asbestos consulting News
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Texas IAQ Experts Provide Healthy Environments for Building Occupants
Since 2001, people across Texas and the Gulf Coast with indoor environmental quality issues or concerns have had access to one of the nation’s leading consulting firms. Indoor Environmental Consultants, specializing in identifying and resolving indoor air quality (IAQ) and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) problems, have helped thousands of people in schools, commercial and residential ...
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Texas Building Science Experts Resolve Sick Building Syndrome Cases across the Gulf Coast
As far back as 1984, a World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). In some of these buildings, the term sick building syndrome (SBS) has been used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that ...
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Texas Building Science Professionals Identify Indoor Allergens & Pollutants that Impact People with COPD
According to a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey conducted in 2011, approximately 5.4% of residents in Texas had been told they have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by a healthcare professional. That equates to over 1.3 million residents of the state that are afflicted by a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. Chronic ...
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Texas Indoor Environmental Quality Experts Provide Tips for Managing Mold Complaints in the Workplace
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are over half a million business establishments throughout Texas. These businesses employee millions of workers and are a critical part of the economic success of the state. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing “safe and healthful working conditions” for their workers. One area of ...
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Indoor Environmental Consultants Support the Efforts of Asthma Awareness Month throughout Texas
May is Asthma Awareness Month and a reminder that approximately 25 million people in the United States suffer from the disease. In Texas alone, more than 2 million people have been diagnosed with asthma. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that 1 in every 11 children has asthma and it causes 3 in 5 people living with the disease to limit their physical activity or miss ...
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Texas Building Science Experts Share Important Formaldehyde Exposure Information
Formaldehyde is a chemical widely used by industry in the manufacture of building materials and numerous household products. Its primary use is in the production of resins and as a chemical intermediate. Formaldehyde is also a by-product of combustion and can be found in cigarette smoke. As far back as 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified formaldehyde as a probable ...
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Residents of Puerto Rico Warned of the Potential Presence of Asbestos in Older Floor Tiles and Flooring Materials
At some point, every home or office will need to replace its flooring due to wear and tear or to simply give an indoor space an updated look. In homes, flooring projects are a common DIY project, but many people don’t realize that tearing up some old floors could be exposing their families and guests to asbestos fibers if not done correctly. For many years, up until the late 1970s, ...
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Texas Apartment Managers Turn to Indoor Environmental Consultants to Prevent and Resolve Mold Issues
Over the last several years, Texas has experienced a boom in its multifamily housing rental market. Some markets, such as the Austin metro area, have recently experienced occupancy rates around the 95% mark. The strong demand across much of the state has resulted in a marked increase in new apartment complex construction. Apartment complexes face many of the same challenges as other forms of ...
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Texas Indoor Air Quality Professionals Identify Legionella Risks
In December, multiple media outlets reported on the tragic case of a Texas newborn who developed Legionnaires’ disease and passed away early last year. The infant was born during a water birth that some health experts believe may have exposed the child to the bacteria that causes the disease. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Each year, between ...
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California Air Pollution Control District Reminds Residents about Asbestos Testing Requirements
Recently, the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District issued an advisory regarding cleanup efforts in Capitola Village. The concerns resulted from remediation efforts following floods this spring that damaged a number of structures. As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, “We are aware of contractors working in your area that are either unlicensed or simply failing to ...
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University in Texas Moves Classes Due to Concerns over Asbestos and Mold
Earlier this month, The Houstonian reported that a building at Sam Houston State University was recently found to contain mold and asbestos. According to the article, classes were moved from Academic Building III after complaints of mold resulted in an investigation that discovered it was indeed present in the building. In order to remove the mold that was found in some walls, existing asbestos ...
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Texas Environmental Professionals Help to Prevent Occupational Asthma with Air Testing and Monitoring
More than 2 million Texans have been diagnosed with asthma. A significant number of these people are in the workforce and suffer from occupational asthma. Also referred to as work-related asthma, occupational asthma is the most common occupational lung disease in the United States. Nationwide, OSHA estimates that 11 million workers in a wide range of industries and occupations are exposed to ...
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Spray Polyurethane Foam & Chemical Exposure Concerns in Texas Homes & Buildings
Residential and commercial builders across Texas and the Gulf Coast have increasingly turned to spray polyurethane foam (SPF) to insulate new construction and for remodeling projects. SPF has become a popular alternative to other forms of insulation due to its superb insulating properties, ability to protect against moisture, to fill cracks and crevices, and its excellent sound reducing ...
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LEED IEQ Certification Services in Texas & the Gulf Coast offered by Indoor Environmental Consultants
Across Texas and the Gulf Coast, a growing number of building owners and management companies have recognized the benefits of obtaining the USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for their properties. To obtain this coveted status, there are a number of credit categories where points can be earned towards certification. One major category for LEED ...
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Indoor Environmental Consultants Celebrates 15 Years of Service in Texas and the Gulf Coast
In 2001, a group of the leading building science, indoor air quality, environmental, and microbiology professionals officially opened the doors at Indoor Environmental Consultants, Inc. (IEC). The environmental consulting firm quickly made a name for themselves in their home state of Texas and across the Gulf Coast. Today, IEC is the area’s premier indoor environmental quality ...
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How Many Metric Tons of Asbestos Imported into the U.S. Last Year made it to Puerto Rico?
While the last producer of asbestos in the United States ceased operations in 2002, the country still imports asbestos from other countries. According to the recently released U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries report, just last year, domestic consumption of asbestos minerals was estimated at 750 metric tons. The USGS also states, “In addition to asbestos minerals, ...
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Summer Allergens & Indoor Air Quality Issues in Texas the Cause of many Allergic Reactions
Many Texans associate allergies with spring, but allergies can be a problem for people any month of the year and the summer season is no exception. Summer allergies can be caused by seasonal outdoor culprits or due to the presence of indoor allergens. Two of the most common causes of summer allergies are due to the presence of pollen and mold. Depending on where a person lives in Texas, ...
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IAQ a Key Component for a Successful School Year as Texas Students Return to Classrooms
Over 80,000 students begin classes today at the Austin Independent School District and similar situations are taking place at school districts across Texas. In fact, close to 5 million students at over 1,000 school districts statewide are ready to begin the 2015-2016 school year. School districts face many challenges when it comes to providing a healthy learning environment for their students. ...
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Chinese Laminate Flooring Creates Formaldehyde Exposure Concerns across Texas
On March 1st, “60 Minutes” broadcast a report about Chinese-made laminate flooring that has been found to emit high levels of formaldehyde. The show interviewed experts who had tested over 150 boxes of the laminate flooring bought at multiple locations across California from one of the largest flooring stores in the United States. They found the products emitted an average of 6 to 7 ...
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Even Minor Tornado Damage can Result in Indoor Environmental Hazards
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in an average year Texas has 137 tornadoes, more than any other state in the country. Less than two months into spring and Texas has already been hit with a number of powerful tornadoes that have caused damage to homes and buildings in many regions of the state. In a typical year in the United States, tornadoes cause over ...
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