For many years nobody considered the impact of plants as an indoor-purifier. Yes, the environment friendly role of plants is known since ages, but nobody imagined the extent to which plants can purify the air inside your living space. That was before NASA stepped in to assist the Associated Contractors of America (ALCA) in a quest to conclude a list of the most effective plants that clean the air indoors by removing toxic-agents.
Dr B. C. Wolverton led the team of the researchers. The study concluded that the Florist’s Mum is the most effective among all. The research was based on the ability of the plant to filter out formaldehyde, xylene, ammonia, toluene, trichloroethylene, and benzene.
Here is the full list of the most efficient plants that clean air:
The List of 26 Air Purifying Plants
1. Broadleaf Lady Palm – Rhapis excelsa
Image source: starrenvironmental.com
They are easy-growing, but you need to make sure that the temperature doesn’t go above 21oC. Also, don’t keep them under direct sunlight.
The speed of the growth is slow but consistent. If you see spider mites around the leaves of this plant, make sure to wipe them out with the help of soapy water.
They purify air from formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene, and carbon dioxide.
These plants are not toxic to dogs or cats.
2. Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea seifrizii
Image source: biolib.de
The plant is also known as Reed Palm, and you have to keep it at a temperature not more than 24oC. Make sure to add a little sand to the soil. Don’t make a mistake of overwatering these plants. Yes, the ground should remain wet all the time, but the water should not linger for a long time.
Bamboo Palm purifies air from formaldehyde. It also eliminates benzene as well as trichloroethylene.
Make sure to place these plants in semi-sunlight. They grow well in temperature ranging from 16oC to 24oC. Like most of the palms, Dwarf Date also grows slowly but consistently and can reach a height of 10 feet. Their leaf-end is sharp so make sure not to place it in kid’s playing area.
These plants like barely moist soil, and make sure to wipe off spider mites and whitefly as these insects love being around Boston Fern. The plant gains a maximum height of 4 feet, but they can spread up to as much as five feet. The suitable temperature range for these plants is from 18oC to 24oC.
The plant purifies the air from formaldehyde.
5. Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum
Also known as “Mauna Loa”, the Peace Lily is a powerful air purifier. It demands some care, and if there is a high level of humidity and indirect sunlight, the plant grows well. Don’t forget to mist the leaves on a regularly. From 16oC to 24oC is the suitable temperature range for these plants.
Peace Lily is toxic to pets as well as humans. Their leaves feature calcium oxalate.
Peace Lily purifies the air from acetone, alcohols, benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.
People often tend to eradicate Spider Plants (occasionally called Airplane Plants). They quickly regrow, and the good news is that you don’t need to remove these plants. Just cut off a couple of its spiders and place them in the pot.
Spider Plants purify the air from benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and xylene.
They don’t feature toxic elements, so your family and pets are completely safe around Spider Plants.
7. Gerbera Daisy – Gerbera jamesonii
Also called Barberton Daisy, Gerbera features bright flowers. You need to make sure that there are drainage holes in the pot. Mist its leaves for at least twice a week. Also, don’t forget to feed them with direct sunlight for about 6-hrs a day.
Gerberas purify the air from benzene and trichloroethylene.
These plants also have an interesting name – Mother-in-Law’s Tongue. You can place them in the bedroom at night, because against the thumb-rule these plants absorb CO2 and release O2 during night hours.
Also called Mum, these plants feature colourful flowers contributing to the aesthetic beauty of the office or the room where you place them. Their convincing beauty encourages people to bring these plants inside to match the interior. These plants feature almost any colors.
Chrysantheium morifolium purify the air from benzene.
10. Red-Edged Dracaena – Dracaena marginata
Image source: starrenvironmental.com
These plants feature striking colours and are famous for their purple-red edges. The growth of these plants is consistent but slow. They can grow up to 15 feet.
Red-Edged Dracaena purifies the air from xylene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.
