What is IAQ?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants. The IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stressor that can induce health effects. Recent findings have demonstrated that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air (albeit with different pollutants) although this has not changed the common understanding of air pollution. In fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings.

Techniques for analyzing IAQ include collection of air samples, collection of samples on building surfaces and computer modeling of air flow inside buildings. The resulting samples can be analyzed for mold, bacteria, chemicals or other stressors. These investigations can lead to an understanding of the sources of the contaminants and ultimately to strategies for removing the unwanted elements from the air1. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth-largest environmental threat to our country, has created multiple documents, guidelines, and standards to help address indoor air quality the various influences that affect it.

Your Home - (information from the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes) Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.

Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of ozone generating air cleaners/purifiers, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered "leaky."

Green Buildings - (information from the EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/greenbuilding/) Do your buildings create a healthy environment for their occupants? The building industry is increasingly focused on making its buildings greener, which includes using healthier, less polluting and more resource-efficient practices. Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) refers to the quality of the air and environment inside buildings, based on pollutant concentrations and conditions that can affect the health, comfort and performance of occupants -- including temperature, relative humidity, light, sound and other factors. Good IEQ is an essential component of any building, especially a green building.

Creating a better indoor environment can help building owners, managers, occupants, architects and builders to minimize or eliminate the negative health effects, liability, bad publicity, and costly renovations and repairs often associated with IEQ problems. Improving IEQ involves designing, constructing, commissioning, operating, and maintaining buildings in ways that reduce pollution sources and remove indoor pollutants while ensuring that fresh air is continually supplied and properly circulated.

The EPA is tackling the problems associated with maintaining building IEQ through a collection of cutting-edge voluntary and informational programs. EPA's Indoor Environments program promotes the use of integrated, whole building approaches to protect occupant health while saving energy and money. The program focuses on major building types including offices and institutional buildings, schools, homes, as well as major cross-cutting indoor air quality issues like mold and moisture.

1- Indoor_air_quality. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved September 09, 2007, from Reference.com website: http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Indoor_air_quality

Standards and Guidelines

There are many standards and guidelines established by various organizations. These standards and guidelines are continuously being updated and scrutinized. Depending upon the development criteria of a particular organization, different values might be provided for the same item or process.

For Your Home - When it comes to your health and home, there are regulating bodies that exist to help protect both. It starts from the ground up, when your home was first built, all the way to present day and the standards and regulations that protect you and your home. Local and even state authorities inspect your home using codes such as those created by the International Code Council (ICC) to ensure building codes are being met. From the pouring of your concrete foundation (if applicable), to the framing of your home, to the proper insulation and vapor barrier requirements, it is all being inspected to ensure compliance. Within those "checks and balances" are other organizations that have been created to help in the design stage of your home. The American Society for Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) helps to establish a "Standard of Care" through the creation of ventilation and acceptable indoor air quality requirements. This directly impacts the indoor air quality in your home, and thus the air you breathe.

For more information about ASHRAE Standards relating to your office visit: http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/851

For more information about the ICC visit: http://www.iccsafe.org/news/about/

For Your Office - Like the regulating bodies that exist for your home, office buildings are also scrutinized for compliance to building codes. The International Code Council (ICC) publishes the International Building Code (IBC) which features time-tested safety concepts, structural, and fire and life safety provisions covering means of egress, interior finish requirements, comprehensive roof provisions, seismic engineering provisions, innovative construction technology, occupancy classifications, and the latest industry standards in material design. It is founded on broad-based principles that make possible the use of new materials and new building designs.

Likewise, ASHRAE also establishes a "Standard of Care" for buildings through various publications such Standard 62.1-2007, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) aims to ensure employee safety and health in the United States by working with employers and employees to create better working environments. Since its inception in 1971, OSHA has helped to cut workplace fatalities by more than 60 percent and occupational injury and illness rates by 40 percent. At the same time, U.S. employment has increased from 56 million employees at 3.5 million worksites to more than 135 million employees at 8.9 million sites.

For information about ASHRAE Standards relating to your office visit: http://www.ashrae.org/education/page/852

For more information about OSHA regulations relating to your office visit: http://www.osha.gov/oshinfo/mission

For more information about the ICC visit: http://www.iccsafe.org/news/about/

For the Environment - The EPA plays a large role when it comes to protecting the environment. The EPA leads the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts. The EPA works to develop and enforce regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. The EPA is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states and tribes the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance. Where national standards are not met, EPA can issue sanctions and take other steps to assist the states and tribes in reaching the desired levels of environmental quality.

