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Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes.

Many Californians might think gold is the state rock, but in fact it is the state mineral. Since 1965, serpentine has been the State Rock, the first such designation for any state. The choice of serpentine was an economic one. Serpentine is a source of asbestos, which was widely used in construction and other industries. With more serpentine than any other state, California benefitted financially from this mineral. However, by the 21st century, it was well known that exposure to asbestos was dangerous to human health and so its use was reduced and limited.

Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance asbestos has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Asbestos has also been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials.

Where is asbestos found in Homes or Buildings? List of building materials include, but not limited to, attic insulation, furnace equipment insulation, linoleum flooring, floor tile, mastic, glues, adhesives, sheet  rock and skim coat textured walls and ceilings, plaster, acoustical spray popcorn ceilings, stucco, window putty glazing, roofing material, transite flue pipes, transite siding, boiler equipment, pipe lagging, and vermiculite insulation.

How would you know if asbestos is present in a building material? Only way is to have the material sampled and analyzed by an accredited laboratory under a microscope.

Asbestos containing materials are generally safe as long as the material remains intact, is in good condition, and remains undisturbed. When asbestos is disturbed it releases fibers into the air. These fibers are very small and aerodynamic and can stay airborne for up to 72 hours floating in the air and migrating throughout the environment.

If you breathe asbestos fibers, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer. 

There are no known or established safe concentrations of asbestos exposure. Everyone's immune system is diffferent. Generally, individuals that have contracted asbestos related diseases like Asbestosis and Mesothelioma were exposed to large amounts of asbestos over a prolonged period of time.

Individuals most susceptable to asbestos exposure are individuals in the construction industry performing renovation or demolition of structures on a daily basis.

The handling, work practices, and disposal of asbestos is regulated and restricted by certain California regulatory  agencies. The EPA, Cal-OSHA, BAAQMD, and DTSC are few of the main agencies that regulate asbestos.

Prior to renovation or demolition of structures asbestos testing is prudent and required. If asbestos testing isn't performed, exposure and contamination issues can arise. There are fines and liability issues Contractor's and Owner's both share if asbestos testing isn't performed.

“Asbestos-containing material (ACM)” means any material containing more than 1% asbestos. 

Asbestos-containing construction materials (ACCM) involves any manufactured construction material which contains more than 1/10th of 1% asbestos.

If asbestos is present who can remove or handle it? In the State of California only a licensed asbestos abatement contractor can safely handle and dispose of asbestos. The average general contractor or handyman doesn't posses asbestos license or registration. If asbestos is removed improperly by unlicensed and untrained individuals can be a problem.      

Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead. As pigment, lead(II) chromate, lead(II, IV) oxide, and lead(II) carbonate are the most common forms. Lead is added to paint to accelerate drying, increase durability, maintain a fresh appearance, and resist moisture that causes corrosion.

Homes and Buildings built before 1978 probably contain lead-based paint. The older the home the more likely it has lead paint in it. Painted toys and furniture made before 1978 may also contain lead-based paint. Lead-based paint becomes a concern when it chips, flakes, turns into dust, or gets into the soil.

A buildup of lead in the body, usually over months or years. Lead-based paint and its dust, usually found in older buildings, are common sources of exposure. Young children are especially at risk. Occupational exposure, such as welding, is a more common cause for adults.

Symptoms include developmental delays, abdominal pain, neurologic changes, and irritability. At very high levels, it can be fatal.
Treatment always involves avoiding further exposure to lead or lead-based products and may include medications to help remove lead from the body. 

Lead hazards in and around properties are most likely caused by renovation, repair, or painting activities.  Contractors performing renovation, repair, and repainting projects that disturb painted surfaces in homes, childcare facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.

How do you know if you have  lead-based paint or hazards in or around your property? If you don't perform testing one is to assume that lead-based paint is present on pre-1978 era structures and treat as such. Home self lead test kits have been proven to be unreliable.  A false positive is when a test kit displays a positive result by a change in color and there is no or little lead in the item. The best way to confirm the presence of lead-based paint is to sample and have an accredited laboratory analyze.

Lead-based paint means paint or other surface coatings that contain lead equal to or exceeding 1.0 milligram per square centimeter, 0.5 percent by weight, or 5,000 parts per million. 

