’s also safe for kids and pregnant women. Visit www.westonsinternet.co.uk.
9 Clear the air
Air purifiers capture pollen grains that are circulating in the air at home. The best are those given Allergy UK’s seal of approval. Visit www.allergyuk.org.
10 Check the count
On high pollen count days, try to stay indoors and, if you go out, wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes. You can find out the pollen count on weather forecasts.
11 Escape the city
Hay fever symptoms are worse in cities as pollution reacts with the pollen, making it more powerful. Pollen counts are usually lower close to the coast and on higher ground. If you’re going on holiday, pick a low-pollen location with the help of pollen maps. Maps of the UK and Europe, can be downloaded free at www.nasacort.co.uk.
12 Chill out
Stress produces the hormone cortisol, which affects the immune system and prolongs symptoms. The Hay Fever Health Report found seven out of 10 sufferers with high stress suffered severe symptoms.
13 Ignore the old wives’ tales
Many people believe that eating local honey can help. Unfortunately, it turns out it’s a myth. As honey is derived from bee pollination from flowers and most people’s hay fever is triggered by grass or tree pollen, honey might be scrummy, but it will do very little to relieve symptoms.
14 Time it right
Keep windows shut at peak pollen times of day – that’s between 7am and10am and 5pm and 7pm. Try to limit time spent outdoors during those hours if possible.
15 Bin the booze
As well as making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol is dehydrating, which makes the symptoms seem worse.
2011年6月12日星期日
Are nanomaterials a big deal?
Federal regulators announced two actions last week that will aim to clarify the role that extremely small materials can play in items such as cosmetics and food production and packaging.
The Environmental Protection Agency said that it will seek to determine whether nanomaterials in pesticide products can "cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment and human health."
And the Food and Drug Administration released draft guidelines to industries about when the use of nanomaterials might trigger regulatory interest. The FDA named certain characteristics -- such as the size of nanomaterials used and their properties -- that may be considered when trying to identify applications of nanotechnology in products.
Nanomaterials measure about three-billionths of an inch or less, small enough to penetrate the lungs, brain and possibly the skin.
According to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, nanomaterials are used in pest control, lotions, sunscreens, hamburger containers, air purifiers and toys.
Academics, researchers and scientists say the rapidly growing but little-understood science merits wider study.
"We want to obtain timely and accurate information on what nanoscale materials may be in pesticide products. This information is needed for EPA to meet its requirement under the law to protect health and environment," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The Environmental Protection Agency said that it will seek to determine whether nanomaterials in pesticide products can "cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment and human health."
And the Food and Drug Administration released draft guidelines to industries about when the use of nanomaterials might trigger regulatory interest. The FDA named certain characteristics -- such as the size of nanomaterials used and their properties -- that may be considered when trying to identify applications of nanotechnology in products.
Nanomaterials measure about three-billionths of an inch or less, small enough to penetrate the lungs, brain and possibly the skin.
According to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, nanomaterials are used in pest control, lotions, sunscreens, hamburger containers, air purifiers and toys.
Academics, researchers and scientists say the rapidly growing but little-understood science merits wider study.
"We want to obtain timely and accurate information on what nanoscale materials may be in pesticide products. This information is needed for EPA to meet its requirement under the law to protect health and environment," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
Best Things to Do for Your Body NOW
You probably already know that going for a swim within 30 minutes of chowing down on a sandwich isn’t going to cause you to cramp up and sink helplessly to the bottom of the pool. But there’s plenty more lame summertime advice that you might still believe. We set the record straight.
MYTH: Peeing on a jellyfish sting will ease the pain.
Though it may sound convenient–if also totally gross!–urine hasn’t been proven to curb the hurt. What has: vinegar. “Its acidity is believed to inactivate the stingers and diminish the pain,” says Stanford University School of Medicine emergency-medicine doctor Paul Auerbach, M.D., author of Medicine for the Outdoors. Soak a paper towel in household white vinegar and hold it on the wound for about 30 minutes. Afterward, use an OTC hydrocortisone cream to quell any itching. (If, however, you start to feel dizzy or nauseated or develop any kind of rash, you may be having an allergic reaction and should get yourself to a doctor right away, says Auerbach.)
