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Environmental News
Dear Plenum Cable Advocates
Recent correspondence from a major fluoropolymer interest included cable-fire test data that was selected to show that non-plenum rated telecommunications cable in steel conduit does not meet the fire and smoke requirements set forth in the NFPA 90A standard today. The data and imagery provided with the correspondence seems to take aim at the fundamental premise that the NFPA 262 test predicts the performance of telecommunications cable in steel during a fire event.
Expert Panel Urges EPA to Strengthen Safety Review of Teflon Chemical
A panel of outside experts gave draft comments to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) saying that an indestructible, toxic chemical that pollutes nearly every American's blood is a "likely human carcinogen." The panel urged the agency to adopt stricter guidelines to protect human health, according to a majority of its members. This announcement follows news just last week that the EPA signed a voluntary agreement with the chemical's maker, DuPont, and seven other companies to reduce the chemical's use in products by 95 percent over the next five years and aim for total elimination of its use by 2015.
DUPONT COVER UP CONFIRMED
Former DuPont Top Expert: Company knew, covered up pollution of Americans' blood for 18 years. Study results show company found safer ways to coat food packaging, but shelved them to save money.
Getting Down to the Wire
Even the greenest of architects seldom give much consideration to wiring in buildings. How significant can wiring be? It’s just a small fraction of what’s installed compared to other building materials—and don’t fire codes more or less dictate what can be used? But some sleuthing about how wiring is made and used in buildings sheds light on a highly complex issue and points up a need to pay closer attention to today’s practices, from environmental, health, and safety standpoints.
EWG Uncovers Another Suppressed Teflon Study
(Washington, DC, November 17) — Teflon maker DuPont appears to have once again violated federal law requiring chemical companies to report new data on the dangers of their products. The Environmental Working Group today provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with documents showing that the Teflon maker failed to report new evidence that neighbors of the Parkersburg, WV Teflon plant have Teflon chemicals in their blood at rates many times higher than the American public. The EPA is currently embroiled in litigation against DuPont for hiding similar health and tap water pollution studies from the Agency for 20 years.
Building Fire Concern: Teflon on Cabling Can Be Toxic When Heated
While there are already complaints at the EPA about Teflon and there are huge fines being levied, that doesn’t take it out of the millions of square feet of office space where people work. The temperatures cited in these cookware studies are nowhere near what a fire can actually burn at, which would release more of the toxic particles in the airways of a building from cabling.
Structured Health Risks
In thousands of office buildings in Canada and the U.S. reside millions of miles of telecommunications cable that is stamped plenum-rated, but that might not necessarily mean that workers sitting at their workstations are safe if a fire takes place.
Avoiding a Dangerous Journey
The potential dangers of exposed cabling in environmental air plenums are acute. To that end, action taken by NFPA in its 2002 edition of the National Electrical Code was a bold stroke for life safety.
The Price of Cable May Soar!
Environmental Working Group (EWG), whose investigation led to a potential federal fine against DuPont for covering up studies showing they had polluted human blood and drinking water supplies, will demand the release of all records of discussions of the issue between the company and federal officials.
Houston, We Still Have a Problem
A number of scientists and environmental groups warn that a critical mass of cable sitting unused in buildings multiplies the risk of fires and associated health problems to office employees. Once the cable deteriorates, it can release a witch's brew of nasty toxins.
Cabling: What You Don't Know Can Kill You
Halogen cabling can emit toxic fumes in a fire. Many international governments have moved to less lethal alternatives.
Why hasn't the U.S. done the same?
Cabling: What You Don't See Can Blind You
Gas emissions, due to the heat decomposition of some return-air plenum (CMP) communications cable materials, are dangerous, because when they come in contact with water (even minute amounts), they immediately form acid. The water source that the gasses use to form these acids can be found almost anywhere - moisture in the eyes, throat and lungs of individuals with whom it comes in contact.
Teflon Trial Will Be Public
The EPA's Administrative Law Court could select a judge to preside over the Agency's litigation against Teflon maker DuPont. In July, the Agency filed a complaint that the Teflon maker illegally hid for some 20 years data about drinking water near its Teflon plant in Parkersburg, WV and that women who worked there passed the Teflon chemical through their blood to their babies.
DuPont´s Teflon Dilemma
PFCs — A Family of Chemicals That Contaminate The Planet
MSDS for DuPont Teflon® FEP
Material Safety Data Sheet for Teflon® FEP
Abandoned Cable Triggers Code Compliance Issues
All cabling end-users should understand the implications of not complying with these new NEC requirements.
EPA Studying Whether Teflon Poses Health Risks
Ammonium perfluorooctanoate, known as C-8, a chemical used in the production of Teflon has been linked to cancer, organ damage and other health effects in tests on laboratory animals.
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