Have you ever wondered what our talented AirMD environmental testing experts do when they’re using their skills to conduct tests for asbestos, water quality testing, VOC testing or mold inspections? We may be science geeks, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy hopping on a bike, enjoying a nice dinner on the town or catching a movie.

We do have one asbestos tester who is into apiculture, which is a fancy way of saying that he likes to keep bees. And he would like us to wish all of you a very happy National Honey Month.

What’s the Buzz?

Lots of people don’t like bees, which is really a shame. Honeybees are among the hardest working and most needed creatures on the planet. About a third of the food on your typical dinner plate couldn’t be produced without the pollinating efforts of bees.

But, while not everyone is interested in beekeeping, just about everyone is interested in the honey these busy little buzzers produce.

Honey not only tastes delicious, it offers a number of benefits, including:

• Honey is a source of vitamins, minerals and amino acids in honey. The National Honey Board also says that honey contains antioxidants as well as flavonoids and phenolic acids that act as antioxidants. “The amount and type of these compounds depend largely on the floral source,” the Honey Board says.
• Honey gives you energy. There are 17 grams of carbohydrates in a single tablespoon of honey. Those carbs provide the fuel you body needs.
• Honey makes you feel better. For centuries, people have been turning to honey when they have a cold. Research backs up this timeless wisdom. According to the National Honey Board, “Honey offers an effective and natural alternative to over-the-counter cough medicine. Though time is the most important healer of a sore throat, a spoonful of honey can help relieve the irritation,” they say.

In addition to being National Honey Month, September also happens to be the height of fall allergy season. Allergy sufferers may be disappointed to learn that the overlap is nothing more than a coincidence.

As the health experts at the Mayo Clinic tell us, there is no research to show that honey will ease your allergies. “The idea isn’t so far-fetched, though,” James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Division of Allergic Diseases in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic and a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist. “Honey has been studied as a cough suppressant and may have anti-inflammatory effects.”

If you have questions about the health benefits of honey, check with your doctor. And if you have questions about testing the indoor air quality of your home or office, contact the environmental testing experts at AirMD.

The post Happy Honey Month! appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Hopefully, someday, we will no longer need to conduct tests for asbestos. For now, however, asbestos testers still routinely discover dangerous sources of potential asbestos exposure.

What is asbestos?

As the Mesothelioma Center explains, “Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of soft, flexible fibers that are heat-resistant. Asbestos is still used in hundreds of U.S. consumer products. Its use is allowed as long as it accounts for less than 1% of the product. Exposure to asbestos causes cancers and other diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis.

When did we know that asbestos was dangerous?

Here’s a Brief History of Asbestos that should answer that question:

• 1924: The British Medical Journal documented the first cases of asbestos-related illnesses, leading the government of Great Britain to enact legislation designed to protect factory workers.
• Mid/late 1940s: The fire-resistant properties of asbestos fuel its gains in popularity in U.S. manufacturing
• Mid 1950s: A link between asbestos and lung cancer is identified.
• 1960s: Mesothelioma, which we now know is the most common form of cancer caused by asbestos, was first diagnosed.
• 1970s: The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) both limit – but do not ban – the use of asbestos.
• 1989: Another U.S. agency, this time the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally goes farther, banning the use of asbestos in any new manufacturing. The agency also says all schools need asbestos inspections.

Where can asbestos be found in your home?

In addition to roof shingles and floor tiles, according to the Mesothelioma Center, asbestos can be found in a surprising number of places in your home, including:

1. Brake pads and gaskets
2. Stoves
3. Oven mitts and pot holders
4. Clothes dryers
5. Coffee makers
6. Certain paper products
7. Crayons
8. Amateur crime lab kits
9. Children’s makeup
10. Hair dryers

If you have concerns about possible exposure to this dangerous material in your home, please contact the environmental testing pros at AirMD to ask about residential asbestos testing.

The post 10 Surprising Places Where You May Find Asbestos appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Here at AirMD, a science-backed environmental testing company, we have advanced technology that can efficiently test indoor air quality and test water quality as well. We have tests for asbestos and tests for formaldehyde. We even have equipment that does testing for mold.

What we wish we had was a test that would reveal scammers and other criminals who set out to prey on people who are suffering, like those who have developed and are implementing Covid-19 scams.

While there are countless stories of people who have stepped up help to help others and to make a positive contribution to their communities, there are also stories emerging of people who see the current pandemic as an opportunity to take advantage of people who are already facing hardships and challenges.

Protect Yourself from COVID-19 Scams

Forewarned is forearmed, as they say. So we wanted to share some tips to avoid Covid-19 scams put out by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Apparently, scammers are calling people with a number of different scenarios designed to get you to part with either your money or your personal information. Some of those reported include:

• Phone calls and text messages supposedly coming from the World Health Organization (the WHO), asking you to provide account information or money.
• Robocalls claiming to send out free virus test kits to those at high-risk of contracting a serious form of Covid-19. r payment over the phone.
• The FCC says another “robocall message purports to be from the U.S. Department of Health, warning of an outbreak ‘in your area.’ The message recommends getting a vaccine and offers to connect you to a ‘health advisor.’”

To protect yourself from these and many other scams, the FCC offers the following tips:

• Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.
• Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering your phone. Government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.
• Always do a little research on a charity to make sure they are legitimate before giving them any money.

You can find a lot of good information online about current scams. A good place to start is the FCC Consumer Help Center and the FCC Scam Glossary.

Unfortunately, the environmental testing pros at AirMD can’t run a test to detect the presence of scams, but if there is anything else we can do to help ensure the health and safety of your family or small business, we hope you will contact us.

The post Covid-19 Scams Are a New Form of Contamination appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.