Cardinal Environmental wins business friend award

May 18, 2008

Cardinal Environmental of Sheboygan has won the environmental innovation Business Friend of the Environment Award.

Cardinal Environmental is one of nine Wisconsin companies who received the award on May 14 for outstanding achievements in environmental protection. The winners were honored at the 19th Annual Environmental Policy and Awards Conference at the Country Springs Conference Center in Waukesha.

Cardinal Environmental won in the Environmental Innovation category for its role in spearheading a statewide drive for testing for lead paint in toys.

“Cardinal Environmental is a company dedicated to environmental stewardship, protecting the earth and keeping Wisconsin clean for generations to come,” said Scott Manley, director of the Wisconsin Environmental Working Group, the affiliate of WMC, which sponsors the annual awards.

The nine winners were chosen from a field of 45 companies nominated by their peers or the companies themselves. An independent panel of judges, including an environmental regulator, and representatives from industry, environmental groups, and the University of Wisconsin System selected the winners.

Located in Sheboygan for more than 20 years, Cardinal Environmental specializes in environmental consulting services.

By assembling a staff with many years of consulting experience, Cardinal Environmental has developed capabilities in environmental site assessments, asbestos inspection and management planning, occupational safety and health, toxic and hazardous waste management, wastewater sampling and analysis, and air emissions management.

Last September, Cardinal Environmental recognized an opportunity to provide education about childhood lead poisoning, and began holding toy-testing events around the state.

During Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in October, Cardinal Environmental joined the Sheboygan Health Department to host a joint toy testing and blood testing event for lead at the health department.

The event was advertised on the radio and in the newspaper that families could have their toys tested for lead, and have their child’s blood tested for lead at the same time. Cardinal Environmental oversaw the toy testing by providing the use of a XRF lead detection machine.

Cardinal Environmental continued the event by working with Aurora Health Systems to offer toy testing events in schools with the hope of reaching families with young children.

Cardinal Environmental also partnered with other business and local public health officials to offer toy testing in December to determine if holiday toys were safe. These events occurred in Stevens Point, Wausau, Marshfield, Wisconsin Rapids and Appleton.

Business Friend of the Environment Award winners are categorized according to number of employees and judged in the areas of pollution prevention, environmental innovation and environmental stewardship

 

http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080518/SHE03/805180363/1096/SHE03

 

 

When flooding of an area has occurred, either due to heavy rains or sewer backups, important steps must be taken to assure the health and safety of individuals involved. It must be assumed during cleanup operations that all surfaces have been contaminated with disease-causing organisms. This important assumption must be considered in decisions involving personal safety of cleanup personnel as well as what items may be salvaged and what must be discarded.

PERSONAL PROTECTION MEASURES

*Only individuals necessary for cleanup should be in affected areas. Persons with respiratory health problems (e.g., asthma, emphysema) should NOT perform the clean up. Children and pets should not be allowed in these areas.

*Boots and rubber gloves should be worn at all times. In cases where rigorous splashing of contaminated water may occur, a dust mask and eye protection should also be worn.

*When using a bleach solution, open windows to provide good ventilation.

*At no time should cuts or open sores be left exposed.

*Do not smoke, eat or drink during clean up.

*A tetanus booster is recommended every 10 years. If you are in need of a tetanus immunization, contact your physician or local Public Health.

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

*Be absolutely certain that there is no hazard of electrical shock! Wear rubber boots in wet areas until it is certain no electrical hazard exists.

*Turn off main switches and unplug electrical appliances in wet areas.

*Do not tun on any appliances which have become wet until they have been thoroughly dried and checked for proper operation.

*Do not use matches or any other open flame until the area has been thoroughly ventilated from natural gas. The gas supply to all appliances in flooded areas should be shut off until the appliance has been checked.

CLEAN UP PROCEDURES

*Bacteria, viruses, mold, fungi, etc., must be killed in the clean up process. The most widely-accepted, safe, and effective sanitizing agent is hypochlorite in the form of household bleach. For all following procedures, the bleach solution referred to is one cup of bleach to one gallon of water. This will give a sufficient strength to kill organisms.

Time is an important consideration in clean up. Organisms to be killed will not become airborne as long as they remain wet. As long as surfaces remain we, the only way organisms can enter the body and cause disease is by splashing into the mouth, eyes, open cuts, etc. Once dried, organisms can be spread on dust particles by air movement. It is, therefore, important to bring the bleach solution in contact with contaminated surfaces as soon as possible after rinsing off heavy soil. In order to prevent decomposition and rotting of wet items, immediate drying after disinfecting is necessary/

Once the water has receded, the following steps should be taken:

*Assure that the above personal protection and general safety steps have been taken.

