Mystery Stains in Salt Generator Pools. 16 Oct 2013 8:07 AM (11 years ago)

Mystery Stains in Salt Generator Pools

Salt chlorine pools have become quite popular for their convenience. There are no hazardous chemicals on site, water is sanitized and oxidized automatically. There are little to no chloramines. Many users of salt generators claim softer feeling water with less chemical odor and no dry or irritated skin.

Along with the report of these benefits, some have also reported some strange phenomena as well. These include things like discolored water, strange stains throughout the pool that are hard to remove and prevent. Stains appearing in salt pools include:

• Black flecks on pool bottom

• Black staining on ladders and light rings

• Reoccurring stains and discoloration on light rings around steps or rails and discolored water.

• Purple haze and debris in pool water

These stains seem to be a mystery, however in salt pools with high TDS they are due to a simple chemical reaction known as Galvanic Corrosion. To understand this electro chemical reaction a simple understanding of the technology of chlorine generators is first needed.

Chlorine generators work using a process known as electrolysis. In nature chlorine is found primarily in the chloride ion, which is a component of salt found in the earth or the oceans. Electrolysis is the means of generating chemical products from their native state. A salt generator works by passing electricity through a solution of sodium chloride to produce chlorine as a disinfectant or sanitizer.

The most popularly used chlorine generators are the in-line type. In these systems salt water is circulated over electrochemical cells. The cells convert the sodium chloride to free available chlorine. The cells used in these systems are typically made of titanium. Though it may seem new the technology of splitting molecules via electrolysis goes back all the way to the 1700s.

History of electrolysis

• 1789 – First use of electricity to separate compounds- electrolysis

• 1800 – First device to generate chlorine using electricity developed by Cruickshank

• 1830 – Faraday used brine (salt water) to produce chlorine gas (this occurs at the anode positive electrode cell) hydrogen gas and sodium hydroxide were also produced (at the cathode negative electrode cell)

How galvanic corrosion occurs in swimming pools:

Galvanic corrosion occurs when dissimilar metals exist in a high TDS solution such as a salt generator pool. Some metals are nobler and more cathodic meaning positive currents flow from these and they tend to steal electrons from the less noble anodic or negative metals.

A Galvanic Corrosion Chart is used in industries that work with fluids and metals such as cooling towers. The Galvanic Corrosion Chart shows that the “anodic” or “less noble” metals at the negative end of the series such as magnesium, zinc and aluminium – are more likely to corrode than those at the “cathodic” or “noble” end which include gold and graphite.

There are three things needed in order for galvanic corrosion to occur:

1. Electrochemically dissimilar metals must be present

2. These metals must be in electrical contact, and

3. The metals must be exposed to an electrolyte (salt in solution)

In a swimming pool all three of these exist due to the high TDS from the salt content of the water. The electrochemical cells in most chlorine generators are made of titanium which is listed on the Galvanic Corrosion Chart as a nobler metal. Most pools contain some copper in the system as well in the heat exchanger or in any brass fittings or pipe that may be in the system. Copper is a less noble metal than titanium and thus it corrodes as a result of the electrolysis in the high salt solution. This leaves black stains and debris in the pool. Copper is also rendered insoluble in the water. Copper in the water will appear as a green translucent color.

The simple solution to solve this problem is to find another less noble metal to use as a sacrificial anode that corrodes but doesn’t cause staining. When differing metals are added to salt water one metal acts as a cathode this is the nobler of the two. Titanium would be one example of a more cathodic or noble metal. The other metal may be more anodic or less noble. An example of this would be copper.

Galvanic corrosion occurs because when these two metals are in salt water with an electrical current the weaker less noble metal (copper) will corrode faster than normal. Also the stronger more noble metal (titanium) will corrode much slower than normal. It has been found in various marine industries that the addition of zinc in these types of systems prevents the corrosion of copper and stops the staining.

Zinc is very low on the galvanic chart and is one of the most anodic metals found. In salt chlorine pools zinc can be added as a solid weight into the skimmer or attached in the circulation system. This slows or stops the corrosion of copper. If the water is discolored from copper it is advised to use a metal removal product along with the zinc to remove the current discoloration and prevent reoccurrence. Most metal products on the market tend to be phosphate based and this too can cause problems in a salt chlorine generator. When selecting a metal product use a phosphate free product.

What about purple haze?

Another mystery in both salt generator and regular pools is the occurrence of a strange purple coloring and debris. This is due to high levels of cyanuric acid and insoluble copper in the water. If pH and alkalinity go low than copper cyanurate is formed leaving a purple residue along the water line and around lights and steps. The solution here is to lower cyanuric acid down to 35ppm to 50ppm and adjust up the alkalinity and pH. Also, the addition of zinc will help keep copper from corroding into the water.

These simple methods should help clear the mystery and remove the stains.

