Author: RMcase2021

Report Urges Legislative Action to Reduce Potential Health Risks

HARTFORD, CT — A new study concludes that poor indoor air quality in some Connecticut schools can pose a potentially significant health risk to students and staff. The report found that many activities in schools release a variety of air contaminants that degrade indoor air quality. However, the most frequent indoor air quality problems are related to the formation and release of microbiological agents such as mold spores and bacteria that thrive on moist indoor surfaces. The most frequent sources of this moisture intrusion are leaking roofs, cracked foundation slabs, or inadequate moisture control in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The biologically active agents thus produced can produce serious allergic reactions and other symptoms in sensitive individuals. The effects of these and other indoor contaminants on school occupants are exacerbated by an inadequate supply of air provided by poorly designed and operated HVAC systems.

The report, entitled “Indoor Air Quality in Connecticut Schools,” recommends that the General Assembly establish a formal organization to coordinate the state’s efforts to address the problem of indoor air quality in schools. In addition, it recommends that the legislature give the state Department of Education the authority and funding to make indoor air quality improvements in schools, and to provide maintenance for both new and existing schools.

The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) study was requested by the Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly and was conducted by a study committee, each member of which had expertise in one or more aspects of indoor air quality and its health effects. The Committee included members of CASE and representatives of the University of Connecticut Health Center; the Yale University School of Medicine; the state Departments of Education, Public Health, and Labor; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Among the report’s findings:

➢ Poor indoor air quality can usually be classified in terms of two types of conditions: Sick Building Syndrome and/or Building Related Illness. The former condition causes a range of symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, and feelings of lethargy. These symptoms usually do not have any lasting effect and tend to exist only while the affected individuals are in the contaminated school. However, this syndrome can degrade the whole teaching/learning experience. The latter condition, on the other hand, generally results from exposure to one or more infectious, toxic, or immunologic agents that can pose chronic, even lifethreatening disease in those with serious immunologic diseases such as asthma.

➢ There are no legally enforceable standards for indoor air quality, although there are engineering standards available that specify the quantities of fresh air ventilation necessary for good indoor air quality. However, cost constraints in school districts often preclude the application of these standards.

➢ In Connecticut, there is no designated or funded “Indoor Air Quality Program” in any of the state agencies.

➢ A report by the US General Services Administration on the condition of schools nationwide indicates that in Connecticut, 68 percent of schools reported indoor environmental problems.

➢ Schools built with poorly designed and maintained flat roofs, and those built on concrete slabs are particularly susceptible to moisture intrusion. This set of conditions, together with poorly designed, operated and maintained HVAC systems, accounts for most of the reported indoor air quality problems in Connecticut schools.

➢ Modular portable classrooms present a unique set of indoor air quality problems, largely because of the inadequate HVAC systems incorporated in such units. Renovation projects con ducted while school is in session also can result in exposure to indoor air pollutants.

➢ Various materials used indoors such as carpeting, carpet adhesives, and synthetic materials that emit odorous and irritating volatile organic vapors can further degrade indoor air quality.

➢ Existing Connecticut laws permit state grant reimbursement only for code corrections, new construction, or for new features added to existing facilities. Costs for the repair and maintenance of existing facilities such as HVAC systems are not eligible for reimbursement.

➢ Other states have implemented formal programs with enforcement powers to control indoor air quality problems in schools. Such programs could be models for Connecticut.

➢ The most important direct cause of poor indoor air quality is inadequate fresh air ventilation, regardless of other contributing factors.

The CASE study recommends that a formal body be established to coordinate all activities related to indoor air quality in Connecticut schools. This body should be responsible for developing guidelines, management practices, and/or regulations for maintaining acceptable indoor air quality in schools; establishing guidelines and standards for new construction and renovations that minimize impact on indoor air quality; providing training to those involved in indoor air quality programs in the schools; requiring schools and districts to establish indoor air quality management plans and operational manuals; and developing a system to assess the indoor air quality in schools, including facility inspections.

The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering is pleased to announce the election of Dr. John Cagnetta as President. The Academy, chartered by the state in 1976, provides guidance and scientific advice to state agencies and industry when advances in science and technology raise issues impacting on the economic and social welfare. The Academy has a current membership of 190 scientists and engineers who have distinguished themselves in their professional fields.

