Debbie,

 

It seems to be the most direct solution would be to discourage the rock
doves (pigeons) from roosting on the stack.

 

If there is just the one perchloric stack on the building that is the
primary issue, it may not be too difficult to modify the stack lip to
make it less favorable as a roost without compromising the necessary
discharge parameters of the exhaust.

 

The city of San Francisco recently convinced a very large number of rock
doves downtown to relocate by hiring the services of some falconers.
This approach might bring a bit more excitement to campus than you would
prefer.

 

Owl decoys can be effective in discouraging rock doves, but they require
periodic repositioning to remain effective.

 

Good luck!

 

Dan

---------------------------------

Dan Blunk  PhD, REA  831.459.3541  blunk**At_Symbol_Here**ucsc.edu

Environmental Programs Manager

Environmental Health & Safety Office

University of California Santa Cruz

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU] On Behalf Of
Debbie Decker
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 12:52 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Pigeon Droppings and Perchloric Acid hood

 

Here's one for ya:

 

It seems that pigeons, a bird of very little brain, have taken to
roosting

on the exhaust stack for the perchloric acid hood in the plant sciences

building.  They sometimes roost on other stacks but they seem to prefer
the

perchloric hood.  This is a dedicated exhaust for the hood and when the

hood is washed down, well, you can guess what ends up splattered into
the

fume "cupboard."

 

Do I need to worry about potentially explosive pigeon guano?  Should we

have users washdown the hood before use as well as after?  What about

exposure to pigeon diseases?  I don't think there's anything I can do to

discourage roosting but I'm open to those ideas, too.

 

Thanks for your help,

Debbie

 

Debbie M. Decker, Health and Safety Specialist

Environmental Health and Safety

University of California, Davis

1 Shields Ave.

Davis, CA  95616

(530)754-7964/(530)752-4527 (FAX)

dmdecker**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

Co-Conspirator to Make the World A

Better Place -- Visit www.HeroicStories.com and join the conspiracy

Previous post   |  Top of Page   |   Next post