San Onofre Inspection

San Diego, CA - The nuclear power plant owned by Southern California Edison( SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric and the City of Riverside SCE serving 14 million residents has recently detected a leak in the tubes that serve as coolers to the reactors.

Recently the reactor has been shut down to allow cooling and
so workers can install inspection equipment inside the reactor at the San Onofre nuclear power plant to help find a leak.

The problem was discovered during an inspection of a steam generator. Containing 9,700 tubes that have each been replaced in 2009, it is estimated that 800 or more have prematurely worn away at the walls.

U

Inspectors find ‘unusual’ wear on new tubes carrying radioactive water at Calif. nuclear plant

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By Associated Press, Published: February 2

LOS ANGELES — Unusual wear has been found on hundreds of tubes that carry radioactive water at Southern California’s San Onofre Unit 2 nuclear plant, raising questions about the integrity of equipment the company installed in a multimillion-dollar makeover in 2009.

The disclosure came two days after a tube leak at the plant’s other unit prompted operators to shut down the reactor as a precaution. A tiny amount of radiation could have escaped, but officials say workers and the public were not endangered.

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The problems at Unit 2 were discovered during inspections of a steam generator, after the plant 45 miles north of San Diego was taken off-line for maintenance and refueling. The two huge steam generators at Unit 2, each containing 9,700 tubes, were replaced in fall 2009, and a year later in its twin plant, Unit 3, as part of a $670 million overhaul.

According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, more than a third of the wall had been worn away in two tubes at Unit 2, which will require them to be plugged and taken out of service. At least 20 percent of the tube wall was worn away in 69 other tubes, and in more than 800, the thinning was at least 10 percent.

“The amount of wear that we are seeing on these tubes is unusual for a new steam generator,” NRC spokesman Victor Dricks said. “If you have that kind of thinning anywhere along the length of the tube, you have a problem because it degrades the integrity of the tube, which can contribute to leaks.”

Owner Southern California Edison disputes the figures released and says a tiny amount of radiation could have escaped into the atmosphere but no one was endangered.

The utility also has found unusual, premature wear found on hundreds of similar tubes in a twin reactor called Unit 2. That reactor is still in service while the tubes are plugged.

More inspections will have to continue to determine the changes that are required for proper operations under standard conditions.

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Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com

Reducing Indoor Pollutants within your Home

Winter is closing in and here is the scoop on indoor quality: As a hot topic these days the levels of indoor pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than the outdoors. You can improve your indoor air by following a few tips:

1. Clean underfoot - avoid carpeting that absorbs much of the dirt, dust and allergens. Try to select hard wood surfaces, tile or laminate flooring. These surfaces are much easier to clean.

2. Keep furniture and windows dust free. Dirt may not always be visible on the surface, but it is usually there. Leather and vinyl furniture is easier to clean than upholstered furniture. Putting a slip cover over fabrics will help in routine maintenance throughout the year.

3. Curtains and blinds trap more than incoming light. Take them down and wash them with a garden hose or a vacuum. This will help reduce the chances of mold growing on or new the window or window's shades surfaces.

4. Consider using a HEPA filter. This is the best way to reduce indoor allergens and other particulates from the air. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrest and is capable of removing 99.97% of dust and allergens from the air.

5. Use a HEPA vacuum to remove the dust and debris from the floors and the furniture within your home. Most vacuums capture a small amount of the dust and debris and redistribute the remaining debris back into the air. Using a HEPA vacuum will promote a cleaner environment, free from mold spore

You may not plan to be indoors much this season, but chance are you will be. Consider using these few steps to help reduce the amount of particulates, mold spores, and dust within your home.

Mold Inspections-San Diego.com

Robert Santanastasio, CIEC
FunGuy Inspection & Consulting LLC

Where's the Germ?

The test were completed to determine if germs maybe on items from commonly touched objects and surfaces. The test determined if amounts of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which indicates the presence of contamination by animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast and molds. It is the same method used to monitor sanitary conditions in food and other related industries.

Other items that contained Germy Surfaces:

Cellphones and PDAs

These electronic devices carry tons of bacteria including salmonella, pseudomonas, and staph.

Public Soap Dispensers

About 25% of public bathroom dispenser are contaminated by fecal bacteria.

Airport Bathrooms

50% of people use the bathroom per flight and the bathrooms are rarely disinfected between flights. According to studies, the dirtiest areas are the door handles and the faucets.



"People do not realize the amount of contamination they are exposed to going to work each day and doing everyday things like filling their gas tank or riding on an escalator," Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, said in a statement. "This new testing is compelling because it underscores the importance of hand and surface hygiene. Most cold and flu viruses are spread because people touch surfaces in their immediate area and then touch their faces, other objects and other people. Washing and drying your hands frequently throughout the day, can help prevent your risk of getting sick or spreading illness around the office."

It seems there is such a thing as over doing it when it comes to hygiene. Studies have shown that too much cleanliness maybe linked to a poorer immune system. Called the hygiene hypothesis, the more sterile environment can lead to higher rates of illness because our bodies forget the everyday germs.

"A study published in a 2002 issue of JAMA concluded that children living in a house with two or more dogs or cats during their first year of life were much less likely to develop allergic diseases compared with children raised without pets. Allergies, like those toward pets, are a reaction by the body's immune system to foreign, yet generally innocuous, substances, including pollen, mold, animal dander, dust and certain foods that it deems harmful. If your immune system has never or rarely detected even the natural background level of such substances, it can go haywire when contact does occur." http://www.livescience.com/16787-germs-everyday-surfaces-infographic.html


Germs thrive on surfaces that have been touched, sneezed on or kept moist. Expect to get a cold when touching these frequently touched surfaces. Exposure to germs is a good thing, over time it helps establish a baseline for our bodies own immune system and it would be tough to survive without them. Do your part, wash your hands today!