*Determine what items will have to be discarded and remove them for disposal. Generally, if the bleach solution can be made to come in contact with all surfaces, an item may be salvageable. Stuffed furniture, pillows, and mattresses will have to be discarded. Indoor/outdoor carpeting and rugs may be salvageable. Thick wall to wall carpets and padding will have to be discarded or professionally treated.

*Thoroughly rinse all visible soil from all items to be salvaged. Rinse the walls from several inches above the highest level the water reached to the floor. Carefully hose behind any base coving to remove all soil. Hose down the entire floor.

*Prepare the bleach solution of one cup of household bleach to one gallon of water. Smaller items may be immersed in this solution. Hand scrub larger items with the solution. Pour this solution on the walls several inches up from the highest level reached by the floodwaters and over the entire floor. Make sure all affected surfaces have been contacted with the solution. An effective method is to use a broom or mop to splash the solution on the walls and over tall of the floor.

*If water has reached more than a few inches up the walls, hollow walls will have to be opened. Cut off the portion of the drywall that has become wet. Saturate the remaining studs with the bleach solution.

*Using various methods, dry all surfaces as much as possible (the bleach solution needs 15 minutes to kill organisms.) The wettest areas can be squeegeed or mopped to a floor drain. A wet/dry vacuum can be used on flat surfaces to further remove remaining water. Using fans and/or a dehumidifier, thoroughly ventilate the rooms to dry all surfaces.

*Indoor/outdoor carpeting and rugs need a very thorough treatment if they are to be safely salvaged. Remove them to a flat area such as a driveway. Hose down both sides of the carpet several times to thoroughly remove all soil. Follow this with several buckets of the bleach solution on each side, scrubbing with a broom. Then rinse both sides with clear water. Remove as much water as possible with a wet/dry vacuum and allow to thoroughly dry.

*Over the next weeks, replace disposable furnace filters or clean permanent filters with the bleach solution at least two times to reduce trapped mold spores.

 

The above information provided by the Sheboygan County Division of Public Health:

 

 

Easter is an appropriate day to report that the village of Montrouis in Haiti now has a source of affordable clean water!  This is a renewal of hope for kids at the orphanage, patients at the clinic, students at the schools, and all those in the area who risk disease every time they drink or cook with untreated surface water. Please feel some pride in this achievement –because you played a key role in making it happen.   On behalf of our US team … THANK YOU!On behalf or the Board of Bon Samaritain in Montrouis … THANK YOU!   On behalf of the Haitians you’re now helping every day … THANK YOU!  Tim 

 From Concept to customers in 5 months

Doing laundry at the Montrouis River……and the Water station October 2007

Given that Montrouis enjoys government electricity only for hours at a time

every 3 or 4  days on average ..

we reluctantly installed two 400-gallon tanks for holding clean water.

Laying pipe from well to water station 

 

moving the masonry, electrical, plumbing, ironwork, and equipment went into the upper level.

the key part to the water station

and we passed the intergrity test

  the new water station completedthe announcement of free safe water at the  Easter church service

 

Villagers camer in droves to get the clean safe water…………….Our new pump

clean safe water for the schoolsfor the orphansand for the clinicsThank you

 

We know we’re not done yet.  We want to install a solar power source 

so we can bypass the tanks and vend fresh water from a “closed” system.  

We’d like to ozonate some water for sanitizing the containers and 

we’d like to design, mass-produce, and use more sanitary and ergonomic containers.  

When we find a way to sell in affordable 20-ounce plastic bottles AND recycle them, 

we will institute a “bottle deposit” program. 

We need a simple and cheap way to test the water on a continuing basis.  

We have to outfit a truck to take clean water to places beyond walking distance.

So as the project continues,

Water, our most precious commodity, never wears out BUT it can become contaminated. The safety of our water can not be taken for granted and testing your drinking water is an excellent way to monitor it. Although water may look, smell, and taste fine, it may be harmful to your health. Municipal water systems test their water regularly to ensure it’s safe, but it’s up to private well owners to test their well water annually. It’s one of the simplest things you can do to take care of the health and well-being of yourself and those you love. Fortunately for us, it is possible to treat almost any water problem with proper treatment equipment. This can be done safely, reliably, and at a reasonable cost. The following terms will help you understand the results of your water test.*COLIFORM BACTERIA – Bacteriological safety of water supplies is based on analyses for Coliform Bacteria. These bacteria are present in large numbers in the soil and in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. The do not usually cause disease but their presence in water is an indication of contamination from surface water or septic waste. Any waste material contamination your water is unnatural, and suggests that pathogenic (disease causing) organisms may also be present. Such water is judged as “UNSAFE” for human consumption. Bacteriological “SAFE” means there is an absence of Coliform Bacteria.*NITRATES - 10 mg/1 NO3-N (ten milligrams per liter [parts per million] nitrate and nitrate nitrogen) is the maximum standard for drinking water in this country. A nitrate level above 10mg/1 in drinking water may cause serious health effects in infants and may indicate the presence of farm chemicals – even pesticides, in your water. A disease called methemoglobinemia (Blue Baby Syndrome) can be caused by nitrates to infants under 6 months of age. Nitrates in water are generally unnatural, but background levels of 1mg/1 or less are not unusual. Elevated levels should be monitored frequently.