Resources: http://aquamagazine.com/content/post/Mystery-Stains-in-Salt-Generator-Pools.aspx?topic=200,300,50

Studies Reveal How Copper Imbalances Cause Mood Disorders, ADHD, Anger Problems and More. 10 Oct 2013 9:33 AM (11 years ago)

Studies Reveal How Copper Imbalances Cause Mood Disorders, ADHD, Anger Problems and More

If you struggle with anger problems, mood swings, or ADHD, you may be surprised to learn that an imbalance of minerals such as copper could play a role.

You might be familiar with a large collection of daily ‘essential nutrients’ that are listed on your everyday food labels. Among the common nutrients are elements like calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc and iron. What you may not know, however, is that there is another essential mineral your body needs, and you almost never see it listed along with those other nutrients.

That mineral is copper.

Copper plays an integral role in ensuring the mental, physical and chemical wellbeing of your body and, along with all the other essential minerals and nutrients, is vital for survival. In addition to helping you live a healthy life, new studies have found it also plays an integral role in balancing your mood levels, in addition to being a huge factor in affecting learning disorders (specifically ADHD) and more.

To truly understand the essential role of this metal and its effects on your body, it is important to delve into its biological roles.

What Exactly Does Copper Do for Your Body?

As is the case with most minerals, a certain balance of each compound is absolutely necessary to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Some minerals are not as integral to your internal balance as others, while several others are classified as essential mineral nutrients – meaning that you MUST have them in your diet in order to live.

As mentioned before, some of the more popular essential minerals that you may be familiar with are calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, and iron. Unfortunately, the essentiality of copper in our diets is not discussed as often even though it is also an essential mineral.

In fact, copper is so important to your body’s daily functions that in a research paper titled ‘Copper in Drinking-water; Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality,’ the World Health Organization states:

“Copper is an essential nutrient. The USA and Canada recently established a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults of 900 µg/day. Values for children are 340 µg/day for the first 3 years, 440 µg/day for ages 4 through 8, 700 µg/day for ages 9 through 13 and 890 µg/day for ages 14 through 18 (IOM, 2001).”

The article goes on to confirm:

“Copper is required for the proper functioning of many important enzyme systems. Copper-containing enzymes include ceruloplasmin, SOD, cytochrome-c oxidase, tyrosinase, monoamine oxidase, lysyl oxidase and phenylalanine hydroxylase (Linder & Hazegh-Azam, 1996).”

In simpler terms, copper is described by doctors such as Dr. Lawrence Wilson – nutritional consultant and former medical writer and researcher for the U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health – as having:

“… a number of important functions in the human body…

1. Bones and connective tissue. Copper is required to fix calcium in the bones and to build and repair all connective tissue…

2. Energy production in the cells. Copper is needed in the final steps of the Krebs energy cycle called the electron transport system. This is where most of our cellular energy is produced…

3. Immune Response. Copper must remain in balance with zinc. When imbalances occur, one is more prone to all infections, in particular fungal and yeast infections that are so common today.”

But that’s not all; Wilson also adds that copper is important for:

“4. The glandular system, particularly the thyroid and adrenal glands…In part this is due to its nature and how easily it is influenced by the sympathetic nervous system…

5. Reproductive system. Copper is closely related to estrogen metabolism, and is required for women’s fertility and to maintain pregnancy…

6. Nervous system. Copper stimulates production of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. It is also required for monoamine oxidase, an enzyme related to serotonin production. As a result, copper is involved deeply with all aspects of the central nervous system.”

Even though copper is so essential to many of your bodily functions, many doctors, medical practices and medical companies don’t appear to sufficiently acknowledge the importance of monitoring intake levels – a problem which can have major consequences if long-term imbalances remain.

Of the problems associated with too much or too little copper in your system (otherwise known as copper toxicity and deficiency) are:

“…most psychological, emotional and often neurological conditions. These include memory loss, especially in young people, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and others…”

Much more complicated than simply adding a multivitamin to your diet, achieving the perfect copper balance becomes even more complex when you consider that each individual metabolizes, excretes and uses copper differently. Depending on your body type, oxygen metabolic rate among many other internal and external factors, your daily dosage may require you to intake a lot or very little of the mineral.

Dr. Wilson describes in detail that some people:

“…need much more copper than others. This has to do mainly with their metabolic type or body chemistry. Fast oxidizers need more copper while slow oxidizers often have too much. Those who we find are fast oxidizers require a lot more copper… Slow oxidizers often have excessive copper in their bodies. Thus they are far more prone to copper imbalance of this nature.”

How do You Know if You Are Getting the Right Amount of Copper, Or if You Have a Copper Imbalance?

As with any deficiency, illness, ailment or disorder, an accurate diagnosis requires the assistance of a trained medical professional. In addition, careful observation of your habits, moods, foods, physical wellbeing and activities is also essential.

