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.

You don’t have to be an environmental air testing expert to know that something’s up. People are sniffling, sneezing and sporting red, itchy eyes. What could be causing their distress? Here’s a hint… the answer is blowing in the wind.

That’s right, it is allergy season, and the air is full of pollen.

From what we are hearing, this year’s allergy season is a nasty one. Trees, grass and ragweed pollen are all circulating in the air right about now. And if you have allergies, you know that there could also be mold and dust to contend with as well.

Improve Indoor Air Quality to Ease Allergies

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), “About 24 million Americans have hay fever, rhinitis, or nasal allergies (19.2 million adults and 5.2 million children)4” (You may have seen some of them at store, stocking up on tissue and antihistamines.)

If you or someone you love suffers from seasonal allergies, there are things you can do to improve your homes’ indoor air quality. The AAFA says there are things you can do to improve indoor air quality and create a healthier home environment.

Among their suggestions are:

• As we have learned with Covid-19, ventilation is important. If you leave interior doors open and run the exhaust fan in your bathrooms and kitchen, it will enhance air flow in your home.
• “Avoid harmful products (like bleach and other harsh cleaners) as much as possible,” the experts at the AAFA say. Why? They could release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air.
• The humidity level in your home are also important. “Keep it below 50%,” the AAFA recommends. “If you live in a wet climate, you may need a dehumidifier.”
• Close the windows when pollen levels are high.
• The AAFA also recommends that you, “Remove items with strong scents like candles.”

If you follow these and all the recommendations offered by the AAFA and are still having problems, it may be time to schedule professional Allergy Testing, which can include mold testing and VOC testing.

The post Welcome to National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Here at AirMD, an innovative environmental testing company with expertise in indoor air quality testing, every month is Care About Your Indoor Air Month. But in February, we have found out, the whole country gets on board with a celebration of National Care About Your Indoor Air Month.

According to Buildings.com, a community of facility managers and building owners responsible for the operation of commercial and public buildings, “The EPA lists poor indoor air quality among the top 5 environmental risks in the U.S. Poor IAQ is often blamed for poor concentration in school children and can trigger asthma, which accounts for three million lost work days for adults and a staggering 10 million lost school days for children.”

On top of that, “Asthma costs the U.S. Approximately $16 billion annually, with approximately 160 million Americans breathing in unhealthy air during the course of any given day,” the pros at Buildings.com add.

That should give you an idea of why we care about the quality of your indoor air and test to make sure it isn’t harming you or your family or your employees throughout the year. It’s always a good time to be concerned about the air you are breathing.

How Should You Celebrate National Care About Your Indoor Air Quality Month?

You don’t necessarily need to call in the experts to improve the indoor air quality of your home or business. There are simple steps you can take to create a healthier environment.

Among other things, the folks at Southern Trust Home Services, an HVAC and plumbing company in Virginia, suggest that you check for leaking pipes and damp spots in cabinets and throughout your home. “When thinking of IAQ, one would not think that plumbing could be a factor,” they say. “Damp spots can quickly turn into mildew or mold, creating potential breathing hazards inside the home. Condensation is also a sign of poor ventilation, which can contribute to mold and mildew as well.”

Other tips include:

• Changing your air conditioning filters regularly
• Getting rid of harsh household products that could release VOCs into the air
• Replacing wall-to-wall carpeting with hard flooring
• Add houseplants to your décor

For more tips on improving your home’s indoor air quality or for environmental air testing services, including VOC testing, contact the indoor air quality testing experts at AirMD.

The post February Is National Care About Your Indoor Air Month appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Here at AirMD, a science-based environmental testing company based in Boca Raton, Florida, when we think about indoor air quality, we are usually thinking about things like home allergen tests, VOC testing and mold inspections. But there are other ways to look at the quality of the air in your home.

“Pause a moment from the holiday hustle to take a deep breath. Turns out, the smells you’re taking in could be doing wonders for your body and brain,” the folks at Real Simple say. 

That’s right, some of the scents that we most closely associate with the holidays bring gifts of their very own. 

It’s not just the sight of a sparkling Christmas tree that can lift your spirits. “The scent of pine could help bust some of the stress that goes hand-in-hand with this time of year,” Real Simple reports. “Researchers at Japan’s Kyoto University found that participants who took two 15-minute walks through a pine forest reported improved moods and lower feelings of depression and hostility.” 

