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:
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:
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!
]]>Radon gas is colourless, odourless and tasteless and is produced as the natural by-product in the deterioration of uranium over time. Uranium is found in small and trace amounts all over Canada in the ground , rock and soil. Outside, it poses no risk as it’s dispersed into the wind harmlessly. However, in our airtight homes, it can build up, particularly in the basement or crawlspace areas as it seeps in through cracks in the ground and the foundation of a home.
The report suggests that less than 10% of Canadians are aware of the serious health risk posed by radon gas in their own homes, and the result is that few Canadians have tested their homes for radon gas and are completely unaware of the measures that can be taken to minimize exposure.
It’s no joke. Health Canada estimates that radon gas accounts for about 10% of all lung cancers in the country, second only to smoking as the leading cause. While province wide testing has begun in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and Quebec began testing schools in 2010, currently there is no policy in place in Ontario. The report decries the lack of national policy on this important health issue.
Michael Lio, Executive Director of the Homeowner Protection Centre, reports that, “Five years after Health Canada lowered the radon standard, there is still no national forum to coordinate efforts across provinces and territories. We need a national strategy. Health Canada must take the lead by bringing all stakeholders together to coordinate activities.”
We Can Help!
ESG can help. We offer two types of radon gas testing:
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!
]]>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!
]]>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!
]]>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.
What Can You Do?
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!
]]>Radon is produced when uranium decays and is an odourless radioactive gas considered to be the second leading cause of lung cancer in this country (after smoking). Here are just a few of the stories that made the Canadian news in the last couple of weeks.
-An Ottawa area City Councillor has called a public meeting to inform constituents about the substance and its risks. Public education is an important component of dealing with this widespread environmental threat.
-In British Columbia, a new business is looking to take action against the deadly gas. Founded by a former nuclear process technologist with Atomic Energy of Canada, the service aims to actually reduce or eliminate radon gas from homes. The business offers various processes based on the principle that radon is heavier than the surrounding air, and will collect in the basement or crawl space of a house. From there, the gas will be pumped out to disperse in the open air.
-The government of Quebec has ordered that all schools in the province be tested for radon gas. The massive undertaking involves some 3,600 school buildings and the testing has already begun.
It’s the ideal season
There’s no doubt that radon is grabbing headlines, and forewarned is definitely forearmed when it comes to any health or environmental risk. Now, during the winter months when windows remain largely shut and our homes are more tightly closed up 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 the Environmental Services Group for a quote.
More 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!
]]>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!
]]>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!
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