The experts at AirMD who conduct mold and asbestos inspections as well as formaldehyde and VOC testing aren’t the only one who are concerned about the quality of the air in your home and your office. 

When you think about what kind of environment the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects, you’re probably thinking about rivers contaminated by toxic runoff or superfund sites, like the Davie landfill in Broward County, where inorganic compounds, heavy metals and VOCs contaminated the soil and groundwater.  

You might be surprised to learn that the EPA also keeps an eye on the quality of the air inside your home, your office and your kids’ school as well as the places where you shop and a host of other buildings.  

The EPA and Indoor Air Quality

Why would the EPA be concerned about the quality of the air in our homes, schools and shopping centers as well as our places of employment? 

The agency reports that, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors,¹ where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.²” 

Obviously, if there’s something wrong with the air we breathe 90 percent of the time, it’s going to have serious impacts on the public’s health. The EPA is also concerned because:

• People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.³

• Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.

When conducted by science-based professional air testing companies like AirMD, indoor air quality assessments can be an important source of information that might impact the health and wellness of you and your family. For more information, contact us at your convenience.

The post Why the EPA Is Concerned About Indoor Air Quality appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Here in South Florida, where AirMD’s indoor air quality experts are based, National Hispanic-American Heritage Month is always celebrated with flair. This year, of course, things are different. But not even Covid-19 can stop us from honoring the many contributions the Latinx community in South Florida has made. 

National Hispanic-American Heritage Month traditionally runs from September 15 through October 15. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to the many Hispanic Americans who have had such an amazing influence on all of us.

National Hispanic-American Heritage Month 2020

We may not be able to get together to celebrate the many vibrant aspects of Hispanic-American culture that we enjoy, but there are still ways that you can explore the rich heritage of Hispanic-American culture.

Here are just a few of the many events: 

• On Wednesday, September 30, you can enjoy Homegrown: Changüí Majadero, a virtual performance of Cuban roots music presented by the Library of Congress. The live performance will be available on both the Library’s Facebook page and the Library’s YouTube channel. As the Library explains, “Changüí is the predecessor of son cubano and salsa, a style of music specifically from the region of Guantanamo, Cuba. Its origins can be traced back to the 1800s, during the days of slavery in Cuba. Changüí is to Cuba & Latin America what the blues & early jazz is to American music.”

• Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the National Park Service is taking its celebration of the history, heritage and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans past and present onto their social media platforms. 

• The Smithsonian will be hosting a variety of events online, including an exploration of portraits of prominent Hispanic-American and Latinx individuals — like Selena and Sonia Sotomayor – and the stories behind those portraits.

Here at AirMD, one of the most trusted air quality testing companies, we are scientists, not historians, but that won’t stop us from taking time away from conducting home allergen tests and asbestos inspections, to celebrate Hispanic-American Heritage Month.

The post How Do You Celebrate National Hispanic-American Heritage Month? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

At the beginning of August, we put hit pause and told the highly trained professionals who conduct our water and air quality tests  as well as our residential mold inspectors to go home and prepare their homes and families for what was at the time Tropical Storm Isaias, which was predicted to strengthen and become a hurricane.  

Hurricane Isaias

We were very fortunate, the storm stayed just off our coast. It kicked up the surf quite impressively and blustered its way north along the coast, eventually becoming a Category 1 hurricane. 

The folks in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina were not as lucky. That’s where Hurricane Isaias went ashore, it’s hurricane force winds and the tornadoes it spawned knocking out power, taking down trees and claiming the lives of 5 people. From there, the storm continued heading north. It was rated a tropical storm when it hit the Northeast, but that was enough to do serous damage and leave hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power. 

Hurricane Laura 

The Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas braced for not one but two storms a few weeks later. Hurricane Marco jumped ahead of Laura, which formed first and moved ashore as a tropical storm near the mouth of the Mississippi River on Aug. 24. 

Hurricane Laura made landfall in the early hours of Aug. 27 as a dangerous Category 4 hurricane. The storm left catastrophic damage in its wake, devastating the town of Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center did an amazing job at predicting the location and timing of Laura’s assault on the coast, allowing time for people to evacuate. Many lives were saved, but there was nothing that could be done to save the homes and businesses that they had left behind. 