This plant grows well in the presence of indirect yet bright light. But if the temperature rises significantly, or if the light fluctuates – this plant won’t grow well.
Weeping Fig is known for purifying the air from formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene.
12. English Ivy – Hedera helix
People love this plant, but the problem is that the English Ivy tends to damage vegetation around it. That’s why it is better to place it in pots instead of orchards. It needs moist soil, but make sure to feed it with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight every day.
English Ivy purifies the air from formaldehyde and faecal-matter particles.
This plant doesn’t require much care. It requires minimum light and grows well even in places that are not recommended for other plants. These tropical plants like humidity and if the atmosphere is too dry, the tips of the leaves may turn brown.
The Chinese Evergreen purifies the air from formaldehyde and benzene.
Chinese Evergreen plants carry toxic elements that are dangerous for dogs.
14. Areca Palm – Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Image source: starrenvironmental.com
Otherwise known as Butterfly Palm – this delicate plant grows fast and attains a height of 12 feet. Make sure that you select the plant with the thicker trunk. If the stem is as thin as a pencil, then there are chances of toppling over, and it will make it difficult to keep them erect.
Areca Palm purifies the air from xylene and toluene. Toluene is basically the combination of dibutyl phthalate and formaldehyde.
These plants grow well in semi-shade semi-light conditions. Don’t put them under direct sunlight, especially when the weather is hot.
These plants can reach a height of 8 feet. Often, rubber plants require stake support. Be careful when handling these plants.
Don’t forget to wear gloves before trimming these plants as the milky-sap causes irritation on the skin.
Rubber Plant purifies the air from formaldehyde.
16. Janet Graig – Dracaena deremensis
Image source: David Stang (first published at ZipcodeZoo.com)
They prefer semi-shade and indirect sunlight. These plants don’t like soggy soil. Besides, make sure that the root ball doesn’t completely dry out. During warmer season, Janet Graig requires consistent mist.
Janet Graig cleans the air by filtering trichloroethylene.
These plants grow well in the presence of medium light, but even low light doesn’t hurt them. They are a well-known indoor plants for their adaptability to grow in almost all indoor conditions. They can reach up to 6 feet above their base.
Philodendron plant filters xylene from the air along with other pollutants.
Don’t place these plants near air conditioning vents as their leaves shed after coming in contact with heat. Make sure to keep the soil moist enough, but don’t let the water stand for a long time. Yellow colouring of its leaves is suggestive of overwatering.
Keep them away from kids and pets as these plants contain poisonous elements.
These plants purify the air from chemical vapours.
19. Aloe – Aloe vera
Aloe is arguably the most easy-growing plant. It likes sunlight, and this is what makes this plant one of the favourite green-companion of humans for over 6000 years. During the early days, the Egyptians called it is The Plant of Immortality. Other than its benefits for skin and human health, these plants are natural purifiers.
Aloe vera purifies the air from benzene and formaldehyde.
20. Golden Pothos – Scindapsus aureus
Golden Pothos like indirect yet bright light. Make sure not to provide them with excessive water.
These plants filter formaldehyde from the air.
Golden Pothos is poisonous, so keep it away from pets and kids.
21. Pineapple Plant – Ananas comosus
Pineapple plants have a tremendous ability to lift the oxygen level at night times. This quality makes these plants perfect for all those looking to enhance the quality of air indoors.
Pineapple plants aren’t known for the filtration of toxins, but if you want to get rid of snoring, then these plants can serve the purpose. The good thing is that pineapple plants don’t require much water. The only thing you need to be careful about is that frost is not good for these plants, so they don’t flourish in a cold environment.
These evergreen plants feature highly attractive flowers significantly contributing to the aesthetic appeal of an office or a living room. Greek mythology was inspired by these plants, and they symbolised love. Even today, people love gifting Flamingo Lily to their friends and family members to express their care and affection.
Flamingo Lily features large leaves with dark colouring. These leaves effectively filter the air by absorbing formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.
