You probably know by now that water quality testing pros, the mold inspectors and everyone else at our environmental testing company are fans of science. We are also big fans of Earth Day, which is April 22, and its important message. So, when we heard those two things were coming together, well that definitely gave us something to smile about!

This year we will mark the 51st annual Earth Day. Since 1970, when the very first Earth Day celebration was held, we have grown in our understanding of the need to protect and nurture this amazing planet we call home. Earth Day is an opportunity to celebrate what has been accomplished and to remember how much work still lies ahead.

And talking about the work ahead… the folks at EarthDay.org have put out a call to citizen scientists to help collect data as part of the Global Earth Challenge.

Science to the Rescue!

The Global Earth Challenge is the world’s largest ever coordinated citizen science campaign. (How cool is that?!) By using mobile technology and open citizen science data, the project is designed to empower people all over the world to become involved in the campaign to fight climate change.

Citizen scientists will help monitor threats to environmental and human health in their community. There’s a mobile app you can use to report on things like air quality, water quality, insect populations and plastic pollution, among other things.

Your observations will then be combined with the millions of observations coming in from other citizen scientists around the world to provide valuable environmental insights that can be used to help plot a way forward.

The effort is being coordinated in partnership with the Wilson Center and the U.S. Department of State as a way to create and connect interested communities around the world.

Together, we can leverage the power of scientific research to drive meaningful change.

If you want to get involved with the Global Earth Challenge, but have questions about the science involved in environmental air testing, water quality testing and other aspects of environmental testing in general, please feel free to contact the science-loving folks at AirMD.

The post Celebrate Earth Day with AirMD appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

The saga of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, which began to unfold in 2014 when water quality testing revealed unacceptably high levels of lead in the city’s water, continues as criminal charges are filed against a number of state and local officials involved in the matter.

As CBS News reports, “Michigan officials on Thursday [Jan. 14] announced the outcome of the criminal investigation into the Flint water crisis. Former Governor Rick Snyder is facing two counts of willful neglect of duty for ‘failing to protect the health and safety’ of the city’s residents.”

If convicted, CBS says the former governor could spend up to a year in jail. He also faces a potential fine of $1,000, which doesn’t seem like much when you think about the damage done to the people of Flint.

Charges have also been filed against eight other people involved in the scandal, many of whom as CBS also reported worked in Snyder’s administration, including:

• Jarrod Agen, the former director of communications and Snyder’s chief of staff, who has been charged with one count of perjury.
• Richard Baird, a senior advisor to Snyder, has been charged with a single count of misconduct in office.
• Nancy Peeler, who managed the state’s Early Childhood Health Section, faces two counts of misconduct in office and one count of willful neglect of duty.
• Eden Wells, as the former state medical executive, faces more serious charges. In addition to two counts of misconduct in office, one count of willful neglect of duty, the charges include nine counts of involuntary manslaughter.
• The state’s former health director, Nicolas Lyon, has also been charged with nine counts of involuntary manslaughter in addition to one count of willful neglect of duty.

Charges were also filed against several public servants in Flint, including Gerald Ambrose, the city’s former emergency manager: Howard Croft, who was the director of the city’s public works department at the time of the scandal, and Darnell Earley, another former emergency manager.

Testing for lead is an important part of water quality testing, because of the harmful effects associated with lead contamination. It is a tragedy that, in the case of Flint’s water, water quality testing which clearly showed the presence of lead was ignored.

The post Flint’s Water Crisis: An Update appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

It is frightening to think that you and your family might have been drinking tainted water. That’s what residents in Delray Beach are facing as questions regarding the maintenance of water storage tanks in the city emerge. Some residents are considering having independent water quality testing done to ensure the safety of their loved ones. 

City officials in Delray are offering reassurances but have not managed to quell fears. Perhaps because their reassurances are not backed up by scientific evidence. Part of the problem, according to a number of reports, might be what appears to be a toxic atmosphere at City Hall. (But even our most advanced indoor air quality tests, wouldn’t do much good with that kind of toxic air!)

More Trouble in Paradise

If you read our previous post, you will know that life in South Florida can be pretty hard to beat, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have clouds darken our skies and our prospects from time to time. 

According to recent reports, the discolored water that many residents experienced earlier this year was a result of sediment that had accumulated in one of the city’s water storage tanks. An investigation revealed that the tank in question, which was supposed to be cleaned every five years, had not, in fact, been cleaned for more than 30 years. 

The city manager who is largely responsible for bringing the problem to the public’s eye – after the mayor and city council members failed to act when he brought the situation to their attention – has been fired. 

