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Archive for the ‘Indoor Airy Quality Testing’ Category
Thursday, May 10th, 2012
After decades of falling cancer rates, a recent news story notes that lung cancers are rising among surprising groups.
Cancer specialist Dr. Natasha Leighl of Princess Margaret Hospital is quoted in a CTV piece as saying, “In cancer centres, it certainly seems that we are seeing more lung cancer, in particularly younger women and in people who have never smoked,” she says.
The statistics are troubling. Lung cancer among those who have never smoked is the 10th most common cancer in Canada, and is more prevalent among women than men. While doctors can’t pinpoint the exact cause of each case, they suspect radon gas has played a role in the growing number, in combination with pollution and other factors like genetics. Radon gas exposure is considered to be the second largest cause of lung cancers in Canada after smoking.
The difficulty becomes: if they don’t know the causes – how to go about cutting the risk? On the bright side, new treatments for this class of patient have shown good results.
What is Radon Gas?
Radon is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is produced during the natural decay cycle of uranium, which is present in many types of rock in varying amounts. In this part of North America, glacier movement during the Ice Ages broke up the underlying bedrock. Combined with our wide seasonal variations from deep freeze to summer heat and relatively high precipitation levels, the rock has gradually become more porous, allowing more and more of the gas to escape.
Its deadly effects are only felt over time. Out in the open, it easily disperses into the air, but in our modern airtight homes, it becomes trapped, often in basement and crawlspace areas. Since it’s virtually undetectable by human senses, you’ll have to get your home tested to check for levels of the gas. There are things you can do to help:
- Make sure any basement or crawlspace areas are properly ventilated
- Check for cracks in the basement flooring or foundation walls of the building on a regular basis
We Can Help!
Indoor air quality is a significant issue to your health, and radon gas is a particulary alarming issue, but ESG can help. We offer two types of radon gas testing:
- Short term testing – the amount of gas can vary seasonally, but short term testing can give you a quick answer, sometimes in conjunction with a second short term test done some time later
- Long term testing to try and detect the varying amounts of gas that can accumulate in your home throughout the year.
Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: indoor air quality, radon risks, Radon Testing Toronto Ontario
Posted in Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, News, Radon Testing | No Comments »
Friday, April 6th, 2012
A new report that comes from a study conducted by University of Toronto and the Ontario Health Coalition names indoor air quality as one of the key environmental issues that affect the health of Torontonians.
Indoor air quality can be affected by a number of specific issues; chief among them is mold caused by moisture. In the case of mold, the age of a house or building doesn’t necessarily play a part – new homes can be as susceptible to mold growth as older structures. What’s key is the construction methods used.
Green Technology
Newer methods and technological advances in the home building industry – or “green” technology – have come up with a number of solutions to this old problem. Among them is steel technology, some facets of which are only now being introduced to the Ontario market.
Steel-panel technology is composed of steel and an innovative variety of expanded polystyrene. Panels are joined together with screws and an adhesive foam in order to make up the outer shell of the house, eliminating the need for any wood in the frame. This type of construction is said to be stronger than the traditional wood frame and most importantly to air quality, provides an airtight building envelope that will prevent moisture entering the home. In addition, the polystyrene used is made with a chemical-free formula that is not subject to off-gassing, which is another concern when it comes to indoor air quality.
You may not be able to build your own home from scratch using these new “green” methods, but you can make sure that your old home doesn’t present the kind of environmental concerns listed in the report.
We Can Help!
ESG offers a variety of services to help give you peace of mind, including
Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: Environmental Consultants in Toronto Ontario, Indoor Air Quality Testing Toronto Ontario, Thermal Imaging to Find Moisture Problems in Basements
Posted in Carbon monoxide, Environmental consulting, Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, Mold Hazards | No Comments »
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012
A recent episode of Wylde on Health, a weekly news magazine on health matters on CP24 TV invited Tara Valley, Senior Environmental Consultant and Indoor Air Quality Specialist for the Environmental Services Group on the set as an expert to comment on common health risks in the home.