What does all of this have to do with indoor air quality, home allergen testing and asbestos inspections? Nothing, really. All of us at AirMD are just feeling very fortunate. If you are feeling fortunate today, too, you might want to take a minute to think about those who are not faring as well and make a donation to a worthy nonprofit that can help them.

The post Hurricane Season Heats Up 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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At AirMD, a full-service indoor environmental testing company based in South Florida that has locations across the country, we like to emphasize the fact that our approach is firmly grounded in science. From asbestos inspections and water quality testing to home wellness assessments, all of our services are performed by professional technicians with a thorough understanding of the science involved.

We want you to know that, when it comes to science, we’re not just talking the talk. As members of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), we are happily walking the walk!

What Does Microbiology Have to Do with Environmental Testing?

The Oxford dictionary defines microbiology as “the branch of science that deals with microorganisms,” which isn’t really very helpful unless you already know that microorganisms are living organisms that are too small to be visible with the naked eye. There are a wide variety of microorganisms or microbes, including everything from bacteria and viruses to fungi, protozoa and parasites.

These microorganisms can be used to do some amazing things – like make life-saving drugs, clean polluted waterways and make the manufacture of biofuels possible. Not all microbes are a force for good, however. There are any number of the little rascals that you would definitely not want in your home or workplace!

The American Society for Microbiology

The ASM, which is one of the largest life science societies in the world, was established in 1899. One of the sessions at its first meeting, held in December of that year, was called “On the Use of Steam for Sterilization.”

Today, the organization has more than 30,000 members, including researchers, educators and health professionals as well as the environmental testing experts at AirMD. In addition to advancing the field of microbiology, the ASM is making a difference by advocating for evidence-based policies and helping to find solutions to pressing public health issues.

If you would like to chat about microbiology and how AirMD’s membership in the American Society for Microbiology helps us to provide our commercial and residential clients with effective environmental testing solutions based on the highest standards in scientific practice, such as indoor air quality testing, asbestos assessments and mold inspections, we would love to hear from you.

The post Our Environmental Testing Company Is a Proud Member of the American Society for Microbiology appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

If you’ve ever had a medical procedure in an outpatient surgical center, you don’t need us to tell you that these places keep their thermostats set to Brrrr! The reasoning behind this, we’re told, is that the cold temperature of the indoor air reduces the chances of infection. The science-oriented pros at AirMD, a leading provider of formaldehyde testing and mold inspections in Florida, have something to say about that.

Indoor Air Quality Testing for Healthcare Industry

When most people think about indoor air quality, they think about things like testing for VOCs, asbestos inspections and mold remediation. Boca Raton-based AirMD also works with the healthcare industry to test for bacteria, perform HVAC system assessments and run building diagnostics.

It may sound reasonable that keeping the environment cold would deter the growth of bacteria and reduce infection, but it’s not just about what’s good or bad for toxic growth. You have to factor the human body into the equation.

“One of the critical factors to preventing infection is the adequacy of blood flow and the supply of oxygen to tissues. When in a cold environment, the blood vessels of your skin constrict (that’s why your skin turns pale in cold weather). Your body constricts blood vessels in cold environments so as not to waste heat—a process called thermoregulation,” the experts at VeryWellHealth.com explain. “The second factor is that your immune system is actually weakened by hypothermia. Therefore, maintaining normal body temperature during surgery will help your body fight infection.”

Being Cold Isn’t Cool

The folks at VeryWellHealth.com, who have a theory that operating rooms are actually kept cool for the comfort of medical personnel – especially the surgeon, encourage you to lookout for your health if you’re in a cold treatment area by taking the following steps:

• Ask that the room be kept at a reasonable temperature.
• Let the staff know when you are cold and ask for warm blankets.
• Special warming devices can be used to keep you warm during surgery while not warming the entire room. Ask your anesthesiologist about using such a device.