What is an elevated blood lead level?  The mean blood lead level (BLL) for U.S. adults is less than 1 µg/dL, and the 97.5 percentile for BLL is 3.5 µg/dL (CDC, CSTE 2021 ); thus, CDPH recommends clinical action and follow-up for adult BLLs 3.5 µg/dL and greater.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a change in its blood lead reference value (BLRV) from 5 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) to 3.5 mcg/dL on October 28, 2021. The CDC BLRV is used to identify children with higher levels of lead in their blood compared to most children.

What dust concentrations consititute as a lead hazard?  EPA’s new clearance levels are 10 micrograms (µg) of lead in dust per square foot (ft2) for floor dust and 100 µg/ft2 for window sill dust, significantly lower than the previous levels of 40 µg/ft2 for floor dust and 250 µg/ft2 for window sill dust. 

Prior to renovation, repair, or painting activity in pre-1978 Homes the contractor performing work is required by law to be EPA RRP Lead certified and implement lead-safe work practices. If known lead hazards have been established at a property or ones intent is to remove or abate a lead hazard than it is required by law that work be performed by a California Department of Public Health lead certified individual.  

Mold is a fungal growth that forms and spreads on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter. There are many different mold species that come in many different colors. Molds are sometimes referred to as mildew. They are found both indoors and outdoors in all climates, during all seasons of the year. Outdoors, molds survive by using plants and decaying organic matter such as fallen leaves as a source of nutrition. Indoors, molds need moisture and a carbon source from building materials or building contents to grow.

Excess moisture is generally the cause of indoor mold growth. Molds reproduce by releasing tiny spores that float through the air until landing in other locations. When they settle on wet or moist surfaces, the spores can form new mold colonies. Moderate temperatures and available nutrient sources make most office buildings ideal for mold growth.

Exposure to molds has occurred throughout history. The types of molds found in homes or office buildings are not rare or even unusual. It is important to understand that no indoor space is completely free from mold spores, not even a surgical operating room. Molds are everywhere, making our exposure to molds unavoidable, whether indoors or outdoors, at home or at work.

Exposure to a large number of mold spores may cause allergic symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, itching, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, and fatigue. Repeated exposure to mold can increase a person's sensitivity, causing more severe allergic reactions.

Mold can be toxic and dangerous because indoor mold may cause serious health problems like asthma, sinus conditions, runny nose, cough, and allergy. However, it is sometimes difficult to remove mold. That is why professional mold remediation sometimes maybe necessary.

Mold removal takes lots of effort and time, especially if you do not know what you are doing. In fact, you may spend more time locating the areas infested with mold, and you may waste more time eliminating mold, especially if you do not have the right products or tools.

If you do not completely remove the mold, it will come back. You will spend more time trying to get rid of it. Professionals can do the job once. They take less time to locate the mold and they use proper methods, tools, and chemicals to completely remove the mold.

Attempting to remove mold yourself (depending on the nature and severity) can cause problems such as exposure concerns and contamination. If the work area is not properly contained and ventilated, millions of mold spores can migrate all over the environment. 

It is important that individuals partaking in mold removal don proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and sometimes HEPA equipped air scubbers are necessary during the process along with proper containment and chemical treatment products. Isolation of the work area is vital, placing critical barrier plastic sheeting over HVAC vents or registers during the course of work is imperative.

Removing or cutting out mold infested building materials or surfaces is just one part of the equation. Equally as important is the dehumidification drying of exposed surfaces and substrates that will remain, and the application of mold specific products such as a microbial disinfectant and mold resistent coating prior to installing any new building materials or reconstruction. It is also vital that one removing mold infested building materials chase all water damage, staining, and mold in all directions (e.g., radius) until clean surfaces and substrates apppear at least 2' feet past damage.

If mold remediation is necessary it is important that a licensed environmental firm or water damage restoration contractor that specializes in mold perform the work.

Before one partakes in mold remediation, we need to identify and understand the source of mold and why it had grown inside the structure. If you ignore the source, mold remediation will be moot, as for mold will only regenerate in the future. 