Written by: Moldinspections-Sandiego.com

Los Angeles Chapter Workshop - Overview of OSHA and Air Quality Efficiency

November 3, 2011 - Los Angeles Workshop

The Los Angeles Chapter of the Indoor Air Quality Association is pleased to announce our quarterly morning workshop on Thursday, November 3, 2011. Educational units will be earned by attending this workshop (ABIH, ACAC, IICRC).

Overview of OSHA by Dan Leiner

Dan is an Area Manager with Cal/OSHA Consultation Service

He will provide an overview of Cal/OSHA and information on the Enforcement unit, including what triggers an inspection, citations, and penalties. He will review Cal/OSHA's Consultation Services, a unit of Cal/OSHA that provides free on-site safety and health assistance to employers to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses. And Dan will discuss frequently cited regulations including:

· Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP),
· Hazard Communication,
· Respiratory Protection,
· Heat Illness Prevention, and
· Confined Space Regulations.

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Diagnosis of Air Quality and Energy Efficiency Problems, by Vince Cord

Vince Cord of Poly-Tech Environmental HVAC

Vince is a Healthy home specialist and licensed HVAC contractor since 1999. He will talk about the diagnosis of air quality and energy efficiency problems created by, or involving, residential HVAC systems. Methods and materials are designed for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), allergies, or those who want the best indoor air quality or energy efficiency possible. Based on Building Science, Bau-Biology and Energy Star procedures.

Schedule:

7:30 - 8:00 Registration, Breakfast, Networking
8:00 - 8:15 Introductions (Stephen Roquemore, LA Chapter Director)
8:15 - 8:30: Announcements
8:30 - 10:00 Dan Leiner
10:00-10:30 Break
10:30 - 11:45 Vince Cord

The workshop will be held at a New Location

Courtyard by Marriot
15433 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

Early Bird Registration Posted on or before October 27, 2011
IAQA Member Cost: $65.00 (includes Breakfast)
Non-Member Cost: $85.00 (includes Breakfast)

Registration Received After October 27, 2011
IAQA Member Cost: $75.00 (includes Breakfast)
Non-Member Cost: $95.00 (includes Breakfast)

Fill out the form below and mail it with your check to: Indoor Air Quality Association, Los Angeles Chapter, Attention: Stephen Roquemore, 21115 Devonshire Street, 365, Chatsworth, CA 91313. Make checks payable to Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA). For full refund, cancellations should be made by noon on October 27, 2011(There will be no refunds after this date). Please include your payment (checks only) for each registrant. Seats are limited

SPONSORS: ABATIX - LA TESTING - EM LABS
Registration for the IAQA - Los Angeles Chapter, November 30, 2011 Workshop:

Please Print:

Company Name: Date: ____________________________________________________

Name:_________________________________________ Member: Yes_____No______

Address:________________________________________________________________

Phone:_______________________________Fax:________________________________

E-mail:__________________________________________________________________

Pay by Pay PAL - Members before October 27, 2011
Pay by Pay PAL - Members after October 27, 2011
Pay by Pay PAL - Non Members before October 27, 2011
Pay by Pay PAL - Non Members After October 27, 2011

IAQA San Diego Chapter Workshop : August 23, 2011

• Federal, State and Local Lead Regulations - Putting the Lead Puzzles Together
• The San Diego Healthy Homes Collaborative
• The Healthy Home Program  

   

Federal, State and Local Lead Regulations 

Putting the Lead Puzzles Together 

Mr. Robert Cox, City of San Diego Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Program Inspector

This presentation will help to clarify the differences between the EPA Renovate Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule, State of California lead regulations, and the City of San Diego's Lead Hazard Prevention and Control Ordinance requirements. This is important for anyone that disturbs painted surfaces in buildings constructed prior to 1979. Learn directly from City of San Diego enforcement officials on:

• Required work practices standards and record keeping
• Circumstances when independent clearances are required
• Creating healthy environments for workers and families
• Enforcement actions and avoiding penalties and fines

The San Diego Healthy Homes Collaborative

Mr. Chris Lee, City of San Diego Lead Safety and Healthy Homes Program Coordinator

The San Diego Healthy Homes Collaborative is a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded Healthy Homes Demonstration grant that provides resources to improve the health and safety of low income families with children. This presentation will provide an overview of the program and Healthy Homes Concepts. The SDHHC leverages numerous resources, such as weatherization and energy efficiency programs, to improve the health of the program participants. The program conducts in home evaluations consisting of occupant interviews concerning the existing conditions of the property, and the health of the residents. Environmental sampling includes testing for lead hazards, mold and moisture, asbestos, cockroach allergens, dust mites, carbon monoxide and natural gas. Properties are again evaluated six months after renovations are completed, and evaluated by an independent research agency to determine if the program is cost effective.

Study - Cost to San Diego Neighborhoods and local Governments by Foreclosures

(San Diego) --In the City of San Diego, home foreclosures are costing homeowners and local governments millions of dollars, quotes the study by the Center on Policy Initiatives.  This report, Foreclosure: the Cost Communities Pay, projects almost 57,000 foreclosures in San Diego over five years, and recommends the City take action to hold banks accountable for the resulting costs.

The study shows how one foreclosure in the neighborhood can cost $5-34,000 in maintenance, home (mold)inspections, sudden repairs, and other enforcement services.  Since the crisis begin in 2008, the CPI found between $134-850 million has been spent.  Homeowners near foreclosed homes have had their loss estimated at $19 billion.  The loss from city revenue has been estimated at $117 million.