If you live in Delray and would like to test the water quality in your home or business, please contact us. If you want help cleaning up the toxic environment at City Hall, however, registering to vote is probably your best option.

The post Water Quality Questions Emerge in Delray Beach appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Some of the residential mold inspectors at AirMD, which provides comprehensive water quality testing and indoor air quality assessments in West Palm Beach and all of South Florida, are looking forward to getting away for a little skiing this winter. And it seems like almost everyone at our environmental testing company in Boca Raton is expecting a visit from friends or relatives who live in colder climes.

This is one of the busiest travel times of the year. If you’re among the millions of Americans who will be heading to the airport sometime soon, you may want to pay attention to a study released in September by the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center and DietDetective.com.

Airline Water Quality Testing

You wouldn’t think something like this would be necessary, but since 2011, airlines have been required to provide passengers and flight crew with safe drinking water under the federal government’s Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR). Unfortunately, the Airline Water Study 2019 reveals that you can’t rely on the quality of the drinking water when you fly. The quality varies by airline, but, according to the report, many airlines have possibly provided passengers with unhealthy water.

The study ranked 11 major and 12 regional airlines primarily based on the quality of water they provided onboard their flights. Criteria included things like:

• fleet size
• ADWR violations
• positive E. coli water sample reports
• positive coliform water sample reports
• cooperation in providing answers to water-quality questions

“Alaska Airlines and Allegiant win the top spot with the safest water in the sky, and Hawaiian Airlines finishes No. 2,” says Charles Platkin, PhD, JD, MPH, the editor of DietDetective.com and the executive director of the Hunter College NYC Food Policy Center. The airlines with the worst scores are JetBlue and Spirit Airlines, the study shows.

To be on the safe side, the experts behind the study recommend that you:

• NEVER drink any water on a flight that isn’t in a sealed bottle
• Do not drink coffee or tea onboard
• Do not wash your hands in the bathroom; bring hand-sanitizer with you instead.

Here at AirMD, a South Florida air quality and water testing company where our experts understand just how disturbing the results of the study are, we’re not going to let concerns about water quality testing stop us from hitting the slopes and we hope you don’t let it stop you from traveling this winter. We just plan on taking our own water bottles with us.

The post Should You Be Concerned About Airline Water Quality? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

The environmental testing experts at AirMD understand all too well the dangers of lead poisoning – especially when it comes to children. We are pleased to take this opportunity to join with other leaders in the field of scientific air and water quality assessment to help spread the word during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which is October 20-26, 2019. The purpose of NLPPW is to help communities work together to reduce childhood exposure to lead.

“Lead poisoning — at levels that do not cause immediate symptoms — can permanently damage kids’ brains,” WebMD says. “Before their second birthday, children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning. They are, of course, more likely than older children to put lead-contaminated hands or toys or paint chips in their mouths. Moreover, a child’s gastrointestinal tract also absorbs lead more readily than does the adult gut.”

But that’s not the biggest threat. As pediatrics professor John Rosen, MD, director of the lead program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, N.Y., told WebMD, lead toxicity poses a serious threat to a child’s rapidly developing brain.

Did you know…

• Many homes built before 1978 contain lead paint on both interior and exterior walls. When lead paint gets old, it can start to peel or come off in pieces and become a hazard. Find out more: https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead#sl-home
• Children’s hands and toys can pick up household dust or exterior soil contaminated by lead. Be sure to move children’s outdoor play areas away from bare soil and the sides of your home. Wet-mop floors and wet-wipe surfaces indoors often to reduce the risk of lead exposure!
• Lead exposure is dangerous during early childhood development, particularly for children who crawl! Make sure to take off your shoes when entering the house to prevent bringing lead-contaminated soil in from outside.
• You cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water, but you can learn basic information about sources of lead in drinking water and suggestions for reducing exposure.
  https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/infographic-lead-drinking-water

The National Lead Information Center provides information about lead, lead hazards, and preventing lead exposure. Call the toll-free hotline, 1-800-424-LEAD [5323] for more information.

You can also call AirMD, a highly respected company specializing in water quality testing company and mold testing based in Boca Raton, FL, at 1-888- GO AIRMD (462-4763). We would be happy to answer any questions you have – not only during National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week but all year.

The post National Lead Poisoning Week Is Oct. 20-26 appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

When you woke up this morning, you probably turned on the water faucet to brush your teeth. If you’re like some of us here at AirMD, a science-based indoor air and water quality testing company based in Boca Raton, FL, you might have gone into the kitchen first to get the coffee started, filling the pot or the machine with water from the tap. And very few of us ever stop to marvel or give thanks for the clean, clear water that comes out of the tap.