John Cagnetta received his doctorate in chemical engineering from the Polytechnic University of New York and attended the Harvard University Advanced Management Program. He was an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He has over 40 years of professional engineering experience in research and design engineering in the energy field. He served in various engineering management positions at Northeast Utilities, retiring as a Senior Vice President in 1994. Thereafter, he served as Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Hartford until his retirement in 1998. He was active with the Electric Power Research Institute, the Edison Electric Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Laboratory, and the Yale University Social & Policy Studies Council. He was a member of the United Nations International Nuclear Fuel Cycle Committee, Trustee of the Rensselear Graduate Center in Hartford, and member of the Advisory Board, University of Connecticut School of Business Administration. He has served on a number of Connecticut legislative task forces dealing with energy technologies and policies.

Dr. Cagnetta, his wife Rena and three children were longtime residents of Wethersfield; he and his wife now reside in Rocky Hill.

Report Leads to Legislation Exempting Newer Vehicles from Routine Testing

HARTFORD, CT — A newly released study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) concludes that improvements in automotive engineering technologies — including electronic fuel injection and ignition and, more recently, increased use of on board diagnostic systems — make regular testing of newer vehicles (those four years old or less) unnecessary. Based on recommendations in the CASE study, the General Assembly enacted new automobile emissions provisions in the General Statutes (Public Act No. 00-180) during its recently concluded session. The legislation exempts any vehicle manufactured within the last four years from periodic emissions testing, provided that such exemptions do not impact the state’s compliance with federal clean air, environmental, or transportation planning regulations.

The CASE study, titled “Efficacy of the Connecticut Motor Vehicle Emissions Testing Program,” also includes the following recommendations:

• that the state adopt “remote sensing” of vehicle exhaust, a method that identifies vehicles with high emissions, which are then ordered into a regular testing facility for examination. The CASE report also endorses a “clean screen” system, whereby “clean
  cars” (those who pass remote sensing) are identified and issued a “pass” sticker within the three months prior to their scheduled inspections. These cars do not then have to visit an inspection station, but are required to mail in their inspection fee.

• that the state prepare for On Board Diagnostic (OBD) testing. On board diagnostics are computer systems built into automobiles by manufacturers that, among other functions, can retain information on the vehicle’s performance. It is much less costly
  to access these computer systems than to perform tailpipe measurements.

• that the state mandate an external quality assurance function to verify that testing
  equipment is functioning properly, that personnel are properly trained, and that
  resulting data reflect accurate measurements.

• that the state compare results of failed inspections with second inspections to demonstrate how much emission reduction is achieved from repairing failed vehicles.

The CASE study was conducted at the request of the General Assembly’s Program Review and Investigations Committee, and was chaired by Norman Bowne, Senior Program Manager (retired) of the ENSR Corporation. Other committee members include Baki Cetegen, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Connecticut; Thomas E. Graedel, Professor of Industrial Ecology and Chemical Engineering and of Geophysics, Yale University; Marshall A. Atwater, Business Application System Developer for Northeast Utilities; and David R. Miller, Professor Natural Resources, University of Connecticut.

What: A conference to address the educational and societal issues raised by the rapid increase in the use of computers in the home and classroom, including the question:

“Where is all this headed and is it good for our children?”

This conference is being held in conjunction with the two-day Hartford Information Technology Exposition (ITEC) and in cooperation with the Connecticut Technology Council and the Hartford Growth Council Millennium Project

When: Wednesday, June 7, 2000 from 1:30–4:00 pm

Where: The Connecticut Expo Center 265 Reverend Moody Overpass Hartford, Connecticut

Who: Speakers will include:

• The Honorable Kevin B. Sullivan, President pro tempore, CT State Senate
• Dr. Ray S. Perez, Director of K-12 Education, Advanced Distributed Learning Readiness
  and Training Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense
• Mr. Clark Aldrich, Research Director and E-Learning Core Topic Leader, Gartner Group
• Professor Richard Schwab, Dean, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
• Dr. Janice Gruendel, Executive Director, CT Voices for Children

Why: There are clear signals that the rapid increase in the use of computers in our lives and those of our children is causing significant anxiety among the lay public. This conference is being convened to provide a forum for discussion of these issues, with particular emphasis on the use of computers in the classroom. A major focus of the presentations will be the basic shift in focus, from “learning to use computers and technology” to “using computers and technology to learn.”

The general public is encouraged to attend!