For most people a significant copper deficiency can cause symptoms such as:

• Panic attacks
• Migraines
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles
• Trouble Thinking
• Testicular Pain
• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Irritability

And in more serious cases:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Violence
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Phobias
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Schizophrenia

In regard to attention deficit disorders, especially in the case of fast oxidizers:

“This body type must have extra copper or they will exhibit violence, sleep problems or anti-social behavior such as ADD or ADHD.”

With so many wide-ranging effects to having too much or too little of this essential element in your system, you would think that it would be important for doctors to monitor and regulate your copper levels more than ever.

Unfortunately, because our public health system is so overloaded with prescription drugs that claim to cure each and every symptom for these emotional, mental and behavioral problems, you’ll be hard-pressed to find many professionals who advocate the importance of assessing your copper levels – leaving you with the same old prescription routine where you should: ‘take two of these, and call me in the morning.

Prescription Drug Use for Behavioral and Mental Health Conditions on the Rise

The IMS Health Report notes that U.S. sales of antidepressants totaled $11.9 billion in 2007, and there is no doubt that this number is increasing with the large variety of ever available drugs these days.

In addition, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 and older, in a given year, have a mood disorder. Also, the CDC reports that ADHD diagnosis increased an average of 3% per year from 1997 to 2006 and an average of 5.5% per year from 2003 to 2007.

That number is expected to rise steadily in the coming future, and shows no signs of slowing down either.

A report by the Harvard Health Letter confirmed these reports when it warned:

“The federal government’s health statisticians figure that about one in every 10 Americans takes an antidepressant. And by their reckoning, antidepressants were the third most common prescription medication taken by Americans in 2005–2008, the latest period during which the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) collected data on prescription drug use.”

Those are some large numbers for medical treatments that have questionable effectiveness and safety for helping individuals afflicted with mood disorders and other similar problems. In fact, a groundbreaking study by Professor Irving Kirch and colleagues caused uproar in the pharmaceutical community when it exposed how:

“…compared with placebo, the new-generation antidepressants do not produce clinically significant improvements in depression in patients who initially have moderate or even very severe depression, but show significant effects only in the most severely depressed patients. The findings also show that the effect for these patients seems to be due to decreased responsiveness to placebo, rather than increased responsiveness to medication.”

A scary thought when you consider the millions of people downing these drugs on a daily basis.

Similarly, when it comes to ADHD and common treatments, the story is the same, with millions of pharmaceutical drugs being prescribed every year, even though there is very little evidence to support these medications actual benefits.

In fact in their National Guideline — ‘Diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults’ — The National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health in their National Clinical Practice Guidelines clearly states that:

“…more research is needed on the influences on eventual outcome, and should include enquiry about the possible benefits (and risks) of early diagnosis and treatments [for ADHD].”

Mineral Imbalances Often Play a Role

Cashews are rich in copper, as are certain mushrooms, sunflower seeds and garbanzo beans. Depending on where your levels fall, you may need to eat more (or potentially less) of copper-rich foods.

Of this new research that is essential to finding the key to better solutions and cures for America’s disorders (like depression and ADHD) are revolutionary findings about zinc and copper by Dr. Julie Howard, CEO of The Howard Clark Corporation and founder/director of Youth Essential Solutions, Head Out Rehabilitation Camp, and Texas Preparatory Academy.

In her studies, Dr. Howard found:

“…many children and young adults with ADHD/ADD are deficient in zinc. Zinc is found in the brain’s hippocampus and interacts with other chemicals to send messages to the sensory brain center, enhancing memory and thinking skills. It has a significant effect on visual memory, learning, emotional and behavioral state and overall cognitive function. A deficiency may result in learning impairments, poor memory and emotional and behavioral problems.”

She continues:

“A study carried out on 135 males aged between 3 and 20 with a history of aggressive behavior found that many of the subjects were likely to have high levels of copper and low levels of zinc compared with non-aggressive people. Zinc and copper compete for absorption. Because of this inverse relationship, zinc supplements can be effective for lowering copper levels. Proper mineral balance is essential for the production of chemical signals in the brain that influence behavior. Both copper and zinc tend to be concentrated in the hippocampus of the brain, which is the area known to be associated with stress response.”

This essential relationship between zinc, copper and how they affect each other, in addition to how they interact with your biological processes, and govern your emotional behaviors makes it more important than ever to pay attention to how much copper and zinc you are getting.

How to Determine Your Copper and Zinc Levels

Quite simply, blood, urine, feces and hair testing are used to detect copper imbalances in the body. In addition, liver biopsies are also used on rare occasions. Once assessed properly, a multitude of methods can be instated to treat the toxicity or deficiency problem.

With doctor’s guidance, you may need to use zinc or copper supplements and also change your diet as well. Depending on whether a deficiency or a toxicity exists, vegetarian diets and high-copper foods such as nuts, seeds, and avocado may need to be limited. In addition, healthy animal protein should be consumed daily in addition to some whole grain rice and corn.

