Latest news on Chinese drywall

"This is a complicated problem, and we have several studies and other activities underway to help bring the best possible science to bear. The first sets of data released today start to explain differences between Chinese and non-Chinese drywall, but more remains to be learned. We are sharing what we know at this point and are outlining the next steps as we continue to work to answer homeowners' questions about what is causing the effects reported and observed."
 
That's how the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in a press statement released yesterday in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry, described its ongoing investigation into Chinese drywall.
 
On its Drywall Information Center, the CPSC says it has received almost 1,900 reports from people in 30 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., "who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to the presence of drywall produced in China." (In the photo, the small gray section directly under the thumb is drywall removed from a home.)
 
Read more about yesterday's news in this post on the Consumer Reports Safety blog and sign up for Chinese-drywall alerts from the CPSC. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook
 
 

Shale gas holds promise, but drilling for it is controversial

As we covered in Buzzword: Shale gas, this natural gas contained within fine-grained, sedimentary rock is a topic of much interest for the energy industry. There are vast reserves of shale gas nationwide, and energy companies are working hard and fast to tap these natural-gas sources through what's called water fracturing, also known as hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking. (The graphic below details how hydrofracking works. It was created by Al Granberg and is being used courtesy of ProPublica: Journalism in the Public Interest, a site that features lots of coverage of shale gas and gas drilling.)

As you might expect, there's more to shale gas than the promise of abundant supplies of natural gas and lower prices for consumers. There's also concern that the process used to tap into the shale-gas reserves presents serious environmental and health risks.

Today's New York Times features an interesting story, "Gas Company Won't Drill in New York Watershed," on the decision by Chesapeake Energy not to drill for natural gas in upstate New York after the Oklahoma City-based corporation's plans met with strong opposition. If you're interested in the topic of shale gas, give it a read.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you haven't already, get your heating system tuned up. And to save money on your utility bills, install a programmable thermostat, read our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), solar water heaters, and pellet stoves, and follow our overall advice for using less energy at home.

EPA proposes tougher lead-paint rules

In conjunction with last week's National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed changes to the 2008 Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program.

Contractors renovating, repairing, or painting homes built before 1978 would be required to be trained and certified in and follow lead-safe practices, including minimizing dust, containing the work area, and conducting a thorough cleanup to reduce the potential exposure associated with disturbing lead-based paint. So contractors would no longer be able to opt out of these practices if a homeowner certifies that there are no children under the age of six or pregnant women living in the home.

"This proposed rule will further increase protections for children and their families from lead-based-paint hazards associated with home renovation and repair," said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances, in a press release. "The administration is demonstrating its continued commitment to eliminating childhood lead poisoning and strengthening lead poisoning-prevention efforts."

While lead-based paints in homes were banned in 1978, many homes built before then probably have some lead paint. The new rule is intended to help protect older children and adults from exposure to lead, which can cause brain damage and diminished mental and physical development. It should also ensure that families with young children who purchase a recently renovated home aren't exposed to lead-dust hazards.

Another proposed change would require contractors to provide information demonstrating that they complied with lead-safe training and work practices to homeowners when a final invoice is delivered or within 30 days of completion of the renovation, whichever is earlier.

In a related action, the EPA has also proposed lowering lead-hazard standards in lead dust and modifying its definition of lead-based paint. The new standard would be 10 micrograms or less of lead per square foot for floors and 100 micrograms or less for windowsills, down from 40 micrograms 250 micrograms, respectively. Also, paint in existing structures with levels of 600 parts per million (0.06 percent by weight) would be considered lead-based paint. The current level is 5,000 ppm (0.5 percent) or 1 milligram per square centimeter.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're concerned about the presence of lead in your home, read our report on home-use lead test kits. If you discover elevated levels of lead, hire a certified lead inspector or risk assessor. If you're planning to paint or renovate your home yourself, follow the EPA's safe-work guidelines. When you're finally ready to paint, be sure to use the best finishes, like those covered in our latest report on interior paints.

Recent study points to showerheads as bacterial breeding ground

Taking a shower can provide a bracing wake-up call or settle the nerves after a hectic day. But a new study from the University of Colorado, which suggests that the typical showerhead can be an ideal breeding ground for bacteria commonly found in municipal water supplies, might give you pause the next time you step into the shower. The study, "Opportunistic Pathogens Enriched in Showerhead Biofilms," appeared in a recent online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Begun as a class project, the study expanded to include 45 sites in nine metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, and Denver. Through the very DNA of the pathogens lodged in the nooks and crannies of about 50 showerheads, researchers identified numerous bacteria, notably Mycobacterium avium, a relative of the organism that causes tuberculosis (PDF).

Bacteria found in showerheads tend to clump together in slimy biofilms, the so-called soap scum that builds up on the showerhead's plastic components, explained Norman R. Pace, Ph.D., lead study author and a professor of microbiology at the university. When a shower is on, pathogens accompany the water droplets that become suspended in the air. Besides coating the shower-curtain liner or walls of the shower enclosure, these droplets are easily inhaled deeply into the lungs.

