EnviroHazard Solutions

EnviroHazard Solutions Environmental Hazard Inspections and Solutions

Mold inspection/assessment and remediation, Leaded-paint inspection/assessment and leaded-paint abatement, Asbestos inspection/assessment, Radon gas testing and mitigation, and Indoor air quality assessment (IAQA)

12/21/2011

Wish you all A Merry Christmas
May the Joys of the season
Fill your heart with goodwill and cheer
May the chimes of Christmas glory
Add up more shine and spread
Smiles across the miles
Today & In the New Year.

11/25/2011

What is indoor air quality

Some pollutants in the air are especially harmful for children, elderly people, and those with health problems. Most of us spend much of our time indoors. The air that we breathe in our homes, in schools, and in offices can put us at risk for health problems. Some pollutants can be chemicals, gases, and living organisms like mold and pests. Some pollutants cause health problems such as sore eyes, burning in the nose and throat, headaches, or fatigue. Other pollutants cause or worsen allergies, respiratory illnesses (such as asthma), heart disease, cancer, and other serious long-term conditions.

Purpose of indoor air quality assessment

The purpose of indoor air quality assessment is to identify pollutants, determine the cause of an air quality problem, and help prevent them before they occur. Assessment may include Airborne Particulate Measurements, Airborne Ultrafine Particulate Levels, Carbon Monoxide Monitoring, Temperature and Relative Humidity, Volatile Organic Compounds Concentrations, Air and Surface Mold Testing, Comprehensive Water Damage/Mold Remediation Plans, Culturable and Non-Culturable Sampling, Infrared Imaging Moisture Surveys, Insurance Claims Assessments and Cause Identification, Interstitial (Wall Cavity and Ceiling Void) Testing, Post-Remediation Inspection and Testing, Air Handling System Inspections, Airborne and Surface Bacterial Evaluations, Dust Mite Allergen Evaluations, HVAC Ductwork Evaluations, Hazards of Fungi (Mold), Indoor Moisture Control, Radon Gas Testing and Mitigation, Lead Inspection/ Assessment and Abatement, and Asbestos Inspection

11/25/2011

What is Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than the pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation. Because of this difference in pressure, the house acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through any cracks or openings on the floor. EPA recommends fixing the problem if the radon test shows level of 4 pCi/L or higher.

Radon in indoor air is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States. Smokers are at higher risk of developing Radon-induced lung cancer. Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked with radon exposure. Lung cancer would usually occur years (5-25) after exposure.

Purpose of radon gas testing

The purpose of radon gas testing is to know if the house has level of 4 pCi/L or higher indoor radon levels. EPA estimates that about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the U.S. are radon-related. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas produced by the decay of naturally occurring uranium in soil and water. Radon is a form of ionizing radiation and a proven carcinogen.

Purpose of radon gas mitigation

The purpose of radon gas mitigation is to lower the radon level inside of the house below 4 pCi/L. Radon gas mitigation requires specific technical knowledge and special skills. Without the proper equipment or technical knowledge, you could actually increase your radon level or create other potential hazards and additional costs. American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM, Standard Practice for Installing Radon Mitigation Systems in Existing Low-Rise Residential Buildings, E2121 should be followed.

11/25/2011

What is asbestos

Asbestos materials are commonly found in older homes, in pipe and furnace insulation materials, roofing and siding tiles, floor tiles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials. Elevated concentration of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding, or other remodeling activities.

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. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.

Purpose of asbestos inspection

The purpose of asbestos inspection is to identify the asbestos containing materials (ACM) so as to reduce the exposure of the occupants and to determine whether or not asbestos is present, and if so, in what form and concentration. This involves inspecting for friable materials, and analyzing samples of material for asbestos, and to identify the type and location of ACM. If the presence of asbestos in the friable materials is confirmed and more than 1 percent by weight, then abatement should be considered. Re-inspection is also important as clearance that surfaces were thoroughly cleaned after an asbestos abatement or asbestos disturbance.

Asbestos inspection standard

Asbestos inspection is conformed to Cal-OSHA standards and ASTM E1368 - 05e1 standard practice for visual inspection of asbestos abatement projects. The material is wetted using a fine mist of wetting solutions, carefully cut a piece of sample from the entire depth of the material, and tightly sealing the ACM for shipping and testing to a laboratory accredited for asbestos testing by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) through the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

11/25/2011

What is leaded paint

Leaded paint is common to most homes built before 1960. Some homes built as recently as 1978 may also contain lead paint. This paint could be on window frames, walls, the outside of home, or other surfaces.