Sometimes the growth of mold is clearly apparent, for instance a plumbing leak or roof leak. Sometimes the source of mold growth is not known. Mold grows in dark and damp enviornments with limited airflow when moisture is present. Usually moisture that is present is underlying and  not visible or appparent by touch.

Many times past owners or occupants of a structure had suffered from past water or moisture intrusion and simply chose to allow the water damage to dry out naturally or by opening windows or operating fans. The problem with this scenario is that it doesn't adequately dry out surfaces and substrates, especially inacessible areas inside floor, wall, or ceiling inner cavities. 

Once mold establishes, which can take up to 72 hours, it then begins to grow and manifest. Even after the source of water and moisture has ceased, once mold establishes in dark and damp environments it can continue to grow and manifest unbeknownst to occupants. It is only when musty odors or mildew smells emunate or one experiences allergic reactions to mold is proof that mold condiitions still linger.    

Whether you live in an apartment, townhome or single family home, an old home or are building a new home, there are many ways to protect and improve your indoor air quality.

Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are a primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough fresh outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.

Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continues to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest -- your home. Many ordinary activities such as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning, and redecorating can cause the release and spread of indoor pollutants at home. Studies have shown that the air in our homes can be even more polluted than outdoor air.

Many Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, often at home. Therefore, breathing clean indoor air can have an important impact on health. People who are inside a great deal may be at greater risk of developing health problems, or having problems made worse by indoor air pollutants. These people include infants, young children the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.

Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. They promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work or school, and of doctor and hospital visits. Some can even damage surfaces inside and outside your house. Biological pollutants can travel through the air and are often invisible.

Some common indoor biological pollutants are:

• Animal Dander (minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin)
• Dust Mite and Cockroach parts
• Infectious agents (bacteria or viruses)
• Pollen

Some of these substances are in every home. It is impossible to get rid of them all. Even a spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth nutrients and moisture. These conditions can be found in many locations, such as bathrooms, damp or flooded basements, wet appliances (such as humidifiers or air conditioners), and even some carpets and furniture.

Modern materials and construction techniques may reduce the amount of outside air brought into buildings which may result in high moisture levels inside. Using humidifiers, unvented heaters, and air conditioners in our homes has increased the chances of moisture forming on interior surfaces. This encourages the growth of certain biological pollutants.

Most information about sources and health effects of biological pollutants is based on studies of large office buildings and two surveys of homes in northern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that 30% to 50% of all structures have damp conditions which may encourage the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. This percentage is likely to be higher in warm, moist climates.  Some diseases or illnesses have been linked with biological pollutants in the indoor environment. However, many of them also have causes unrelated to the indoor environment. Therefore, we do not know how many health problems relate only to poor indoor air.

All of us are exposed to biological pollutants. However, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Some people do not experience health reactions from certain biological pollutants, while others may experience one or more of the following reactions:

• Allergic
• Infectious
• Toxic 

Except for the spread of infections indoors, ALLERGIC REACTIONS may be the most common health problem with indoor air quality in homes. They are often connected with animal dander (mostly from cats and dogs), with house dust mites (microscopic animals living in household dust), and with pollen. Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Some common signs and symptoms are:

• Watery eyes
• Runny nose and sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Itching
• Coughing
• Wheezing and difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Fatigue 

Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma These people have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult. The number of people who have asthma has greatly increased in recent years. The number of people with asthma has gone up by 59 percent since 1970, to a total of 9.6 million people. Asthma in children under 15 years of age has increased 41 percent in the same period, to a total of 2.6 million children. The number of deaths from asthma is up by 68 percent since 1979, to a total of almost 4,400 deaths per year.

Are you concerned about the effects on your health that may be related to biological pollutants in your home? Before you discuss your concerns with your doctor, you should know the answers to the following questions. This information can help the doctor determine whether your health problems may be related to biological pollution.