The show’s title was “Home making you sick?” and host Bryce Wylde and Tara discussed some of the hazards and their remedies. “Mold and toxins can cause very serious health issues,” says Valley. “This is especially predominant among the young, elderly and individuals with respiratory problems,” Valley adds.
Mold in the Attic
She mentioned some of the “hidden” areas for toxins in the home, including the attic. “It can basically be a reservoir for moisture due to improper ventilation and insulation,” she said. Heated air is pushed up in a modern home, taking moisture generated lower down with it. Once it’s in the attic, the situation is exacerbated by ventilation and insulation issues, not to say leaks in the roof you may not even know about. The result: mold.
The segment showed graphic images of roof sheathing blackened by mold infestation. The host and another expert commentator, Dr. Hilary Deveber, a paediatrician and VP of The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, stressed the particular dangers to the respiratory tract and by extension, those with asthma and allergies.
Basements and more…
The basement is another hot spot for mold and other environmental issues. Poor grading on the outside can lead to chronic water infiltration, and again inadequate ventilation plays a role, along with the absence of a dehumidifier. Radon, a gas that rises from the bedrock and is a leading cause of cancer, is another risk commonly detected in the basement via cracks in the foundation or floors.
Testing and Monitors
Tara Valley demonstrated a number of high tech monitors and testing equipment used by ESG, including radon detectors and other indoor air quality testing devices. Other equipment detects ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is a protein that is is present in all living cells and its presence is used to find mold and bacteria where it may be hidden from the eye.
Other indoor air quality tests look for VOCs, or volatile organic compounds or off gassing from carpets, furniture and plumbing. Dr. Deveber mentioned the importance of checking the furnishings in your children’s bedrooms in particular.
Call The Professionals
When it comes to mold, the rule of thumb is that professional services should be used if the area affected is more than a meter squared. But – be careful who you contract.
“It’s important to contact a professional when you find mould in your home,” explains Valley. “It’s not just important to have the hazard removed and cleaned up, it is critical to have a final mold test to verify that the source of the mold has been properly removed to ensure it doesn’t return to harmful levels,” Valley says. “It’s very important to do your research to ensure that the mold testing company you hire is certified and fully licensed,” she stressed.
Further demonstration of the expertise of ESG was seen a few months ago on an episode of one of HGTV’s popular property renovation programs, “Income Properties”. The team at ESG was called in to assess the mold removal job performed on an old home that was being modernized for an episode.
We Can Help!
ESG offers a variety of services to help give you peace of mind, including:
Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: chemical toxins and exposure indoors, Environmental Consultants in Toronto Ontario, Indoor Air Quality Testing Toronto, mold removal Toronto, Radon testing
Posted in Environmental consulting, Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, Mold Hazards, News, Radon Testing | No Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2012
The winter of 2011/2012 has been unusually kind to the residents of Southern Ontario, but there have been enough days that have seen stiff winds, cooler temperatures and even torrential rains, meaning your windows and doors are likely staying shut.
Homeowners walk a kind of tightrope between energy efficiency and courting air quality issues. It’s only natural – and makes good sense – to ensure that air leaks in windows and doors are taken care of using foam, weather stripping and other means, but in some areas, the tighter your home becomes, the more risk there is of air quality issues.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is one danger that increases in a tightly sealed home. If there’s a leak of any kind, it has nowhere to go. There are other concerns that can be augmented during the winter months.
Moisture = Mold
- Tightly sealed rooms, especially a basement or crawl space, or indeed wherever there’s a leak, can lead to condensation and moisture gathering in areas where it just doesn’t dry out
- The next step is mold growth!
Radon Gas
- An invisible and odourless product of deteriorating uranium, this potentially deadly gas occurs naturally and rises up from the ground and into your home through cracks in the foundation and basement, especially the floor
- Outside, it dissipates naturally in the surrounding air, but a poorly ventilated basement or crawlspace traps the gas – thought to be a leading cause of cancer – in your home
What Can You Do?