Also, the addition of a good multivitamin can reduce the risk of free copper in the body that can lead to oxidative stress.

• Ask at your next appointment for the most effective natural supplement depending on your health condition and needs.

Your health condition will be the basis to best prescribe natural products in unison with a monitored diet, doctor-assisted testing and observation in addition to carefully monitored emotional and environmental circumstances which may be the answer to helping you avoid a life of harmful over medicating.

The importance of seeking alternative solutions to prescription treatments has never been more at issue than ever. Even one of the most powerful collaborations of doctors, scientists and therapists in North America, The National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, has warned:

“…professionals, parents/caretakers, and children and adults with ADHD have objections and ethical concerns about the use of medication (Perring, 1997). The reasons are varied and include a general unhappiness about using any type of psychotropic medication …concerns about possible side effects and long-term harms, concerns that medication may take away individual responsibility for problems, and an unease that the focus of treatment should be solely on the child [or adult] instead of the interface between them and the social and educational systems of which they are a part.”

Sound reason from a sound source — and with your happiness and health at stake, perhaps it’s time for you to opt for a solution that is safe, natural and as simple as eating the right foods to balance out your natural nutrient levels. After all, America deserves to be a nation full of healthy, drug-free individuals, don’t you think?

Sources

American College for Advancement in Medicine. Dr. Julie Howard.December 10, 2009. ‘Zinc and Copper levels are key factors in ADD and ADHD’.ACAM: American College for Advancement in Medicine.

Johnson BT; Kirsch I “Do antidepressants work? Statistical significance versus clinical benefits”.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. National Clinical Practice Guideline Number 72; National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. ADHD; September 2008. “Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Diagnosis and management of ADHD in children, young people and adults”.

Harvard Health Letter. Peter Wehrwein. October 20, 2011. ‘Astounding increase in antidepressant use by Americans’.

Standard Process Products

Wilson, Lawrence MD. Revised, July 2011, The Center For Development ‘Copper Toxicity Syndrome’.

World Health Organization “Copper in Drinking-water: Background document for development of WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality”.

 Resource: http://articles.healthrealizations.com/FullPotentialHealthCare/2013/10/07/Is-Copper-Wreaking-Havoc-on-Your-Body.aspx

How safe is your indoor swimming pool? 4 Sep 2013 4:12 PM (11 years ago)

How safe is your indoor swimming pool?

(CNN) — Catherine Garceau doesn’t go to the pool anymore. The former Olympic swimmer has trained at many fitness centers over the years that smelled strongly of chlorine. While most would assume that means the water is clean, Garceau now knows it’s just the opposite.

After winning bronze in 2000 with the Canadian synchronized swimming team in Sydney, Australia, Garceau was a “mess.” Her digestive system was in turmoil, she had chronic bronchitis and she suffered from frequent migraines.

Garceau retired in 2002 and began looking into holistic medicine. Experts suggested detoxifying her body to rid it of chemicals, including what fellow teammates used to jokingly refer to as “eau de chlorine — the swimmer’s perfume.”

“As part of my journey to determine the factors that affected my health, I delved into the possible effects of chlorine and discovered some shocking facts,” Garceau writes in the appendix of her upcoming book, “Heart of Bronze.”

Catherine Garceau retired from competitive swimming in 2002 and began looking into holistic medicine.

Outdoor pool season is ending in many parts of the country, and competitive swimmers are heading indoors for their workouts and team meets. But how safe are the waters they’re diving into? Researchers are examining the longterm effects of the chemicals in pool water.

Chlorine inactivates most disease-causing germs within a fraction of a second. That’s why it’s found in our drinking water as well as 95% of pools in the United States, said Dr. Tom Lachocki, the CEO of the National Swimming Pool Foundation.

As Lachocki points out, access to clean water is what often separates first and third world countries. Without chlorine, swimmers are at risk of contracting many dangerous waterborne illnesses. But the chemical compounds formed in pools have some scientists worried.

“When you open up a tap and pour yourself a glass of water, you don’t normally put someone’s backside in it,” Lachocki said. “But in a pool there are people getting into that water. Every time a person gets in they’re adding contaminants.”

Those contaminants — sweat, hair, urine, makeup, sunscreen, etc. — combine with chlorine to form chloramines, said pool consultant and researcher Alan Lewis. Chloramines are what bathers smell when they enter a pool area; a strong smell indicates too many “disinfectant byproducts,” or DBPs, in the water.

Indoor pools create an additional a danger because of the enclosed atmosphere. Volatile chemicals from the water are transferred, often via vigorous activity like a swim team’s kicks, to the air. Without a proper ventilation system, the chemicals can hang around to be inhaled by coaches, lifeguards or spectators.

Some DBPs, like chloroform, are known as trihalomethanes, and are considered carcinogenic, Lewis said. They’ve been linked specifically to bladder and colorectal cancer.