M. avium, often present in soil, is among a class of nontuberculous mycobacteria, or NTM, described as "ubiquitous" by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But although M. avium accounts for most known infections by NTM, M. avium has not been well documented as a source of infection since suspected cases of NTM infection don't have to be reported to the CDC.

What's certain is that, while M. avium complex, or MAC, is unlikely to affect most people, if contracted it could potentially cause pulmonary disease, with symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis, including a chronic shallow cough, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. Most at risk, however, are those with compromised immune systems, including people with cystic fibrosis or AIDS or who are elderly, pregnant, or otherwise immune compromised.

The study focused on showerheads, but your home has other potential hot spots, such as a humidifier not cleaned thoroughly, hot tubs, and food-prep areas. Even indoor air carries bacteria, but municipal tap water has 10 times the amount commonly found in indoor air before it even reaches the showerhead. And there's no proof that raising the temperature of your water heater would make a significant difference; the culprit is continuous moisture.

Whether or not you're especially at risk, here's what you can do to try to prevent any bacterial problems in the shower:

Weekend Project: Fall cleaning tips for inside your home

Spring cleaning seems to get most of the attention, but fall is also a good time to get your house in order. Check out these fall-cleaning tips for the interior of your home and your yard and garden and those that follow.

Clean drapes, upholstery, carpeting, and floors. A canister vacuum is better equipped to clean drapes and upholstery, while an upright is better for deep-cleaning carpets. For your carpeting, use a carpet cleaner or schedule a professional cleaning. If your wood floors have taken a beating over the summer, see "Can This Flooring Be Saved?" to deal with worn finishes or damage.

Be a greener cleaner. Try these alternatives to store-bought cleaners. The video here shows more ways that everyday products cleaners can substitute for specialized cleaners.

Dispose of old paint and other hazardous products. Don't dispose of old paint, cleaners, solvents, pesticides, or other potentially dangerous products with the trash. Read our advice for proper disposal of  paints and finishes and common household items.

Also check with your municipality for collection dates for hazardous household materials. A feature on Earth911.com lets you search by location for dates. As a colleague recently discovered, you can save a ton of money carting refuse to a certified facility rather using a professional waste-disposal service.

Be wary of airborne and other problems. If your home has never been tested for radon or lead, read our report on home-use test kits to find those that work best. We've also found mold kits to be ineffective; use a professional if you see these telltale signs of mold.

There's also little evidence that air purifiers can help people who suffer from asthma and allergies. If you want to use an air purifier, use whole-house and portable models that rely on filters and that produce no ozone. (Ratings of air purifiers are available to subscribers.) Look for our report on carbon-monoxide and smoke alarms in the November 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in early October.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you or another member are prone to accidents, watch this video on the best ways to handle spills from wine and soda. Before the start of heating season, get your heating system tuned up. And to save money on your utility bills, install a programmable thermostat, read our buyer's guides to furnaces (more details here), solar water heaters, and pellet stoves, and follow our overall experts tips for cutting your energy costs.

Chinese-made drywall not a radiation risk, says CPSC

As we've reported in "By the Numbers: Chinese-Drywall Problems Spread Beyond Florida," "Problems With Chinese-Made Drywall Include Health Issues," and "Latest News on Chinese Drywall"—some significant issues have arisen with drywall made in China.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that it has received almost 1,200 reports from people in 24 states and the District of Columbia "who believe their health symptoms or the corrosion of certain metal components in their homes are related to the presence of drywall produced in China." The photo shows copper coils on an air conditioner that were apparently blackened and corroded by drywall.

Among the health concerns was the possible radiation risk posed by Chinese-made drywall, but as you'll read in "Report: Drywall From China Does Not Pose a Radiation Risk," on the Consumer Reports Safety blog, federal and state agencies have found no radiation safety risk to families living in affected homes.

If you're concerned about the drywall in your home, visit the CPSC's Drywall Information Center and subscribe to our Safety blog to stay up to date on the latest news about Chinese drywall. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Q&A: Is cooking with nonstick pans bad for your health?

I've read reports that say cooking with some nonstick cookware can make you sick. Is that true?

There are some concerns with nonstick coatings. Cooking with nonstick cookware at very high temperatures can break down the nonstick coating, emitting fumes that can kill pet birds and possibly cause flulike symptoms in humans.

Another chemical you might have read about related to nonstick coatings is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), used in making nonstick coating for cookware and many other products, including packaging materials and stain-resistant coatings. This chemical and the family of other perfluorinated compounds have been linked to cancer and birth defects in studies with laboratory animals and might pose a risk in humans.