CASE Study Reports No Quantifiable Effect on Ozone Levels, Public Health

HARTFORD, CT — A recently released study by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) on the impact of the gasoline additive MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether) on concentrations of carbon monoxide and ozone in Connecticut shows that the additive has contributed to a reduction in wintertime carbon monoxide levels, but has had no quantifiable effect on reducing ozone levels. In addition, the study finds that MTBE, in normal exposure concentrations, poses no health hazards to individuals, aside from potential skin and eye irritation; chronic exposure has not yet been shown to have any negative health consequences for humans, although rats and mice can develop tumors.

The study, entitled “Efficacy of MTBE Use in Connecticut,” was prepared by a panel convened by CASE at the request of the Program Review and Investigations Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly. Chaired by Gale Hoffnagle, Senior Vice President and Technical Director at TRC Environmental Corporation, the panel included Dr. D. Kent Morest, director of the Center for Neurological Sciences at the University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Center, and Dr. George E. Hoag, director of UConn’s Environmental Research Institute, as well as several representatives from private industry.

MTBE, when added to gasoline, provides a chemical form of the element oxygen, resulting in an “oxygenated” fuel, which is designed to combat air pollution by reducing carbon monoxide during winter months and ozone during summer months. The CASE report concludes that MTBE “has likely had a positive effect on the reduction of carbon monoxide concentrations in the winter months and has contributed to a 40 percent reduction in concentrations and to attainment of carbon monoxide air standards in Hartford and Fairfield counties,” where MTBE was introduced in 1992. These reductions led the EPA to declare the two counties in compliance with the standards for carbon monoxide concentrations set forth in the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). MTBE was introduced statewide in 1995.

The CASE panel found that while the use of MTBE “may or may not have contributed to a slight reduction in maximum ozone concentrations,” the effect was too slight to be quantifiable.

The CASE report also notes that adding MTBE to gasoline reduces the percentage of air toxics (benzene, ethyl benzene, toluene, xylenes and hexane), known to be human carcinogens; although this reduction is accompanied by an increase in the level of MTBE in the air, the benefits of reducing air toxics are believed to outweigh the addition of MTBE. The study cites a report by the New England States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) which notes a 20-30 percent reduction in air toxic emissions with the use of MTBE.

MTBE is the most water soluble compound in gasoline, and thus spreads faster and farther in groundwater than other components when gasoline spills or is leaked from underground tanks, according to the study. Because MTBE is relatively new to the environment, the bacteria which help degrade other gasoline components in groundwater have not yet developed. MTBE has been detected in the Connecticut, Housatonic, and Thames River Basins, although not at levels considered harmful to public health.

The report also notes that adding MTBE to gasoline reduces “miles per dollar of gasoline” by adding a cost of 2 to 4 cents a gallon through a combination of reduced fuel efficiency and increased gasoline cost.

Adding MTBE to gasoline is just one of many ways to reduce air pollution. Other options cited in the study include use of ethanol or a Clean Burning Gasoline (CBG) equivalent, non-MTBE gasoline; increased transportation control measures; and reduced industrial emissions. None of these, the report concludes, would provide the same air quality benefits without significantly increasing gasoline costs as well as toxic air pollutant levels.

Glastonbury High School senior Mary A. Dombroski’s research project on “Cataclysmic Stellar Variability with Eclipsing Binary Superimposition” won first place in the 1999 Connecticut Science Talent Search. Dr. Anthony J. DeMaria, president of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, announced the results of the statewide contest at the annual meeting of the Academy in New Haven on June 3rd.

Research projects by Nitya Abraham from Stamford High School, Michael Lombardi from Plainfield High School, and Neil Snyder from Brunswick School in Greenwich were selected for Honorable Mention by the Academy in the local science talent search.

The 1999 Connecticut contest is part of the 58th National Science Talent Search sponsored by the world’s largest chipmaker, Intel Corporation. Earlier this year, Ms. Dombrowski was awarded a $3000 scholarship and attended the Science Talent Institute in Washington, DC, as one of the finalists in the national competition. It was conducted under the auspices of Science Service, publisher of the weekly Science News.

The national contest is America’s oldest and most highly regarded science competition for high school seniors. Intended to stimulate student interest in science, math and technology, it has recognized some 3,000 finalists with $3.7 million in scholarships during the past six decades. Alumni include two Nobel Laureates, three National Medal of Science winners, and more than two dozen members of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences.