Dr. Alfred Bernard is a professor of toxicology at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels and one of the world’s leading researchers on aquatic environments. He has published a series of studies documenting the effects of chlorine and its byproducts in swimming pools.

In June, Bernard published a study in the International Journal of Andrology linking chlorine with testicular damage. Swimming in indoor, chlorinated pools during childhood was shown to reduce levels of serum inhibin B and total testosterone, both indicators of sperm count and mobility. Bernard notes in the study summary that the “highly permeable scrotum” allows chlorine to be absorbed into the body.

Bernard has also substantiated previous studies’ claims of a link between swimming in indoor chlorinated pools and the development of asthma and recurrent bronchitis in children. His 2007 study showed airway and lung permeability changes in children who had participated in an infant swimming group.

Reading these studies, it’s easy to forget that swimming itself is a great aerobic exercise that puts less stress on your joints than activities like running. In fact, it’s a sport often recommended for children with asthma because the humid, moist environment makes it easier for athletes to inhale and the breathing techniques can improve lung function.

“There’s an opportunity to throw the baby out with the bathwater,” Lachocki said. “Is chlorine perfect? The answer is no. [But] it’s fabulous, and if anyone comes up with something better they’ll be a millionaire.”

Dr. Ernest “Chip” Blatchley studies water disinfection systems with his team at Purdue University in Indiana. In their research, the team analyzes DBPs and other chemicals formed when chlorine and contaminants mix in pools. A swimmer himself, Blatchley believes the answer lies in finding a better system for water disinfection.

“The fact that these chemicals are being formed is, to me, a cause for concern,” Blatchley said. “A lot of this chemistry is just not known, and we need to do a better job at defining that chemistry.”

Blatchley is currently studying the effects of UV radiation on pool water. Other alternatives include ozone or salt water pools. But even salt water pools contain chlorine — the salt is used to generate chlorine in the water instead of a pool operator adding chlorine directly. While it reduces the danger of storing chemicals in the facility, the water chemistry is very similar, he said.

Perhaps the simplest solutions, Blatchley and Lachocki agree, can come from pool operators and patrons. Chlorine is effective when used in proper amounts and tested regularly. The National Swimming Pool Foundation offers training for professional and personal pool owners.

It’s also important for swimmers to minimize the amount of contaminants in the water. Almost 85% of the urea found on human skin can be dispelled by showering with soap before getting in the pool.

“It’s a public education thing,” Blatchley said. “Swimmers and the general public need to recognize that there’s a link between their hygiene habits and the health of everyone who uses the pool.”

And of course, the other preventive measure is common sense (although you’d be surprised how many people admit to doing it).

“If you don’t pee or poop in the pool, that’s cool too,” Lachocki said.

Resources: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/health/chlorine-indoor-swimming-pools

That Strong Chemical Smell from the Pool is Chlorine Plus Urine. 30 Aug 2013 8:20 AM (11 years ago)

That Strong Chemical Smell from the Pool is Chlorine Plus Urine…

ATLANTA, Aug. 24 (UPI) — That whiff of strong chemical smell from a pool is not chlorine, it’s the result of chlorine mixing with urine and sweat from swimmers, U.S. officials say.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said when chlorine combines with the urine and sweat off swimmers’ bodies it creates di‐ and tri‐chloramines, which irritate the eyes and respiratory tract and can even aggravate asthma. Chloramines also give pools a strong chemical smell.

“Recently, popular Olympic swimmers publicly admitted to peeing in the pool. They laughed about it, and comedians joked about it. But, really, where else is it acceptable to publicly urinate? Mixing chlorine and urine not only creates di‐ and tri‐chloramines — it also uses up the chlorine in the pool, which would otherwise kill germs,” the CDC says in a statement.

“These germs get into the water when they wash off of swimmers’ bodies or when infected swimmers have diarrheal incidents in the water. Just one diarrheal incident can release enough germs into the water that swallowing a mouthful can cause diarrhea lasting up to two to three weeks.”

Even when the levels of chlorine and other pool water treatments are well maintained, they don’t kill germs instantly. Cryptosporidium, or Crypto, the leading cause of disease outbreaks linked to pools, can

survive in a properly chlorinated pool for 10 days, the CDC says.

To keep the poop and pee out of the water, the CDC says:

— Never swim with diarrhea.

— Always shower with soap before using a pool.

— Take a rinse shower before getting back into the water.

— Take bathroom breaks every 60 minutes.

— Wash hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.

Water chlorine mixture explodes, burns Surf City man’s face. 5 Aug 2013 11:02 AM (11 years ago)

Water chlorine mixture explodes, burns Surf City man’s face.

SURF CITY, NJ August 04, 2013 — Authorities say an unstable mixture of water and chlorine caused an explosion inside a southern New Jersey home, injuring the homeowner and a neighbor who came to his aid.