Some perfluorinated compounds have been found to be accumulating in human blood, but our past tests suggest nonstick cookware is not likely to be a significant source of exposure. Working with an outside lab to learn how much PFOA is emitted during cooking, we found that when new nonstick pans were heated to 400°F—below the manufacturers' recommended maximum of 500°F—tested air samples collected above the pans contained very little PFOA. The highest level was around 100 times lower than published animal studies suggest are levels of concern for ongoing exposure. When we tested aged pans, the emissions were barely measurable.

Health concerns have led to what manufacturers claim is PFOA-free nonstick cookware. For our latest report on cookware, we tested several products marketed as PFOA-free, including the 10-piece Swiss Diamond Reinforced cookware, $500, and the 10-piece Earth Pan With Sand Flow, $190, both of which scored highly in the ratings.

To minimize exposure to any chemicals that might be released from nonstick cookware, ventilate your kitchen well, and to extend the useful life of your pots and pans, don't place empty cookware over very high heat. And as soon as your pans begin to flake, dispose of them.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Check out our free buyer's guide to cookware and the latest cookware ratings (available to subscribers). And if you're concerned about other chemicals that might be lurking in products you buy, read "Toxins in the News: A Glossary," from the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

Q&A: When should I replace a carbon-monoxide alarm?

I've heard that carbon-monoxide alarms fail after seven years. Is that true?

Most carbon-monoxide (CO) alarms are backed by a five- to seven-year warranty, but they typically emit a chirping or signal when they're nearing the end of their useful life. This signal differs from the one that indicates a low battery. If there's a problem with the unit, a model with a digital display will show an error message, and one without a digital display might flash LEDs in a particular pattern.

Remember, the test button on a CO alarm checks only whether the alarm is working, not the sensor. To check the sensor, use a test kit that you can purchase at a local home center.

Essential information: Read our buyer's guide to CO and smoke alarms for more information on these important safety devices, and view a quick interactive to determine which alarms are best for your home. We've also got a report on an intriguing study on the effectiveness of a voice recordings versus more traditional loud tone alarms in awakening children.

Q&A: How can I lower the level of radon in my home?

Long-term radon testing revealed that the radon level near our countertops is very low but the level in the basement is 3.6 picocuries per liter. Should I do anything to remediate the problem?

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and your risk of lung cancer is especially high if you smoke and your the radon level in your home is elevated.

The EPA recommends remediating radon when the indoor-air level of radon is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. The EPA also says that radon levels below that can still pose a health risk and recommends that you consider remediation when the level is above 2 and under 4 pCi/L. The average indoor radon level is about 1.3 pCi/L, and for outside air its about 0.4 pCi/L.

Radon, a radioactive gas, results from the natural decay of uranium that's present in most soils and can enter the home through cracks and holes in the foundation. The radon level of your neighbors' homes isn't an indicator of the level in your home since levels can vary widely property by property. Read our report on radon test kits, which includes buying advice and ratings of short-term and long-term kits.

You can temporarily reduce radon levels by increasing ventilation—opening windows, doors, and vents in your basement. But once they're closed, the radon level usually returns to its previous level within about 12 hours. The EPA suggests hiring a qualified radon contractor to fix the problem. We advise against taking on this work on your own since you might increase the radon level or stir up other problems.

To find a certified radon-remediation contractor, consult the EPA's list of radon contact information for each state or the National Environmental Health Association or the National Radon Safety Board. Remediation will cost $800 to $2,500, depending on the radon-reduction system used and the characteristics of your home.

For advice on selecting a contractor, use this information from the EPA. Be sure to get several bids and check references.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Learn more about the issue of radon and granite countertops in our latest report on countertops and in this blog entry.

In the Pacific Northwest, residents trying to keep their cool during heat wave

The average high temperature for July in Seattle is 75.1°F; in Portland, Oregon, it’s 78.9°F.

But the recent record-setting temperatures during the Pacific Northwest’s relentless heat wave—forecasts call for the mercury to climb to 109°F in Portland this afternoon—have made the usual summer weather something for area residents to dream of. “It’s very uncomfortable for us. I don’t have air conditioning because we get so little hot weather,” Virginia Lindtott told KING5 news in Seattle.

Since few folks in that part of the country have air conditioning at home—one local TV station put the number at only 15 percent—heat-weary Washingtonians and Oregonians are desperately seeking some relief from the heat. Watch this video of Washington state residents queuing up to buy air conditioners and read local coverage of the infernal weather from The Seattle Times and The Oregonian.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest or any other part of the country where Mother Nature’s doling out oppressive weather, use the information below to find the best, most energy-efficient, and cost-effective ways to stay cool.

And since the National Weather Service is predicting the heat to linger for the next couple of days in the Seattle and Portland areas (the image shows an NWS map for part of Oregon), follow these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to avoid heat-related illness. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Free Air Conditioners Buying Guide

July 2009 Report on Air Conditioning (story and ratings available to subscribers)

Information on Portable Air Conditioners (available to subscribers)

Free Sizing Calculator for Air Conditioners

Details on Ceiling Fans