In recent years, between 40 and 50 percent of EPA's enacted budgets have provided direct support through grants to State environmental programs. The EPA grants to States, non-profits and educational institutions to support high-quality research that will improve the scientific basis for decisions on national environmental issues and help EPA achieve its goals.

For more information about the environment and EPA's role, visit: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/aboutepa.htm

For the Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP) - An Indoor Environmental Professional can be loosely defined as an individual who has met minimum qualifications and professional competencies as defined by state requirements and/or industry accepted organizations such as:

Always be sure to check the credentials of those involved in IAQ testing and/or investigations. Be sure to ask for their credentials and/or affiliations/certifications. When a remediation or restoration company is involved in your project, whether it is a home or building, make sure the IEP performing the investigation is an independent third party with no business affiliation to the remediator.

ASHRAE Information

The American Society for Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) was founded in 1894, and is an international organization of 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education. ASHRAE develops standards for both its members and others professionally concerned with refrigeration processes and the design and maintenance of indoor environments.

ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test, Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. Consensus standards are developed and published to define minimum values or acceptable performance, whereas other documents, such as design guides, may be developed and published to encourage enhanced performance. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development.

Mold and Bacteria Information

MOLD - Overview - A particular type of fungus in the Fungi Kingdom.

Mold, or Fungi, has received much attention in the past decade or two from the various media sources. Phrases such as "black mold" and "toxic mold" have cluttered the internet and air waves with various definitions and levels of concern to the public. Environmental Analytics has put together a simple, accurate, up-to-date "punch list" of mold and what you should know and how it can affect you, giving you a grounded perspective on this thing called mold.

Mold (fungus): Molds, mildews, yeasts, mushrooms, and puffballs, a group of organisms lacking in chlorophyll (i.e. are not photosynthetic) and which are usually non-mobile, filamentous, and multicellular. Some grow in soil, others attach themselves to decaying trees and other plants whence they obtain nutrients. Some are pathogens, others stabilize sewage and digest composted waste1. Few places exist on earth that are completely "fungus free".

Mold is a natural constituent of the environment, a major player that helps shape the very environment you live in. Without mold, many things, including you, would be significantly affected. The main responsibility of fungi existence is to recycle carbon. One of the most basic elements, carbon, is the "makeup" of virtually everything that exists today and in the past. At the most raw and basic stages of develop, whether it be animal, plant or thing, carbon is and was a significant material used. You are made from carbon, your chair is made from carbon, the trees outside are made of carbon.

Fungi helps to break down the environment, bio-degrading leaves, grass, wood, paper, cardboard, and other cellulose products that would otherwise not rot away.

Fungi is also important in the medical fields. Some of most effective antibiotics, penicillin, cephalosporin and griseofulvin, are produced by common fungi2. In general, fungi plays an important role in our eco-system.

Health Affects - While fungi serves to help the environment, it can also interact with the human population in adverse ways. For one, fungi is known to be an important agent of human disease. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has offered the following information regarding mold and associated health affects:

(Following information obtained from: http://www.epa.gov/mold/append_b.html)

Health Effects and Symptoms Associated with Mold Exposure - When moisture problems occur and mold growth results, building occupants may begin to report odors and a variety of health problems, such as headaches, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and aggravation of asthma symptoms; all of these symptoms could potentially be associated with mold exposure.

All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, toxins that may cause reactions in humans. The types and severity of symptoms depend, in part, on the types of mold present, the extent of an individual's exposure, the ages of the individuals, and their existing sensitivities or allergies.

Potential Health Effects Associated with Inhalation Exposure to Molds and Mycotoxins - Allergic Reactions (e.g., rhinitis and dermatitis or skin rash); Asthma; Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis; Other Immunologic Effects

Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive.

The health effects listed above are well documented in humans. Evidence for other health effects in humans is less substantial and is primarily based on case reports or occupational studies.

Specific reactions to mold growth can include the following:

FOR MORE INFORMATION RELATING TO HEALTH AFFECTS VISIT: http://www.epa.gov/mold/append_b.html

Ten things you should know about mold (reducing amplification and exposure)


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(Following information obtained from: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html)

The EPA has come up with ten things you should know about mold to help minimize exposure and mold amplification:

  1. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.
  2. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
  3. If mold is a problem in your home or school, you must clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture.
  4. Fix the source of the water problem or leak to prevent mold growth.
  5. Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.
  6. Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
  7. Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely. Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles, that are moldy, may need to be replaced.
  8. Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.
  9. In areas where there is a perpetual moisture problem, do not install carpeting (i.e., by drinking fountains, by classroom sinks, or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation).
  10. Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.

