Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
California’s Love Affair with the Bungalow
There’s a lot to love about historic bungalows, but they may contain lead and asbestos. If you love historic homes, no doubt you have already been introduced to the California Bungalow. These charming little cottages dot the residential streets of many communities in California and across the country. The name “bungalow” comes from Bengali, India, […]
Important Court Ruling Affects Liability for Environmental Contamination
Supreme Court rules company not liable for old contamination in Superfund case. In 2000, the movie Erin Brockovich brought the issue of decades-old environmental contamination affecting the present public health into the national spotlight. Thanks to this film, many Americans got their first introduction to the idea that corporations can be held liable for injuries […]
Indoor Air Quality Impacts School and Work Performance
Highlights of research studies collected by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. If you’re not concerned about your indoor air quality, you should be. The EPA considers inferior indoor air quality to be the 4th most significant environmental problem in America. In addition to contributing to increasing rates of allergies and asthma, scientific research has shown […]
Factors Affecting Asbestos Dangers
There is no safe amount or type of asbestos, but certain factors can increase the risk of health problems. Asbestos is officially classified as a hazardous material in California because of the risks it poses to human health. Breathing in asbestos fibers can increase the risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma, as well as […]
Historic Lead Smelter Sites Leave Legacy of Contamination
Government audit finds EPA isn’t doing enough to inform and protect the public. In 2012, USA Today did an exposé on the dangers of building homes on the sites of historic lead smelters. Their report revealed that the EPA had been informed of 464 possible sites by a researcher in 2001, yet had failed to […]
Asbestos Use Through the Ages
After thousands of years we finally understand the dangers of asbestos. Today everyone knows that asbestos is dangerous. But this was not always the case throughout the ages. It turns out that asbestos has been used since ancient times, and it is only now, at the tail end of roughly 6,000 years of asbestos use, […]
Don’t Trust Home Lead Test Kits
A professional lead inspection is the most reliable way to detect lead paint hazards. Lead poisoning is a serious health risk, especially for children. Exposure to lead can result in developmental issues in children as well as problems with the kidneys and nervous system. The most common source of lead contamination in American homes is […]
Ridding Your Home of VOCs
VOCs are hazardous to your health and bad for indoor air quality. It’s ironic that many people who are passionate about protecting the outdoor environment from chemical pollution give little thought to the chemicals polluting their indoor environments. The EPA has estimated that the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, so obviously […]
What To Do With Renovation Waste
Any waste that contains hazardous materials should be removed and disposed of professionally. Do-it-yourself home improvement projects have become increasingly popular these days, perhaps due to a combination of a slow economy that makes people eager to save money and an abundance of home improvement shows that give them the confidence to attempt projects on […]
Granite Countertops and Radon Risk
The primary radon risks in homes come from soil, not granite countertops. With radon being the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, many people are understandably wary of the thought of having any product known to contain radon in their home. This has led some homeowners to even go so far as to […]
There’s a lot to love about historic bungalows, but they may contain lead and asbestos. If you love historic homes, no doubt you have already been introduced to the California Bungalow. These charming little cottages dot the residential streets of many communities in California and across the country. The name “bungalow” comes from Bengali, India, […]
Supreme Court rules company not liable for old contamination in Superfund case. In 2000, the movie Erin Brockovich brought the issue of decades-old environmental contamination affecting the present public health into the national spotlight. Thanks to this film, many Americans got their first introduction to the idea that corporations can be held liable for injuries […]
Highlights of research studies collected by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. If you’re not concerned about your indoor air quality, you should be. The EPA considers inferior indoor air quality to be the 4th most significant environmental problem in America. In addition to contributing to increasing rates of allergies and asthma, scientific research has shown […]
There is no safe amount or type of asbestos, but certain factors can increase the risk of health problems. Asbestos is officially classified as a hazardous material in California because of the risks it poses to human health. Breathing in asbestos fibers can increase the risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma, as well as […]
Government audit finds EPA isn’t doing enough to inform and protect the public. In 2012, USA Today did an exposé on the dangers of building homes on the sites of historic lead smelters. Their report revealed that the EPA had been informed of 464 possible sites by a researcher in 2001, yet had failed to […]
After thousands of years we finally understand the dangers of asbestos. Today everyone knows that asbestos is dangerous. But this was not always the case throughout the ages. It turns out that asbestos has been used since ancient times, and it is only now, at the tail end of roughly 6,000 years of asbestos use, […]
A professional lead inspection is the most reliable way to detect lead paint hazards. Lead poisoning is a serious health risk, especially for children. Exposure to lead can result in developmental issues in children as well as problems with the kidneys and nervous system. The most common source of lead contamination in American homes is […]
VOCs are hazardous to your health and bad for indoor air quality. It’s ironic that many people who are passionate about protecting the outdoor environment from chemical pollution give little thought to the chemicals polluting their indoor environments. The EPA has estimated that the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, so obviously […]
Any waste that contains hazardous materials should be removed and disposed of professionally. Do-it-yourself home improvement projects have become increasingly popular these days, perhaps due to a combination of a slow economy that makes people eager to save money and an abundance of home improvement shows that give them the confidence to attempt projects on […]
The primary radon risks in homes come from soil, not granite countertops. With radon being the second leading cause of lung cancer in America, many people are understandably wary of the thought of having any product known to contain radon in their home. This has led some homeowners to even go so far as to […]
