The AQHI Inc. Blog

Advanced Quality Hazmat Industries – A History Lesson

came to be.

Environmental Hazard History

In the 1980’s the country began playing much closer attention to the materials that were being used to build our homes and businesses. The main driver of this was asbestos. Between the 1940’s and 1980’s, asbestos was regularly used in many different construction materials. These materials were used as insulation, reinforcing products, fire protection and heat absorption. Though there was some evidence that these materials posed health risks, a formal study was not completed until the late 1960’s. By 1978, the…

Did You Know That the Inland Empire Is a Hotbed For Mold?

You’ve always been told that mold grows in dark, damp places, right? If this is true, then why do desert areas like Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson and the Inland Empire see mold flourish? Mold normally grows best in areas that have higher humidity and larger amounts of rainfall. This suggests that areas like Portland, Seattle and Florida will see the highest levels of mold growing. However, this is not always the case. Commercial buildings and residences in Arizona, California and Nevada also experience mold infestations because of four key reasons.

1. Valley Fear

This type of mold is the most deadly mold species. It has killed several thousand people over the last several years. Unfortunately, for those living in desert areas, this mold only grows in drier desert soils. This type of mold can cause chest pain, fever, coughing and several other symptoms. The mold spores can be stirred up into the air by construction, farming and simply the wind. Wind is generally what causes this mold to come into…

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Keep the Ghouls, Mold, Lead & Asbestos Away this Halloween

We are well into fall, which has already brought cooler temperatures and shorter days. As we trail off into the tail end of October, Halloween is quickly approaching. With the approaching holiday comes apple cider, donuts with Halloween colored sprinkles, all the candy you can eat, and little kids dressed in adorable costumes. Do you know what else comes with Halloween, though? With Halloween comes scary movies, witches, monsters, creepy clowns and even ghosts and ghouls running amuck.

As terrifying as that all sounds, even scarier things can prowl in your home. The worst thing about these dangerous visitors lurking in your home is that they don’t just come in with the Halloween tide, they are in your home year round. What are we talking about –   PCBs, mold, lead and asbestos.

Where are PCBs, mold, lead and asbestos lurking in my home?

These harmful substances can be found in many places throughout your home. Asbestos was used in construction materials until 1978, and can be found in…

New Study Finds That Caulking in Your Home Can Contain PCBs

While many people know that exposure to Polychlorinated Bipheyls (PCBs) or asbestos can be harmful, many don’t know where these harmful carcinogens can actually be lurking. Commonly found in fluorescent light ballasts manufactured before July 1978, PCBs are harmful carcinogens that can have a detrimental effect on your health. While they were originally believed to solely exist in homes, offices and schools in the light ballast capacitors or asphalt potting material surrounding a capacitor, a new report has been released refuting this.

Reports are now indicating that caulking compounds used in building and renovating buildings up until the late 1970s can have large concentrations of PCBs. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a statement regarding research they conducted, which states that any caulk put into place after 1950, but before 1979, might contain up to 40% PCBs and can emit them into the surrounding air. They furthered the statement by adding that PCBs can also contaminate any adjacent materials like wood or masonry.

While you may think this issue…

Back to School…Back to Asbestos?

Though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a warning about the hazards of asbestos in American schools, the potential threat to students, teachers and staffers still exists. As September hits and students flock back to school, there is a risk of  being exposed to asbestos, states a Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance study.

According to the study, any school built before 1981 is presumed to contain asbestos materials. The Ocean View School District in Orange County agrees with the study’s findings, with the President of the District stating that asbestos can be found in a vast majority of the public schools in the area.

The District takes the threat so seriously, that two years ago, three elementary schools were closed when asbestos was detected, and 1,600 students were bused to other schools around Orange County. The cost of the project was over $15 million dollars and threatened to bankrupt the school district.

Unfortunately, these hazards still exist across California and the rest of the country as well. The good thing is that the presence of asbestos in a school does not automatically mean that there is…