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 the 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 http://www.environmentalservicesgroup.ca/radon.php offer radon gas testing tailored to your needs. Let us give you peace of mind – 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 indoor air quality and radon gas testing, 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!

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!

Air Barriers
The changes, among other things, include requiring an air barrier to cover the entire building envelope – where in the past, it was only required around thermally insulated portions. Air barriers include elements you’ll find inside the home, like drywall, as well as what is called a “house wrap”. Made of a variety of materials, the house wrap is literally wrapped around the exterior of a home while it’s being constructed, and it serves to restrict air leakage as well as control moisture. Air leaks can cause condensation issues and may also result in wind driven rain coming inside.

The Basement
The new Code also specifies improved levels of insulation, especially in basements. Previously, the Code specified that a basement was to be insulated only two feet down from the sill plate (where the lumber of the wall rests on the foundation), where now it’s required for the full height of the basement. This prevents condensation from forming on the top half of the foundation, where it’s exposed to the air above ground level. More insulation = more protection against condensation and moisture, and therefore potential mold growth. In addition to the current guidelines, many experts recommend that you insulate your basement floor as well for the same reason.

The new Building Code promises to reduce energy bills and improve indoor air quality along with reducing the risk of mold growth – but it only just came into effect. Previous versions of the Code were less stringent, and the Ontario Building Code itself was initiated only in 1975.  If your home was built before that time, it may not have included any insulation at all in the basement, making it a prime location for condensation, moisture and therefore mold. An uninsulated crawl space in particular is an ideal location for mold growth. Mold may be growing in the walls and between the floors of your home without your knowing it.

Toxic Mold Symptoms
Common symptoms of exposure to toxic mold may include eye, nose and throat irritation, respiratory symptoms like breathing difficulties, allergy or flu-like symptoms like such as runny nose and clogged sinus, and even more troubling issues like a depressed immune system and vertigo.

If you smell a stale, moldy odour in your home or you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a recurring basis, do yourself a favour and call the experts at Environmental Services Group for a mold inspection 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!

You may remember the headlines a couple of years ago when actress Britanny Murphy passed away in suspicious circumstances in December of 2009, and then her husband as well the following spring. Ms Murphy’s death was deemed to have been caused by pneumonia, anemia and prescription drug intoxication, and her husband’s by pneumonia and anemia.

Lawsuit
Now Ms Murphy’s mother has filed a lawsuit suggesting her daughter’s death may have had something to do with exposure to toxic mold in her home. In a complicated dossier, the lawsuit is actually being filed against the firm of lawyers who were originally hired to sue the builders of the home in the Hollywood Hills. That original lawsuit covered a number of alleged construction problems, including the presence of toxic mold.

Whatever the result of the lawsuit, it serves as a reminder that mold can exist in any home or building, no matter how lavish or upscale the neighbourhood, and no matter how new or old. Mold only needs 24 hours to grow under the right conditions, not weeks or years, and while it may be more prevalent in older and unoccupied or neglected homes, even brand new homes are not immune.

That’s why it makes sense to include a mold inspection along with the other inspections performed when you’re closing the deal on a home.

Toxic Mold Symptoms
Common symptoms of exposure to toxic mold may include eye, nose and throat irritation, respiratory symptoms like breathing difficulties, allergy or flu-like symptoms like such as runny nose and clogged sinus, and even more troubling issues like a depressed immune system and vertigo.

If you smell a stale, moldy odour in your home or you are experiencing any of these symptoms on a recurring basis, do yourself a favour and call the experts at Environmental Services Group for a mold inspection 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!

The show, which airs on HGTV, typically deals with the ins and outs of renovating an older property into rental income units of various types. In this episode, homeowners Nelson and Sarah wanted to renovate a basement apartment so they could ask for a good rent to help cover their own expenses.  The basement, as it existed, was furnished in mid-tone wood paneling that looked dingy and dated, and likely would have prevented their asking a higher rent or attracting more upscale tenants.

The couple on the show illustrate a common situation. Basement renovations are a typical homeowner project, and the renovation or addition of an income property in your own home can make a lot of financial sense in our uncertain economy. Many people may be tempted to take on those renovations themselves to make it an even more cost effective endeavour, but the Income Property episode underscored the importance of calling in the experts no matter how “handy” you are.

When it came to renovating the wall surfaces, an unwelcome discovery was made – a large growth of mold behind the walls. Basements, which are frequently damp, often present ideal conditions for mold to grow and accumulate, as they did in this case. Environmental Services Group was called in for their mold assessment and removal expertise, and had the potentially dangerous situation under control in short order.

