Environmental Analytics performs comprehensive mold testing inclusive of bulk, air, and surface sampling. Mold testing is typically performed when an event, such as a water leak, has occurred. Mold testing can also be performed to obtain current conditions in the air and on the surface inside the building. Our certified professionals can tailor investigations and testing strategies to fit your needs or concerns.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, an estimated 50 million Americans suffer from all types of allergies (1 in 5 Americans) including indoor/outdoor, food & drug, latex, insect, skin and eye allergies1. Allergy prevalence overall has been increasing since the early 1980s across all age, sex and racial groups. Approximately 75% of all allergy sufferers have indoor/outdoor allergies as their primary allergy. (Many people with allergies usually have more than one type of allergy.) Approximately 10 million people are allergic to cat dander, the most common pet allergy. The most common indoor/outdoor allergy triggers are: tree, grass and weed pollen; mold spores; dust mite and cockroach allergen; and, cat, dog and rodent dander. Environmental Analytics uses top-leading technologies and tailored engineering strategies to help identify the source and extent of allergens in your home. Our company can provide customized plans according to your requirements, which will help control allergen content in the building and help maximize the quality of the surrounding indoor/outdoor environment.
1- "CDC Fast Facts A-Z," Vital Health Statistics, 2003
Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, the ability to be woven, and resistance to heat and most chemicals. Various products and materials are made, or were made, using asbestos. Those products and materials are known as ACM (Asbestos Containing Materials) which include, but are not limited to, Cement pipes, HVAC Duct insulation, asphalt floor tile, vinyl sheet flooring, pipe insulation, acoustical plaster joint compounds, textured paints, ceiling tiles, blown-in insulation, and electrical wiring insulation. Exposure to asbestos may result in potential health risk due to inhalation. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are responsible for regulating environmental exposure and protecting workers from asbestos exposure. OSHA is responsible for the health and safety of the workers who may be exposed to asbestos in the work place, or in connection with their jobs. EPA is responsible for developing and enforcing regulations necessary to protect the general public from exposure to airborne contaminants that are known to be hazardous to human health. The EPA has presented five major facts on asbestos which include:
- Although asbestos is hazardous, human risk of asbestos disease depends upon exposure.
- Prevailing asbestos levels in buildings-(the levels school children and you and I face as building occupants) seem to be very low, based upon available data. Accordingly, the health risk we face as building occupants also appears to be very low.
- Removal is often not a school district's or other building owner's best course of action to reduce asbestos exposure. In fact, an improper removal can create a dangerous situation where none previously existed.
- EPA only requires asbestos removal in order to prevent significant public exposure to asbestos, such as during building renovation or demolition.
- EPA does recommend in-place management whenever asbestos is discovered. Instead of removal, a conscientious in-place management program will usually control fiber releases, particularly when the materials are not significantly damaged and are not likely to be disturbed.
Although many ACM products were not used after 1994, some products being manufactured still contain small amounts of asbestos.
Environmental Analytics performs EPA & OSHA approved testing and analysis of asbestos for residential and commercial applications. Contact our office for more information on asbestos and asbestos-related services.
Radon is a cancer causing radioactive gas that is colorless, odorless and tasteless. Radon can enter a building through various points-of-entry such as cracks/holes in the foundation and certain building materials. Roughly, 68% of our exposure to natural sources of radiation usually come from radon. According to the Surgeon General of the United States, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer within the USA. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association agree that long term exposure to elevated levels of radon pose a significant health risk to you. Since radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas, the only way to determine if radon is entering your home is by testing. Environmental Analytics can provide accurate, timely, and cost-effective analysis of your home or office to determine radon levels, and solutions to mitigate or reduce concentrations, if necessary.
Visit EPA's website for more information: http://www.epa.gov/radon/
At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas that has a distinct, pungent smell. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in air and some foods and products. Formaldehyde is an irritant to the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancer. Sources of formaldehyde indoors include, but are not limited to, manufactured wood products, fiberglass, carpets, permanent press fabrics, paper products, certain household cleaners, gas cookers, open fireplaces, cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Formaldehyde is usually found in the air, and levels are usually higher indoors than outdoors. Simple solutions are available to help eliminate formaldehyde off-gassing generated inside the building. Environmental Analytics offers real-time, on-site analysis of formaldehyde to determine if excessive levels exist and "how-to" steps to minimize exposure.
Compliance to ASHRAE Standards 62
The American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) was founded in 1894. Its mission is to create standards that encompass advance heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.