3 Pain Management Tricks
MYTH: Going in and out of air-conditioned buildings can make you sick.
If you feel congested or start sniffling, it’s likely due to summer allergies, says pulmonologist Neil Schachter, M.D., author of The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu.
“People who have allergies–even small sensitivities–may be affected when moving from a clean-air environment into one that’s full of Mother Nature’s irritants,” he says. If your symptoms are on overdrive, try staying inside on very hot, humid days, when outdoor allergens are at their most potent. And keep your home dust- and mold-free by cleaning your AC filter every month or by investing in a HEPA air purifier that nixes 99 percent of airborne contaminants.
MYTH: The safest place to be during a lightning storm is in a car because it has rubber tires.
You’ll be safe in a car, but not because of the rubber tires, says John Jensenius, a lightning-safety specialist for the National Weather Service. The car’s frame is like a metal cage–if struck, lightning will flow around its outside.
(Metal is a good conductor of electricity; rubber is not.) If you’re driving in a storm, don’t touch metal door handles or the radio, which is wired to the outside antenna.
MYTH: Flip-flops are kind to your feet.
“Most flip-flops don’t have adequate arch support, cushioning, or shock absorption,” says Manhattan-based foot doctor Jacqueline Sutera, D.P.M. Wearing them all summer, every summer could lead to pinched foot nerves, heel pain, tendinitis, and strained arches. If you can’t quit flops entirely, buy ones that have at least a three-quarter-inch semi-cushioned sole and built-in arch support. Even better, go for a strappy sandal; simple thongs force your toes into an unhealthy clenched position when you walk, encouraging hammertoe growth. Or try cute, beachy wedges (three inches high or less), which offer more support in just about every foot area and help distribute your body weight more evenly.
MYTH: A dip in the pool can do double duty as a shower.
Consider this: Most people don’t rinse off before they go swimming. “Chemicals in personal-care products, sweat, and makeup can interfere with chlorine, making it much less effective,” says Michele Hlavsa, R.N., M.P.H., of the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. The result? Public pools in particular are often swimming with nasties such as cryptosporidium, which can bring on diarrhea, ear infections, and skin rashes. Showering after a dip can wash bacteria off your skin and cut your risk of getting sick. Use soap–a quick hose-off may not be enough.
MYTH: Peeing on a jellyfish sting will ease the pain.
Though it may sound convenient–if also totally gross!–urine hasn’t been proven to curb the hurt. What has: vinegar. “Its acidity is believed to inactivate the stingers and diminish the pain,” says Stanford University School of Medicine emergency-medicine doctor Paul Auerbach, M.D., author of Medicine for the Outdoors. Soak a paper towel in household white vinegar and hold it on the wound for about 30 minutes. Afterward, use an OTC hydrocortisone cream to quell any itching. (If, however, you start to feel dizzy or nauseated or develop any kind of rash, you may be having an allergic reaction and should get yourself to a doctor right away, says Auerbach.)
3 Pain Management Tricks
MYTH: Going in and out of air-conditioned buildings can make you sick.
If you feel congested or start sniffling, it’s likely due to summer allergies, says pulmonologist Neil Schachter, M.D., author of The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu.
“People who have allergies–even small sensitivities–may be affected when moving from a clean-air environment into one that’s full of Mother Nature’s irritants,” he says. If your symptoms are on overdrive, try staying inside on very hot, humid days, when outdoor allergens are at their most potent. And keep your home dust- and mold-free by cleaning your AC filter every month or by investing in a HEPA air purifier that nixes 99 percent of airborne contaminants.
MYTH: The safest place to be during a lightning storm is in a car because it has rubber tires.
You’ll be safe in a car, but not because of the rubber tires, says John Jensenius, a lightning-safety specialist for the National Weather Service. The car’s frame is like a metal cage–if struck, lightning will flow around its outside.
(Metal is a good conductor of electricity; rubber is not.) If you’re driving in a storm, don’t touch metal door handles or the radio, which is wired to the outside antenna.
MYTH: Flip-flops are kind to your feet.