Most of take our running water for granted. And we’re incredibly fortunate to be able to do so. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

An estimated 790 million people – that’s 11% of the world’s population – don’t have access to a clean water supply.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 5 lose their lives because of they don’t have a safe source of water for essentials like drinking and bathing.

How Safe Is Your Water?

You probably don’t need to worry about the water that comes out of your tap. As the experts at WebMD tell us, “[Your water] is considered generally safe if it comes from a public water system in the United States, such as one run and maintained by a municipality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to monitor all public water systems and sets enforceable health standards regarding the contaminants in drinking water.”

In other words, the water coming from the treatment plant in your city or county has to meet the safety standards set by the EPA. “That doesn’t mean that your water is free of all contaminants, but that the levels of any contaminants don’t pose any serious health risk,” WebMD reports.

No system is foolproof. Accidents happen. There could even be something in the pipes running through your home or business that is contaminating the tap water.

If you have concerns about your drinking water, you’ll be happy to know that AirMD’s Water Quality Testing will investigate your water not at the treatment plant but at the delivery point – your faucet! For more information, please contact us at your convenience.

The post Water Quality Testing Can Offer Peace of Mind appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

Testing and monitoring the quality of the water in your home is necessary if you want to remain healthy. Not only is it necessary for you, but it also just as important for anyone else who may live or work with you. By conducting routine water testing, you’re ensuring that your water quality is always in excellent condition and that it contains no harmful bacteria or chemicals.

Most individuals who have municipal water or even well water believe that their water is safe. However, most water is not tested once it is distributed into your home or office. AirMD’s water testing determines if there are any levels of bacteria within the water supplied to your home or office by both municipal water systems or well water systems.

We check both your drinking water and bathing water by taking a sample of the water to ensure that it is free from any bacteria. Bacteria of concern found in water include but are not limited to coliforms, fecal coliforms, and e. coli.

If you are exposed to these bacteria in your water, you may experience extreme gastro issues, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and even spells of lightheadedness. This is why it is essential to have your water tested to ensure you are not being exposed and that you are not at risk for any bacteria exposure.

At AirMD, we take water testing seriously because we know how crucial a safe water supply is in both residential and commercial properties. Call us today to schedule your appointment for water testing or to speak to a consultant about any questions you may have on water testing. You can also visit our website to see all the different services we provide our clients. We also offer:

• Allergen testing
• Heavy metal testing
• Lead testing
• Mold testing
• Pesticide testing
• VOC testing
• Asbestos testing
• Wellness testing
• Lead paint testing
• Lead testing
• Water quality

The post Why water testing is essential for homeowners appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.

How can you know if you are drinking contaminated water?

Water supplied by your city is considered safe to drink, however, the water is only tested when it leaves the supplier but not when it enters your home where it is most important.

The Flint, Michigan population hadn’t a clue that their city had recently attempted to save money by unhooking the city from Lake Huron, the fresh water drinking source, and replace it with water from the Flint River.

LeeAnne Walters, a resident, was quoted as saying that her tap water tested at 27 times the limit for lead. That was after she realized that one of her sons was ill, her 18-year-old daughter’s hair was falling out and when the children bathed they broke out in red bumps.

The World Health Organization reports that lead’s neurological and behavioral effects “are believed to be irreversible.”

Lead testing for children in Flint revealed brain-damaging levels, and adults suffered a ten-fold upsurge in Legionnaires’ Disease. Eighty-seven people in Flint have contracted Legionnaires’ Disease, and ten have died. At least six more toxins have been found in routine blood workups, concerning doctors about upcoming ailments as well. Home values have plummeted to zero, as Flint Michigan has become synonymous with poison. Flint’s future has been effectively flushed away.

Water testing examines the level of bacteria in water entering homes after delivery by a municipal water system. Testing the water that you drink will determine whether it conforms to the criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency and other safety organizations. AirMD, an industry leader, provides all environmental testing services, including water quality testing.

AirMD professionals are specialists in Water Quality Testing, and AirMD provides the education, testing, consulting services and technology to meet its objective of creating healthier indoor environments.

An AirMD consultant will visit your home and take samples from your drinking water and bathing water to determine safe levels of bacteria in the water, after testing should corrective services be required, AirMD will help resolve any issues.

To ask an AirMD scientist a question Click Here or to schedule an appointment call 1-888-462-4763 or 1-888-GO-AIRMD

The post Is Your Family’s Tap Water Contaminated? appeared first on Air Quality Testing by AirMD Since 2007.