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.
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New EPA Lead Standards Designed to Help Reduce Childhood Exposure Risks
Going Into Effect Soon
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It has long been recognized that lead-contaminated dust from chipped or peeling lead-based paint is one of the most common causes of elevated blood lead levels in children. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that lead-based paint and lead contaminated dust are the "most" hazardous sources of lead for children.
Even though the use of lead-based paints in the U.S. was banned in 1978, it can still be found in many residential, institutional and commercial properties. The CDC states that "all houses built before 1978 are likely to contain some lead-based paint."
To address this exposure risk, on June 21st, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new, tighter standards for lead in dust on floors and window sills to protect children from the harmful effects of lead exposure. The strengthened standards become effective 180 days after publication in the Federal Register.
"Childhood lead poisoning is considered the most preventable environmental disease among young children according to the CDC and these tighter standards are good news for protecting those most at risk,"
said Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark (CSC). "The EPA has lowered the dust-lead hazard standards from 40 micrograms of lead per square foot (µg/ft2) to 10 µg/ft2 on floors and from 250 µg/ft2 to 100 µg/ft2 on window sills.
These more protective dust-lead hazard standards apply to inspections, risk assessments and abatement activities in pre-1978 housing and certain schools, child care facilities and hospitals."
Also dedicated to protecting children, families and workers from lead exposure risks are the industrial hygiene, environmental and building science professionals at Clark Seif Clark. They provide lead consulting and testing services to identify existing lead hazards and help to keep companies and institutions in regulatory compliance.
CSC has even sponsored an educational video about possible signs and symptoms of lead poisoning in children that can be seen below:
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| Lead Poisoning - Possible Signs & Symptoms in Children |
To learn more about lead or other industrial hygiene, building science, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety testing and consulting services
,
please visit
www.csceng.com
, email
[email protected]
or call (800) 807-1118.
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Building Occupant Exposures to Sewer Gas and Other Unpleasant Odors
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The presence of sewer gas in a home, school or commercial building can have a number of negative effects on building occupants. Aside from the obvious unpleasant nature of smelling an offensive odor, exposure can also decreased property values and result in lost revenues, impact productivity and increase absenteeism, cause metal corrosion, and result in health concerns and complaints.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services states that sewer gas is a complex mixture of toxic and nontoxic gases that can be present at varying levels depending upon the source. It is formed during the decay of household and industrial waste. Highly toxic components of sewer gas include hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Sewer gas also contains methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides.
"Sewer gas is regularly mistaken for the mercaptan additive to natural gas that causes a rotten egg smell,"
said
Derrick A. Denis, Vice President of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) for Clark Seif Clark
(CSC). "This leads to false reports of natural gas leaks, costly building evacuations and wild goose chases for gas companies and local fire departments. Building occupant complaints about health issues is another major issue when sewer gas is present. Exposure can irritate mucosal membranes in the eyes, nose and throat. These irritations can even occur at concentrations undetectable to people's sense of smell."
While the presence of sewer gas infiltration can be obvious at times, the source of the problem is often elusive. Diagnosis by building science experts is frequently the best solution to identify the causes and to develop solutions. At CSC, their building science and IEQ professionals are regularly called upon to identify and resolve complaints involving sewer gas and other mystery odors. Their experts have decades of experience with building systems and air testing services to quickly identify causes and develop reliable solutions. CSC has also recently sponsored an educational video about sewer gas that can be seen below:
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| Sewer Gas - What Smells So Bad? |
To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, building science, industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety services,
please visit
www.csceng.com
, email
[email protected]
or call (800) 807-1118.
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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.
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Is It Safe?
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