“Most flip-flops don’t have adequate arch support, cushioning, or shock absorption,” says Manhattan-based foot doctor Jacqueline Sutera, D.P.M. Wearing them all summer, every summer could lead to pinched foot nerves, heel pain, tendinitis, and strained arches. If you can’t quit flops entirely, buy ones that have at least a three-quarter-inch semi-cushioned sole and built-in arch support. Even better, go for a strappy sandal; simple thongs force your toes into an unhealthy clenched position when you walk, encouraging hammertoe growth. Or try cute, beachy wedges (three inches high or less), which offer more support in just about every foot area and help distribute your body weight more evenly.
MYTH: A dip in the pool can do double duty as a shower.
Consider this: Most people don’t rinse off before they go swimming. “Chemicals in personal-care products, sweat, and makeup can interfere with chlorine, making it much less effective,” says Michele Hlavsa, R.N., M.P.H., of the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. The result? Public pools in particular are often swimming with nasties such as cryptosporidium, which can bring on diarrhea, ear infections, and skin rashes. Showering after a dip can wash bacteria off your skin and cut your risk of getting sick. Use soap–a quick hose-off may not be enough.
2011年6月8日星期三
Advanced Air Purifier Reduces Indoor Allergens by 99%
Hospitals, nursery schools, and other high-traffic indoor spaces have been acting as quiet proving grounds for an advanced new form of air purification. These are normally the kinds of places where germs, allergens and airborne toxins flourish. That's soon going to be a thing of the past.
A consumer version of this same technology is now available to home and small-business owners. "It's going to change the way people live in their homes," says Dr. Edward F. Group, an expert on green lifestyle and technology and innovative developer of organic and natural dietary supplements.
The Guardian Air REME+ air purifier silently generates Ionized Hydro-Peroxides, like in nature, which circulate throughout the home, instantly neutralizing impurities in the air and surfaces on contact.
The Guardian Air REME+ (Reflective Electro Magnetic Energy) whole house air purification system is small enough to hold in your hand, has no moving parts, and installs into any central HVAC duct in minutes. The invisible particles it creates actively seek out contaminants, making a single unit powerful enough to easily purify an entire home or small office.
Independent testing has shown a 97% reduction in airborne bacteria, and a 99% reduction in E. coli, Listeria, Streptococcus, and MRSA 'super staph.' Its ability to control airborne mold has led the US Military to adopt it for use in field hospitals, and inner city schools have reported a 20% decrease in student absences following its installation.
"I have researched the majority of the air purification systems on the market and there's simply nothing else out there as advanced and affordable as the Guardian Air REME+ air purification system, every home and office in the world should have one," says Dr. Group.
Dr. Edward F. Group III has studied environmentally friendly methods for more than two decades. He is the creator of Oxy-Powder® and the founder of Global Healing Center. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center has earned recognition as one of the most respected green living, natural and organic health authorities in the world.
A consumer version of this same technology is now available to home and small-business owners. "It's going to change the way people live in their homes," says Dr. Edward F. Group, an expert on green lifestyle and technology and innovative developer of organic and natural dietary supplements.
The Guardian Air REME+ air purifier silently generates Ionized Hydro-Peroxides, like in nature, which circulate throughout the home, instantly neutralizing impurities in the air and surfaces on contact.
The Guardian Air REME+ (Reflective Electro Magnetic Energy) whole house air purification system is small enough to hold in your hand, has no moving parts, and installs into any central HVAC duct in minutes. The invisible particles it creates actively seek out contaminants, making a single unit powerful enough to easily purify an entire home or small office.
Independent testing has shown a 97% reduction in airborne bacteria, and a 99% reduction in E. coli, Listeria, Streptococcus, and MRSA 'super staph.' Its ability to control airborne mold has led the US Military to adopt it for use in field hospitals, and inner city schools have reported a 20% decrease in student absences following its installation.
"I have researched the majority of the air purification systems on the market and there's simply nothing else out there as advanced and affordable as the Guardian Air REME+ air purification system, every home and office in the world should have one," says Dr. Group.
Dr. Edward F. Group III has studied environmentally friendly methods for more than two decades. He is the creator of Oxy-Powder® and the founder of Global Healing Center. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center has earned recognition as one of the most respected green living, natural and organic health authorities in the world.
Rabbit Air Awarded Certification by Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
Rabbit Air has finalized a partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).
The Asthma & Allergy Friendly™ Certification Program, administered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) in partnership with the international research organization Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), is an independent program created to scientifically test and identify consumer products that are more suitable for people with asthma and allergies.
