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Posts Tagged ‘Environmental Consultants in Toronto Ontario’

Radon Testing – Your Key to Managing the Silent Threat

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Indoor air quality is increasingly coming to the forefront of discussions on the effects of environment on human health. Consider the role of radon.

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

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Survey: Building professionals know indoor air quality is important but not how to improve it

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

The Canadian Committee on Indoor Air Quality and Buildings recently commissioned Environics Research Group to conduct a survey among building professionals and get a deeper understanding of just how much or how little they know about indoor air quality. Doing so could give us all a sense of whether Canadian building professionals are on our side and ready to battle indoor air quality problems or in the dark and in need of major education.

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!

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Survey: “Green” buildings impact the environment, “green” businesses care more about communities

Friday, May 6th, 2011

Contrary to what many businesses believe, it may actually “pay to go green.”

A recent poll conducted by TD Bank revealed that consumers believe green or environmentally friendly buildings have at least some positive impact on their communities. Being green for a building could mean being constructed or renovated using sustainable materials; it could also mean being properly inspected for potentially harmful agents.

How can a building ensure it’s as environmentally friendly as possible if it’s already built and no renovations are the horizon? Finding a good environmental consulting firm is a start. The proper experts can help a building with lead testing, asbestos and mold removal, radon testing and countless other ways of measuring how much risk to residents’ health and to the environment a given building poses.

The survey also revealed a generation gap among the responders. The younger groups – the “millenials” aged 18 to 34 – were the most aware of green buildings and the most likely to tailor their consumption based on whether or not a company’s venue is environmentally conscious. In other words, the biggest consumers of the future are the most environmentally aware.

The survey’s revelation suggests a win-win situation for businesses and consumers. By undergoing proper environmental consulting and inspection for their buildings, businesses obviously reduce their company’s environmental footprints and make their buildings safer places to work, shop and breathe. But the simple act of becoming greener can also be profitable. The upcoming younger generation wants to give its business to the greenest companies.

Now, it’s up to businesss in Toronto, the GTA and all over the world to take the next step. Ensure your company’s buildings have the highest standards for indoor air quality and environmental friendliness and the customers will follow you. The next step is to let the world know you’re doing it.

Jacquelynn Henke, Real Estate Strategy Officer for TD Bank, says it best:

“Consumers do believe [green] buildings are good for the environment and for their own health, but businesses must do a better job of communicating to their customers and the communities they serve about the development of environmentally friendly buildings.”

Environmental Services Group is a cutting edge environmental consulting firm based in Toronto and servicing both Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. 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.

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Former grow-Op homes being unscrupulously marketed…

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

As time goes by, and perhaps due to a down economy, more and more fly-by-night ”environmental consultants” and companies start to pop up.  As follows, these companies may appear to be legitimate, claiming to be “certified” and “licensed” in their respective fields.  But in reality, they’re about as legitimate as a Nigerian Internet Scam. 

But how can the average consumer tell if an environmental consultant is legitimate?  In a nutshell, by paying heed to the following criteria:

Ensure their corporate name is registered - legitimate companies have legitimate (registered) businesses and business names.  It’s all too easy to register a domain name, buy an “online certificate” for a few dollars, get a cell phone, set up a website and call yourself an environmental consultant.

Business history – ensure the company has a history of providing good service and a solid track record.  Asking for references and checking with the Better Business Bureau will save you a boatload of grief down the road.

General Liability Insurance – at the very minimum, make sure that the company in question has a minimum of 2 million dollars in Errors and Omissions Insurance.

Registered Occupational Hygienist or Certified Industrial Hygienist on Staff Recognized Certifications - If the company in question uses acronyms like CMI (certified mold inspector) and CMR (certified mold remediator), check to see that the certifiying body is legitimate. If it is not from ACAC then it is likely a quick internet print yourself a certificate.

Scope of services - does this company provide only one service or, like most professional environmental consultants, can it offer a range of other hazardous material inspection services such as air quality inspections, asbestos inspections etc.

Further, when looking for an Environmental Removal and Abatement Contractor, look for:

Company name- same criteria applies here as it does for professional enviromental consultant (see above).

General Liability Insurance – at the very minimum, make sure that the company in question has a minimum of 2 million dollars in Pollution Control Insurance.

Years of Experience - Asbestos is a “designated substance,” as such, asbestos abaement companies must be registered with the Ontario Government.  Most legitimate asbestos abatement companies have 20+ years of experience with both mold and asbestos matters.

Recognized Certifications - IICRC puts out 3 Excellent Certifications including Water Restoration Technician, Applied Microbial Remediation, Applied Structural Drying References.  Protect yourself by checking to see if said company is certified.

Contact us for more information about choosing a legitimate environment consultant and/or hazardous materials company. We can help.

Environmental Consultants in Toronto, Acton, Ajax, Barrie, Brampton, Brantford, Cambridge, Etobicoke, Georgetown, Halton Hills, Kitchener, Markham, Milton, Mississauga, North York, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Peel Region, Scarborough, Thornhill, Vaughan, Waterloo, Whitby, York Region Ontario.

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