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Friday, May 18, 2007
THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY EDITION
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Has the tide turned on ethylene oxide (EtO)?
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In a recent edition of this newsletter, we reported on the reaction of EPA's own Science Advisory Board (SAB) to the Agency's draft "Evaluation of the Carcinogenicity of Ethylene Oxide." "Harsh" would be a polite way of putting it.
Stung by this bruising rejection, EPA has to adjust some of the findings. We now discover that the Agency has contracted the services of Dr. Kyle Steenland, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
According to EPA, Dr. Steenland "...has unique qualifications to provide assistance to the Agency in the evaluation of the carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide."
The Agency continues: "He has devoted a significant part of his career to the study and evaluation of the effects of ethylene oxide on humans and has published extensively on the epidemiology of ethylene oxide related effects and methodology for analyzing data that relate to these effects."
This is a major development since even though the Agency—in its own words— "...relied heavily on the work of Dr. Steenland and his colleagues in preparing the draft Ethylene Oxide Carcinogenicity Assessment (2006)," they have always taken a far more alarmist view toward this chemical than Steenland. You could look it up—and you should—on PubMed.
We are most pleased that one of the top experts in the world will finally be directly involved in this study. We'll keep you informed.
Toxic gas detection in the trades
Facility Safety Management is an up and coming publication that bills itself as "Your source for workplace safety & risk-free maintenance." The pub seems to be breaking the traditional mold of boring and trite content with well written articles you can really use.
In this month's issue, for example, pro journo editor Chris Sanford weighs in on the staggering cost of workplace violence, and is not afraid to mention the recent Virginia Tech massacre.
Also included in the nicely put together magazine is a piece on toxic gas detection submitted by yours truly, that you might find interesting. Check it out!
New stuff on the Knowledge Base
We are extremely gratified over the popularity of Interscan's Gas Detection Knowledge Base—a repository of information on the subject that has generated tens of thousands of page views.
The latest entries include answers to specific technical inquires raised and posted by real end-users, along with a tract that compares the techniques of sample draw and remote diffusion.
An example is given of a particular HVAC/Occ Health job that simply could not be done with remote diffusion. And, the app described is by no means weird or obscure. It pays to keep all your options open.
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Until next time, I remain...
Your faithful webmaster
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