JOURNAL ARCHIVE
Fall 2008
Construction and Demolition Debris Landfills: Community and Occupational Health Issues
By Anita Lewis, MPH, Samantha Rivers, MPH, Lynn Wilder, MS, and Wendy Wattigney, MS
Introduction
There is a need to raise awareness of the community and occupational
health issues associated with construction and demolition (C&D)
debris landfills. C&D debris includes materials from building
demolition, renovation, new construction, and disaster-related waste
such as post-hurricane wastes. These materials were once thought to be
inert. However, health agencies are becoming increasingly aware of the
potential community exposures and health risks from C&D landfill
contaminants.
(Read the rest of the story in the journal.)
Outbreak of Legionellosis Associated with Exposure to a Hotel Outdoor Hot Tub, Orange County, Florida, March 2008
By Leah Eisenstein, MPH and Dean Bodager, RS, DAAS, MPA
Introduction
On
March 11, 2008, the Pinellas County Health Department (PCHD)
Epidemiology Program was notified by a local hospital of a
laboratory-confirmed case of Legionnaires’ disease with onset on March
7. On March 12, an infection control practitioner at the same hospital
reported an additional laboratory-confirmed case of Legionnaires’
disease with onset of March 9. Both people had attended a recent
wedding in Orlando, Florida.
(Read the rest of the story in the journal.)
Radon-Proofing Your Home: A Consumer Report
By Caroline Collins
Part I: The Test
Measuring is the only way to detect odorless, deadly radon gas.
The
first time we considered having our home tested for radon was when we
bought it in 1993. We vaguely recall being advised, probably by the
real-estate agent, to have our 1962 split-level house tested. We
purchased a home-test kit, read the instructions, got intimidated and
never got around to activating it. What made us intimidated? Probably
the instruction to leave the device in the middle of a room
"undisturbed" for a couple of days; with an inquisitive toddler running
amok, that seemed unlikely to guarantee. Our uncertainty that
something in the kit might be hazardous to small inquiring hands halted
us in our tracks. Little did we know that NOT testing our home instead
exposed those developing lungs (and our more mature ones) to high daily
radioactive doses of radon gas.
(Read the rest of the story in the journal.)