If lead is not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems, such as hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems, and headaches. Adults can suffer from reproductive problems (in both men and women), high blood pressure and hypertension, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.

Purpose of lead inspection/assessment

The purpose of lead inspection/assessment is to identify the residential lead-based hazards such as to find the amount of lead in interior and exterior paints, to find the amount of lead in the dust on a surface and as clearance samples to show that surfaces were thoroughly cleaned after a lead abatement or lead disturbance, and to find the amount of lead in the soil has accumulated for many years of airborne particulate fallout from automobile exhaust, from industrial sources, and from the extensive use of lead-based paint on residential housing and other structures.

Purpose of lead abatement

The purpose of lead paint abatement is to safely reduce lead paint hazards. Abatement can be made by enclosing lead paint with flexible wall covering, paneling or gypsum board, by removing the paint, by removal of the object or component and replacing it with new material, and by encapsulating the lead paint with a special coating.

Lead inspection/assessment standard

Sampling and testing methods used are Dust, Paint Chips and Soil. Dust sampling is wipe method and testing by using a laboratory recognized by EPA for lead compounds in dust samples. Paint chips sampling is by collection of paint chip and testing by using a laboratory recognized by EPA for lead compounds in paint samples. Soil sampling by coring or scooping the top half inch of soil and testing using a laboratory recognized by EPA for lead compounds in soil. Samples are tested by using a laboratory recognized by EPA pursuant to Section 405(b) of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Lead abatement standard

Abatement methods depends on the situation in the building. Common methods are the following: Lead paint is covered with flexible wall covering, paneling or gypsum board; Removing leaded paints with non-fume and non-flammable solvents; Removing the material coated with lead paint entirely and replacing it with new material; and Encapsulating the lead paint with approved long lasting encapsulants to prevent lead salts from coming to the surface.

11/25/2011

What is Mold

Molds are forms of fungi that are found naturally in the environment; however, not all fungi are molds. Molds make tiny spores to reproduce, just as some plants produce seeds. Indoors, these mold spores move through the air and settle on surfaces. When mold spores land on a damp spot, they may begin to grow and multiply within 24 to 48 hours in the area. Mold needs water (relative humidity of approximately 50% or higher), food (organic, porous material), and the right temperature range (65 degrees or higher).

Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.

Purpose of Mold Inspection

The purpose of a mold inspection is to detect the presence of suspected mold growth in the inspected areas of the subject property. The mold inspection Report communicates the information to the client through a written summary that describes the suspected microbial growth along with property conditions that could contribute to microbial growth. Additionally, the report may include the results of laboratory testing on suspected mold samples taken from the structure during the inspection

Purpose of mold remediation

The purpose of mold remediation is to remove the mold and its contaminated substrate and to prevent the mold from recurring. Remediation also includes fixing the cause of water problem, drying the excess moisture and cleaning the area. In many cases, mold intrusion is caused by defective materials, design, or installation. Replacing materials or altering a structure to fix a mold problem can be time-consuming and very expensive.

11/24/2011

Envirohazard Solutions is a firm that specializes in mold inspection/assessment and remediation, leaded-paint inspection/assessment and leaded-paint abatement, asbestos inspection/assessment, radon gas testing and mitigation, and indoor air quality assessment (IAQA). Envirohazard Solutions is serving the counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside and Inland Empire.

Throughout our history, we have maintained a commitment to provide the highest quality of inspection/assessment, renovation, repair, abatement, remediation and mitigation. We always abide the professional and ethical conduct of the business, one of which is that we do not perform abatement or remediation to our client where we completed an inspection to prevent any conflict of interest, though we are religiously honest to our commitment to highest quality service possible.

Our inspectors have extensive knowledge, experience, accreditations and certifications from educational organizations and entities that embody the State and Federal agencies who create the standards and guidelines for mold inspection and remediation, lead inspection/assessment and lead abatement, asbestos inspection, radon gas testing and mitigation, and indoor air quality assessment. Our inspectors have accreditations and certifications from PMII, NAMRI, AHERA, Cal/OSHA, NATEC, EPA & IAQA, which ensures excellence in completing every job with the highest level of excellence.

Address

Canoga Park, CA
91306

Telephone

(818)4219342

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