The Certification Program has included certifying air purifiers in order to address some of the contaminants that may be present in indoor air and to scientifically validate that air cleaners contribute to the goal of allergen reduction.
In order to be certified, the MinusA2 Asthma & Allergy Friendly™ special edition air purifiers have passed testing and meet the following criteria:
The air purifier can reduce bio-allergen level in a defined space
The reduction in bio-allergen is a result of actual removal and not just re-distribution.
The air purifier does not contribute to ozone levels in the home
The AAFA certified Rabbit Air purifiers will be sold for $489.95 for the MinusA2 700A and $579.95 for the MinusA2 780A
About Rabbit Air
Since its inception in 2001, Rabbit air has worked tirelessly to provide high quality HEPA air purifiers to its customers. The company's mission is to improve the quality of life through an advanced air purification system that is efficient and compliments modern home décor.
About Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading national nonprofit organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information, conducts educational programs, fights for patients’ rights, and funds research to find better treatments and cures.
The Asthma & Allergy Friendly™ Certification Program, administered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) in partnership with the international research organization Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), is an independent program created to scientifically test and identify consumer products that are more suitable for people with asthma and allergies.
The Certification Program has included certifying air purifiers in order to address some of the contaminants that may be present in indoor air and to scientifically validate that air cleaners contribute to the goal of allergen reduction.
In order to be certified, the MinusA2 Asthma & Allergy Friendly™ special edition air purifiers have passed testing and meet the following criteria:
The air purifier can reduce bio-allergen level in a defined space
The reduction in bio-allergen is a result of actual removal and not just re-distribution.
The air purifier does not contribute to ozone levels in the home
The AAFA certified Rabbit Air purifiers will be sold for $489.95 for the MinusA2 700A and $579.95 for the MinusA2 780A
About Rabbit Air
Since its inception in 2001, Rabbit air has worked tirelessly to provide high quality HEPA air purifiers to its customers. The company's mission is to improve the quality of life through an advanced air purification system that is efficient and compliments modern home décor.
About Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading national nonprofit organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information, conducts educational programs, fights for patients’ rights, and funds research to find better treatments and cures.
2011年6月6日星期一
No other Company offers a system
The new system may prove to be the most effective air purification system in the world today, as the "RX Air Plus" System packages the RX-3000, built by the Company's RxAir subsidiary, along with 2 ViraTech UV-400 units. The Company believes this to be the only air purification system in the world utilizing two different FDA cleared Class II Medical devices as an integrated system. RX Air Plus brings together the two technologies, which combine to kill over 99% of bacteria and other contaminants, while reducing all odors and volatile organic compounds, as well as capturing over 99.97 % of all particulates within indoor areas up to 1500 square feet in size.
"No other Company offers a system which matches the capabilities of these combined technologies," said John Lennon, President of UV Flu Technologies. "The 'RX Air Plus' offers two of the most unique and effective products in the air purification marketplace today. The two ViraTech UV-400 units utilize hi-intensity germicidal UV lamps contained within a patented cartridge, which kills organic contaminants while also breaking down odors and concentrations of VOCs. The RX-3000 is one of the finest HEPA based air purifiers, capturing over 99.97% of particulates. The quality of indoor air protected by this system is typically purer than outdoor air while never having to open a window. The Company is offering the system to new customers and distributors immediately. We also plan to approach the over 1000 customer locations already utilizing the RX-3000 as possible upgrade opportunities."
"We also believe this system is going to have numerous applications in the Mideast, where microscopic sand particles are a major issue with respect to poor indoor air quality. To this end, the Company is in talks with several companies with respect to distribution in the Mideast, and expects to have an agreement in place this quarter," said Mr. Lennon.
Further details regarding the Company's business, acquisitions, financial reports and agreements are filed as part of the Company's continuous public disclosure as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database.
"No other Company offers a system which matches the capabilities of these combined technologies," said John Lennon, President of UV Flu Technologies. "The 'RX Air Plus' offers two of the most unique and effective products in the air purification marketplace today. The two ViraTech UV-400 units utilize hi-intensity germicidal UV lamps contained within a patented cartridge, which kills organic contaminants while also breaking down odors and concentrations of VOCs. The RX-3000 is one of the finest HEPA based air purifiers, capturing over 99.97% of particulates. The quality of indoor air protected by this system is typically purer than outdoor air while never having to open a window. The Company is offering the system to new customers and distributors immediately. We also plan to approach the over 1000 customer locations already utilizing the RX-3000 as possible upgrade opportunities."