*FLUORIDE - Fluoride as it occurs naturally in water supplies or in public drinking water, has been shown to be effective in reducing dental cavities. A level of 1.0 mg/l is desirable, but a level above 2.4 mg/L is likely to cause staining of teeth. Children regularly drinking water with close to or greater than 1.0 mg/l of fluoride should not receive fluoride supplements, and the family dentist should be informed of the fluoride level in the water.

*ARSENIC – Arsenic is a toxic element, and is widespread in the environment due to its natural occurrence and former extensive use in herbicides and pesticides. The most common, natural occurrence of arsenic is our diets; arsenic is found in many foods. Horizontal white lines on the toenails and fingernails indicate chronic arsenic poisoning. Other symptoms may include numbness and tingling in arms and legs, weight loss, nausea and diarrhea alternating with constipation, and loss of hair. Arsenic poisoning can make people tired, lethargic and depressed without showing other long-term symptoms. The EPA and DNR consider levels above 50 parts per billion in drinking water harmful.

*IRON AND/OR SULFUR BACTERIA – Because iron is one of the most abundant minerals in the earth’s crust, it is very common in groundwater. Most people are probably familiar with what happens when there is too much iron in water – a reddish-brown color, stained laundry and poor tasting coffee. An equally common but less understood problem is infestation of water supplies with iron bacteria. These microorganisms combine mineral iron or manganese in the water with oxygen and use it to form rust-colored deposits. In the process, the bacteria produce a brown slime that builds up on well screens, pipes, and plumbing fixtures. A “rotten egg” smell is often caused by the presence of sulfur bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide gas is highly corrosive and can eat away plumbing connections and metal piping, including your well casing. Iron and sulfur bacteria are not harmful but can clog pipes and plumbing fixtures, produce odors, and provide a habitat for other bacteria to live including coliform bacteria.

Important: Be aware of your water condition. Be aware of the activities in your area that can contaminate your water. ALWAYS check your water after flooding. For more information on getting your well water tested, check your phone book or on line for ” Laboratories – Testing”, or “Environmental Services.” You can also contact your local public health agency for a list of laboratories certified to perform coliform testing.

Technical information provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center.*

Wells tapping ground water resources can provide drinking water of the highest quality. Owning a private household-supply water well allows homeowners to control their own water supply. Ownership also comes with the responsibility of keeping the water well in good working order.If your family gets drinking water from a private well, do you know if your water is safe to drink? What health risks could you and your family face? Where can you go for help or advice?

Typically, well water is required to be evaluated for microbiological contamination only at the time the well is installed. Some health departments have begun requiring microbiological testing when the property changes ownership as well. During routine operation, however, it is up to the well owner to monitor and ensure the quality of their well water supply.

Proper well construction and continued maintenance are keys to the safety of your water supply. Your state water-well contractor licensing agency, local health department, or local water system professional can provide information on well construction.

Protect your own well area. Be careful about storage and disposal of household and lawn care chemicals and wastes. Good farmers and gardeners minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides. Take steps to reduce erosion and prevent surface water runoff. Regularly check underground storage tanks that hold home heating oil, diesel, or gasoline. Make sure your well is protected from the wastes of livestock, pets, and wildlife.

There are several basic tests that private well owners may wish to consider having performed on their well water supplies to determine its quality. Many county health departments offer water testing, or you may want to consider using an accredited private testing laboratory.

• Microbiological testing for total coliform should be performed annually to determine if any bacteria are present in the water supply.
• To determine impact of nearby agricultural operations or on-site septic system, private well users should have their water analyzed each year for nitrates/nitrites.

You should continue to monitor the quality of your well water at least annually. This continuing analysis will help you to determine if the quality of your well water has changed during the previous year.   If you have questions or concerns, you should contact your local health department, or government agency. 

