Where Lead Lurks in American Homes
Three places to check for lead contamination
Lead was once a common ingredient in many products, including gasoline, pipes, solder, paint, tin cans, toys, dishes, and more. While lead has been phased out of most products today, contamination from old lead objects remains a present concern. If you live in an older home built before the late 1970s, it is highly likely that your property could contain some form of lead. Lead poisoning is a serious threat, especially for young children, so naturally you will want to do everything in your power to ensure your home is free of contamination. Here are the three prime places that lead could be lurking in your home. Check them now!
Soil
Lead dust often makes its way into the soil around older homes and buildings. It can then be tracked into the home by people and pets, or on toys that have been played with outside in the dirt. Young children also sometimes consume lead-contaminated soil, either deliberately or inadvertently, which can of course have a serious impact on their health. Organizations like leadsafeamerica.org offer free soil testing that can detect lead…
READ MORE →History of Asbestos
Asbestos has been known for its fire-retardant properties and its harmful health effects for thousands of years
Asbestos has been in the news a lot recently as workers exposed decades ago to this hazardous material battle with cancer and pursue multi-million dollar settlements against their former employers. Though we may tend to think of asbestos exposure as a modern phenomenon, in reality asbestos has been sickening people for thousands of years.
Ancient Asbestos Use
Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral found on every continent in the world, so it’s not particularly surprising that many ancient cultures discovered and used it. The earliest known use of asbestos fibers was for lamp and candle wicks in around 4,000 BC. Asbestos fibers were also found in Finnish pottery from 2,500 BC, and Greek and Roman writers described fire-resistant cloth made from woven asbestos fibers.
Industrialization
Asbestos cloth continued to be made and used throughout Europe, Russia, and China throughout the Middle Ages and into the 18th century. It was mined by hand by men and then spun into threads by women and children. Clothing containing asbestos was common and at one point Italy’s banknotes even contained asbestos. Asbestos use…
READ MORE →Protecting Children from Environmental Health Hazards
Learn how to eliminate the common indoor health hazards that may be lurking in your home.
According to the EPA, it’s especially important to protect children from environmental health hazards such as lead paint, asbestos, and mold. Why? First of all, because children’s bodies are still developing and are therefore very vulnerable to damage. Secondly, because children tend to eat, drink, and breathe in proportion to their body size than adults, and therefore may absorb contaminants more quickly. Finally, because children tend to get down and dirty in the places where contamination is most likely to lurk. Fortunately, AQHI Inc. can provide professional remediation services to remove hazards from your property and keep kids from becoming ill.
Lead Paint
An estimated 1 million children are affected by lead paint poisoning. Exposure to dust from lead paint or lead in drinking water can cause issues ranging from delayed development, mental impairment, and behavior problems to disorders of the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Just about every system in the body can be affected once lead accumulates to a high level in the body. Fortunately, you can help prevent…
READ MORE →Does Your Contractor Follow EPA Lead Safety Rules?
EPA fines two New England contractors for failing to comply with Renovation, Repair, & Painting Rule.
Lead paint is present in many homes built before 1978 and can pose a danger if disturbed. Recognizing lead exposure from paint chips and paint dust as a leading cause of lead poisoning in Americans, especially children and infants, the EPA has set up comprehensive guidelines for the safe removal and cleanup of lead paint. These guidelines are known as the Renovation, Repair, & Painting Rule. However, not all contractors or individuals take care to follow these guidelines.
Contractors Face Thousands in Fines
One recent case shows how serious the EPA is about compliance with their Renovation, Repair, & Painting (RRP) Rule. The former Frisbee School in Kittery, Maine was getting a facelift to be transformed into a community center. The general contractor on the project, James J. Welch & Co., hired a sub-contractor to replace some storm windows on the property. Unfortunately, these windows contained lead paint, and the sub-contractor, New Hampshire Plate Glass Corp., did not follow the EPA’s guidelines when removing the windows. Specifically, they failed to assign a certified renovator to…
READ MORE →Looking for Professional Norwalk Asbestos Removal?
AQHI Inc. is a licensed and certified company you can rely on for professional Norwalk asbestos removal.
If you have asbestos-containing materials on your property, you may be putting yourself and others in danger. In general, asbestos-containing materials are safe enough as long as they are intact, but when they become damaged, they can release asbestos dust and fibers that can lodge in the lungs and cause serious or even life-threatening health problems. The safest course of action is to remove the materials and the risk they pose completely through Norwalk asbestos removal.
Of course, in the wrong hands an asbestos removal can actually be very dangerous. It’s important to choose a company like AQHI Inc. that fully understands the dangers of asbestos and will adhere to all of the industry best practices for the safe removal of the asbestos-containing material and the complete cleanup of the work site. We are a professional company with the following licenses and certifications to prove it.
CA State Contractors License:
We are a licensed contractor in good standing with the State Contractors Board. Clients who work with us know that we are…
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