23. Lilyturf – Liriope spicata
Image source: starrenvironmental.com
They are mostly featured as border grass and make perfect edging for your outdoor space, but Lilyturfs are also exceptionally good for indoor gardening. Interior plant-scapers use Lilyturf on a consistent basis. The plant can reach a height of 12” to 18”, and during summer it has lavender and white flowers.
These are semi-shade, semi-sun plants. If the air is too dry, pests invade the plant, so you need to provide it with some humidity. Make sure to water it consistently so that the soil remains moist.
Apart from removing ammonia from the air, this plant also filters xylene, formaldehyde, and toluene to let you breathe the fresh air.
24. Kimberly Queen Fern – Nephrolepis obliterata
Image source: David Stang (first published at ZipcodeZoo.com)
Though the Boston Fern is more popular comparing to the Kimberly Queen Fern, don’t underestimate the potential of these plants as an air purifier. They lose their leaves less often than the Boston. And they bloom well even if the humidity level is low.
You need to ensure regular misting and watering to help these plants grow. They like wet ground, but never let the water stay as it’s not good for these plants.
Kimberly Queen Fern purifies the air from alcohols, formaldehyde, and xylene.
25. Devil’s Ivy – Epipremnum aureum
This is another good option for natural air purification, but you need to be careful as these plants are toxic to pets (it contains raphides). Also, they contain calcium oxalate that is mildly toxic to humans.
Being famous for its marble-leaves, this plant is easy-going and requires less care. You need to water these plants only when the soil is dry. Keep them away from direct sunlight. Devil’s Ivy grows well under indirect light.
Epipremnum aureum filter the air from formaldehyde, benzene and xylene.
Another Dracaena plant becomes the part of this list because of its exceptional ability to purify the air. Cornstalk is an easy-going plant and even doesn’t mind occasional watering missing. Its long leaves manage to clean a lot of air around. These plants can grow from 10 feet to 12 feet tall.
Do not let the pets consume its leaves because it is toxic to cats as well as dogs.
Cornstalk Dracaena filters formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from the air.
Let’s now have a look at the toxic elements in the air and symptoms they may cause.
You should take extra care during the selection. Due to the fact that some of these plants carry toxic substances, it makes it vital to first ensure the safety of your kids, all family members and pets.
Select Suitable Plants
You need to evaluate the structure of your house, because some of these plants spread across and elevate beyond the standard height of ceilings. But, that isn’t an issue if you live in an area where the climate is perfect for the plant and you have sufficient outdoor space to accommodate them as they grow more prominent enough to occupy much more indoor space.
Consult with Experts
If you aren’t sure about some indoor plants and their efficiency, then it is better to consult with experts. It would be perfect if they’re able to visit your house to evaluate the surroundings, lighting conditions, and available space.
Wrapping up
Nature has always been generous and helped us to solve even the man-made problems. Plants are impressive when it comes to the purification of the environment. We live in harsh climates, and the density of the pollutants has been increasing since we first introduced our lives to carbon, lead and other toxic substances. Industrialisation keeps disturbing the natural balance, and that is what makes it extremely important to restore the natural balance as much as we can.
There is nothing more appropriate than having air cleaning plants in our rooms and offices. They allow us to breathe fresh air at least when you are in your house.
Stay safe, breathe fresh, and purify your life by making maximum use of the gifts from nature!
Thurka Sangaramoorthy, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Maryland’s flagship campus, had to throw away her furniture, her collection of about 1,000 books, invaluable documents and personal mementos collected since she started teaching at the school in 2012.
The reason? A combination of mold, mildew and moisture that have plagued her office in Woods Hall, which houses the university’s anthropology department on the College Park campus, Sangaramoorthy said.
“Some of those [items] were really near and dear to me,” she said. The expensive regalia she wore when she graduated with her PhD was also destroyed by mold. “I consider my office to be a complete loss.”
