Archive for the 'Blog' Category

Exposure to PCBs in Homes and the Workplace

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are manufactured organic chemicals that may be present in homes or offices. The chemicals contain 209 different chlorinated chemicals. The PCBs may take the form of oily liquids or solids. They typically fall within a color range of colorless to light yellow. Because the PCBs don’t burn easily, they make good insulation material. This makes them useful in coolants and lubricants, and they are commonly used in items such as transformers and capacitors, as well as other electrical equipment. Although the manufacture of these chemicals was brought to a stop in 1977, they may still be old fluorescent lights or appliances that still contain PCBs.

Risk of Exposure

It is possible that homeowners are exposed to PCBs without being aware. Office workers could also be at risk because of lingering sources of PCBs. The other most common sources of PCBs, today, include:

• Some foods may have PCBs, such as fish that swam in contaminated waters. Typically, the fish at the top of the food chain have levels as high as the bottom feeders.
• Indoor air in older buildings, such as homes, offices, and schools with…
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The Damaging Health Effects of Lead

While there have been changes in the rules and regulations for many products today, there is still a risk of lead poisoning. Because it was used in products such as paint and gasoline in years past, it is still around in older homes and structures. Even the soil surrounding the structure could become contaminated from the lead exposure. Unfortunately, this can pose a health risk to any individuals living in the home, and particularly to young children or those who are in poor health to begin with. It is important to understand the health effects that come as a result of lead poisoning so that you will see the urgency of having it abated.

In Children

Health effects that come as a result of lead poisoning in children can often be more severe because the children are still developing. Their blood brain barrier is not fully ready to keep harmful chemicals from damaging the brain before age six. Because kids are known for putting things in their mouths, not washing their hands, and playing in the dirt, they are at high risk for poisoning…

Why Is It Important to Have Mold Remedied Quickly?

If you suspect that you have mold in your home, or if you know it because you’ve seen it, it is essential that you have it removed immediately. What many home owners do not realize is that many types of mold are actually causing harm to the overall health and wellbeing of their family, in addition to the damage it is doing to the structure of the home.

At AQHI Inc. we offer mold remediation services that include removing materials and surfaces, washing with a biocide solution, vacuuming correctly, sealing, purifying, and dehumidifying the environment. With such an extensive regimen, we are able to remove the mold from where it does not belong. The following will outline why this is such an important process to have done immediately when you notice a problem.

 Health Effects

Unfortunately, there are many molds that will actually take up residency in a human’s lungs. While it can be treated eventually, the source of the mold will need to be eliminated first, or in line with the treatment. Some common health effects that occur as a result…

Three Reasons to Use a Licensed & Certified Contractor for Remediation

Trust the professionals at AQHI Inc. can save you a lot of headaches compared to an unlicensed contractor or a DIY project.

If your property has mold, lead, asbestos, or PCB contamination, you need professional help to restore it to a clean and safe condition. AQHI Inc. can provide that help. We’ve been assisting property owners throughout southern California with the successful completion of environmental waste remediation projects involving all of the above stated contaminants since 1992. We are licensed with the California State Contractors Board, certified by the California EPA, and fully insured against accidents. Here are three reasons why you should choose our company for your remediation project rather than a general contractor or a less qualified company.

Your Safety is at Stake

First and foremost, your top priority during any kind of remediation project should be your health and safety, and the health and safety of future occupants of or visitors to the property in question. Only a certified contractor is guaranteed to be familiar with and effective in implementing the various safety protocols required for any given type of remediation. For example, for an…

Asbestos Remediation After a Fire

When asbestos-containing materials burn, they release toxic smoke and ash that requires specialized remediation efforts

Asbestos is well-known for its ability to serve as a highly effective insulator that helps prevent electrical components, boilers, pipes, and other materials from getting too hot and causing a fire. However, it is important to remember that asbestos is not actually fire-proof, but only highly fire-resistant. If exposed to flames long enough, asbestos-containing materials can and will burn. This creates a very dangerous situation during and after the fire.

Dangers to First Responders

Smoke inhalation poses a serious risk to first responders and other individuals who may be in the immediate vicinity of burning asbestos-containing materials. Minute asbestos fibers can become airborne when materials like insulation, roofing, ceiling tiles, flooring, popcorn ceilings, etc. burn. If these fibers are inhaled, they can potentially contribute to serious health problems including cancer.

The CDC recommends that no one go within 1,000 feet of a burning structure known or likely to contain asbestos without proper respiratory equipment. Firefighters should also take care to leave their respirators on even after the fire has been extinguished, as asbestos fibers could still be in the…

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…

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 18^th 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…

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…

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…

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…