Top 10 things people should know about soil quality and soil contamination: Site history matters! If your lot is over an orchard, old landfill or leaking underground storage tank, there will likely be pollution indicators present. Building history matters. If there is (or was) a structure built before 1980 on the property there have likely

Home Lead Testing There are of course DIY Home Lead Test Kits available online and in some hardware stores, but the more reliable way of evaluating a home and its contents for lead risks is to hire a Lead Inspector. The Lead Inspector will either utilize bulk sampling, which is destructive and will leave holes

How To Avoid Lead Dust During Home Renovations Containment, Wet Methods, HEPA Vacuum and Prompt Clean-up are the main work practices to follow in order to reduce exposure to lead dust during renovation. Sticking to these main concepts will help avoid the most common pathways of exposing your family to lead dust. Whether or not

Bay Area Air Quality Among Worst In Nation As an industrial hygienist it came as a surprise that the American Lung Association recently ranked Bay Area air quality among worst in nation for air pollution and particulates. Unhealthy levels of pollution were found in numerous parts of the country, but the San Francisco Bay Area

Pest Problem? Before you reach for the pesticides, bug spray, or call the exterminator, consider that once you’ve sprayed, pesticide residues can remain years later. Luckily, there are resources to help inform you whether you want to use it in the first place and what to do after-the-fact to limit exposure and clean up pesticide

Air Pollution Effects and Mental Health The link between the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health and lung diseases like asthma are well established, but a new study finds high levels of particulates in the air pollution effects mental health. The negative effects may be attributed to behavior changes of people living in polluted

Recent Concerns: Lead in School Drinking Water Lately we’ve heard a lot about the heavy metal lead in school drinking water across California.  The reason we’re hearing about these schools finding lead in their drinking water is because schools are now required to test for lead.  We have known for a long time that lead

New OSHA Silica Testing Requirement in Effect OSHA has issued two standards (“rules”) to minimize exposure to respirable crystalline silica. One rule applies to construction trades, and the other for general industry and maritime workplaces. This blog focuses on the new OSHA Silica Testing requirements for the construction industry. September 23, 2017, kicked off enforcement for most

Dust and Smoke From Fires Far more people have been impacted by dust and smoke than fires themselves. If you were directly impacted by fires you should read Cleaning After Fire. For others in the region who have been more directly impacted by dust and smoke from fires, please consider these tips to minimize health

Cleaning After Fire The October 2017 California Fires in Northern California were devastating. Northern California will be dealing with the death and destruction of recent wildfires for years.  The immediate life-safety concerns about fire are obvious and frightening, but what many don’t realize is that returning to fire damaged buildings is also hazardous. Cleaning after