The Asbury Park Press reports 62-year-old Russell Rocca of Surf City was diluting chlorine with water to be used in his hot tub when the mixture became unstable and exploded.

Rocca’s neighbor, 43-year-old John Herrmann, heard the blast and tried to enter Rocca’s home. But the intense chemical odor caused Hermann to become light-headed and unable to help his neighbor.

Rocca was treated for burns to the face and difficulty breathing, while Herrmann was treated for minor injuries.

Resources: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/08/water-chlorine_mixture_explodes_burns_surf_city_mans_face.html

CPSC Study Reveals Troubling Backyard Pool Death Statistics. 23 Jul 2013 11:20 AM (11 years ago)

CPSC Study Reveals Troubling Backyard Pool Death Statistics

According to a study released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), children younger than 5-years-old account for more than 75% of all spa and pool deaths and nearly 80% of spa and pool injuries in the United States. Kiley Law Group, LLC child injury attorneys believe the number of injuries and deaths resulting from recreational swimming can be decreased through the distribution of safety information and swimming lessons for very young children.

Andover, Massachusetts (PRWEB) July 23, 2013

According to a study released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)(May 22, 2013), children younger than 5-years-old account for more than 75% of all spa and pool deaths and nearly 80% of spa and pool injuries in the United States. Kiley Law Group, LLC child injury attorneys believe the number of injuries and deaths resulting from recreational swimming can be decreased through the distribution of safety information and swimming lessons for very young children.

According to the data, pools and spas at residential locations accounted for 85% of fatalities involving children 5-years-old and younger. The study also found that 67% of fatalities and 64 percent of injuries were suffered by children between the ages of 1 and 3. A race comparison found that African American children are six times more likely to drown than Hispanic and white children between the ages of 5 and 19.

Tom Kiley Sr., head partner at Kiley Law Group, LLC, has provided Massachusetts children and their families with legal assistance for several decades. “Every summer we are hit with the unfortunate reality that several Massachusetts private and public pools are not properly fitted to provide adequate protection for small children. Many parents are unaware that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, but those are the facts and we as a society have an obligation to spread this information and get it into the right hands. We believe that if parents are fully aware of the dangers associated with pools and spas, they would make a strong effort to provide a safer experience.

“We provide a number of different resources for parents to help protect their children from dangers such as drowning, car accidents, slip and falls, and firework-related injuries and deaths, but we believe our swimming pool safety guidelines to be an especially valuable resource. Many of the suggestions that we offer do not cost any money to implement and can be very instrumental in saving children’s lives under certain circumstances,” said Attorney Kiley.

The CPSC reports an average of 390 spa or pool-related drownings and 5,100 emergency department treated pool or spa-related injuries for children under the age of 15 on any given year. Pool safety precautions recommended by Kiley Law Group, LLC include teaching children how to swim, ever-present adult supervision during child swimming activities, the use of pool safety gates and alarm systems as well as a working knowledge of CPR amongst supervising adults.

Resources: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10953045.htm

CDC: Don’t swallow the water you swim in your pool, it’s full of germs! 28 May 2013 10:40 AM (11 years ago)

CDC: Don’t swallow the water you swim in your pool, it’s full of germs!

Following a study that found almost 60 percent of U.S. public pools contained fecal contaminated, heath officials warn swimmers to not swallow the water in which they swim.

CPSC data show most child drownings occur in backyard pools; no entrapment deaths since 2008. 22 May 2013 11:12 AM (11 years ago)

CPSC data show most child drownings occur in backyard pools; no entrapment deaths since 2008

CPSC data show most child drownings occur in backyard pools; no entrapment deaths since 2008. More than 75 percent of pool and spa drowning deaths are children younger than 5.

WASHINGTON –A new report out today from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission  (CPSC)  reveals that children younger than age 5 represent more than 75 percent of all pool and spa submersion deaths and 78 percent of pool and spa submersion injuries in the United States involving children younger than 15 years of age. Government data also show that African-American and Hispanic children between the ages of 5 and 14 are at a higher risk of drowning.

“Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 and minority children drown in pools at an alarming rate,” said CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “The lives of countless children can be saved this summer.  Take simple safety steps today—teach all children to swim, put a fence around all pools, and always watch children in and around the water.”

CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign is focusing its attention on populations most at risk of drowning:

• Children between the ages of 1 and 3 represented 67 percent of reported fatalities and 64 percent of injuries.
• African American children between the ages of 5 and 19 are six times more likely to drown in pools than white and Hispanic children that age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Data from USA Swimming indicate that 70 percent of African American children and 62 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim, making them more likely to drown.

The new CPSC Pool or Spa Submersions: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities, 2013 Report shows annual averages of:

• 390 pool or spa-related drownings for children younger than 15 with 76 percent (296) of the victims being younger than 5;
• 5,100 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries for children younger than 15 with 78 percent (4,000) of the injured being younger than 5.

