Environmental Inspection Articles

An introduction to indoor air quality Pollution. The word calls to mind brown clouds, belching smokestacks and toxic waste spills, but does it also make you think about the air you're breathing inside your home or workplace? EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. And indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much [...]

Why Be Concerned? Asbestos is one of the most widely recognized construction health hazards. In addition to causing asbestosis, a debilitating lung disease, it is also an established carcinogen. It is estimated by HEW that up to two million excess cancer deaths will occur in the U.S. Over the next 30 years as a result of past asbestos exposures. Asbestos is a topic of vital concern to all involved in construction. Asbestos may be more common than you think There exists a dangerous misconception among [...]

Consider the risks, perform due diligence before choosing to seize—or else. For months lenders have been battered by loan delinquencies on real property. Seizures, often resulting in disappointing short sales, account for massive losses on the loan and accrued interest amount. But, in the view of many, a small recovery is better than nothing. What many lenders fail to realize—or fail to remember—is that foreclosure poses serious risks when enacted without performing due diligence to determine exactly what is returning to bank control. In some [...]

The risks of office air pollution Did you know that air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air even in large, industrialized cities? Other research indicates that people spend about 90% of their time indoors. So, for most people, poor indoor air quality poses a greater risk than polluted outdoor air. Many office buildings have significant air pollution sources. In addition, these buildings may be inadequately ventilated. Mechanical ventilation systems, for example, may not be designed or operated to [...]