 

History lesson on Asbestos;

credits to Dave Austin

Asbestos was named by the ancient Greeks who recognized certain hazards of the material, and noted that the material damaged the lungs of the slaves who wove it into cloth. Wealthy Persians, who owned asbestos cloths, amazed their guests by cleaning the cloth simply by exposing it to fire. Some of the Persians believed the fiber was fur from an animal that lived in fire, and died when exposed to water. Some archeologists believe that ancients made shrouds of asbestos so they could burn the bodies of their kings in order to preserve only their ashes, and prevent those ashes from being mixed with wood or other combustible materials commonly used in funeral pyres. Asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution. Beginning in the 1860s, it was used as insulation in the U.S. and Canada. The first commercial asbestos mine began in 1879 in the Appalachian Mountains of Quebec. By the mid 20th century uses included fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, and drywall joint compound. There are 3 basic types of asbestos: White Asbestos, or Chrysotile, which is obtained from serpentine rocks that are common throughout the world. The rocks are called serpentine because their fibers curl. Chrysotile is used more than any other type, and accounts for about 95% of the asbestos found in buildings in America. Applications where chrysotile might be used include the use of joint compound, vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, and adhesives. Brown asbestos or Amosite, and Blue asbestos or Crocidolite, are no longer produced, but may persist in old structures and products. Crocidolite and Amosite contain long fibers, when inhaled, can trigger cancer and respiratory disease up to 60 years later. 95% of all asbestos ever used in the United States is white, chrysolite, and most of it has been imported from Canada. This is very different from the blue and brown varieties that are made of sharp needle like fibers. The blue and brown types have never been used widely in the United States except for in World War II, when blue asbestos was imported from South Africa for naval shipbuilding. This is just about the only exception. Brown asbestos has been used very rarely in old factory buildings. And it is very important to note that the only form of asbestos ever used in schools or public buildings is white asbestos. So why is asbestos a concern? Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when distributed. These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs, where they may cause health problems such as:

Asbestosis - a lung disease caused by asbestos fibers that are trapped in the lung tissue. This leads to scarring of the lung tissue and may become so severe that the lungs cannot function.

Mesothelioma - a cancer of the outer lining of the lung and chest cavity and/ or the lining of the abdominal wall.

Lung Cancer - caused by asbestos. The effects of lung cancer are often greatly increased by cigarette smoking (by about 50 times). Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract can also be caused by asbestos.

Bottom line…..when in doubt hire a professional to inspect the area, before you start your building or remodeling projects.

 

Helping you keep your family safe. Who DOES that?  Cellcom in Partnership with Cardinal Environmental and INNOV X Systems. 

Get your Christmas toys tested.

FREE, Toy LEAD testing. Stop in to get your toys checked at these Cellcom locations.

December 11 in Stevens Point, 641 A Division Street, from 10am to 2pm (715.344.3341)

December 11 in Rib Mountain, Rib, 3804 Rib Mountain Dr., from 4pm to 8pm (715.241.7997)

December 12 in Marshfield, 1645 N Central Ave., from 9am to 1pm (715.389.2724)

December 12 in Wisconsin Rapids, 1847 8^th St. South, from 3pm to 7pm (715.421.0707)

December 15 in Appleton, W3178 Van Roy Road, from 10am to 2pm (920.224.6360) (Limit 2 toys per family)Presented by Cellcom, In Partnership with: Cardinal Environmental, and INNOV.X SYSTEMS

Last Update: 11/09 3:48 pm  You can have your children’s toys tested for free on November 23 at Channel 5’s Valley Bureau in Little Chute from 11am to 7pm.(WFRV) - Several major toy companies have begun using independent labs to test their products for lead; but how do you know if your children’s toys are toxic?A Sheboygan environmental company is helping to ease worried parents’ minds. The agency uses an XRF analyzer to test items for even the smallest amount of lead in under 10 seconds.“I think for a lot of parents it just takes the worry out,” says Sue Kaiser, a certified lead risk assessor with Cardinal Environmental.You can’t tell just by looking at an item whether or not it has lead in the paint. “We find certain colors that are notorious for having lead in them - reds, yellows - that doesn’t necessarily hold true for toys,” Kaiser notes.

If you find some toys that do test positive for lead, it’s important to get your children tested, also. It only takes a simple blood test.

You can have your children’s toys tested for free on November 23 at Channel 5’s Valley Bureau in Little Chute from 11am to 7pm.

Take Highway 41 to the County N exit in Little Chute. The Channel 5 offices are located just south of County N on Patriot Drive.

Two toys per person will be allowed for testing by Cardinal Environmental.

Lead poisoning is serious, especially in kids under 6 years of age, because it affects brain development.

So far in 2007, Wisconsin has not had a reported case of lead poisoning caused by a toy.

Cardinal Environmental, located only a few minutes off of Interstate 43 in Sheboygan, WI. has been in business for more than 20 years. Our role in environmental management is to help you make informed decisions. By assembling a staff with many years of consulting experience, Cardinal Environmental has developed capabilities in environmental site assessments, asbestos inspections and management planning, occupational safety and health, toxic and hazardous waste management, wastewater sampling and analysis and air emissions management.Our staff has the expertise for complete project organization, including initial problem diagnosis and study design, project implementation, data interpretation, and development of recommendations for cost-effective control measures. We have established a professional rapport with representatives of many regulatory agencies.We at Cardinal Environmental are enthusiastic about our future and the opportunity to provide you with high-quality professional services. Let us know how we can help!