Fifteen professors in U-Md.’s anthropology department have battled mold, and the health complications that come with it, for years, said department chair Paul Shackel. He started keeping a log of mold-related episodes in 2015.AD
“It affects teaching, it affects the morale of people, and people are kind of discouraged because this has been going on for a while,” Shackel said. “The university is taking steps, but the steps, I don’t think, are big enough.”
Complaints about mold in the academic building have a familiar ring: A year ago, nearly 600 students were displaced from their on-campus housing at U-Md. because of a mold outbreak — an outbreak that sparked criticism of the university’s administration.
Amid the mold infestation, dozens of students developed adenovirus infections, and an 18-year-old freshman died of complications from the virus. Mold does not cause adenovirus infections but can set the stage for other health problems. The director of the university health center, in emails to administrators last year, acknowledged that “mold can cause respiratory irritation that may increase susceptibility of any viral infection.”AD
Professors in the anthropology department say they regularly carry wipes to clean mold from the walls and furniture in their offices. Some try their best to avoid their offices, opting to work from home.
U-Md. in recent years has spent nearly $500,000 on efforts to control moisture in Woods Hall, including waterproofing, dehumidifiers, window sealing and a new drainage system, university spokeswoman Katie Lawson said in an email.
“We care deeply for the well-being of our community, and we are working closely with faculty members in Woods Hall on interim measures and permanent solutions to address moisture control,” Lawson said. “We are currently finalizing a plan to relocate faculty offices.”
Facilities Management, the department that oversees campus infrastructure and repairs, said in a statement that it has installed rain guards and provided mold remediation services.AD
But the issues persist, faculty members say.
The anthropology department’s location in the basement of Woods Hall makes it prone to humidity. Mold thrives in damp conditions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Jen Shaffer, an assistant professor in the anthropology department, said she tries to stay away from her office. She has offered to hold Skype meetings with students while she works at home.
“I feel bad because I prefer a face-to-face meeting,” Shaffer said. “I feel kind of nervous with students coming in and out of my office. I don’t know what their medical histories are, and it could be potentially dangerous.”
Sangaramoorthy also prefers to work at home. She said she reconfigured her teaching schedule this semester to limit her time on campus to two days a week.
She and other faculty have experienced health-related issues. Shackel developed skin rashes. For Shaffer, it’s her sinuses.AD
“I know when I walk into the building, I can start to feel my sinuses clog up,” Shaffer said. “Overall, my eyes get all gluey, and you just get this pressure building up in your head.”
Shackel, upon visiting a dermatologist three years ago, was prescribed a steroid cream. Only recently did he consider his issues could be attributed to the mold growing in his department.
Sangaramoorthy, who said she had never experienced allergies before coming to U-Md., watched as skin peeled from her fingers when she tried to clean the mold in her office. Her skin got so sensitive it would puff up when she touched it.
She went to an allergist who indicated the associate professor’s skin condition was the “cumulative effect of years of being exposed” to mold, Sangaramoorthy said.
Woods Hall is one of the older buildings on the College Park campus. It was built in 1948, according to the university’s website.AD
The academic building is scheduled to undergo renovations at some point between 2021 and 2030, according to the campus facilities master plan. The document doesn’t provide information on what those renovations will include.
In 2014, Facilities Management replaced drywall and caulked window sills with waterproof sealant to address moisture problems, according to a statement from the facilities department. Floor fans and dehumidifiers were installed and more insulation work was done in 2016 and 2017.
Facilities Management continues to monitor mold growth in the building.
In February, the student newspaper, the Diamondback, reported that U-Md. will renovate 16 dorms to prevent more outbreaks.
Meanwhile, professors in the basement of Woods Hall will do what they can to stay healthy this school year.AD
“I’m owed a very sort of safe workplace environment where I can actually feel comfortable coming to,” Sangaramoorthy said. She just returned from a year-long sabbatical. She said her symptoms disappeared while she was away.