"We also believe this system is going to have numerous applications in the Mideast, where microscopic sand particles are a major issue with respect to poor indoor air quality. To this end, the Company is in talks with several companies with respect to distribution in the Mideast, and expects to have an agreement in place this quarter," said Mr. Lennon.
Further details regarding the Company's business, acquisitions, financial reports and agreements are filed as part of the Company's continuous public disclosure as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database.
The Top Ten Winners
Choosing an air purifier can be a dizzying task for the average consumer. There are a plethora of models and manufacturers, and unfortunately for the unwary consumer, many air purifiers are all hype and provide the allergy and asthma sufferer with very little benefit.
IQAir Air Purifiers. A king amongst princes and while other air purifier manufacturers may nip at their heels, in the end, IQAir reigns supreme. Put simply, this manufacturer has done everything right and when the it staff are asked to recommend the best air purifier for someone with serious allergy and asthma problems, it is the IQAir first. When they tested these air purifiers virtually nothing escaped their HyperHEPA filter. This is very important as lung penetrating particles are smaller than even a regular HEPA filter can capture. Packed with superior technological features such as a huge capacity pre-filter, filter change indicator lights, a HEPA filter efficiency rating second to none and six fan-speed settings, IQAir air purifiers are as good as it gets. The IQAir HealthPro Plus at $899 is named the Category Winner as the all around best air purifier and the IQAir MultiGas at $1149 gains the #2 spot as the best all around odor and gas air purifier.
Airfree Air Purifiers. This is one of the very few air purifier manufacturers that are not based around a HEPA filter and still passed muster. In fact, Airfree models have no filters at all, relying instead on a unique patented technology for the sterilization and incineration of allergens. Thus there is no maintenance costs associated with any Airfree model. However, Airfree is not recommended for serious gas and odor removal and household dust is not reduced - but your allergies will subside. For innovative technology, attention to research and cost effectiveness, the Airfree Onix at $299 gained the #3 spot.
They gained very high marks for their ability to deliver large amounts of purified air, as certified by AHAM, at a very low noise level. This also makes them a top choice for a bedroom air purifier. Filter changes are exceptionally easy and with recent upgrades to include filter life monitoring, this manufacturer is still managing to keep ahead of its competition. The Blueair 600 series with HEPASilent filters start at $699 gained the #4 spot as a first rate all around allergy or asthma air purifier.
IQAir Air Purifiers. A king amongst princes and while other air purifier manufacturers may nip at their heels, in the end, IQAir reigns supreme. Put simply, this manufacturer has done everything right and when the it staff are asked to recommend the best air purifier for someone with serious allergy and asthma problems, it is the IQAir first. When they tested these air purifiers virtually nothing escaped their HyperHEPA filter. This is very important as lung penetrating particles are smaller than even a regular HEPA filter can capture. Packed with superior technological features such as a huge capacity pre-filter, filter change indicator lights, a HEPA filter efficiency rating second to none and six fan-speed settings, IQAir air purifiers are as good as it gets. The IQAir HealthPro Plus at $899 is named the Category Winner as the all around best air purifier and the IQAir MultiGas at $1149 gains the #2 spot as the best all around odor and gas air purifier.
Airfree Air Purifiers. This is one of the very few air purifier manufacturers that are not based around a HEPA filter and still passed muster. In fact, Airfree models have no filters at all, relying instead on a unique patented technology for the sterilization and incineration of allergens. Thus there is no maintenance costs associated with any Airfree model. However, Airfree is not recommended for serious gas and odor removal and household dust is not reduced - but your allergies will subside. For innovative technology, attention to research and cost effectiveness, the Airfree Onix at $299 gained the #3 spot.
They gained very high marks for their ability to deliver large amounts of purified air, as certified by AHAM, at a very low noise level. This also makes them a top choice for a bedroom air purifier. Filter changes are exceptionally easy and with recent upgrades to include filter life monitoring, this manufacturer is still managing to keep ahead of its competition. The Blueair 600 series with HEPASilent filters start at $699 gained the #4 spot as a first rate all around allergy or asthma air purifier.
