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The article explains the difference between a disinfectant and a sanitizer. Topics discussed include legal aspect of the actual difference between disinfectant and sanitizer, how an antimicrobial product can qualify as a nonfood contact surface disinfectant, and three types of disinfectants registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based on the type of efficacy data submitted by the manufacturer.

The article provides an overview of the different types of inspections and where and when they are appropriate in the environmental health field. It discusses the basic inspection types including regulatory and multimedia compliance which uses objective and subjective criteria, auditing or on-site verification activity, forensic which relies on time-dependent observations, and evaluation which is performance-based, goal-oriented and data-driven.

The article discusses the art and science of environmental health inspection. Topics covered include the non-routine aspect of inspection that involves observation and verification, its purposes of identifying change in circumstances and of failure in practices, equipment, and human error, and its main goal of developing a predictive model to evaluate potential public health risks. Also noted are the closed-ended and open-ended requirements in the inspection process.

The article shares tips to environmental health practitioners for estimating microbial overloads and assessing microbiological risk. These include surveying the immediate area of concern and assessing the macro- and micro-environments that might influence bacterial growth and movement, estimating the type and number of organisms, adding time into the predictive model, incorporating the concept of natural decay into the estimates, and considering the basic premises of environmental microbiology.

The article focuses on the risk assessment process. Topics discussed include definition of some risk terms, explanation on risk assessment, and factors involved in characterizing the risk or threats to the life, health, and safety of human populations. Also mentioned are basic steps in dealing with any risk to human life, health, or safety.

The article discusses the concept of using water activity to control foodborne illness in the retail food industry. Topics include definition of water activity, difference of water activity with moisture content and water content, and the emergence of the first truly portable water activity measuring device in the mid-1990s.

The article offers insights into the techniques of checking the accuracy of thermometer in the field of environmental health. Topics mentioned include the importance of calibrating the instrument based on specifications, the use of ice bath to calibrate electronic thermometers, and the need to record calibration results to verify due diligence in the performance of environmental health professionals.

The article discusses practical strategies on field sampling by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) in 2023. Topics covered include the sampling types of selecting a representative part for finding parameters of the whole, and of selecting a small part for inspection, a sampling strategy that focuses on probability for easy calculation of errors, and systemic, stratified, and cluster sampling. Also noted are the factors to consider in selecting a sampling scheme.

Ever since we became sanitarians and began to routinely perform food service inspections, we have been vexed by the question "How clean is clean?" Our careers have been punctuated by [...]

Toward the end of last summer, we started preparing for the season of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. When the temperature dips and windows are closed, we can reasonably expect [...]

On-the-Job Safety Sanitarians are not exactly in a cushy and benign profession. One of us is currently nursing a knock on the back of the noggin from a low-hanging shelf [...]

In March of last year, we conducted an inspection of a jail food service facility. As with most correctional kitchens, the jail population had outgrown the physical plant; space was [...]

We last presented the "best of the best" two years ago in the January/February issue of this Journal At that time, we listed portable instruments and peripheral equipment that we [...]

This article is provided by NEHA for informational purposes only. It is designed to better inform our members about topical and relevant goods and services available to the environmental health [...]

Only once before have we introduced a device that costs over $2000. Interestingly Number 2 is used for the same purpose as Number 1--to define indoor air pollutants. But before [...]

Earlier this year, we were honored to present our Hands-on Instrumentation Workshop to the Alaska affiliate. After the session, as we repacked our tools, we had our usual critique and [...]

Well, they've done it again. Our own Dr. David McSwane, last year's Walter S. Mangold Award recipient, along with Drs. Nancy Rue and Richard Linton, have authored the second edition [...]

Did you ever wonder about the history of our profession--and where the name "sanitarian" came from? Have you ever wondered who the heroes of environmental health were, and how their [...]

Question: How many times, while inspecting a food service establishment, have you been unsure about the operation of a canopy hood, oven exhaust, toilet ventilation, or general exhaust system? Tossing [...]

A Small, Tough, Accurate Thermocouple Thermometer Mom always told us not to say anything if we couldn't say something nice. That's the way it's been with probe thermometers. We have [...]

Need Definitive Answers? Go to the Standards! Don't you dare turn to the next page without reading this article; we've got some important information on using ANSI/NSF standards. And it [...]

In the article, the authors discuss the need for environmental health professionals to focus on ensuring their personal safety to avoid unintentional injuries and illnesses. Also cited are the resources on safety like the hazard datasheet published by the International Labour Organization's International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre, the common on-site injuries like slips and falls, and the recommended preventive measures.

Presents several types of electronic temperature measuring instruments used in environmental health practice. Distinction between types of electronic temperature sensors; Description of thermocouples; Capability of thermistors.