“The minute I start having issues again, I’m gone.”
The
house is the core and foundation of your family. Dirty surroundings can make
your loved ones’ immune system weak and prone to many allergens and diseases. It
is the reason why cleaning your house every day is a must to keep your home
allergens-free all the time. In every home, you can find different types of
allergens, but the most common allergens that you can find in your home
surroundings are dust mites.
Dust Mite: What are they?
Dust
mites are common in any household areas. These tiny, microscopic insect-like
pests trigger some allergic reactions to people such as asthma and allergic
rhinitis. You can find hundreds and
thousands of dust mites in your bedding, mattresses, some furniture, carpets,
curtains, and sofa covers. These tiny pests like to feed on dead human skin
cells that are found in dust inside your home.
Dust
mites, though treated like pests,are not considered as parasites because they
don’t bite people or burrow their bodies to ours. Their fecal pellets and body
fragments are the ones responsible for the harmful allergen they create.
Dust Mites: How to Eliminate Them
Dust
mites can be a headache; you cannot be able to sleep properly because of them.
They may be small, but the stress it can give to you can be troubling. There
are many ways to eliminate them and help your surroundings be allergens free.
Here are the ways you can eliminate them:
Take
immediate action and fight your allergies with these simple methods:
•
Reduce the humidity in your home
Dust
mites love to live in areas with high humidity; it is the perfect temperature
for them to be happy and multiply continuously. Keep the humidity of your home
below 50 percent to minimize the growth of dust mites. Reducing humidity in
your house can help in eliminating house dust because they cannot survive in an
environment with low humidity.
Tip: Every morning or every
afternoon, you can open your windows for at least one hour per day to help
lessen the humidity inside your house.
•
Clean the places regularly where dust mites can grow
Use
a clean cloth to wipe the furniture in your house that you think are getting
dustier or maybe you can replace it with smooth surface furniture. Wash your
bedding with hot water every week, try to minimize your curtains and cover all
your mattresses and pillows.
Tip: Remove your carpets if
your family is allergic to dust mites. You can also try using HEPA vacuum or
HEPA filter if you do not want to remove your carpets at home.
HEPA
vacuum contains filters that can
trap 99.97 percent of all airborne particles which are extremely small and
microscopic in size while, HEPA filters work by absorbing air
through a fine mesh that can trap airborne particles such as pollen, dust
mites, and pet dander. Most air purifiers have HEPA filters.
Securing
your safety with a healthy environment sometimes can be a hassle, especially if
you are working and don’t have enough time in cleaning your house regularly.
Fun Guy Inspections can help you, busy people, to test your home for molds,
pollens, and other indoor airborne particles by testing the air quality within
your homes. Try consulting them now and be free from your allergies today.
Visit our website: https://funguyinspections.com/ or call us today: (888)
399-3994.
It doesn’t take a doctor to tell you that Indoor Air Quality is important in a hospital. Mold spores along with bacteria and other contaminants can contribute to deadly hospital acquired infections (HAI), also referred to as nosocomial infections. Sadly, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1.7 million nosocomial infections occur each year, with nearly 100,000 associated deaths. Regular hospital duct cleaning should be part of every institutions infection control and indoor air quality plan.
A hospital’s air conveyance systems pushes up to 30 cubic feet per minute of air through its ducts. Given the sheer volume of air and need for the exchange of outside air in a healthcare environment, build up of contaminants in the duct system is inevitable. The collection of debris like human skin cells, hair, linen, and dust inside ducts present an available food source for bacteria to proliferate. That’s why extra care is required for hospital duct cleaning. The physical process to hygienically clean ductwork does not change in the hospital and healthcare environment. What does change, however, is the process for maintaining a safe environment for the patients and staff of the medical facility.