• Does anyone in the family have frequent headaches, fevers, itchy watery eyes, a stuffy nose, dry throat, or a cough? Does anyone complain of feeling tired or dizzy all the time? Is anyone wheezing or having difficulties breathing on a regular basis?
• Did these symptoms appear after you moved to a new or different home?
• Do the symptoms disappear when you go to school or the office or go away on a trip, and return when you come back?
• Have you recently remodeled your home or done any energy conservation work, such as installing insulation, storm windows, or weather stripping? Did your symptoms occur during or after these activities?
• Does your home feel humid? Can you see moisture on the windows or on other surfaces, such as walls and ceilings?
• What is the usual temperature in your home? Is it very hot or cold?
• Have you recently had water damage?
• Is your basement wet or damp?
• Is there any obvious mold or mildew?
• Does any part of your home have a musty or moldy odor?
• Is the air stale?
• Do you have pets?
• Do your house plants show signs of mold?
• Do you have air conditioners or humidifiers that have not been properly cleaned?
• Does your home have cockroaches or rodents? 

INFECTIOUS DISEASES caused by bacteria and viruses, such as flu, measles, chicken pox, and tuberculosis, may be spread indoors. Most infectious diseases pass from person to person through physical contact. Crowded conditions with poor air circulation can promote this spread. Some bacteria and viruses thrive in buildings and circulate through indoor ventilation systems. For example, the bacterium causing Legionnaire's disease, a serious and sometimes lethal infection, and Pontiac Fever, a flu-like illness, have circulated in some large buildings.

TOXIC REACTIONS are the least studied and understood health problem caused by some biological air polluants in the home. Toxins can damage a variety of organs and tissues in the body, including the liver, the central nervous system, the digestive tract, and the immune system.

There is no simple and cheap way to sample the air in your home to determine the level of all biological pollutants. Experts suggest that sampling for biological pollutants is not a useful problem-solving tool. Even if you had your home tested, it is almost impossible to know which biological pollutant(s) cause various symptoms or health problems. The amount of most biological substances required to cause disease is unknown and varies from one person to the next.

Does this make the problem sound hopeless? On the contrary, you can take several simple, practical actions to help remove sources of biological pollutants, to help get rid of pollutants, and to prevent their return.

Begin by touring your household. Follow your nose, and use your eyes. Two major factors help create conditions for biological pollutants to grow nutrients and constant moisture with poor air circulation.

• Dust and construction materials, such as wood, wallboard, and insulation, contain nutrients that allow biological pollutants to grow. Firewood also is a source of moisture, fungi, and bugs.
• Appliances such as humidifiers, kerosene and gas heaters, and gas stoves add moisture to the air.
• A musty odor, moisture on hard surfaces, or even water stains, may be caused by:

 Air-conditioning units
Basements, attics, and crawlspaces
Bathrooms
Carpets

Heating and air conditioning ducts Humidifiers and dehumidifiers

            Refrigerator drip pans

Before you give away the family pet or move, there are less drastic steps that can be taken to reduce potential problems. Properly cleaning and maintaining your home can help reduce the problem and may avoid interrupting your normal routine. People who have health problems such as asthma, or are allergic, may need to do this and more. Discuss this with your doctor.

Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.

There are many ways to control moisture in your home:

• Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house). Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic) Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside ) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it maybe necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet, the Southwest is hot and dry, the South is hot and wet, and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weatherization for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.

Where Biological Pollutants May Be Found in the Home:

1. Dirty air conditioners
2. Dirty humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers
3. Bathroom without vents or windows
4. Kitchen without vents or windows
5. Dirty refrigerator drip pans
6. Laundry room with unvented dryer
7. Unventilated attic8. Carpet on damp basement floor
9. Bedding
10. Closet on outside wall
11. Dirty heating/air conditioning system
12. Dogs or cats
13. Water damage (around windows, the
roof or the basement)

Maintain And Clean All Appliances That Come In Contact With Water;

