Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:53:42 -0500
Reply-To: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
Sender: DCHAS-L Discussion List <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: "Amell, Diane (DLI)" <diane.amell**At_Symbol_Here**STATE.MN.US>
Subject: Re: Residual Mercury in Schools
In-Reply-To: <4D8C99BE.8648.0091.0**At_Symbol_Here**ph.lacounty.gov>

Here's the answer to the question regarding Clancy's career from his owner/
handler, Carol Hubbard of the MN Pollution Control Agency:

Clancy retired on December 31, 2009.  We began training him in December 200
0, so his "service life" turned out to be about 9 years (about 63 years in 
human years!), which is about 3 to 4 years longer than most detector dogs w
ill give you (most detector dogs leave service due to physical problems, no
t because their noses give out).  What a worker he was, and did he ever pou
t when I stopped taking him to work with me-it was a very sad few months fo
r both of us...

But he's happy again now--he's living in the "lap of luxury" at my house wi
th my British Lab Ruby and is as happy as a clam.  We just got back from a 
long vacation in Florida where he got to play in the surf with about two do
zen other dogs-both he and Ruby were in heaven!  What incredible animals th
ey both are (I'm thinking about training Ruby to detect bedbugs and mold.  
I think she'd be great!) 

[She also sent pictures, but the LISTSERV rejected them.]

- Diane Amell, MNOSHA

-----Original Message-----
From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Er
ic Clark
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 3:31 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools

Diane, What's the expected service life of a mercury-sniffing dog?  

Eric 

Eric Clark, MS, CCHO, CHMM 
Safety & Compliance Officer 
Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory

>>> "Amell, Diane (DLI)"  3/25/2011 9:35 AM >>>
The MN Pollution Control Agency and the MN Dept. of Health have done a lot 
of work in this area. In fact, they have a black Labrador Retriever named C
lancy trained to sniff out mercury vapor that they take to schools both for
 demonstration and testing purposes. (They also have mercury vapor meters -
 I figured I best include that note as well.)

- Diane Amell, MNOSHA

From: DCHAS-L Discussion List [mailto:DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**list.uvm.edu] On Behalf Of Be
th Shepard
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2011 9:41 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU 
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools

Good morning, Jim--

You could try some of the schools in the Great Lakes area. This region is a
 little more sensitized to mercury as an environmental hazard due to the fi
sh consumption guidelines (we do love our fish frys), and many people fish 
on the smaller lakes as well for recreation & dinner.

The warnings about how much fish is safe to eat for the various groups of t
he population are on the local news every time they are revised. The report
s also usually indicate the contaminant responsible foe the guideline.

Beth

Beth Shepard / Technical Compliance Specialist
Regulatory Compliance
6000 N. Teutonia Ave. / Milwaukee, WI 53209 / USA
P: (414) 438-3850, x5471
sigma-aldrich.com

JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**AOL.COM 
Sent by: DCHAS-L Discussion List 

03/25/2011 09:16 AM
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Re: [DCHAS-L] Residual Mercury in Schools





Monona and colleagues,

I understand and appreciate your point.  I'm hoping that with nearly 15,000
 schools in the country that we'll find a couple with the "fortitude" to ha
ve a look and see if this is or is not a reasonable concern.  If NYC is not
 interested, we'll try Boston.  ... Jim

James A. Kaufman, Ph.D.
Chair, ICASE Committee on Safety in Science Education
International Council for Associations of Science Education
www.icaseonline.net

President/CEO

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI)
A Nonprofit International Organization for
Safety in Science and Science Education

192 Worcester Road, Natick, MA 01760-2252
508-647-1900 Fax: 508-647-0062 Skype: labsafe
Cell: 508-574-6264 Res: 781-237-1335
jim**At_Symbol_Here**labsafetyinstitute.org www.labsafetyinstitute.org
P We thank you for printing this e-mail only if it is necessary

In a message dated 3/25/2011 12:15:59 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV**At_Symbol_Here**
list.uvm.edu writes:
Jim,

The schools are already in a bind due to the finding of excessive levels of
 PCBs in the air from light ballasts, caulks, and other PCB-containing buil
ding materials.  Mayor Bloomberg is concerned about the expense of replacin
g the light ballasts when he already says they will have to lay off a few t
housand teachers.

I think if you mentioned testing for residual airborne mercury to school ad
ministrators, they'd reach for the Valium and pitch your letter in the roun
d file.

Monona

In a message dated 3/24/2011 11:55:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time, JAKSAFETY**At_Symbol_Here**A
OL.COM writes:

The Laboratory Safety Institute (LSI) is considering a project to evaluate 
the presence of residual amounts of mercury in middle, junior, and senior h
igh schools.

If there are any schools in the New York City area which would like to part
icipate, please contact me to discuss the project. ... Jim

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