A second – and necessary – step involved mold testing by their certified experts. It’s crucial to complete this process so that you know the unwelcome problem won’t simply return.

In the end, Nelson and Sarah emerged with a bright, beautiful and very rentable basement apartment – and with the peace of mind that came from knowing that they’d effectively dealt with a situation that poses documented health risks.

Mold is no laughing matter. If you plan a basement or any other renovation, or you suspect the presence of mold in your home in any area, do yourself a favour and call the experts at 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!

At the 15th Annual Condominium Conference in Toronto in early November, indoor air quality issues were underscored in the environmental portion of the events.  While indoor air quality testing is not yet mandated by any existing legislation, condo builders and managers aim to keep ahead of the curve in this area.

Across the province, a township in eastern Ontario recently joined the growing number of cities, provinces and states continent-wide in instituting a bylaw that requires all homes to have a working carbon monoxide (CO) monitor.

The current Ontario Building Code does require a CO monitor to be installed in all new homes, but bylaws like the one in South Dundas township extend that protection to older homes as well.

It’s certainly a step in the right direction, and recognizes the importance of monitoring indoor air quality, along with the dangers of one of the leading (yet preventable) causes of unintentional poisoning in this province. Any home equipped with a heating system that uses fossil fuels is at risk of producing CO, which occurs during incomplete burning of those fuels. Gas and oil heating systems, gas and propane driven vehicles and appliances can all produce CO, so you’ll want to be sure to install a monitor near your garage as well as the other areas of your home.

However, damage to your health can occur due to chronic exposure to levels of CO too low to be detected by your CO monitor, or they may occur in areas that it doesn’t reach. At Environmental Services Group, our equipment is sophisticated enough to detect those lower levels and give you peace of mind. If you’ve been experiencing any of the symptoms of CO exposure, including chronic headaches and a stuffy feeling even if these aren’t necessarily acute, please do yourself a favour and call the experts at 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 http://www.environmentalservicesgroup.ca/getaquote.phpvisit our website today for a pressure-free initial consultation. You’ll be glad you did!

After some experimentation with various materials, asbestos was mixed with cement by the early 20^th century. In many ways, it was the ideal construction material – durable, both flame resistant and waterproof, easy to handle and form into a wide variety of useable shapes and formats. The mixtures used ranged from 10-75% cement to asbestos fibres, and were found to be nearly indestructible.

It’s no wonder that siding shingles became one of the very many uses for the asbestos-cement mixture. It was commonly used for industrial buildings, where corrugated sheets replaced corrugated iron. It was more economical and more flexible. Since it was easy to form into any shape, asbestos-cement shingles may feature a variety of finishes, including textured, wood-like and purely decorative applications. These shingles were secured at the bottom, rather then the top as was common with wood or slate shingles, which made them easier to replace.

Asbestos-cement was seen as a versatile, innovative building material in many respects until the early 1970′s and the first bans on asbestos use were initiated in North America. After decades of exposure, asbestos workers had come to present with alarming symptoms, and a link was discovered between inhaled asbestos fibres and a form of lung cancer.

What’s important to remember is that the fibres must be inhaled to become hazardous. Building materials are only considered hazardous if they have deteriorated to the point that they can be crumbled by hand. Asbestos-cement, if intact, is not considered hazardous because the cement fully binds the fibres; therefore they don’t circulate in the air where they can be breathed in.

However any material does deteriorate over time, and chipping, sawing, grinding, sanding – even a large scratch in the surface can release dangerous asbestos fibres into the air. They keys to safe maintenance are:

• Inspection – keep a close eye on the exterior of your home or wherever the materials include asbestos
• Maintenance – clear away any debris as quickly as you can, and avoid contact with things like the lawnmower or weedeater and siding

At Environmental Services Group, asbestos surveys and assessments are one of our areas of expertise. If you see any cracks or chips in need of repair or suspect asbestos use in any of the building materials in your home, then call the experts at 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!

Lead was once used in a variety of very common household and industrial applications during much of the 20^th century. It was widely used in paints, plumbing and even to solder canned goods. Federal regulations began to phase out the use of lead to solder canned goods in the mid-1970’s, and it was abandoned completely about a decade later.

Your home may present the risk of lead exposure if:

-          it was built before 1960 (about a quarter of all Canadian homes were built before 1960)

-          your plumbing was installed prior to 1990

Lingering lead contamination in the home largely exists in paint or paint dust. Lead based paints may have been used in your home, or also on painted siding. It’s particularly risky when the paint is peeling or eroded from wear and tear, and can exist as a dust that is then inhaled. Children – who seem to put everything in their mouths – and pregnant or nursing women are especially vulnerable to the risks of lead poisoning.