For more information regarding mold and what you can do to help prevent mold-problems in your home or office, call Environmental Analytics at 520.290.6653.

1-Referenced from: http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/fungus

2-Referenced from: "Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control." ACGIH, Kemper Woods Center. 1999.

BACTERIA - Overview - Bacteria is abundant in air, water, and soil: in and on animals; on plant surfaces; and on man-made surfaces both indoors and outdoors. Bacteria may become airborne from any of these natural reservoirs1.

Bacteria were the only form of life on earth for 2 billion years. They were first observed by Antony van Leeuwenhoek in the 17th cent.; bacteriology as an applied science began to develop in the late 19th cent. as a result of research in medicine and in fermentation processes, especially by Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch 2.

Bacteria are remarkably adaptable to diverse environmental conditions: they are found in the bodies of all living organisms and on all parts of the earth-in land terrains and ocean depths, in arctic ice and glaciers, in hot springs, and even in the stratosphere. Our understanding of bacteria and their metabolic processes has been expanded by the discovery of species that can live only deep below the earth's surface and by species that thrive without sunlight in the high temperature and pressure near hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. There are more bacteria, as separate individuals, than any other type of organism; there can be as many as 2.5 billion bacteria in one gram of fertile soil2.

Characteristics - Bacteria are grouped in a number of different ways. Most bacteria are of one of three typical shapes-rod-shaped (bacillus), round (coccus, e.g., streptococcus), and spiral (spirillum). An additional group, vibrios, appear as incomplete spirals. The cytoplasm and plasma membrane of most bacterial cells are surrounded by a cell wall; further classification of bacteria is based on cell wall characteristics .They can also be characterized by their patterns of growth, such as the chains formed by streptococci. Many bacteria, chiefly the bacillus and spirillum forms, are motile, swimming about by whiplike movements of flagella; other bacteria have rigid rodlike protuberances called pili that serve as tethers2.

Some bacteria (those known as aerobic forms) can function metabolically only in the presence of free or atmospheric oxygen; others (anaerobic bacteria) cannot grow in the presence of free oxygen but obtain oxygen from compounds. Facultative anaerobes can grow with or without free oxygen; obligate anaerobes are poisoned by oxygen2.

Nutrition - Most bacteria are heterotrophic, living off other organisms. Most of these are saprobes, bacteria that live off dead organic matter. The bacteria that cause disease are heterotrophic parasites. There are also many non-disease-causing bacterial parasites, many of which are helpful to their hosts. These include the "normal flora" of the human body.

Autotrophic bacteria manufacture their own food by the processes of photosynthesis and chemosynthesis (see autotroph). The photosynthetic bacteria include the green and purple bacteria and the cyanobacteria. Many of the thermophilic archaebacteria are chemosynthetic autotrophs2.

Beneficial Bacteria - Harmless and beneficial bacteria far outnumber harmful varieties. Because they are capable of producing so many enzymes necessary for the building up and breaking down of organic compounds, bacteria are employed extensively by humans-for soil enrichment with leguminous crops for preservation by pickling, for fermentation (as in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, vinegar, and certain cheeses), for decomposition of organic wastes (in septic tanks, in some sewage disposal plants, and in agriculture for soil enrichment) and toxic wastes, and for curing tobacco, retting flax, and many other specialized processes. Bacteria frequently make good objects for genetic study: large populations grown in a short period of time facilitate detection of mutations, or rare variations 2.

Pathogenic Bacteria - Bacterial parasites that cause disease are called pathogens. Among bacterial plant diseases are leaf spot, fire blight, and wilts; animal diseases caused by bacteria include tuberculosis, cholera, syphilis, typhoid fever, and tetanus. Some bacteria attack the tissues directly; others produce poisonous substances called toxins. Natural defense against harmful bacteria is provided by antibodies. Certain bacterial diseases, e.g., tetanus, can be prevented by injection of antitoxin or of serum containing antibodies against specific bacterial antigens; immunity to some can be induced by vaccination; and certain specific bacterial parasites are killed by antibiotics.

New strains of more virulent bacterial pathogens, many of them resistant to antibiotics, have emerged in recent years. Many believe this to be due to the overuse of antibiotics, both in prescriptions for minor, self-limiting ailments and as growth enhancers in livestock; such overuse increases the likelihood of bacterial mutations. For example, a variant of the normally harmless Escherichia coli has caused serious illness and death in victims of food poisoning. See also drug resistance 2.