CPSC Chairman Tenenbaum presented the annual Submersion and Entrapment reports for 2013 at an event today at the William H. Rumsey Aquatic Center in Washington, D.C.’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Chairman Tenenbaum was joined by U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.-23); Suzy DeFrancis, Red Cross Chief Public Affairs Officer, and Katey Taylor, mother of entrapment victim, Abbey Taylor. Jesus Aguirre, Director of the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, welcomed the group to the popular neighborhood pool.

“As we head into summer and families across the country are getting ready to take their kids to the pool, we must remind everyone how important it is to keep a careful watch on our children as they swim and ensure that their pools and spas have proper safety equipment,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.  “Working together, we can improve the safety of all pools and spas by increasing the use of layers of protection and promoting uninterrupted supervision to prevent child drowning and entrapment. With government programs like the CPSC’s Pool Safely, people can learn simple steps to take to save lives.”

“Learning how to swim saves lives,” said Suzy DeFrancis, Chief Public Affairs Officer for the American Red Cross. “The American Red Cross encourages all families to enroll in Learn-to-Swim programs by contacting your local pool.” Families can learn about Red Cross programs and find water safety tips by going to redcross.org.

New data from CPSC’s 2013 Submersion Report compile information on reported pool or spa-related drownings between 2008 and 2010 and estimated pool or spa-related injuries from 2010 through 2012 for children younger than 15. The estimated averages for the three-year periods represented show:

• Residential locations dominated incidents involving victims younger than 5 years of age; 85 percent of the fatalities occurred at residential pools or spas. About 50 percent of the injuries and 73 percent of the fatalities involving children younger than 15 years occurred at a residence.
• Of the reported pool fatalities for children younger than age 15, about 60 percent (231) occurred in in-ground pools; 15 percent (59) in above-ground pools, and nearly 10 percent (37) in portable pools.
• There were no reported entrapment fatalities for 2012. The last recorded fatality of a child due to suction entrapment was in 2007.  CPSC received seven reports of entrapment injury incidents during 2012.

For the complete reports see: Pool and Spa Submersions 2013 and Circulation/Suction Entrapments 2013. The years for reported injury and fatality statistics differ due to a lag in fatality reporting.

CDC report reveals breakdowns in handling of deadly outbreak. 20 Feb 2013 4:54 PM (11 years ago)

The House Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations holds a hearing on analyzing the Veterans Affairs Department actions to prevent Legionnaires Disease in Pittsburgh after a recent outbreak at the Pittsburgh V.A. Medical Center, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Testifying, from right to left are Steve Schira, chairman and CEO of Liquitech, Inc., Kathleen Dahl, president of AFGE Local 2028, Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Aaron Marshall, operations manager for Enrich Products, Inc. / AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

CDC report reveals breakdowns in handling of deadly outbreak at VA hospital:

CBS News has exclusively obtained a full Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found a number of breakdowns in the handling of a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at a veterans’ hospital in Pittsburgh last year.

Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially deadly form of pneumonia transmitted through the inhalation of mist contaminated with bacteria that grows in water systems.

The CDC summarized its findings in testimony Tuesday at an investigative hearing requested by Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18) before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to examine last October’s outbreak at the VA Healthcare System in Pittsburgh.

CBS News first reported on the outbreak in January for the “CBS Evening News” and “CBS This Morning.”

• Pa. VA hospital knew of Legionella problem before patient’s death
• VA hospital under investigation for deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak

The CDC report, which was not made public but was obtained by CBS News, revealed that the hospital’s laboratory did not follow protocol in notifying the Pittsburgh VA’s infection prevention team when patients tested positive for Legionella bacteria, and that the infection prevention team did not typically contact the providers with the results. It also found that Legionella cultures were not done on the urine samples of 16 patients, which experts say would make it difficult to ascertain whether or not the infection was hospital-acquired.

“The CDC report underscores the need to have appropriate reporting requirements to keep people safe and informed,” Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey said in a press release.

The CDC investigation found that five patients died within 30 days of a positive diagnostic test for Legionnaires’ disease, but that only one death was “definitely” linked to the hospital, and that four other deaths “probably” were hospital-acquired.

The Pittsburgh VA told CBS News in January that it had diagnosed 29 cases of Legionnaires’ disease at its hospital over the past two years. It acknowledged that five of those patients had caught the disease at their facility, eight had caught the disease elsewhere in the community, and that 16 others caught the disease from an “undetermined” location.

But the CDC report revealed a total of 32 cases of Legionnaires’ disease that had been diagnosed at the Pittsburgh VA between Jan. 1, 2011 and Oct. 31, 2012. It verified the Pittsburgh VA’s claims that five patients definitely caught Legionnaires’ disease while hospitalized at the Pittsburgh VA. But it also suggested that those sixteen additional patients “probably” caught the disease at the Pittsburgh VA.