If you work in the healthcare industry, we know the welfare of your patients is your top priority. If you want to be sure that your facilities are helping to promote healthy, please ask us about comprehensive Wellness Testing. As a scientific-based environmental testing company, AirMD can provide a clear picture through professional services – ranging from Asbestos Testing and Mold Inspections to Water Quality Testing – and prepare a detailed protocol to correct any issues that are discovered during the assessment.

To schedule an appointment, call 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD.

The post Chilling Information About Indoor Air Quality in Surgical Centers 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.

The post Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

The experts at AirMD who conduct mold and asbestos inspections as well as formaldehyde and VOC testing aren’t the only one who are concerned about the quality of the air in your home and your office.

When you think about what kind of environment the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protects, you’re probably thinking about rivers contaminated by toxic runoff or superfund sites, like the Davie landfill in Broward County, where inorganic compounds, heavy metals and VOCs had contaminated the soil and groundwater. You might be surprised to learn that the EPA also keeps an eye on the quality of the air inside your home, your office, your kids’ school as well as the places where you shop and other buildings.

The EPA and Indoor Air Quality

Why would the EPA be concerned about the quality of the air in our homes, schools and shopping centers as well as our places of employment?

The agency reports that, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors,¹ where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.²”

Obviously, if there’s something wrong with the air we breathe 90 percent of the time, it’s going to have serious impacts on the public’s health. The EPA is also concerned because:

• People who are often most susceptible to the adverse effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.³
• Indoor concentrations of some pollutants have increased in recent decades due to such factors as energy-efficient building construction (when it lacks sufficient mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate air exchange) and increased use of synthetic building materials, furnishings, personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.

Threats to Indoor Air Quality

According to the EPA, the pollutants we should be concerned about include:

• Combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and environmental tobacco smoke.
• Substances of natural origin such as radon, pet dander, and mold.
• Biological agents such as molds.
• Pesticides, lead, and asbestos.
• Ozone (from some air cleaners).
• Various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a variety of products and materials.

What to Watch For

According to the EPA, the following symptoms can all be associated with indoor air pollutants:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
• Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer.

If you or your family have experienced any of these health issue and you’re concerned about the quality of the air in your home or workplace, contact AirMD, a leader in VOC testing, asbestos inspections and formaldehyde testing as well as mold testing and remediation.

The post EPA Reports on Indoor Air Quality appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Did you know that, in addition to keeping our mold inspection experts busy, humidity can trigger an asthma attack? Thunderstorms can, too. Of course, here in Florida, it’s hard to avoid either of those. Now that the rainy season has arrived (it officially started on May 15), it’s going to be even harder for asthma sufferers to manage their condition.

No one knows exactly what causes asthma, so there’s no way to cure the disease. There are a lot of things that can be done to help manage it, though.

Three things you can do to guard against humidity if you or a loved one has asthma:

1. Check your air conditioning. In addition to controlling the temperature, your air conditioning system should be able to control the level of humidity inside your home or workplace. The thermostat regulates the temperature and the hygrometer controls the relative humidity in your space. It might sound tempting, but you really don’t want to have 0% humidity. For one thing, super dry air – especially cold, dry air – can also trigger an asthma attack. What’s best? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you’ll want to keep the relative humidity in your home below 60%. Between 30 and 50% is ideal.
2. Monitor the local air quality index. The air quality index looks at things like the amount of pollen in the air as well as the humidity level. If the air quality in your area is poor, try to limit your outdoor activities.
3. Move. Just kidding! We hope you stick around to enjoy all the wonderful things the Sunshine State has to offer from the beautiful beaches, sunny skies and delightful winters to the museums and attractions.

For more than 10 years, AirMD, has been providing an array of affordable, comprehensive environmental consulting services. We started in South Florida, performing mold tests and mold removal from Miami to Orlando – as well as VOC and formaldehyde testing and asbestos inspections. Now, we offer our science-based services and special brand of super customer service across the country.

We’re here, if there’s anything we can do to help you, your family or your business manage humidity – and a host of other asthma triggers, including:

• Pollen
• Dust particles
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Cockroach and rodent allergens

If you’d like more information about how to maintain healthy indoor air quality, give us a call at 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD or submit your question online and an AirMD consultant will get back to you.

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