1-Referenced from: "Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control." ACGIH, Kemper Woods Center. 1999.

2-Referenced from: "Bacteria." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press. 15 Sep. 2007. Reference.com http://www.reference.com/browse/columbia/bacteria.

For more information regarding bacteria and what you can do to help prevent bacteria-related problems in your home or office, call Environmental Analytics at 520.290.6653.

EPA's Six Criteria Pollutants

An Overview - The air we breathe in many U.S. cities is being polluted by activities such as driving cars and trucks; burning coal, oil, and other fossil fuels; and manufacturing chemicals. Air pollution can even come from smaller, everyday activities such as dry cleaning, filling your car with gas, and degreasing and painting operations. These activities add gases and particles to the air we breathe. When these gases and particles accumulate in the air in high enough concentrations, they can harm us and our environment. More people in cities and surrounding counties means more cars, trucks, industrial and commercial operations, and generally means more pollution.

Air pollution is a problem for all of us. The average adult breathes over 3,000 gallons of air every day. Children breathe even more air per pound of body weight and are more susceptible to air pollution. Many air pollutants, such as those that form urban smog and toxic compounds, remain in the environment for long periods of time and are carried by the winds hundreds of miles from their origin. Millions of people live in areas where urban smog, very small particles, and toxic pollutants pose serious health concerns. People exposed to high enough levels of certain air pollutants may experience burning in their eyes, an irritated throat, or breathing difficulties. Long-term exposure to air pollution can cause cancer and long-term damage to the immune, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems. In extreme cases, it can even cause death1.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for six common air pollutants. Also known as "criteria pollutants", these commonly found air pollutants are found all over the United States. They are:

The EPA calls these pollutants "criteria" air pollutants because it regulates them by developing human health-based and/or environmentally-based criteria (science-based guidelines) for setting permissible levels. Primary standards are limits based on the human health, secondary standards are limits intended to prevent environmental and property damage.

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the above-mentioned criteria pollutants are listed below. Units of measure for the standards are parts per million (ppm) by volume, milligrams per cubic meter of air (mg/m3), and micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3).

National Ambient Air Quality Standards
Pollutant Primary Stds. Averaging Times Secondary Stds.
Carbon Monoxide 9 ppm
(10 mg/m3) 		8-hour (1) None
35 ppm
(40 mg/m3) 		1-hour(1) None
Lead 1.5 μg/m3 Quarterly Average Same as Primary
Nitrogen Dioxide 0.053 ppm
(100 μg/m3) 		Annual (Arithmetic Mean) Same as Primary
Particulate Matter (PM10) Revoked(2) Annual(2) (Arith. Mean) Revoked(2)
150 μg/m3 24-hour(3) Same as Primary
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) 15.0 μg/m3 Annual(4) (Arith. Mean) Same as Primary
35 μg/m3 24-hour(5) Same as Primary
Ozone 0.08 ppm 8-hour(6) Same as Primary
0.12 ppm 1-hour(7)
(Applies only in limited areas) 		Same as Primary
Sulfur Oxides 0.03 ppm Annual (Arith. Mean) -------
0.14 ppm 24-hour(1) -------
------- 3-hour(1) 0.5 ppm
(1300 μg/m3)

(1) Not to be exceeded more than once per year.

(2) Due to a lack of evidence linking health problems to long-term exposure to coarse particle pollution, the agency revoked the annual PM10 standard in 2006 (effective December 17, 2006).

(3) Not to be exceeded more than once per year on average over 3 years.

(4) To attain this standard, the 3-year average of the weighted annual mean PM2.5 concentrations from single or multiple community-oriented monitors must not exceed 15.0 µg/m3.

(5) To attain this standard, the 3-year average of the 98th percentile of 24-hour concentrations at each population-oriented monitor within an area must not exceed 35 µg/m3 (effective December 17, 2006).

(6) To attain this standard, the 3-year average of the fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations measured at each monitor within an area over each year must not exceed 0.08 ppm.

(7) (a) The standard is attained when the expected number of days per calendar year with maximum hourly average concentrations above 0.12 ppm is < 1, as       determined by appendix H.
      (b) As of June 15, 2005 EPA revoked the 1-hour ozone standard in all areas except the fourteen 8-hour ozone nonattainment Early Action Compact (EAC)       Areas.

* The information provided above is referenced from: http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html

1-Referenced from: http://www.epa.gov/air/basic.html

Ways to Reduce Air Pollution - We make choices everyday that can help reduce air pollution. Below are a few ideas that you can take to help clean our air.