Communication and Compliance
The most important concern for the facilities engineering department at a hospital is to ensure that contaminants are not spread throughout the building envelope. To achieve this goal, joint preparation between the facility and Pure Air Control Services is vital to the success of a hospital duct cleaning project. Communication in conjunction with coordination between the facilities staff, nurses, environmental health and safety as well as other hospital stakeholders is of primary importance. For example, Pure Air Control Services and the facility staff review the hospital’s Infection Control Risk Assessment (ICRA) together to determine whether those protocols apply to the project. If required, then additional steps will be taken to comply with the hospital’s specific ICRA policies.
Furthermore, Pure Air Control Services understands the importance of the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). While JCAHO does not currently have a specific hospital duct cleaning standard, it does have standards for the occupied spaces that could be directly affected by the process of duct cleaning if an inexperienced HVAC contractor is used. To maintain compliance with JCAHO regulations, pre and post indoor environmental testing may be completed to verify the hygienic conditions of the ductwork and adjacent occupied spaces. Pure Air Control Services’ documentation during each project is highly detailed. The stakeholders at the facility are provided with thorough documentation and a report demonstrating proper safety measures were implemented during the hospital duct cleaning process.
Containment and Safety
The key piece of the puzzle for ensuring safety during hospital duct cleaning is establishing proper containment barriers under negative pressurization. Pure Air Control Services’ containment systems always utilize the highest standard of HEPA filtration. Mobile containment equipment, also known as “pop-up cubes” are typically used anytime a ceiling tile is accessed or work is conducted outside of the air conveyance system. In other scenarios, larger containment areas need to be constructed by Pure Air Control Services technicians. Containment is not just a concept that applies to the occupied space of the hospital environment. Containment is also occurring behind the ceiling within the hospital ductwork. The ductwork is placed under a negative 5 Pascal field to ensure the contaminants being agitated are pulled into the direction of the HEPA filtered air collection device. Sections of the hospital ductwork are sealed off. Then filter media is placed in all supply and return registers . Finally these registers are covered with duct mask to prevent cross contamination.
No disinfectants are used the hospital duct cleaning process, unless Pure Air Controls Services and facility staff communicate about the type of product requested, review its MSDS sheet and evaluate the its potential for VOC off gassing.
Little things make the biggest difference for hospital duct cleaning. Pure Air Controls Services’ IAQ/HVAC technicians are routinely trained on the important details for ensuring safety in the hospital environment. For instance, our technicians are trained to review their personal and exterior clothing and gear to ensure they are clean before stepping out of containment. Technicians are also trained to watch every single register in the section of ductwork to be certain no contaminants have escaped. In addition, our equipment and HEPA filters are routinely checked and upgraded as needed.
The Pure Air Control Services staff is also tested for pre-existing health concerns as part of the background process for working in a hospital.
Common Needs for the Cleaning of Ducts & Interstitial Spaces:
Preventive Maintenance for Optimal Environmental Conditions
Before & After Air Handler Upgrades, or HVAC Remodels
As part of a Remedial Cleanup from Water Damage or Fire
After and Environmental Concern or Infection/Disease Outbreak
Before and After PURE-Duct Cleaning
How often should a hospital have duct cleaning?
There is no specified ASHRAE/ASHI standard, nor any guidance from JCAHO for how often hospitals need to clean their ducts. In our experience, due to the nature of healthcare environments, hospitals should clean their ducts every three to five years. Pure Air Controls Services’ Building Sciences division can provide HVAC Hygiene Assessments that are done prior to PURE-Duct cleaning to understand the extent of the contamination of the ducts prior to commencing the hospital duct cleaning project. Building Sciences can also monitor the the duct cleaning project while in progress and conduct testing after the project is complete to demonstrate that good baseline was maintained and improved.
Hospitals are in a state of constant operations compared to other commercial and institutional facilities that are only occupied during daytime hours. They are occupied 24/7. The sole purpose of cleaning the ducts and entire HVAC system is to optimize indoor air quality. That’s why complying with strict protocols, being vigilant with containment, and testing the environmental conditions throughout the process are necessary extra steps to protect the well being of occupants during hospital duct cleaning.