• Have major appliances, such as furnaces, heat pumps and central air conditioners, inspected and cleaned regularly by a professional, especially before seasonal use. Change filters on heating and cooling systems according to manufacturer's directions. (In general, change filters monthly during use.) When first turning on the heating or air conditioning at the start of the season, consider leaving your home until it airs out.
• Have window or wall air-conditioning units cleaned and serviced regularly by a professional, especially before the cooling season. Air conditioners can help reduce the entry of allergy-causing pollen. But they may also become a source of biological pollutants if not properly maintained. Clean the coils and rinse the drain pans according to manufacturer's instructions, so water can-not collect in pools.
• Have furnace-attached humidifiers cleaned and serviced regularly by a professional, especially before the heating season.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions when using any type of humidifier Experts differ on the benefits of using humidifiers. If you do use a portable humidifier (approximately 1 to 2 gallon tanks), be sure to empty its tank every day and refill with distilled or demineralized water, or even fresh tap water if the other types of water are unavailable For larger portable humidifiers, change the water as recommended by the manufacturer. Unplug the appliance before cleaning. Every third day, clean all surfaces coming in contact with water with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, using a brush to loosen deposits Some manufacturers recommend using diluted household bleach for cleaning and maintenance, generally in a solution of one-half cup bleach to one gallon water When any household chemical, rinse well to remove all traces of chemical before refilling humidifier.
• Empty dehumidifiers daily and clean often. If possible, have the appliance drip directly into a drain. Follow manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and maintenance. Always disconnect the appliance before cleaning.
• Clean refrigerator drip pans regularly according to manufacturer's instructions. If refrigerator and freezer doors don't seal properly, moisture may build up and mold can grow. Remove any mold on door gaskets and replace faulty gaskets.

Clean Surfaces:

• Clean moist surfaces, such as showers and kitchen counters.
• Remove mold from walls, ceilings, floors, and paneling. Do not simply cover mold with paint, stain, varnish, or a moisture-proof sealer, as it may resurface.
• Replace moldy shower curtains, or remove them and scrub well with a household cleaner and rinse before rehanging them.

Dust Control:

Controlling dust is very important for people who are allergic to animal dander and mites. You cannot see mites, but you can either remove their favorite breeding grounds or keep these areas dry and clean. Dust mites can thrive in sofas, stuffed chairs, carpets, and bedding. Open shelves, fabric wallpaper, knickknacks, and venetian blinds are also sources of dust mites. Dust mites live deep in the carpet and are not removed by vacuuming. Many doctors suggest that their mite-allergic patients use washable area rugs rather than wall-to-wall carpet.

• Always wash bedding in hot water (at least 130° F) to kill dust mites. Cold water won't do the job. Launder bedding at least every 7 to 10 days.
• Use synthetic or foam rubber mattress pads and pillows, and plastic mattress covers if you are allergic Do not use fuzzy wool blankets, feather or wool-stuffed comforters, and feather pillows.
• Clean rooms and closets well, dust and vacuum often to remove surface dust. Vacuuming and other cleaning may not remove all animal dander, dust mite material, and other biological pollutants. Some particles are so small they can pass through vacuum bags and remain in the air If you are allergic to dust, wear a mask when vacuuming or dusting. People who are highly allergy-prone should not perform these tasks. They may even need to leave the house when someone else is cleaning.

Before You Move:

Protect yourself by inspecting your potential new home. If you identify problems, have the landlord or seller correct them before you move in, or even consider moving elsewhere.

• Have professionals check the heating and cooling system, including humidifiers and vents Have duct lining and insulation checked for growth.
• Check for exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens If there are no vents, do the kitchen and bathrooms have at least one window a piece? Does the cook top have a hood vented outside? Does the clothes dryer vent outside? Are all vents to the outside of the building, not in attics or crawlspaces?
• Look for obvious mold growth throughout the house, including attics, basements, and crawlspaces and around the foundation. See if there are many plants close to the house, particularly if they are damp and rotting. They are a potential source of biological pollutants. Downspouts from roof gutters should route water away from the building.
• Look for stains on the walls, floor or carpet (including any carpet over concrete floors) as evidence of previous flooding or moisture problems. Is there moisture on windows and surfaces? Are there signs of leaks or seepage in the basement?
• Look for rotted building materials which may suggest moisture or water damage.
• If you or anyone else in the family has a pet allergy, ask if any pets have lived in the home.
• Examine the design of the building. Remember that in cold climates, overhanging areas, rooms over unheated garages, and closets on outside walls may be prone to problems with biological pollutants.
• Look for signs of cockroaches. 

 Warning!

Carefully read instructions for use and any cautionary labeling on cleaning products before beginning cleaning procedures.

