A specially developed oil mixture reduced airborne levels of particulate matter at a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) in a study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The researchers evaluated an oil spray developed to reduce the airborne health hazards at industrial feeding facilities. Chronic respiratory illnesses are a serious concern for CAFO workers, as well as for the surrounding communities and animals themselves. The study, published in the current online edition of Environmental, Science and Technology, measured indoor air pollution in a mid-Atlantic swine facility. It found ten-fold reductions in the amounts of dust and bacteria in a barn where the spray was used compared with an identical barn where no spray was used. In contrast, however, the oil spray did not impact levels of ammonia, another pollutant generated from CAFO facilities.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has awarded GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification to Nevamar® high- pressure decorative laminates and metal surfaces. The Nevamar laminates were scientifically tested to the GREENGUARD Standards for Low Emitting Products. Earning GREENGUARD Certification means that professionals and homeowners alike can trust the Nevamar decorative surfaces to create spaces free of harmful pollutants.

"Nevamar Company is committed to the environment and protecting our customers," commented Joe Black, Nevamar's North America Specifications Manager. "Our GREENGUARD Certification illustrates how much importance we place on the indoor environment and the health of our customers."

EPA updated air quality monitoring data with particle pollution measurements from both Mississippi and New Orleans Oct. 15, 2005 through Nov. 7, 2005. Results show that measurements of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) particles from all locations were below EPA's health-based screening level for the general population (65 micrograms per cubic meter for PM2.5, 250 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10). However, for two sites, Dedeaux Road in Gulfport, Miss., and Klondyke Road, Long Beach, Miss., spikes were recorded in fine particles above the screening level established for sensitive groups (40 micrograms per cubic meter). These two monitoring stations were established to evaluate the impact burning debris has on nearby air quality. Elevated levels at these sites were reported for a total of eight days, with concentrations ranging from 58 - 43 micrograms per cubic meter. After each spike, fine particle concentrations dropped below health-based screening levels for sensitive groups.

Tokyo, Japan - Total sales of products from Sharp Corporation and from companies in other industries equipped with Plasmacluster Ion(R) technology, Sharp's proprietary air purification technology, reached 10 million units*1 worldwide on November 21, 2005. Sharp first embedded this technology in air purifiers in September 2000, as a revolutionary cleaning system that deactivates harmful substances in the air. Since then, Sharp has equipped products such as air conditioners and refrigerators with Plasmacluster Ion generators, and now, use of this technology has expanded to products in other industries as well, including toilets with bidet seats and in-vehicle air purifiers. The ratio of sales in Japan versus internationally is 9:1, and in Japan*2, one in five households have at least one Plasmacluster Ion product.

The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association (BIFMA) Furniture Emissions Standard Subcommittee recently completed drafting a Standard and Test Method for measuring emissions from office furniture. The documents are now undergoing a public comment period as an integral part of the approval process developed by the American National Standards Institute. Stakeholders are encouraged to participate in reviewing both documents.

Both documents--one on emissions from office furniture systems, components, and seating, the other on standard test methods for determining VOCs--are available for review on the BIFMA Web site. Anyone who wishes to participate in the canvassing process may contact Dick Driscoll or Roxanne DeBoer at BIFMA International at 616-285-3963.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has awarded GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification to interior phenolic resin surfaces of Trespa North America. Trespa's Athlon, Virtuon, and Toplab Plus were tested for chemical emissions performance under the stringent GREENGUARD Standard for Low Emitting Products. All of Trespa's interior decorative panels can be specified with the confidence that they will not impact the indoor air.
"GREENGUARD Certification fits perfectly into our environmental policy and is proof that our Life Cycle Analysis goals are being achieved," commented Darlene Byrne, Marketing Manager for Trespa North America. "Not only are our interior panels low emitting, but they are also easy to clean and long lasting which are two important factors impacting indoor air quality."

Learn about the latest developments in thermal insulation systems from BASF Chemicals that are helping homeowners with rising energy costs.

Homeowners concerned with rising energy costs can learn about the latest developments in thermal insulation systems that help reduce bills for heating and cooling their homes from a New England farmstead built in 1849.

“This Old House,” the popular home restoration television program on PBS, used structural insulated panels (SIPs) supplied by Insulspan Blissfield, Mich., for its “Carlisle Home” project in Massachusetts. The “Carlisle Home” series, which also commemorated the show’s 25th anniversary, was broadcast earlier this year.

Carrier Corporation, the world's No. 1 air conditioner supplier, on Friday pledged long-term investments in China's heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, 20 years after its entry into the Chinese market.

China has witnessed rapid growth in its HVAC industry over the past decade, arresting the attention of the world's leading provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions.

"China is definitely one of the biggest markets on the planet with great development potential," said Philippe Delpech, CEO of Carrier China, at a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the company's operation in China.

(Washington, D.C.-Nov. 14, 2005) With American businesses expected to
experience higher than ever energy prices this winter, EPA has issued
advice businesses can take to save 10 percent or more on their energy
bills. The advice shares lessons learned by EPA's Energy Star partners
who saved money and subsequently adopted longer-term energy management
strategies that produced even greater savings. If every business in the
United States saved 10 percent on its energy bills, Americans would save
about $10 billion annually.

"By taking a few common-sense steps to heed President Bush's call to

EPA is issuing an initial draft of the staff paper on ground-level ozone
as part of a process to gather public, technical and scientific input to
ensure that federal air quality standards reflect the latest air
pollution and health effects research. The draft staff paper, "Review
of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone," includes
scientific and technical information about ozone related health and
welfare effects, initial results from a human exposure analysis and
health risk assessment, and discussion of a planned vegetation-related
environmental assessment.

This initial draft staff paper does not provide staff recommendations as