2011年6月1日星期三
Using Gadgets to Zap Germs
TOILET SEATS get a bad rap, says Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Arizona. Indeed, because of what goes on there, we tend to consider bathrooms — even the most respectable bathrooms — as generally less than sterile. That view, it turns out, is unfair.
In numerous studies, Dr. Gerba and his colleagues have found that toilet seats are often one of the least germ-infested areas in your house. Much of the rest of the bathroom, too, isn’t especially toxic. If you’re really worried about germs, look to the kitchen.
“Cutting boards are just terrible,” Dr. Gerba said, by way of example. “There’s 200 times more bacteria on a cutting board than a toilet seat.”
I got to talking to Dr. Gerba — who has been studying the spread of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in households for so long that many of his colleagues call him Dr. Germ — because lately I’ve had cleanliness on the brain. I’ve been testing several gadgets that promise to reduce or eliminate many household pathogens: devices to sanitize your cellphone, your toothbrush, your bedding, your floors, your countertops, and even the very air circulating through your home.
One by one, I put these gadgets through their paces. But then what? Germs’ power derives from their invisibility. And that’s the trouble with fully evaluating these high-tech germ destroyers — how would I know that they were working well? To find out, I asked Dr. Gerba, who is not paid to endorse any of the products I tested, and he said I’d more or less have to take it on faith. The good news is that we know a lot about sanitizing, but as to claims of a specific product’s effectiveness, firm answers are hard to get without your own lab.
Consider the VIOlight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer, a $40 device that promises to eliminate 99.9 percent of the bacteria and other nasties sitting on your phone. It purports to do so by using a beam of ultraviolet light, which is a specific wavelength of light that, when focused precisely, penetrates and damages the DNA of microorganisms. Dr. Gerba said that ultraviolet-based systems have been used in commercial and industrial sanitizing applications for many years. The technology is now getting small and inexpensive enough to be found in many consumer devices, too. In fact, most of the devices I tested used UV light as their primary cleaning agent.
The cellphone cleaner, a hunk of silver plastic as big as a soap dispenser, is simple to use: Just drop your phone inside and shut the lid. A light on the front blinks on and off to tell you it’s working. After about 5 minutes, the sanitizing is done. When you pull your phone out, it won’t look or smell any cleaner — the sanitizer isn’t meant to remove smudges or stains — but presumably the UV light has killed off everything microscopic.
Presumably: On the one hand, UV light is a proven sanitizer. But on the other I honestly have no idea if this particular cleaner did its job well.
Dr. Gerba added that, with cellphones, it may not matter much. Even if you assume that the sanitizer is decimating the phone’s microscopic inhabitants, it’s unlikely that your phone was covered in anything really dangerous. “Cellphones can get fairly germy, but it’s only your germs,” Dr. Gerba said. “Unless you’re sharing your phone with other people, there’s nothing to worry about.” (Dr. Gerba is asked about the necessity of cellphone sanitizing so often that he has a quip at the ready: “It keeps you from talking dirty.”)
You’re on slightly firmer ground with another VIOlight device — the $30 toothbrush sanitizer. This looks like a standard toothbrush holder, but when you press a button on the front, a UV light shines on the germs on your brushes (the unit holds up to four). According to a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Dentistry, toothbrushes treated with the VIOlight had 86 percent fewer “colony-forming units” — a measure of germs — than toothbrushes that were just rinsed in cold water. The study does note, however, that there’s no proof that a cleaner toothbrush results in better oral health.
UV light can also help with your cutting board, that epicenter of household filth. For this, I tried the CleanWave Sanitizing Wand, a $70 device made by Verilux. The wand looks like a shrunken light saber, and to attack your germs, you can play Luke Skywalker. Turn on the wand, hold one edge against a flat surface — your cutting board, your countertop, your desk — and slowly move it back and forth over the area you’d like to sanitize.
Ryan Douglas, the chief executive of Verilux, said that when he cleans with the wand, he can tell that it’s working. “As you wand over an area, there’s a ‘freshness’ you can smell when the biological material is killed,” Mr. Douglas said.
