CSC EHS Newsletter: March 2022

Clark Seif Clark

View Our Services

Environmental Newsletter

March 2022

Every day, Clark Seif Clark professionals are deployed across the nation helping both large and small customers resolve health & safety, industrial hygiene, environmental and indoor air quality issues.

At a moment's notice, Clark Seif Clark can send their experts anywhere they are needed. No matter if it's in response to a hurricane, wildfire, flood, tornado or other natural disaster, Clark Seif Clark is ready to help and can respond in no time at all.

Secondhand Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke Can Create Indoor Air Quality Issues and Leave Behind Damaging Residues

For years it has been recognized that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke can be a threat to a person’s health. For those who do not smoke, many do not have a choice when being exposed to secondhand smoke and the thousands of chemicals found in it, including about 70 known to cause cancer according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC reports that secondhand smoke, sometimes referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children. It is also associated with heart disease, stroke and lung cancer in adult nonsmokers.

Marijuana smoke is also an issue for many. According to the CDC, smoked marijuana has many of the same cancer-causing substances as smoked tobacco. It also contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of marijuana’s psychological effects. The smoke is a complex mixture of many chemicals and particulate matter (PM). Exposure to PM can cause lung irritation, may trigger an asthma attack in some people with the condition, and can be a concern for people who have lung diseases.

“As recently as 2019, CDC estimates 48.2 million people, or about 18% of Americans, have smoked marijuana,” said Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Since then, even more states have legalized medical and recreational marijuana use. Whether we are talking about secondhand marijuana smoke, secondhand tobacco smoke or secondhand vape emissions, millions of people are being exposed without consent to contaminants in the air they breathe. This can be especially true in apartments and condominium complexes, where smoke can often migrate from one unit to another. Smoke is at best a comfort issue. At worst, smoke residues can impact current and future occupant health. Residues can also negatively impact contents and structural materials resulting in unforeseen clean-up or repair costs and difficulties selling or leasing properties.”

Providing testing and consulting services to assess buildings for odor complaints and health concerns arising from ongoing marijuana and tobacco smoke are the indoor air quality and industrial hygiene professionals at Clark Seif Clark. These services are frequently requested by landlords, prospective tenants, real estate professionals and even prospective buyers who are concerned about smoke residues left behind by a previous tenant or seller. These can leave intolerable odors, unsightly discoloration and a long list of measurable chemical residues.

CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about secondhand marijuana smoke exposure risks that can be seen below:

To learn more about this or other building science, indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, health and safety services, please:

Visit Our Website

Email Us

Hydrogen Cyanide Exposure Risks in the Workplace

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a precursor to many chemical compounds and is produced on an industrial scale for use in numerous industries. Hydrogen cyanide is used commercially for fumigation, electroplating, mining, chemical synthesis, and for the production of synthetic fibers, plastics, dyes and pesticides. It has also been used as a chemical warfare agent in the past and has the military designation of AC.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes hydrogen cyanide as a colorless or pale-blue liquid or gas with a bitter, almond-like odor. It is a liquid below 78°F (25.6°C) and a colorless gas above 78°F (25.6°C).

Exposure to hydrogen cyanide can be fatal as it interferes with the body’s use of oxygen and may cause harm to the brain, heart, blood vessels and lungs. Routes of potential exposure include ingestion, inhalation, skin contact and eye contact. NIOSH lists examples of some workers that could be at risk of being exposed, they include:

Workers who commercially fumigate ships and buildings
Agricultural workers who fumigate outdoor pests in areas such as fruit orchards
Factory workers in industries that manufacture acrylic fibers, synthetic rubber and plastics
Steel and iron workers who work in plants that harden iron and steel

“To help protect workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL),” said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “Hydrogen cyanide and cyanide salts are also listed by California as known to cause reproductive toxicity under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, more commonly referred to as Proposition 65.”

Dedicated to helping companies and institutions safeguard workers and maintain regulatory compliance are the industrial hygiene and environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark. CSC offers testing, monitoring, consulting and training services to identify and mitigate exposure risks associated with hydrogen cyanide and many other hazards in the workplace.

CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about hydrogen cyanide and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen below:

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark: CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.