Last week, Americans across the country remembered the 18th anniversary of the attacks that occurred during 9/11. These attacks not only killed thousands of Americans in the initial strike but also created environmental conditions that continue to affect citizens exposed to the toxic dust of the World Trade Center collapse
Here in Chicago, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Kids are going back to school, parks and beaches are closing, the days are getting shorter, and the summer heat is starting to fade. This changing of seasons means we are starting to spend more time indoors, which often means an uptick in indoor
The team at Indoor Science performs hundreds of indoor air quality assessments per year, from commercial and residential to industrial. After doing a number of assessments, we begin to notice patterns and common questions. One common question being “why is my basement musty?”. This may seem like a simple question but there are many factors
Researchers at Yale University and the University of Tulsa recently conducted a study to see if mold growth in one section of a house can affect other areas of the home. This is an interesting question, especially for people who have health issues which can be aggravated by mold growth. Can mold in one level
While watching one of your favorite films or television series, there are often scenes in very unique environmental settings. Such as a chase through an abandoned tunnel or a scene involving an old warehouse. While many can be sets inside of a Hollywood studio, some producers choose to use real locations for an authentic look.
Previously, I posted a blog about the benefits of mold and fungi in the environment, in food production, and its potential as a future energy source. In this post, I would like to focus on mold in a more specific context: how mold impacts the brewing industry – my personal favorite.
If you have done some basic research into mold testing, you have probably come across information on air sampling. For this blog, I will focus on the most common type of mold air samples, spore traps. Each specific mold problem is unique, so there is no one-size solution for the number of air samples. The
Wouldn’t it be great if you could spot an obvious scam by seeing a company name like “Scams R Us”! Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to spot these companies that can take advantage of you. To answer the question “Is mold testing a scam?”, I would answer “yes” and “no”. It depends. Let’s look at
Buying or remodeling an older property can be exciting. However, one item that can be uncovered is vinyl floor tile installed before the late 1970s. Vinyl floor tiles made before this time period could potentially contain asbestos and derail a major housing project. In this blog, we will discuss vinyl floor tile and how to
We often receive calls for general inquiries about mold inspections. We understand that a mold problem is not a common occurrence so we are ready and willing to answer multiple questions from potential clients. One question that comes up often is “can you take air samples for mold only and not perform a full mold inspection?”. This blog post will answer this question and also provide some information on our typical mold inspections.
You may have just recently undergone a renovation in your home and noticed that the fresh paint odor seems to be very strong and lingers months after you finished. Maybe you had some new furniture delivered, and ever since you have been suffering from headaches in your home. These are just two examples of common
You have probably seen in the news or websites about the possibility of carcinogens in your home’s air. But what exactly does that mean? What are carcinogens? Simply put, a carcinogen is anything that can possibly cause cancer. It can be something in the air, a product that you use, or a certain type of
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), millions of homes in the United States still contain lead paint. While people typically associate lead exposure with peeling paint chips in an older home, one hazard that can be overlooked is lead present in household dust. In this blog, we will discuss lead in settled dust and
The average person may not know what indoor air quality (IAQ) entails or what it is. We get calls from potential clients who are unsure of what questions to ask regarding their IAQ concerns. Some people may even be hesitant to call because they feel as if their concerns are not related to IAQ. This blog post will provide some guidance on when indoor air quality testing may be needed most.
Our company frequently gets calls from potential clients who are shopping around for services, and we often hear the questions “What makes your inspections different?” For mold inspections, one size does not fit all. You want to make sure the person coming out to your home does the best job possible. Moisture: The Key to
The real estate market is moving along in the Chicagoland area and it is the prime season for radon testing. We have covered in prior blogs the importance of knowing the radon levels. We have also reviewed why it is so important to test. But occasionally, I get questions regarding why I test in multiple
Fogging refers to the method of using an antimicrobial pesticide in an aerosolized form in order to kill mold present in a property. While mold remediation isn’t as regulated as other forms of environmental cleanup such as asbestos or lead abatement, there are organizations who set industry standards and guidelines.
In a previous blog post, Indoor Science covered The Basics of Legionella. Legionella is a bacterium that can be found naturally in various freshwater environments. This bacteria becomes a health hazard to people when it is inhaled. In this blog post, I will discuss where Legionella can be found in building water management systems, and how it is tested.
One of the most dreaded things a facility manager or business owner can receive is a notice from OSHA about a workplace complaint. OSHA complaints can come in many forms, what we will be talking about today are specific complaints related to air quality and worker exposure in the workplace. We commonly deal with two
In a prior blog post, I discussed how a home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can aid in controlling a host of indoor air quality issues. Now let’s take a look at how the HVAC can hurt indoor air quality (and hopefully see how to avoid them)! Lack of proper ventilation in HVAC
As a prospective home buyer or a homeowner contemplating renovation activities, not only should asbestos-containing materials be a concern but also lead-based paint. In this blog, we will discuss when lead paint was used in homes.
April showers bring May flowers and with them comes seasonal allergies. Those affected by allergies know that when the weather warms up and there is more rainfall, the outdoor environment changes. Plants begin to grow and generate pollen which is bad news for someone with pollen allergies. Allergy sufferers understand that the outdoor environment may cause symptoms to flare up, but what if you suffer from allergic symptoms inside of your house? This begs the question, am I allergic to my house? This blog post will discuss allergen sources inside of a home.
Inevitably, you have seen mold at some point in your life. Whether on a loaf of bread that you let sit around too long, on the fruit you let spoil in the fridge, or in the basement of your Grandma’s house that always flooded, mold is routinely around us in our daily lives. In a
Well, spring is in the air and that means that the real estate market is in full swing. Your checklist for the new home seems daunting with mortgage applications, credit checks, moving vans, building inspections, and a host of other issues. I don’t mean to throw another issue on the pile, but by all means,
During the purchase or renovation of a property built before the 1980s, many homeowners will question if asbestos-containing materials are present. When inspecting a property, many people ask what were the peak years for asbestos to be used in homes
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