[72632] in Hotline Meeting
Enquiry about Computer Dust Testing
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (mslow@MIT.EDU)
Fri Feb 20 10:59:34 2004
From: mslow@MIT.EDU
Message-ID: <1077292739.40362ec33e70e@webmail.mit.edu>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 10:58:59 -0500
To: hotline@mit.edu
Cc: kreeve@cleanwater.org, mslow@mit.edu
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Hi,
I was referred to you by OLC. I'm partnering with a local environmental group,
Clean Water Action, and would like to obtain one dust sample from a computer in
the Athena clusters to test for BFR's (brominated flame retardants) in the dust
that might have accumulated.
BFR's are found in many products including furniture, clothing, carpeting,
and also the hard plastic casings of computers. It is well-known that
BFR's can have harmful impacts on human health. The objective of the test
is to show that the BFR' in computers are being off-gassed into the atmosphere
and settling in the form of dust.
The procedure for gathering the dust is very simple--I will be wiping the
surface of one computer monitor with a slightly damp sponge. The wiping
should take no more than five minutes.
MIT is one of 20 randomly-picked sites of a nation-wide BFR testing
campaign and the findings of the test will be released in a ground-breaking
report later this spring--no prior testing has pinpointed computers as a
source for elevated BFR levels in the environment. The report will outline
the prevalence of BFR's and the adverse health impacts of the toxins, while
also underscoring the need to eliminate known toxins from products when safer
substitutes are available.
I would greatly appreciate it if permission is granted for taking one such
dust sample. The test results would be crucial in improving public health
and the environment in general. Please let me know as soon as possible if
the testing is a problem. If you have more questions about the testing or the
Clean Water Action, please contact Kara Reeve at <kreeve@cleanwater.org> or at
617-338-8131. Kara has also been in contact with the EPTG (Environmental
Programs Task Force) at MIT regarding the BFR testing.
OLC said that I probably don't need written permission to collect dust samples
from the clusters, since they're considered public spaces for members of the MIT
community. I would just like to double check that.
Thank you,
Manshi Low
