DCHAS-L Archives ยท Post dated March 25, 2011
From: Amell, Diane (DLI) <diane.amell**At_Symbol_Here**STATE.MN.US>
Subject: Re: Residual Mercury in Schools
Date: Mar 25, 2011 21:42 UTC
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <4D8C99BE.8648.0091.0**At_Symbol_Here**ph.lacounty.gov>
Here's the answer to the question regarding Clancy's career from his owner/ handler, Carol Hubbard of the MN Pollution Control Agency: Clancy retired on December 31, 2009. We began training him in December 200 0, so his "service life" turned out to be about 9 years (about 63 years in human years!), which is about 3 to 4 years longer than most detector dogs w ill give you (most detector dogs leave service due to physical problems, no t because their noses give out). What a worker he was, and did he ever pou t when I stopped taking him to work with me-it was a very sad few months fo r both of us... But he's happy again now--he's living in the "lap of luxury" at my house wi th my British Lab Ruby and is as happy as a clam. We just got back from a long vacation in Florida where he got to play in the surf with about two do zen other dogs-both he and Ruby were in heaven! What incredible animals th ey both are (I'm thinking about training Ruby to detect bedbugs and mold. I think she'd be great!) [She also sent pictures, but the LISTSERV rejected them.] - Diane Amell, MNOSHA -----Original Message----- From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Er ic Clark Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 3:31 PM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools Diane, What's the expected service life of a mercury-sniffing dog? Eric Eric Clark, MS, CCHO, CHMM Safety & Compliance Officer Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory >>> "Amell, Diane (DLI)" <diane.amell**At_Symbol_Here**STATE.MN.US> 3/25/2011 9:35 AM >>> The MN Pollution Control Agency and the MN Dept. of Health have done a lot of work in this area. In fact, they have a black Labrador Retriever named C lancy trained to sniff out mercury vapor that they take to schools both for demonstration and testing purposes. (They also have mercury vapor meters - I figured I best include that note as well.) - Diane Amell, MNOSHA From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Be th Shepard Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:41 AM To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools Good morning, Jim-- You could try some of the schools in the Great Lakes area. This region is a little more sensitized to mercury as an environmental hazard due to the fi sh consumption guidelines (we do love our fish frys), and many people fish on the smaller lakes as well for recreation & dinner. The warnings about how much fish is safe to eat for the various groups of t he population are on the local news every time they are revised. The report s also usually indicate the contaminant responsible foe the guideline. Beth Beth Shepard / Technical Compliance Specialist Regulatory Compliance 6000 N. Teutonia Ave. / Milwaukee, WI 53209 / USA P: (414) 438-3850, x5471 sigma-aldrich.com<http://www.sigma-aldrich.com/> JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU> 03/25/2011 09:16 AM Please respond to DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU> To DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU cc Subject Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools Monona and colleagues, I understand and appreciate your point. I'm hoping that with nearly 15,000 schools in the country that we'll find a couple with the "fortitude" to ha ve a look and see if this is or is not a reasonable concern. If NYC is not interested, we'll try Boston. ... Jim James A. Kaufman, Ph.D. Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education International Council for Associations of Science Education www.icaseonline.net<http://www.icaseonline.net/> President/CEO The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) A Nonprofit International Organization for Safety in Science and Science Education 192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760-2252 508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335 jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org www.labsafetyinstitute.org<http://www.labsafety.org/> P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary In a message dated 3/25/2011 12:15:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here** list.uvm.edu writes: Jim, The schools are already in a bind due to the finding of excessive levels of PCBs in the air from light ballasts, caulks, and other PCB-containing buil ding materials. Mayor Bloomberg is concerned about the expense of replacin g the light ballasts when he already says they will have to lay off a few t housand teachers. I think if you mentioned testing for residual airborne mercury to school ad ministrators, they'd reach for the Valium and pitch your letter in the roun d file. Monona In a message dated 3/24/2011 11:55:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**A OL.COM writes: The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) is considering a project to evaluate the presence of residual amounts of mercury in middle, junior, and senior h igh schools. If there are any schools in the New York City area which would like to part icipate, please contact me to discuss the project. ... Jim This message and any files transmitted with it are the property of Sigma-Al drich Corporation, are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the person or entity to whom this e-mail is addressed. 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