You don’t have to invest the time and money to put up a live Christmas tree to get these benefits (if you haven’t been to the tree lots yet, you’ll find the trees are on the pricey side this year). You can enjoy the scent of pine with essential oils and candles. 

Here in South Florida, we are a little short of pine forests, but don’t worry. Nature isn’t stingy when it comes to offering stress relief. 

As the folks at National Geographic report, “Forest bathing is not just for the wilderness-lover; the practice can be as simple as walking in any natural environment and consciously connecting with what’s around you.”

If you live in Boca Raton, you might want to stretch your legs at the Yamato Scrub Natural Area.  You can definitely ease your stress by spending a little time exploring the grounds of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, which offers some beautiful green pathways to explore. 

And, of course, there is Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach. Mounts is Palm Beach County’s oldest and largest botanical garden. It offers 14 acres of tropical and subtropical plants for you to explore. In the 25 different display gardens, you can find more than 2,000 different types of plants, including Florida native plants, exotic and tropical fruit trees, herbs, palms, roses, cactus, bromeliads and more.

If you would like more information about indoor air quality testing, we hope you will contact us.

The post Holiday Magic Is in the Air appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Normally, the environmental testing experts at AirMD are focused on things like VOC testing, mold testing, indoor air quality testing and water quality testing. These days, however, like just about everyone else in the world, we are also concerned with taking the necessary steps to protect ourselves and our families from Covid-19 – and that starts with proper hand hygiene. 

With our scientific background, we have been having friends and family members ask us for advice ever since the pandemic began earlier this year. One of the most common questions we get is about the best type of soap to use when washing your hands. 

Hand Soaps and Sanitizers

When it comes to hand sanitizers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a clear recommendation: you should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol (which might be listed on the label as either ethanol or ethyl alcohol).

But nothing beats good old soap and water when it comes to cleaning your hands. That much is clear if you read the CDC guidelines. But, unlike with hand sanitizers, there are no recommendations regarding the specific type of soap that might be most effective against the coronavirus. 

There are a lot of people who think that using an antibacterial soap is the best way to go when it comes to keeping themselves and their families safe from Covid-19. For a number of reasons, however, we would advise against it: 

1. Covid-19 – and most of the other things you want to wash away – are viruses, not bacteria. 
2. Not all bacteria are bad. For optimum health, you need good bacteria.
3. The use of antibacterial soaps and cleaners seems to be contributing to the development of antibiotic-resistant bugs. 

“There is currently no evidence that consumer antiseptic wash products (also known as antibacterial soaps) are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water,” the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients could do more harm than good.”

All of us here at AirMD, a leading national environmental testing company based in Boca Raton, Florida, wish you and your family the very best during these challenging times.

The post Should You Be Using Antibacterial Soap? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

You don’t need an indoor air quality testing expert (like those you’ll find at AirMD, an environmental testing company based in Boca Raton, Florida) to tell you that it is hot out! That is the truth – especially for those of us in South Florida – but if you were told that this time of year is called “the dog days of summer” because your dog seems to struggle with the heat, we regret to tell you that you have been sold a bill of goods.  

Chances are your dog doesn’t like the heat. That part is true. Remember how you felt trying to cross the street in your bare feet? Think about that before you put your four-legged friend on the leash. The pads of a dog’s feet are sensitive, so as much as they love going for a walk with you, walking on a surface that has been baking in the sun all day, may be painful for them. 

It’s not the heat, but the heavens that give this time of year the moniker the “dog days of summer.” In other words, the answer to the question of why we call this really hot stretch of summer the “dog days” is written in the stars.

Sirius, the Dog Star

You might be familiar with Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It is often referred to as the Dog Star, not because of its name, which means “glowing,” but because it is part of the constellation Canis Major – and that name translates as “greater dog.” 

As the Farmers’ Almanac explains, “In the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. On July 23rd, specifically, it is in conjunction with the Sun, and because the star is so bright, the ancient Romans believed it actually gave off heat and added to the Sun’s warmth, accounting for the long stretch of sultry weather…Thus, the term Dog Days of Summer came to mean the 20 days before and 20 days after this alignment of Sirius with the Sun—July 3 to Aug. 11.”