In numerous studies, Dr. Gerba and his colleagues have found that toilet seats are often one of the least germ-infested areas in your house. Much of the rest of the bathroom, too, isn’t especially toxic. If you’re really worried about germs, look to the kitchen.
“Cutting boards are just terrible,” Dr. Gerba said, by way of example. “There’s 200 times more bacteria on a cutting board than a toilet seat.”
I got to talking to Dr. Gerba — who has been studying the spread of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens in households for so long that many of his colleagues call him Dr. Germ — because lately I’ve had cleanliness on the brain. I’ve been testing several gadgets that promise to reduce or eliminate many household pathogens: devices to sanitize your cellphone, your toothbrush, your bedding, your floors, your countertops, and even the very air circulating through your home.
One by one, I put these gadgets through their paces. But then what? Germs’ power derives from their invisibility. And that’s the trouble with fully evaluating these high-tech germ destroyers — how would I know that they were working well? To find out, I asked Dr. Gerba, who is not paid to endorse any of the products I tested, and he said I’d more or less have to take it on faith. The good news is that we know a lot about sanitizing, but as to claims of a specific product’s effectiveness, firm answers are hard to get without your own lab.
Consider the VIOlight UV Cell Phone Sanitizer, a $40 device that promises to eliminate 99.9 percent of the bacteria and other nasties sitting on your phone. It purports to do so by using a beam of ultraviolet light, which is a specific wavelength of light that, when focused precisely, penetrates and damages the DNA of microorganisms. Dr. Gerba said that ultraviolet-based systems have been used in commercial and industrial sanitizing applications for many years. The technology is now getting small and inexpensive enough to be found in many consumer devices, too. In fact, most of the devices I tested used UV light as their primary cleaning agent.
The cellphone cleaner, a hunk of silver plastic as big as a soap dispenser, is simple to use: Just drop your phone inside and shut the lid. A light on the front blinks on and off to tell you it’s working. After about 5 minutes, the sanitizing is done. When you pull your phone out, it won’t look or smell any cleaner — the sanitizer isn’t meant to remove smudges or stains — but presumably the UV light has killed off everything microscopic.
Presumably: On the one hand, UV light is a proven sanitizer. But on the other I honestly have no idea if this particular cleaner did its job well.
Dr. Gerba added that, with cellphones, it may not matter much. Even if you assume that the sanitizer is decimating the phone’s microscopic inhabitants, it’s unlikely that your phone was covered in anything really dangerous. “Cellphones can get fairly germy, but it’s only your germs,” Dr. Gerba said. “Unless you’re sharing your phone with other people, there’s nothing to worry about.” (Dr. Gerba is asked about the necessity of cellphone sanitizing so often that he has a quip at the ready: “It keeps you from talking dirty.”)
You’re on slightly firmer ground with another VIOlight device — the $30 toothbrush sanitizer. This looks like a standard toothbrush holder, but when you press a button on the front, a UV light shines on the germs on your brushes (the unit holds up to four). According to a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Dentistry, toothbrushes treated with the VIOlight had 86 percent fewer “colony-forming units” — a measure of germs — than toothbrushes that were just rinsed in cold water. The study does note, however, that there’s no proof that a cleaner toothbrush results in better oral health.
UV light can also help with your cutting board, that epicenter of household filth. For this, I tried the CleanWave Sanitizing Wand, a $70 device made by Verilux. The wand looks like a shrunken light saber, and to attack your germs, you can play Luke Skywalker. Turn on the wand, hold one edge against a flat surface — your cutting board, your countertop, your desk — and slowly move it back and forth over the area you’d like to sanitize.
Ryan Douglas, the chief executive of Verilux, said that when he cleans with the wand, he can tell that it’s working. “As you wand over an area, there’s a ‘freshness’ you can smell when the biological material is killed,” Mr. Douglas said.
Gadgets for Allergy Sufferers
With allergy season in full swing, many sufferers are headed to the drug store to get a little relief from itchy eyes, runny noses and sore throats. But while a dose of antihistamines can provide quick relief, you may also be able keep your symptoms at bay with a few allergy-zapping gadgets around the house.
Air Purifier
An air purifier with a high-quality HEPA filter is your first line of defense against allergies in the home. HEPA filters, commonly used in hospitals to prevent the spread of illness, are capable of filtering out 99 percent of allergens and pathogens.
