SERVICES
MOLD
As mold is naturally occurring in the outside environment, mold spores are everywhere in the outside air. They inevitably enter buildings and homes through doors, windows, air intakes, and other pathways. The unavoidable truth is that mold spores are found in every building or home. What can be avoided, however, is mold growth in the indoor environment. Any mold growth problem is first and foremost a moisture problem. Plumbing leaks, cracks in the building foundation, roof or gutter leaks, poor landscaping, or even high humidity can all lead to mold growth if left unaddressed.
ASBESTOS
If you are considering remodeling a home or building that was constructed before 1980, there is a good chance you will be dealing with asbestos. Even after 1980, many building supplies still had asbestos-containing material (ACM). You may want to consider testing for asbestos if your remodeling project involves disturbing any vinyl sheet flooring, vinyl floor tile, drywall, drywall mud, textured walls /ceilings, plaster, roofing materials, caulks, window puddy, mastic, cement boards, furnace tape,, duct tape or pipe insulation.
BACTERIA / SEWAGE
Microorganisms found in sewage originate from two sources--soil and sanitary waste. One milliliter of sewage typically contains between 100,000 and 1 million microorganisms. While most of these organisms, such as various types of bacteria, play a pivotal role in the decomposition of waste and are considered an integral component of organic matter, some are pathogenic, or disease-carrying, and pose a threat to public heath. Heaton performs bacteria testing in cases where there has been a sewage backup or where there is a suspicion that ground/well/drinking water may be contaminated.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.
LEAD
Was your house or apartment built before 1978? If it was, there may be lead-based paint on the inside and out. That could pose a serious risk of lead poisoning, especially if you’re pregnant or have small children. Lead is a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems if it's ingested or if dust containing lead is inhaled. Up until 1978, when federal regulations restricted the use of lead in household paint, lead was a common component in exterior and interior paints.
RADON
Radon is a cancer-causing, radioactive gas resulting from the decay of the elements radium and uranium. These elements are present in almost all rock, soil, and water, so radon can be found just about anywhere. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, so testing for it is the only way to know if it is a problem. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the US today.
Radon can get into any type of building. Any home or building may have a radon problem. This means new or old, well-sealed or drafty, with or without basements.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are gases that are emitted from certain solids or liquids, some of which are harmful to us. Many household products contain VOCs. VOC levels are typically higher indoors than outdoors. Elevated VOC levels can cause several adverse health effects, including Eye, nose, and throat irritation, Headaches, Loss of coordination, Nausea, Liver and kidney damage, Allergic skin reaction, Fatigue and Dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms inside a home or building and are unsure of the cause, VOC testing may be helpful in identifying it.
GROUND / DRINKING WATER
Just because you have a well that yields plenty of water doesn't mean you can go ahead and just take a drink. Because water is such a n excellent solvent it can contain lots of dissolved chemicals. And since groundwater moves through rocks and subsurface soil, it has a lot of opportunity to dissolve substances as it moves. For that reason, groundwater will often have more dissolved substances than surface water will. Heaton Environmental has extensive experience with all aspects of soil and groundwater testing.
SOIL
Soil test may refer to one or more of a wide variety of soil analysis conducted for one of several possible reasons. Possibly the most widely conducted soil tests are those done to estimate the plant-available concentrations of plant nutrients, in order to determine fertilizer recommendations in agriculture. Other soil tests may be done for engineering ( geotechnical), geochemical or ecological investigations. Heaton Environmental has the resources and knowledge to help you wiht your soil testing needs.
NOISE
The OSHA Noise Standard requires any facility where worker noise exposure equals or exceeds 85 dB-A to implement a Hearing Conservation Program. Where noise levels equal or exceed 90 dB-A, hearing protection is mandatory as well as mandatory noise reduction efforts. Heaton Environmental has experience in dealing with noise and hearing conservation in commercial and industrial settings.
CERTIFIED INDUSTRIAL HYGIENIST
With a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) on staff, Heaton Environmental is equipped and qualified to serve any of your environmental needs:
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Air Sampling & Instrumentation
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Analytical Chemistry
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Basic Science
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Biohazards
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Biostatistics & Epidemiology
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Community Exposure
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Engineering Controls/Ventilation
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Ergonomics
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Health Risk Analysis & Hazard Communication
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IH Program Management
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Noise
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Non-Engineering Controls
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Radiation – Ionizing and Non-ionizing
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Thermal Stressors
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Toxicology
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Work Environments & Industrial Processes
If your insurance company requires CIH-reviewed documentation or if you need expert witness or legal support regarding an environmental issue, Heaton can help.