• Do not mix any chemical products. Especially, never mix cleaners containing bleach with any product (such as ammonia) which does not have instructions for such mixing When chemicals are combined, a dangerous gas can sometimes be formed.
• Household chemicals may cause burning or irritation to skin and eyes.
• Household chemicals may be harmful if swallowed, or inhaled.
• Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mucous membranes and clothing.
• Avoid breathing vapor. Open all windows and doors and use an exhaust fan that sends the air outside.
• Keep household chemicals out of reach of children.
• Rinse treated surface areas well to remove all traces of chemicals. 

Correcting Water Damage:

What if damage is already done? Follow these guidelines for correcting water damage:

• Throw out mattresses, wicker furniture, straw baskets and the like that have been water damaged or contain mold. These cannot be recovered.
• Discard any water-damaged furnishings such as carpets, drapes, stuffed toys, upholstered furniture and ceiling tales, unless they can be recovered by steam cleaning or hot water washing and thorough drying.
• Remove and replace wet insulation to prevent conditions where biological pollutants can grow.

Additional Information:

Contact us at ERT to perform an Indoor Air Quality Investigation to determine potential contaminant sources in your Home or Building that maybe posing exposure concerns to occupants.             

Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete, and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks, and artificial stone. 

Renovation or Demolition of Homes and Buildings disturbing materials that contain Silica happens often. People and contractors fail to realize that dust generated from construction sites can be hazardous.

Respirable crystalline silica – very small particles at least 100 times smaller than ordinary sand you might find on beaches and playgrounds – is created when cutting, sawing, grinding, drilling, and crushing stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Activities such as abrasive blasting with sand; sawing brick or concrete; sanding or drilling into concrete walls; grinding mortar; manufacturing brick, concrete blocks, stone countertops, or ceramic products; and cutting or crushing stone result in worker exposures to respirable crystalline silica dust. Industrial sand used in certain operations, such as foundry work and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), is also a source of respirable crystalline silica exposure. About 2.3 million people in the U.S. are exposed to silica at work.

Workers and Building occupants who inhale these very small crystalline silica particles are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases, including:

• Silicosis, an incurable lung disease that can lead to disability and death;
• Lung cancer;
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); and
• Kidney disease.

To protect workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica, OSHA has issued two respirable crystalline silica standards: one for construction, and the other for general industry and maritime.

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that originates from the ground underneath structures and can cause lung cancer. Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. Most radon exposure occurs inside homes, schools and workplaces. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters buildings through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with proven, cost-effective techniques.

Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

You can take steps to reduce and control the amount of radon in your home. Testing is the only way to determine radon levels. Have your home tested by an professional. If radon levels are high, contact a certified radon service professional to fix your home. EPA guidance suggests mitigating if levels are at or above 148 Becquerels/meter3 (4 picocuries/liter). Usually, radon problems are fixed using an underground ventilation system or by increasing the rate of air changes in the building.   

California is ranked 33rd by the EPA has having the highest radon average levels in the Country.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that radon exposure is responsible for 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States (U.S.).  Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among individuals who have never smoked and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall in the U.S.

The EPA recommends that all homes be tested for radon and mitigated if the radon concentration is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. Because protracted radon exposure at concentrations less than 4 pCi/L also poses a risk, the EPA also recommends homeowners consider reducing the radon concentrations for homes measuring between 2 pCi/L and 4 pCi/L.

Indoor radon concentrations vary substantially, both within and between counties, in the U.S. The primary cause of the geographic variation in radon is the geologic radon source strength and soil permeability within a geographic area. Some of the secondary causes of geographic radon variation include differences in home construction, HVAC type, and occupant behavior (e.g., opening windows).

Even though some counties exhibit relatively lower radon averages, it is important that all homes be tested since radon concentrations greatly exceeding the EPA’s Radon Action Level have been reported in homes and other buildings in many of these “lower” radon counties.  The rate of residential radon testing also varies widely within and between U.S. counties. 

Quick Facts: Radon in California 

• Among counties with at least 10 reported tests, the highest average radon concentration was observed in Mono County with an estimated mean radon level of 7.8 pCi/L. 

• Among counties with at least 10 reported tests, the lowest mean radon level was observed in Riverside County with an estimated mean radon level of 0.8 pCi/L. 

• Testing rates per housing unit vary, with the lowest estimated rates in Kings County (<1 per 1k housing units), and the highest estimated rates in Alpine County (11 per 1k housing units). 