ASHRAE Standard 62.2 helps to make sure that the air inside your home is clean and safe, without adding significant costs. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems (HVAC) in your home should be in compliance with Standard 62.2 to help ensure a healthy indoor environment. Environmental Analytics can inspect and test your home to ensure you have met the requirements for standard 62.2.
In addition to residential applications, ASHRAE Standard 62.1 helps to make sure commercial applications, such as the office you work in, has good indoor air quality, by providing guidance for the design and operation of HVAC system/s for a range of building types and functions. Like Standard 62.2, Environmental Analytics can inspect and test the indoor environments to ensure compliance to Standard 62.1.
For more information about ASHRAE, visit: http://www.ashrae.org/aboutus/
Particulate matter (PM) can be defined as a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids, organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. The Clean Air Act, written by the United States government, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants, particle pollution, or PM, is one of these. Standards are in place to set limits to protect public health, including the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. In addition, secondary standards were also created that focus on setting limits to protect public welfare, including protection against visibility impairment, damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and building.
If you are concerned about the PM levels in your indoor environment, contact Environmental Analytics to perform real-time, on-site investigations that will help determine whether your environment meets compliance to EPA's NAAQS for particle pollution.
Building-Related-Illness BRI testing
Building Related Illness is a building-associated, clinically verifiable and diagnosable disease. Some causes of BRI include, but are not limited to, building renovation, water or moisture break through, poor building maintenance and poor indoor air quality. The key difference between a BRI and a SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) complaint is that BRI issues typically have identified both the source and illness as the cause of the complaint. A SBS complaint often is created when the source and the illness have not been identified (Please see IAQ Services- Sick-Building-Syndrome (SBS) for more information).
Building related sicknesses are generally allergic reactions or infections. The allergies include asthma, humidifier fever and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Bacteria, fungus and virus can cause BRI infections1. If you, or your employees, are concerned with BRI issues, or feel you may be exposed to BRI conditions, contact Environmental Analytics for your testing and/or investigation needs.
1- Information taken from: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html
Sick Building Syndrome is a building-associated, but nonspecific illness and no contributory agent is apparent or found. SBS is a worldwide and complex problem. Employers are experiencing higher absenteeism and lower productivity as a result of SBS related issues1. The root cause of this problem has been tied together with efforts made since the 1970's to create more energy efficient building environments. Structures were made "tighter", and as a result, reliance on mechanical ventilation increased. The balance between energy savings and indoor air quality for the occupants has continued to struggle for a common middle ground.
According to the American Standards for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), a building is deemed "sick" when 20% or of the building occupants, voluntarily complain of discomfort symptoms for periods exceeding two weeks, and affected occupants observe rapid relief away from the building. Professional judgment and rationale are key ingredients when trying to determine whether or not SBS issues are present in the building-of-concern. If you, or an employee, are concerned about SBS related issues, or feel you might be exposed to SBS conditions, contact Environmental Analytics to investigate and provide accurate assessments and simple solutions for your complaint.
1- Information taken from: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html
General Indoor Air Quality IAQ Testing
The phrase, "indoor air quality", encompasses a broad range of ideas, environmental and structural factors, mechanical influences, and occupant activities. The American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has defined acceptable indoor air quality as "air toward which a substantial majority of occupants express no dissatisfaction with respect to odor and sensory irritation and in which there are not likely to be contaminants at concentrations that are known to pose a health risk." Poor IAQ, whether in a home or building, can create undesired habitable environments. Unfortunately, no easy formula or prescription exists that can effortlessly identify most, if not all, IAQ problems. Elevated particulate levels (such as dust), bioaerosols, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide, and ozone are just a few examples of contaminants that can affect the indoor air quality you work or live in.
No matter what your IAQ issue or concern, most issues can be identified with proper testing and thorough understanding of the building structure. Contact Environmental Analytics to help address any IAQ issues you may have.
In many situations, prospective home buyers or sellers are concerned with the indoor air quality of a home. When water or moisture intrusions, sewage leaks, or malodors have occurred or exists inside the home, testing to ensure proper indoor air quality could make the difference between a successful transaction or disappointing rejection. When an event has occurred in a home, call Environmental Analytics to see what cost-effective and quick-turnaround assessments can be performed to help ensure the health of the occupants and completion of the home sale.
Customized Environmental Services
Customized Environmental Services can be tailored to fit almost every situation. Whether scheduled testing for compliance of regulatory body standards or simple environmental screens, allow Environmental Analytics to adapt its services to your needs.