Ms. Dombroski’s research project analyzed the fluctuations in brightness of IP Pegasi, (thought to be a primary white dwarf) resulting from the sporadic transfer of matter between the components of that star system. She has already won top honors in national and international competition among young astronomers and her research has been published in professional journals. With aspirations to be a NASA Mission Specialist on the international space station, Ms Dombrowski plans to pursue her college studies at Georgetown or, alternatively at Yale or Columbia. Her research interests include microgravity and the biological effects of extended missions in space.

In announcing the results of the Connecticut Science Talent Search, Academy president DeMaria congratulated Ms. Dombroski, the other contestants and their parents and teachers. He remarked that “The results of this contest demonstrate the capabilities of Connecticut schools to prepare graduates for world-class careers in science and technology. This achievement is a good omen for the future of Connecticut in an era when science-based technology is an increasingly powerful driver of economic growth and social development. These human resources are Connecticut’s investment in the future.”

HARTFORD, CT — A newly released study of health risks from radon in Connecticut’s drinking water supplies concludes that exposure to radon in the state’s drinking water supplies poses a minimal threat to public health, primarily by increasing overall exposure risk slightly when radon in the water is released into the household air. The study, “Radon in Connecticut: Quantitative Perspectives About Effects on Public Health,” was conducted by a panel of experts convened by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) in response to an inquiry from the state Department of Public Utility Control (DPUC). The DPUC requested the study after receiving reports of radon in drinking water and requests for treatment of public drinking water supplies to reduce radon content.

The panel, chaired by CASE member Jan A. Stolwijk, Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at the Yale University School of Medicine, found that the major adverse health effect of radon is an increase in lung cancer risk resulting from inhalation. According to the report, some adverse health effects, primarily in the stomach, may result also from the ingestion of drinking water containing radon, though the effect is “expected to be less than for inhalation.” The study also found that existing data on the health effects of ingested radon were not sufficient to yield a meaningful estimate of risk.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive isotope that is one element in a chain of radioactive decay originating in uranium. Although most radon produced in the earth’s crust remains in the soil and rock, some is constantly being released to soil gas or ground water, where it can be carried into the outdoor atmosphere, the indoor atmosphere, and, if the drinking water supply comes from ground water, into that as well. Indoor radon exposure can occur through inhalation of the radon entering a home in outside air and combined with radon released from the soil gas under the house; inhalation of radon released into indoor air from the drinking water supply (during showers, laundry, or other household tasks); and ingestion of radon in drinking water. The primary source of exposure to radon in drinking water occurs when the radon is released into indoor air through bathing, showering, cleaning, or other activities; in these instances, the radon is added to the indoor air concentration, resulting in increased levels of exposure through inhalation.

Radon exists in outside ambient air in concentrations of 0.1-0.4 picocuries per liter (pCi/l) of air; in indoor air in Connecticut, concentrations range from 0.1 to 38 pCi/l. Radon concentrations in Connecticut’s ground water range from 50 to 500,000 pCi/l. Surface water has very low radon concentrations and does not contribute significantly to population exposure. Connecticut’s drinking water supplies come from three primary sources: private wells, public surface water supplies, and public ground (below surface) water supplies.

The report recommends that efforts to reduce radon exposure in Connecticut be based on simultaneous considerations of exposure from both indoor air and drinking water supplies, and urges state officials to continue informing and advising the public of the risks of exposure and the remedies available for reducing exposure. Noting that no standards for radon content in drinking water currently exist at the state, federal, or international level, the panel does not recommend development of a drinking water radon standard for Connecticut at this time.

The report concludes that

“Indoor air concentrations of radon will depend on the concentration in the soil gas underneath the residence, on the degree of infiltration of soil gas into the residence, and on the rate of air exchange between indoor and outdoor air. For the majority of the population, most of the exposure to radon will be in the form of inhalation of radon in indoor and outdoor air. Radon in drinking water will produce human exposure chiefly through the release of the radon into indoor air when water is used for bathing, showering, cleaning, and other domestic purposes.”

The report also notes that reduction of indoor radon concentrations resulting from soil gas infiltration is “the next most important strategy for lowering lung cancer risk” in the population, second only to reducing cigarette smoking — still “by far the most important contributor to overall lung cancer risk” in the United States.
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The summary and conclusions of the report are available on the CASE web site at http://ctcase.org. The complete report is available from CASE at (860) 527-2161.