Describes different kinds of thermometers. Advantages of thermocouple thermometers; Features of the Omega OS643-LS infrared thermometer; Utility of single-use paper thermometer.

Features the Radiation Alert™ Monitor 5 developed by S.E. International Inc. Applications for the radiation monitor; Capability of the instrument to detect damaged or leaking packages; Maintenance specifications of the instrument.

Features the thermometer forks used for cooking. Product price; Design of the tool; Capability of the equipment.

Part III. Presents a primer on sampling biological contaminants. Reasons for the significance of microbial contamination; Diversity of surface sampling for microbial contaminants; Factors influencing the selection of the sampling tool; Four basic methods of surface sampling.

Focuses on the applications of air sampling device, impactor. Features of the stacked-sieve impactor sampler; Operation of slit-to-agar samplers; Effect of mechanical, human, and animal movement on the bioburden or air.

Features the Psycho-Dyne battery-operated psychometer for humidity measurement from Industrial Instruments & Supplies in the United States. Accuracy of the instrument; Comparison between wet-bulb and dry-bulb measurements; Details of the psychrometer.

Focuses on issues related to the use of thermometers for regulatory compliance of food safety in the U.S. Sanitation in using bimetal dial thermometers; Suitability of electronic thermometers for monitoring the internal temperature of cooked food; Necessity of adopting portable, handheld thermocouple and thermistor units in food industry.

Focuses on the instrument selection of health and safety directors in the United States. Performance of forensic evaluation; Instruments used in regulatory health inspections; Approach of the hazard analysis critical control point audits.

This article is provided by NEHA for informational purposes only. It is designed to better inform our members about topical and relevant goods and services available to the environmental health professional. Opinions expressed about any product or service in this column either expressly or implied are solely and completely those of the author/s and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the National Environmental Health Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on moisture detection instruments. Identification of conditions that could contribute to contaminants in the immediate physical environment; How moisture detection instruments work; Information on the Tramex Moisture Encounter noninvasive unit; Description of the Rapitest compact pocket moisture meter.

Provides information on topical and relevant goods and services available to the environmental health professional. Types of thermometer; Varieties of flashlights; Question regarding ventilation.

Presents information on disposable thermometers. Background information on the use of these thermometers; Details on the design of the instruments; Temperature sensitive point rage in which the instruments are available in.

Introduces the Blak-Ray 26P Series Rechargeable Ultraviolet Lamp, used for detecting rodent urine contamination, which was developed by UVP Incorporated. Benefits of the lamp; How the lamp is powered; How the lamp works.

Provides information on screening kits to test lead in water. Lead Check kit as the simplest and most frequently used; Use of the Know Lead kit for detecting lead on surfaces; Lead Alert for testing lead on soil, dust, paint chips or any friable material.

Presents several field tests of use in food inspections. Detection of spoilage of shucked oysters; Detection of sulfites in meat products; Detection of washed eggs; Detection of cereal adulterants in ground meat or meat products.

Presents the use of inexpensive instruments to look at parameters of electrical safety in the most obvious places. List of safety parameters; Size of the alternating current sensor; How to use the ground fault circuit interrupter; How the contact tension affects receptacle performance both electrically and mechanically.

Discusses liquid crystal display (LCD) light meters for sanitarians' use. Limitations of the General Electric Type 217 Light Meter; Difference of LCD light meters from other light meters; Considerations in selecting an LCD light meter.

Presents equipment and supplies necessary for environmental health practitioners. Includes thermometers; Dial thermometers; Care of the equipment.

Features a field kit Pa[sub]w by Decagon Devices Inc. used for measuring water activity in foods. Utility of the kit.

Provides information regarding the instruments used in measuring the temperature and humidity of any area. Size of digital thermohygrometers.

Features several tools and equipment that are carried by environmental health professionals during field inspections.

Features tools that are used to characterize ventilation. Meter used in determining the velocity or static-pressure measurement of air; Utility of the tool Flowchecker.

Provides information regarding the cost of basic kit carried by environmental health professionals during field inspections. Tools contained in the kit.

Features several indicator papers used in measuring hydrogen-ion concentration.

Provides information regarding a pen-sized door pressure gauge and a ramp-slope bubble measuring device. Utility of the tools in the compliance of the American with Disabilities Act; Manufacturer of the devices.

Features two electrical safety devices. Device that indicates the presence of electric current when held close to a live source or piece of equipment; Tester that checks the wiring configuration of outlets; Availability of the devices.

This article is provided by NEHA for informational purposes only. It is designed to better inform our members about topical and relevant goods and services available to the environmental health professional. Opinions expressed about any product or service in this column either expressly or implied are solely and completely those of the author/s and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the National Environmental Health Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]