- Ventilation is the key here – make sure that your basement and crawl space are properly ventilated
- Keep an eye out for leaks or anywhere that water can enter your home with regular inspections
- Hot Tip: houseplants have been shown to significantly improve indoor air quality
We Can Help!
ESG offers a variety of services to help give you peace of mind, including
Let us give you peace of mind – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
In The News:
ESG is now an official supplier of HGTV’s Income Properties!
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: indoor air quality, Indoor Air Quality Testing Toronto Ontario, mold testing, Radon testing
Posted in Carbon monoxide, Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, Radon Testing | No Comments »
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
A bill that’s currently before the provincial legislature is designed to raise awareness about radon gas – the invisible danger that occurs naturally.
Radon Gas
Radon gas is a by-product of the decaying process of uranium, and is produced even where small amounts of uranium are present in the ground. It can enter your home via cracks in the earth and the foundation, among others, and accumulate, particularly in today’s tightly enclosed buildings or poorly ventilated areas like a crawl space.
Radon exposure has been linked to high incidences of lung cancer, and it is considered a significant threat to indoor air quality and public health worldwide. Health Canada estimates that 1,900 cancer deaths were due to radon exposure annually (2006 figures) and lists it as second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer.
It’s odourless, colourless and radioactive, and you may not be aware of it until you begin to feel the symptoms of exposure such as persistent coughing or headaches, by which time damage to your lungs has already begun.
Bill 182
Among other things, the Act proposed under Bill 182 calls for setting up a registry to include all radon gas testing results across the province. It also looks to institute a public health campaign across multiple media platforms to educate people on the deadly gas, its risks and symptoms, as well as encourage all homeowners to test their own homes for the dangerous gas. It sets the ceiling for acceptable levels at 200 Bq/m3 per year for provincially owned buildings, and provides for stiff fines and even imprisonment for failure to act on unacceptably high readings.
Bill 182 is currently being studied further, having been referred to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. Even before its completion, however, it underscores how seriously our governments are taking this hidden threat to indoor air quality and human health.
It’s the ideal season
Now, during the winter months when windows remain largely shut and our homes are more tightly shut, is the ideal time test for radon gas. At Environmental Services Group, we can offer radon gas testing tailored to your needs. Let us give you peace of mind – call Environmental Services Group for a quote.
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in indoor air quality and radon gas testing, remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead and asbestos for homes, buildings, condominiums and more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: GTA, radon risks, Radon testing, Radon Testing Toronto Ontario
Posted in Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, News, Radon Testing | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012
Since 2004, smoking in public places, including restaurants and night clubs, has been banned in Toronto, and while city councillors talk on occasion about extending that ban to outdoor areas like parks and beaches, officials in California have just gone one step further in allowing landlords to ban smoking from multi-family residences.
What the recently tabled legislation defines is the right to specify in the lease exactly where smoking is prohibited on their properties, including an outright ban. It recognizes the right of tenants and condo owners to enjoy their homes free of second hand smoke, the dangers of which are well known.
Numerous studies have documented the fact that second hand smoke can travel throughout a multi-family building from unit to unit, contaminating and harming the occupants, particularly children. Even without similar legislation here in Canada, you should be rightfully concerned if you smell smoke in your apartment or condo unit that comes from somewhere outside, (often emanating from the unit below yours since smoke tends to rise).
At Environmental Services Group, we can test for second hand smoke, including chemical analyses of nicotine both in air and on surfaces. We can also help to pinpoint where the smoke is entering your residence by checking air pressure readings within the condo/apt versus the hallway, at closets and wall spaces where plumbing chases are likely to be found, to determine if there is a negative air pressure in the unit. In an area of negative air pressure, outside air is actually being drawn inside your home. Documentation and information give you the tools to find a solution to the problem.
Get help from the experts – call the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario. We provide state-of-the-art, industry-leading expertise in remedying environmental hazards such as mold, lead, asbestos and much more. Call 416-575-6111 or visit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!
Tags: indoor air quality, Indoor Air Quality Testing Toronto Ontario, Second hand smoke
Posted in Indoor Air Quality, Indoor Airy Quality Testing, News | No Comments »
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