The CDC investigation also found that despite the high numbers of Legionnaires’ disease patients at the Pittsburgh VA hospital, and the high levels of legionella bacteria in its water system, the Pittsburgh VA outbreak “occurred in the setting of a comprehensive Legionella risk-reduction program consistent with national Veterans Affairs and county health department guidelines.” At the time of its investigation the CDC found the levels of disinfectant in the water were “appropriate for controlling Legionella according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and the hospital’s protocol.”

But two years of lab data obtained by CBS News showed that the levels of copper-silver ions required to keep legionella bacteria at safe levels were often too low to control the bacteria, putting the hospital at risk of an outbreak.

And officials from two Legionella prevention companies, Liquitech and Enrich, Inc. testified before Congress Tuesday that after they were called in by Pittsburgh VA officials to check their prevention system, they found the equipment was not being properly maintained and was being monitored by untrained staff members.

Liquitech, the company that manufactured the Pittsburgh VA’s legionella prevention equipment, told CBS News that in December of 2011, Pittsburgh VA officials informed Liquitech it had the deadly bacteria in its water system. After an inspection, Liquitech noted in an e-mail, quote “they have legionella” and “systems not being properly maintained.

Steve Schira, Liquitech’s chairman and CEO, testified: “Unfortunately, during our interaction with the Oakland VA Pittsburgh, it was obvious the VA was not performing the maintenance essential to keeping the copper silver ionization systems effective.” Schira also testified that three of his employees saw a VA employee falsifying data on the disinfectant levels.

In June of 2011, the Pittsburgh VA called in Enrich, Inc., a second legionella prevention company.

Neil Silverberg, president and CEO of Enrich, Inc. told CBS News that the Pittsburgh VA never told him they suspected they had an outbreak.

“There are problems when the system’s ignored, like any piece of equipment,” he said. “If not maintained, if not monitored, there are failures.”

Aaron Marshall, operations manager of Enrich, Inc. testified that the VA asked him to make recommendations for keeping the hospital water supply safe, but that critical data was withheld from them.

“I requested but was denied access to view the Legionella test results,” he said.

Navy veteran William Nicklas, 87, died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease at the Pittsburgh VA.

Two other Pittsburgh families who spoke to CBS News last month also believe their loved ones died after catching Legionnaires’ disease at the Pittsburgh VA. Relatives of Navy veteran John Ciarolla, 83, who died in July of 2011, and Vietnam veteran John McChesney, 63, who died this past October, told CBS News that Pittsburgh VA officials contacted them after their loved ones death, asking to test the water at their homes.

John Ciarolla’s daughter, Maureen Ciarolla, said she felt responsible for her father’s death.

“That was an incredible burden for a year-and-a half,” she said.

In a memo obtained by CBS News, whose recipient is unknown, Pittsburgh VA director and CEO Terry Gerigk Wolf said it was never the Pittsburgh VA’s “intent to make any family member feel at fault for their loved ones’ illness.”

“It is true that–upon identifying our health care system as a source of infection–we immediately reached out to the households of Veterans who may have contracted Legionnaire’s disease at VAPHS,” Wolf wrote. “The aim of each call was to tell the Veterans about the Legionella outbreak in our water system and to offer a free, optional test of their residential water system.”

But Maureen Ciarolla says the Pittsburgh VA never told her they had an outbreak.

“They said to me that they had no other cases,” Ciarolla told CBS News.

The CDC report appears to note the deaths of Ciarolla and McChesney as “probably” hospital-related. Though their names aren’t listed, the patients’ ages and dates of diagnosis match up.

The CDC would not comment further on its findings, referring CBS News to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Robert Jesse, principal deputy undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs told the committee: “VAPHS is following the recommendations of the numerous external and internal review teams, such as superheating and hyper-chlorinating the water system among other remediation efforts. These efforts have successfully reduced Legionella in the water supply. Our ability to provide the best care to our Veteran patients improves through this expert consultation and analysis. VHA is committed to the prevention of Legionella and is continually looking to update best practices for prevention.”

In a statement, Rep. Murphy said, “This investigation will continue because our veterans, the hospital staff, and community deserve to know whether VA officials did everything possible to prevent the Legionella outbreak and what steps we can take to prevent this from ever happening at the VA, or any other hospital, again.”

The findings of a Veterans Affairs Inspector General investigation are expected to be released next month.

Resources: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57567808/cdc-report-reveals-breakdowns-in-handling-of-deadly-outbreak-at-va-hospital/

Chlorine in water linked to food allergies. 1 Jan 2013 10:06 AM (11 years ago)

Chlorine in water linked to food allergies.

Chlorine in tap water has been linked to the rising number of people developing food allergies, a study has revealed.

The chemical, which is used to treat drinking water and is also present in commonly-available pesticides and household items, may weaken food tolerance in some individuals.

Researchers found adults with high levels of dichlorophenol – a chemical by-product of chlorine – in their urine, were up to 80 per cent more likely to have a food allergy.