Air and water quality testing: keeping communities and companies safe.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Position: ENVRONMENTAL

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For most people, dealing with fumes, dirt and dust is just an inconvenience, and often part of everyday life. But when these issues begin to affect not just the environment, but Alaskans' health, it becomes the job of air and water quality testing companies to identify the problems and offer workable solutions.

AIR TESTING

According to the Department of Environmental Conservation, indoor air pollution, which can exist at levels two to five times more than outdoor levels, can be caused by any number of pollutants, including radon, asbestos, tobacco smoke, solvents, cleaning solutions, carbon monoxide, mold and fungi. Short-term effects can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; headaches; asthma attacks and decreased reaction time, and other nervous system impacts. Long-term effects may include cancer, chronic bronchitis, asthma and decreased lung capacity and performance.

Alaskans may be at more risk of these issues since homes and office buildings in the state are more tightly sealed against the cold weather, and cold weather keeps people indoors longer and more often.

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While some building owners may believe that a complaining employee is just that, Bob French, PE, principal in charge at EHS-Alaska Inc., says that it is in the building owner's best interest to investigate employees' concerns. "A lot of times, building owners don't take these complaints seriously; they think someone on their staff is just a little whiny, but they need to realize that these people are actually on their side. Not only are building owners required to provide a building that doesn't make people sick, but if these problems are left alone, it could cause structural problems in the future.

"We try to convince owners to think of the example of a canary in a coal mine," he added. "His employees are helping him to find potential problems. A mold issue, for example, means that there is some kind of water leak coming from somewhere. If it is not found and fixed, it could cause long-term damage."

FOCUSING ON INDOOR AIR

EHS-Alaska Inc. focuses on indoor air quality testing for buildings and residences, with the majority of their work concentrated on hazardous building materials, lead-based paints, PCBs, mercury and asbestos. "A lot depends on what activities go on in the building; in an industrial setting, we may be testing for welding fumes or paint fumes, or if the company is running a Bobcat, carbon monoxide,"...