If you – and your four-legged friend – will be spending more time indoors to escape the heat, you might want to make sure the quality of your indoor air and water isn’t going to cause you any problems. Here at AirMD, we offer a range of environmental testing – from asbestos inspections to VOC testing. Contact us if you have questions!

The post The Dog Days of Summer Are Full of Hot Air appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Here at AirMD, a leader among water and air quality testing companies, we are used to searching out toxic things in the environment. We can test for mold. We do VOC testing. We offer asbestos inspections – and more! Unfortunately, though, we don’t have any equipment that will detect toxic scammers.

As if you don’t have enough to worry about with the COVID-19 pandemic swamping the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says you should be on the lookout for Covid-related scams that may come in the form of text messages or robocalls designed to prey on you virus-related fears.

Are Scammers Are Out to Get You?

Crises like the novel coronavirus pandemic bring out the best in so many people. Sadly, they can also bring out the worst. There are plenty of scammers out there who want to take advantage of your fears and concerns – don’t let them!

According to the FCC, here are some of the things you should be on the lookout for:

• Scammers have been sending out text messages that falsely advertise a cure for Covid-19 or offer bogus tests. The FCC has more information as well as examples of scam texts.
• If you get a text offering you a five-month subscription to Netflix for free as a way to help you through the pandemic, don’t fall for it. It’s another scam. Netflix has set up a webpage with instructions for what to do if you receive a suspicious text claiming to be from them.
• Robocall scams have focused on health and financial concerns connected to COVID-19. The FCC has actual audio recordings of a scam that you can listen to.
• If you are older, you should be especially vigilant. You are in the target audience that coronavirus scammers are going after. The FCC offers information for seniors and their families.

All of us at AirMD, a science-based indoor air quality testing company, is concerned about the health and safety of your family. We hope you stay safe – from Covid-19 and from scammers. If you are in need of a home allergen test or a complete residential wellness test, please contact us.

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These days, perhaps more than ever, indoor air quality testing is proving to be a priority for many families. In order to protect ourselves and our communities from the spread of Covid-19, we are all spending more time at home. But there are threats inside your home as well.

In fact, according to the EPA (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), “studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.”

You won’t be able to detect most of the pollutants that may be contaminating your home. At AirMD, an environmental testing company, some of the biggest threats that we test the indoor air quality of your home for are completely invisible airborne gases.

Formaldehyde, as we explained in a previous post, is one of four types of airborne gasses that the professionals who handle indoor air quality testing at AirMD screen for. The other three are:

1. Volatile Organic Compounds
2. Carbon Monoxide
3. Carbon Dioxide

VOC Testing

Among the most important things that AirMD’s trained professionals screen for when conducting an indoor air quality test are volatile organic compounds, more commonly referred to as VOCs.

You may be surprised – unpleasantly so – by the common household items that could be releasing unhealthy airborne gasses into your home and negatively impacting the quality of the indoor air your family is breathing.

The American Lung Association has identified a long list of building materials, household cleaners, personal care products and common activities that can release harmful VOCs inside your home. Some things – like pesticides, fuel oil, gasoline and tobacco smoke – seem obvious. But their list also includes:

• Household cleaning products and disinfectants
• Air fresheners
• Cosmetics and deodorants
• Popular craft products, such as glue and markers
• Home office printers and copiers
• Furniture
• Certain types of flooring, carpet and pressed wood products
• Paint and paint strippers
• Adhesives as well as caulks and sealants
• The clothes you picked up at the dry-cleaners
• Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces

For more information on environmental testing services from AirMD, including VOC testing, please contact us.

The post An Invisible Threat to Indoor Air Quality: Part II – VOCs appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

A thorough indoor air quality assessment – including things like VOC testing, an asbestos inspection, formaldehyde testing and a mold inspection – is a good idea if employees of your company seem to be suffering ill health as a result of the time they spend on the job. Not every ailment contracted as the result of the poor indoor air quality in a workplace is as hard to pin down as Sick Building Syndrome.

With Sick Building Syndrome, the exact cause of the complaint can’t be specifically identified. There are a host of building-related illnesses, however, that can be accurately diagnosed and linked to specific contaminants in the air.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the term Sick Building Syndrome refers to “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building.”

