Each NADCA certified company has at least one Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff. That individual must have passed an exam and earn 12 continuing education credits over 2 years.

Q. What is radon? Is it something I should worry about?
A. Radon is a naturally occurring gas formed by the radioactive decay of uranium in rock and soil that has been linked with cancer. According to the EPA, the concentrations of radon on Long Island are extremely low. Long Island's geological substructure lacks the uranium ore necessary to produce radon. Northwestern New Jersey or Lehigh Valley, PA are areas known for their high concentrations of radon.

Q. What is formaldehyde and should I be worried about it at home or work?
A. Formaldehyde is used in various resins, anti-freeze, fertilizers, disinfectants, durable press textile fabrics, carpets etc. It is toxic by inhalation, a strong irritant and a carcinogen. It often dissipates over time. However, if you suspect you have a problem, Envirospect has the expertise to provide the appropriate air testing and remediation practices.

Q. How do I handle a mercury spill?
A. Envirospect has the expertise to provide a quick, professional quality, safe and ultimately cost effective solution to mercury spills. We can get you back in business within 24 hours.

Mold Questions

Q. What exactly is mold?
A. The kingdom of fungi (mold) is a very special assemblage of organisms. The fungi belong to neither the plant nor the animal kingdom. Many fungi reproduce by releasing spores much like plants release seeds. Fungal spores are everywhere and constantly elevated humidity, such as is found on Long Island, will inevitably lead to microbial growth.

Q. What are the health effects of exposure to mold?
A. The presence and proliferation of mold spores indoors may lead to health problems of differing severity. Symptoms and severity will depend largely upon the sensitivity of the individuals involved. People with asthma and other environmental allergies may be especially susceptible.

Q. Can mold be completely eliminated?
A. When you open a door or a window, you invite in all the indigenous mold spores that flow continually throughout your neighborhood. These are all naturally occurring and nothing can be done to prevent this happening. These spores are drifting and will settle in areas conducive for growth.

Q. How does mold grow?
A. Mold requires two key ingredients for growth: a nutrient source and a moisture source. Nutrients include but are not limited to paint, wallpaper, adhesives, sheet rock, paneling, insulation, cloth, cardboard etc. Obviously many if not all of these items are in most residential and commercial buildings and are not an option to eliminate. Long Island has a humid climate. As a result our homes and, in particular our basements, have a tendency to become very damp. Add the effects of groundwater, storm water damage and water penetration through either damage or normal wear, and you have an excellent water source to spur mold growth.

Q. What if mold is suspected -what's next?
A. If mold is not readily visible and questions arise as to whether there is an existing problem, airborne testing will be necessary.

Q. When do you actually need to inspect for mold?
A. For the most part, an inspection will result if there are concerns, but no clearly identifiable growth pattern, or if preventative measures need to be identified to minimize the potential for mold for future events.

Q. What if mold is suspected, but nothing is readily visible?
A. If mold is not readily visible and questions arise as to whether there is an existing problem, airborne testing will be necessary.

Q. What is the procedure for inspecting for mold?
A. An exterior inspection is required if there is an indeterminate means of water penetration. If water penetration is allowed to continue, any remedial action will fail because conditions still exist to promote accelerated mold growth. Areas to be explored include:

• Loose, damaged or debris clogged gutters and downspouts;
• Improper land grading;
• An aged and weather damaged roof;
• Separated flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights and edges of roofs;
• Water penetration or water stains on interior walls, wood paneling or particleboard;
• High humidity levels in basement areas;
• Adequate ventilation in attic areas.

Q. When do you need to test for mold?
A. After a physical inspection, air testing may become an option. Elevated mold levels in the air in a building may be an indicator of over insulation or a lack of air movement, even if all other facets of the inspection are satisfactory. This has become more of an issue in newer buildings because of advanced insulation properties in windows, doors, siding and insulation intended to keep the HVAC system running at optimum efficiency.

Q. How do you test for mold?
A. Envirospect and Inspection scientifically tests to determine the type and quantities of mold present. Air samples are gathered using an Anderson Microbial Impactor and incubated to provide quantitative analysis of the amount and species of mold present. This is the only recognized testing method that has been proven to hold up under litigation.

Q. Are air tests the only type of tests that need to be done?
A. Swab samples, or wipe samples may need to be employed if you have a specific need to identify species and quantities of a visible mold growth.

Q. What's a swab test?
A. A sterile swab is rubbed across the suspected mold surface, then immediately sealed in a swab container. The sample is then sent to the lab to be cultured for analysis.

Q. What's a bulk sample?
A. A bulk sample is acquired by gathering a segment of the item containing visible or suspected mold growth. The bulk sample is cultured for both fungal and bacterial content.

Q. How long will it take to get my lab results?
A. Air and swab samples must be cultured. Results are available in 14 days.

