Free Satellite Broadcast/Webcast April 14; Bioterrorism Health Expert to Speak at ASHRAE Broadcast

4/12/2004

From: Jodi Dunlop of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, 404-636-8400, ext.1140 or jdunlop@ashrae.org

ATLANTA, April 12 -- The former director of a federal government office created to protect the public from acts of bioterrorism and other health emergencies will serve as keynote speaker for a satellite broadcast and Webcast on homeland security.

Sponsored by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Homeland Security for Buildings will address key issues related to building protection from chemical, biological and radiological attacks. It will take place from noon-3 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Daylight Time) Wednesday, April 14.

Donald Henderson, M.D., will focus on the risks of biological agents being used as biological weapons.

"There are six Class-A agents, which are defined as those possessing characteristics that, if dispersed, could result in illnesses and death of sufficient magnitude as to threaten the integrity of civil government," Henderson said. "Only through aerosol release could any of them achieve that potential. Thus, the question of air filtration in buildings assumes an especially important role. To date, this has received little attention either at federal or local level."

From November 2001 through April 2003, Henderson served as director of the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness and, later, as principal science adviser, in the Office of Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The Office of Public Health Preparedness was created to coordinate national response to public health emergencies.

Henderson is professor of public health and medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and resident Fellow of the Center for Biosecurity of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is dean emeritus of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and a founding director of the Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies.

He directed the World Health Organization's global smallpox eradication campaign from 1966-77.

"We must be made aware of the threats to the well-being of the people who occupy our buildings," Lawrence Spielvogel, P.E., chair of an ASHRAE committee on homeland security, said. "There is little responsible guidance available to describe the magnitude and extent of those risks, so that we can take appropriate action. Dr. Henderson brings a comprehensive and experienced view of the potential threats from people bent on inflicting harm."

Other speakers will address ASHRAE's work in building safety, HVAC and refrigeration systems, ventilation and pressurization, filtration and air cleaning, and personal protective systems.

Those interested can view the broadcast via a Webcast by registering by April 13 at http://www.nist.gov/cgi- bin/webcastreg.cgi or by visiting host sites. To access the location of sites, visit the "homeland security resources" link under shortcuts at ASHRAE.org.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of 55,000 persons. Its sole objective is to advance through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve the evolving needs of the public.