Which model to get will depend on the size of your home. A basic unit, like Hamilton Beach’s True Air Ecoclean Air Purifier ($99.00), can handle rooms up to about 190 square feet, while a more expensive model, like the Rabbit Air MinusA2 ($460), will clean around 815 square feet.
Whichever one you get, there are a few things to consider. For real allergy relief, you’ll want a unit that uses real HEPA filters, not basic cloth filters found in some cheaper units. Second, consider the cost of replacement filters — you might think you’re getting a great deal, only to find that replacing a filter costs nearly as much as a new unit. And finally, HEPA filters alone won’t kill mold and bacteria, so for added defense, you might consider a unit that also uses UV rays alongside a filtration system.
Dehumidifier
Mold, dust mites and mildew thrive in humidity, so managing your home’s humidity level is an important way to limit the growth of these nasty allergens.
You want to keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50 percent, which you can check with a simple humidity monitor. If your humidity level regularly exceeds 50 percent, consider investing in a dehumidifier.Frigidaire sells units starting at $179.
Running your air conditioner regularly will also help keep the humidity down, as water condenses once it hits the cooling coils. So check to see what your humidity levels are with the A/C running before buying a separate dehumidifier.
Vacuums
A poorly constructed vacuum will end up kicking up as much dust as it collects, aggravating your allergies every time you clean. A vacuum with a HEPA filter, such as the ones made by Dyson, keeps dust and mites from recirculating through the air as you clean. Dyson also offers an allergy kit ($70), designed to scrub dust and debris from mattresses, blinds and hard-to-reach places.
Apps
Though you might be able to scrub your home of pollen and dust and seal it off from aggravating allergens, at some point you’re going to have to go outside. And when you do, it’s best to go armed with information. There are a number of free apps for smart phones, such as Zyrtec’s AllergyCast for the iPhone or Allergy Tracker for Android, both of which give you up-to-the-minute pollen forecasts, so that you can plan ahead and bring an extra dose of allergy medicine before leaving for work in the morning.
Air Purifier
An air purifier with a high-quality HEPA filter is your first line of defense against allergies in the home. HEPA filters, commonly used in hospitals to prevent the spread of illness, are capable of filtering out 99 percent of allergens and pathogens.
Which model to get will depend on the size of your home. A basic unit, like Hamilton Beach’s True Air Ecoclean Air Purifier ($99.00), can handle rooms up to about 190 square feet, while a more expensive model, like the Rabbit Air MinusA2 ($460), will clean around 815 square feet.
Whichever one you get, there are a few things to consider. For real allergy relief, you’ll want a unit that uses real HEPA filters, not basic cloth filters found in some cheaper units. Second, consider the cost of replacement filters — you might think you’re getting a great deal, only to find that replacing a filter costs nearly as much as a new unit. And finally, HEPA filters alone won’t kill mold and bacteria, so for added defense, you might consider a unit that also uses UV rays alongside a filtration system.
Dehumidifier
Mold, dust mites and mildew thrive in humidity, so managing your home’s humidity level is an important way to limit the growth of these nasty allergens.
You want to keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50 percent, which you can check with a simple humidity monitor. If your humidity level regularly exceeds 50 percent, consider investing in a dehumidifier.Frigidaire sells units starting at $179.
Running your air conditioner regularly will also help keep the humidity down, as water condenses once it hits the cooling coils. So check to see what your humidity levels are with the A/C running before buying a separate dehumidifier.
Vacuums
A poorly constructed vacuum will end up kicking up as much dust as it collects, aggravating your allergies every time you clean. A vacuum with a HEPA filter, such as the ones made by Dyson, keeps dust and mites from recirculating through the air as you clean. Dyson also offers an allergy kit ($70), designed to scrub dust and debris from mattresses, blinds and hard-to-reach places.
Apps
Though you might be able to scrub your home of pollen and dust and seal it off from aggravating allergens, at some point you’re going to have to go outside. And when you do, it’s best to go armed with information. There are a number of free apps for smart phones, such as Zyrtec’s AllergyCast for the iPhone or Allergy Tracker for Android, both of which give you up-to-the-minute pollen forecasts, so that you can plan ahead and bring an extra dose of allergy medicine before leaving for work in the morning.
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