Q. What are end point samples and why are they important?
A. Snce the site work has been completed, end point samples are taken to bring closure to the project and define a clear ending to what might sometimes be a rather unclear process. Samples are taken within the contaminated zone using the microbial impactor. A second set of samples is taken outside the affected building as a control sample. The point of this is to develop a baseline of a realistic set of goals to attain. Essentially, the affected site cannot be expected to be any cleaner than what the ambient air will bear. The analytical data is provided to all parties with an explanation of what are normally indigenous species and a breakdown of exactly what the numbers of the colony forming units mean. A clear comparison is drafted between the end point sample and the control sample.

Q. How do I prevent future mold growth?
A. The final step in the process is to provide the affected party with instructions on how to maintain the present levels of spores through normal basic common sense practices. The point of this is to reinforce the fact that mold spores will continue to exist in the ambient air. Every time a door or window is opened, these spores are invited inside. Spores drift and will settle in areas conducive for growth. As stated previously, mold requires two key ingredients for growth: a nutrient source and a moisture source. Nutrient sources are virtually impossible to eliminate, therefore the remedial action in the property will have lost its effect if water is permitted to re-enter the area. To prevent a re-occurrence of this condition the following basic maintenance steps must be followed.

• Keep the basement or the area of previous mold growth as dry as possible. Most basements will require a dehumidifier to prevent future growth.
• Address any water releases immediately. If there is a release for any reason; rain water, washing machine overrun, burst pipe, etc., clean and dry the area immediately. Do not allow the water to stand.
• Periodically check walls, joints and roof areas for water penetration. If such penetration exists, address the situation immediately and provide repairs.
• Make sure gutters, downspouts; dry wells and window wells are clear and functioning normally.
• Check for foundation cracks. Provide fillers and repairs to prevent groundwater penetration.
• Check grading of the grounds. Insure that all grading immediately surrounding the residence pitches away from the home.
• Following these few routine steps will ensure that the property remains relatively mold free. Remember, molds are naturally occurring phenomena that can be dealt with if we take a pro-active approach when problems occur.

Asbestos Questions

Q. What is asbestos?
A. Asbestos is a mineral fiber. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.

Q.How can asbestos affect my health?
A. From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer.

Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease.

Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

Q.Where can I find asbestos and when can it be a problem?
A. Most products made today do not contain asbestos. Those few products made which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos.

Common products that may have been made with asbestos include insulation, soundproofing, decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings, hot water and steam pipes, and furnace ducts.

Q. What should be done about asbestos in the home?
A. If you think asbestos may be in your home, don't panic! Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone, since material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers. There is no danger unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs.

If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is needed.

Asbestos professionals are trained in handling asbestos material. The type of professional will depend on the type of product and what needs to be done to correct the problem. You may hire a general asbestos contractor or, in some cases, a professional trained to handle specific products containing asbestos.

The federal government has training courses for asbestos professionals around the country. Some state and local governments also have or require training or certification courses. Ask asbestos professionals to document their completion of federal or state-approved training. Each person performing work in your home should provide proof of training and licensing in asbestos work, such as completion of EPA-approved training. State and local health departments or EPA regional offices may have listings of licensed professionals in your area.

For more information, see the EPA's Asbestos Information Resources.

Radon Questions

Q. What is radon?
A. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas found in soils, rock, and water throughout the U.S. Radon causes lung cancer, and is a threat to health because it tends to collect in homes, sometimes to very high concentrations.

Q.  How can radon affect people's health?
A. Almost all risk from radon comes from breathing air with radon and its decay products. Radon decay products cause lung cancer.

There is no safe level of radon -- any exposure poses some risk of cancer. In two 1999 reports, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) concluded after an exhaustive review that radon in indoor air is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after cigarette smoking. The NAS estimated that 15,000-22,000 Americans die every year from radon-related lung cancer.

Q. How do I know if there is radon in my home?
A. You cannot see, feel, smell, or taste radon. Testing your home is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing for radon in all rooms below the third floor.

Radon testing can be performed by calling Envirospect.  The test is non-invasive and requires leaving the test canisters in your home for 48 hours.  Results are usually returned to you within 48 hours after completion of the testing.


Q. What can I do to protect myself and my family from radon?
A. The first step is to test your home for radon, and have it fixed if it is at or above EPA's Action Level of 4 picocuries per liter. You may want to take action if the levels are in the range of 2-4 picocuries per liter. Generally, levels can be brought below 2 pCi/l fairly simply.

The best method for reducing radon in your home will depend on how radon enters your home and the design of your home. For example, sealing cracks in floors and walls may help to reduce radon. There are also systems that remove radon from the crawl space or from beneath the concrete floor or basement slab that are effective at keeping radon from entering your home. These systems are simple and don't require major changes to your home. Other methods may be necessary.

People who have private wells should test their well water to ensure that radon levels meet EPA's newly proposed standard.

For more information, read the EPA's A Citizen's Guide to Radon and How to Find a Qualified Radon Service Professional in Your Area

Lead Questions