For more information on Building Sciences environmental testing or PURE-Duct cleaning for hospitals please contact the IAQ experts at 1-800-422-7983.
No matter what time of year it may be, or how clean you keep your home, there can be a hidden danger, lurking, waiting to strike. It can be growing right now, as we speak, threatening to cause health problems for you and your family. It’s pervasive, invasive, and unwelcome in any home. Often, you don’t even know you have it, and it can be hard to spot, even while damage is being done. What is this hidden menace? Mold, mildew, and common allergens!
Some people are extremely sensitive to common allergens, mold, mildew, bacteria, and other unpleasant things that can develop in your home office, garage, and elsewhere. Others may not be sensitive to these problems, but can, over time, develop serious health issues as a result.
In all cases, these hidden dangers should be identified and dealt with, in order to reduce any harm that may come to you or your family members. It’s especially important for those people who have small children, the elderly, or anyone with high sensitivities or depressed immune systems to deal with these problems promptly and professionally, before they have a negative impact on your life.
The best way to ensure that allergens, mold, and mildew in your home is identified, treated, removed, and is less likely to reoccur is to have a professional inspection service conduct tests in your home. In the greater Los Angeles area, FunGuy Inspections is a leading company that performs these tests, and many other related diagnostic and investigative services. They can help identify what is growing in your home, what’s spreading in the air, and – most importantly – how to get it treated, and steps to take so that it won’t happen again.
The first thing that a homeowner or business owner tends to
do when they find mold or asbestos is try and clean it up. But then that is not
always the best course of action. Asbestos and mold removal is not easy if you
are not a professional. Mold can leave a displeasing mess that smells really
bad; but even worse, it can damage one’s home and put your health at risk.
Asbestos, is a well-known carcinogen and refers to six naturally occurring fibrous
minerals that have the ability to resist heat, fire and electricity, it
is usually found in most buildings that were built before 1980, and those houses
that were built around 1930-1950 usually have asbestos as insulation. Asbestos is
still used today in several products frequently used in construction. In
response, regulations to protect the health and safety of the employees,
occupants and contractors were made.
The Hazardous Asbestos
Before removing any asbestos, it is
important to know the safety tips, which is why asking for the assistance of
professionals is truly important. Asbestos
can cause many health risks, including cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.
It usually takes 10 – 50 years from the time of exposure for conditions to
develop, making it hard to diagnose in early stages.
These are just two of the diseases that can result from asbestos
exposure:
Lung Cancer:Most commonly associated with
factors like smoking and radon, lung cancer is also known to be exacerbated by
exposure to asbestos. Researchers have found that about 3 – 4% of lung cancer
diagnoses are asbestos related.
Asbestosis: This
respiratory condition results from the formation of scar tissue plaques on the
surface of the pleura lung tissue (lung linings). It can be a precursor to the
onset of mesothelioma.
Remember that there is no such thing as
safe level of asbestos exposure. Early removal of asbestos is important;
prevention is better than cure.
Importance of Mold Removal for the Health
There are numerous benefits of professional mold removal. Mold can spread
quickly which makes it hard to find where it originated. But professional
remediation will be able to locate the source of the mold where it grows and
completely remove it. Just like asbestos, mold can also be hazardous to your
health which may cause a wide range of health issues, depending on the type of
mold and severity of the infestation. The most common ailment is respiratory
infections, which can be especially hazardous to anyone with asthma and other
breathing difficulties. The longer you’re exposed to mold, the worse your
condition can get.
It surely may seem less expensive to do the removal on your own, but not being knowledgeable will end up costing homeowners and business owners more in the long run. To make sure that the mold or asbestos is removed safely at home or work, it’s best to let the professionals handle the work.
Contact Fun Guy Inspections at 818-674-7541 today.