At Environmental Services Group, we can put your mind at ease with a lead survey and assessment. Call the experts at ESG for a quote today.

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!

Radon is a colourless and odourless gas that’s completely undetectable to human senses. It can be produced by the environment surrounding your home, or even by certain products and materials inside the house. It’s also estimated to be the cause of about 10% of all lung cancers, and is considered the second highest source of the disease.  To top off the alarming news, radon almost certainly already exists in your home.

So what can you do about it? Education and information are your keys, along with radon testing & inspections performed by the experts.

What is Radon?

Radon is a gas that is produced naturally during the decaying process of uranium. There are traces of uranium all over the globe in a wide range of areas, and it can exist in the underlying rock bed in varying concentrations. It may also be present in small amounts in some building materials, including concrete, bricks, tiles and gyproc. Your granite countertop may contain trace amounts of uranium. As time goes by, it begins to decay and break down, producing compounds that humans and animals may inhale.

Radon seeps into your home through any cracks that may exist, and particularly where the house has contact with the soil, including basements and foundations, the joints of gas and water connections, and other areas.

Some areas may be more prone to radon gas exposure than others, including:

-          Areas where the rock bed is uranium-rich
-          Hills or slopes
-          Areas where the ground forms deep cracks during dry weather
-          Very permeable soils
-          Areas with underground limestone caverns

Radon is present virtually everywhere on the earth, however, and it’s not possible to tell if your home is prone simply by assessing the area. You’ll need actual radon inspection & testing to know for sure.

How can I minimize the risk of Radon contamination?

Outside, randomly occurring radon gas is typically quickly diluted and made harmless by the natural passage of air. Inside the home, poor ventilation is the main cause for radon gas to collect and concentrate to dangerous levels. Ensuring proper ventilation is your first and most important step.

Here are some other tips:

-          Help to reduce emissions from the ground up by sealing and caulking any cracks, holes and fissures in your basement floor and walls
-          Paint your basement floor with two coats of paint and a sealer – unfinished floors are at risk of radon gas seeping in
-          Increase ventilation by simply opening windows and allowing air to circulate

Radon Inspection & Testing

Radon levels can vary even in the same location depending on the season, climate, and HVAC systems you use. At Environmental Services Group, we recommend that you test during the cooler months of the year – from October to April – and Health Canada recommends that testing continue for a three month period. We strongly suggest you include radon testing in your pre-purchase home inspection.

You’ll never know if there’s a radon problem in your house unless you take the test.

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 identifying and remedying environmental hazards such as radon gas, 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!

Radon: A Guide for Canadian Homeowners (Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation)

Health Canada Radon Fact Sheet

Overall, the findings suggest that Canadian building professionals are in the know about the importance of indoor air quality, but they also suggest that many professionals don’t know how to properly remedy it and have rose-colored glasses on when assessing their own dwellings.

Most professionals at least understand that bacteria, second-hand smoke, and toxic mold are threats to indoor air quality and have a solid understanding of the breathing problems they create. Many of them also acknowledge that they get complaints from tenants relating to air quality and that they provide guidance to rectify the problems.

But there are some crucial knowledge gaps in other areas. The ERG survey suggests that most building professionals underestimate the threat caused by volatile organic compounds, which could include cleaning products in carpets, lead paint, and so on.

Worse yet, the majority of building professionals incorrectly identify the best way to repair indoor air quality. Only three in 10 know that “pollutant source control” is most effective, whereas almost half think “increasing ventilation” is the key and roughly a quarter believe “air cleaning” is best.

Almost every building professional reports that his or her space’s overall air quality over a typical year is good. However, only a third rate their air quality as “very good,” the highest possible rating.

So, these findings tell us that:

1) Most building professionals acknowledge that indoor air quality is important;

2) Most building professionals offer guidance to their tenants to help improve their indoor air quality;

3) Most building professionals don’t know the best way to improve indoor air quality;

4) Most building professionals believe their indoor air quality is satisfactory but has room to improve.

In other words, they know that bad indoor air quality is undesirable but don’t know how to fix it, don’t think their own building has it, and give incorrect advice on how to correct it when asked by their tenants. That’s an obvious generalization, as not every building professional is guilty of those traits, but it still illustrates a clear problem.

Thankfully, one key stat suggests there’s hope: the majority say that, when they need more information, they will in fact turn to environmental consultants and other indoor air quality experts. The key is to inform them enough that they realize they’re uneducated. That way they’ll turn to the certified professionals and take their indoor air quality to new heights.

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!