At Home

Buy Smart

Drive Wise - Plan your trips. Save gasoline and reduce air pollution.

For Your Health

*The information provided above is referenced from: http://www.epa.gov/air/oaq_caa.html/peg/reduce.html

Asbestos Information

Asbestos and Asbestos Health Effects

What is asbestos? - Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. The current Federal definition of asbestos is the asbestiform varieties of: Chrysotile (serpentine); crocidolite (riebeckite); amosite (cummingtonite/grunerite); anthophyllite; tremolite; and actinolite.

What are past and present uses of asbestos?

Asbestos Ban and Phase Out - On July 12, 1989, EPA issued a final rule banning most asbestos-containing products. In 1991, this regulation was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. As a result of the Court's decision, the following specific asbestos-containing products remain banned: flooring felt, rollboard, and corrugated, commercial, or specialty paper. In addition, the regulation continues to ban the use of asbestos in products that have not historically contained asbestos, otherwise referred to as "new uses" of asbestos.

For more information regarding the ban and phase out of asbestos, visit: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ban.html.

What are the health effects of asbestos exposure? - Exposure to airborne friable asbestos may result in a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including: asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.

If you feel you may have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, you should consider consulting a physician with expertise in pulmonary abnormalities.

* The information provided above is referenced from: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/help.html

Radon Information

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can't see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family's health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. EPA has launched a new series of television, radio and print public service announcements encouraging people to test and fix their homes for radon. This is a good time to focus on testing and on fixing homes with a radon level of 4 pCi/L or more. Heed the Surgeon General's warning. Take action now to reduce your family's risk of lung cancer from radon!

Health Risks

Learning more about lung cancer - The following sources provide a wide range of good information about lung cancer, prevention, and treatment:

Studies Find Direct Evidence Linking Radon in Homes to Lung Cancer - Two studies show definitive evidence of an association between residential radon exposure and lung cancer. Two studies, a North American study and a European study, both combined data from several previous residential studies. These two studies go a step beyond earlier findings. They confirm the radon health risks predicted by occupational studies of underground miner's who breathed radon for a period of years. Early in the debate about radon-related risks, some researchers questioned whether occupational studies could be used to calculate risks from exposure to radon in the home environment. "These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes," said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA's Indoor Environments Division. "We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer."

Testing for Radon in your home or office

Environmental Analytics can test your home or office for radon to determine if your indoor environment meets or exceeds EPA action levels. Call 520.290.6653 for any questions or to set up an appointment.

* The information provided above is referenced from http://www.epa.gov/radon

Lead Information

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most at risk, because their bodies are growing quickly.

Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are:

EPA is playing a major role in addressing these residential lead hazards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 1978 there were 13.5 million children in the United States with elevated blood lead levels (i.e., 10µg/dl). By 2002, that number had dropped to 310,000 kids. While we still have a significant challenge, EPA is very proud of how federal, state, tribal, and private sector partners have coordinated efforts with the public to better protect our children.

Since the 1980's, EPA and its federal partners have phased out lead in gasoline, reduced lead in drinking water, reduced lead in industrial air pollution, and banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. States and municipalities have set up programs to identify and treat lead poisoned children and to rehabilitate deteriorated housing. Parents, too, have greatly helped to reduce lead exposures to their children by cleaning and maintaining homes, having their children's blood lead levels checked, and promoting proper nutrition. The Agency's Lead Awareness Program continues to work to protect human health and the environment against the dangers of lead by developing regulations, conducting research, and designing educational outreach efforts and materials.

Checking your family and home for lead - To reduce your child's exposure to lead, get your child checked, have your home tested (especially if your home has paint in poor condition and was built before 1978), and fix any hazards you may have.

Your Family

Your Home - You can get your home checked in one of two ways, or both:

Have qualified professionals do the work - There are standards in place for certifying lead-based paint professionals to ensure the work is done safely, reliably, and effectively. Trained professionals use a range of methods when checking your home, including:

Have a trained professional at Environmental Analytics test your home for lead. Call 520.290.6653 for more information.

Note: Home test kits for lead are available, but studies suggest that they are not always accurate. Consumers should not rely on these tests before doing renovations or to assure safety.

* The information provided above is referenced from: http://www.epa.gov/lead

Microbial Disinfectants

SNiPER, Non toxic Disinfectant, Biocide and Odor Eliminator

(SNiPER is a green disinfectant that is the ideal biocide for multiple applications. It kills MRSA, Avian Flu, the most resilient molds and more.) for more information http://www.environmentrestoration.com/