• The county with the most tests is Los Angeles County with 2,363 premitigation tests and an estimated mean radon level of 1.9 pCi/L. 

• California has an estimated 14,366,336 total housing units with 9,415 tests during the study period. Overall, California has an estimated mean radon level of 1.8 pCi/L.

Some or parts of the aforementioned data and information above was prepared on behalf of the American Lung Association by researchers at the University of Iowa. This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 84021001 to the American Lung Association. The data presented here were provided by the United States Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Census Bureau. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA, CDC or Census Bureau.   

Electric and magnetic fields, also known as electromagnetic fields (EMF), consist of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together. These energy fields surround us all the time. Scientific studies have not clearly shown whether exposure to EMF increases cancer risk. A few studies have connected EMF and health effects, but they have not been able to be repeated. This means that they are inconclusive. Scientists continue to conduct research on the issue. 

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) consists of waves of electric and magnetic energy moving together through space. An example of electromagnetic radiation is visible light. Electromagnetic radiation can range from low to high frequency, which is measured in hertz, and can range from low to high energy, which is measured in electron volts. Wavelength, another term associated with electromagnetic radiation, is the distance from the peak of one wave to the next.

There are two general kinds of electromagnetic radiation: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is powerful enough to knock electrons out of their orbit around an atom. This process is called ionization and can be damaging to a body’s cells. Non-ionizing radiation has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around and cause them to vibrate, which makes the atom heat up, but not enough to remove the electrons from the atoms.

Electromagnetic fields associated with electricity are a type of low frequency, non-ionizing radiation, and they can come from both natural and man-made sources. For example, lightning during a thunderstorm creates electromagnetic radiation because it creates a current between the sky and the ground. Surrounding that current is an electromagnetic field. One example is the Earth's magnetic field. We are always in the Earth’s magnetic field, which is generated at the Earth’s core. This magnetic field makes compasses work and is also used by pigeons and fish to navigate. The image below shows the range of frequencies for different forms of electromagnetic radiation found in the electromagnetic spectrum.

The waves from power lines and electrical devices have a much lower frequency than other types of EMR, such as microwaves, radio waves or gamma rays. However, a low frequency wave does not necessarily mean that it is low energy; a charging cable for a phone produces a low frequency, low energy electromagnetic field, while a high-tension power line can create a much higher energy electromagnetic field that is still low in frequency.

EMR associated with power lines is a type of low frequency non-ionizing radiation. Electric fields are produced by electric charges, and magnetic fields are produced by the flow of electrical current through wires or electrical devices. Because of this, low frequency EMR is found in close proximity to electrical sources such as power lines. As current moves through a power line, it creates a magnetic field called an electromagnetic field. The strength of the EMF is proportional to the amount of electrical current passing through the power line and decreases as you move farther away. Because of this property, the exposure to an electromagnetic field you would receive from a power line decreases with distance.

If you are concerned about possible health risks from electric and magnetic fields, you can:

• Increase the distance between yourself and the source. The greater the distance between you and the source of EMF, the lower your exposure.
• Limit the time spent around the source. The less time you spend near EMF, the lower your exposure.     

Volatile organic compounds are compounds that have a high vapor pressure and low water solubility. Many VOCs are human-made chemicals that are used and produced in the manufacture of paints, pharmaceuticals, and refrigerants. VOCs typically are industrial solvents, such as trichloroethylene; fuel oxygenates, such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE); or by-products produced by chlorination in water treatment, such as chloroform. VOCs are often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. VOCs are common ground-water contaminants.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.  VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands. Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper, graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions.

Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes, and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All of these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored.

EPA's Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. Additional TEAM studies indicate that while people are using products containing organic chemicals, they can expose themselves and others to very high pollutant levels, and elevated concentrations can persist in the air long after the activity is completed.

The risk of health effects from inhaling any chemical depends on how much is in the air, how long and how often a person breathes it in.

Breathing in low levels of VOCs for long periods of time may increase some people’s risk of health problems. Several studies suggest that exposure to VOCs may make symptoms worse for people with asthma or who are particularly sensitive to chemicals. These are much different exposures than occupational exposures.

It is important to remember that VOCs refer to a group of chemicals. Each chemical has its own toxicity and potential for causing different health effects.