On the other hand, the EPA uses the term Building Related Illness when “symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.”

Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Sick Building Syndrome VS Building Related Illness

Sick Building Syndrome is associated with the following conditions:

• The people who work in the building may suffer from headaches, itchy eyes, throat irritation, dry cough, dry or itchy skin, dizziness, nausea and other complaints. They may be troubled by mental fogginess, fatigue and sensitivity to odors.
• Their symptoms generally ease when they leave the building.
• The specific cause of the symptoms isn’t known.

On the other hand, the EPA says the following characteristics indicate that you’re dealing with Building Related Illnesses:

• The symptoms are more specific. People who work in the building are complaining of symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, fever, chills and muscle aches.
• These symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Just leaving the building may not be enough to provide relief.

According to a paper on Indoor Air Facts and Sick Building Syndrome published by the EPA, “A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ).”

If you think your building might be one of that 30 percent – or if you’d like information about keeping the air in your building healthy so your building doesn’t join the list – give us a call at 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD or submit your question online. Our experts in VOC testing, asbestos inspections and mold remediation in our Boca Raton, FL headquarters will by happy to help you.

The post VOC Testing May Identify Building Related Illnesses appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

You’ve probably heard of Sick Building Syndrome. Sick buildings are one of the many reasons that the environmental testing services offered by AirMD – including VOC testing, formaldehyde testing and mold testing as well as asbestos inspections – are in such demand by businesses from Boca Raton and Miami to Orlando and Jacksonville.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of working in a sick building, you know all too well how it makes you feel, but you probably don’t know why the building made you feel that way. (If you haven’t had the experience – trust us, you don’t want to.) That’s part of the problem with Sick Building Syndrome – no one is able to identify exactly what causes it.

What Makes a Building Sick?

Sick Building Syndrome is a relatively recent addition to the world of illness and disease. The problem began when we stopped opening the windows in the buildings where we live, work, shop and go to school. During the energy crisis of the 1970s, in an effort to save on energy consumption, new construction featured virtually air-tight environments.

What seemed like a good idea at the time had unintended consequences. Unfortunately, in addition to keeping air-conditioned or heated air in, these buttoned-up buildings can also trap a number of airborne contaminants.

As Occupational Health & Safety magazine explains, “Many paints, carpet fibers, furniture, and even wallboard off-gas noxious fumes, sometimes for years after installation. These products may emit formaldehyde, acetic acid, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals. Modern office equipment such as copiers and electrostatic air cleaners add to the problem by adding ozone to the mix. Mold or mildew from damp conditions also create air quality problems. Manufacturing processes and material-handling equipment may add hydrocarbons or smog, and many chemical cleaning agents give off harmful vapors. The result is a chemical stew in the air that makes people ill—with sick building syndrome.”

Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome

A long list of symptoms can be associated with Sick Building Syndrome, including but not limited to:

• Nasal congestion 
• Itchy eyes
• Headaches 
• Sinus infections
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
• Chronic fatigue 
• Mental fogginess
• Scratchy throat 
• Dry, irritated skin
• Upset stomach

How do you know if you have Sick Building Syndrome? Do you start to feel better on vacation or even over a long weekend? As WebMD says, “The telling factor is if the symptoms ease when workers are at home or on vacation.

Is It Time for Formaldehyde Testing in your Workplace?

According to an article by Sumedha M. Joshi in the Indian Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, “The sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a situation in which the occupants of a building experience acute health- or comfort-related effects that seem to be linked directly to the time spent in the building. No specific illness or cause can be identified. The complainants may be localized in a particular room or zone or may be widespread throughout the building.”

“This feeling of ill health increases sickness absenteeism and causes a decrease in productivity of the workers. As this syndrome is increasingly becoming a major occupational hazard, the cause, management and prevention of this condition have been discussed in this article.”

If you aren’t the only one suffering from similar symptoms or if you notice increased rates of absenteeism, you may want to consider indoor air quality testing.

If you have questions about Sick Building Syndrome, please remember that the scientists at Boca Raton-based AirMD, a leader in VOC testing, asbestos inspections and formaldehyde testing as well as mold testing and remediation., are available to assist you.

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