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Dangers

Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and lodged in a person’s lungs then, possibly, migrate to other locations of the body. These fibers, loosened from deteriorating or damaged asbestos-containing materials, are responsible for causing asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.

At Risk

• Occupationally exposed workers
• Children (prone to retaining inhaled fibers for decades)
• Occupationally exposed smokers (enhanced risk of lung cancer)

Current Regulations

• Ban most mechanical system insulation and spray applied products, but do not restrict the use of most of the above list in new buildings
• Specify work practices for the disturbance of asbestos-containing material
• Require the identification of asbestos in schools (AHERA) and in commercial and public buildings that are to be remodeled or demolished by either assuming or presuming it’s presence or by sampling (OSHA, NESHAP)

Dangers

Lead-based paint is a major source of lead poisoning for children and can also affect adults. In children, lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and can impair mental functioning. It can retard mental and physical development and reduce attention span. It can also retard fetal development even at extremely low levels of lead. In adults, it can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body

At Risk

• Young children
• Fetuses and infants
• Adults with high blood pressure are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead

Current Regulations

• Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule requires that those engaged in RRP activities in homes or child-occupied facilities (such as childcare centers and kindergartens) built prior to 1978 be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices, and use these work practices to guard against lead contamination.
• Training and certification requirements are in place to ensure the proficiency of contractors conducting lead-based paint inspections, risk assessments, and abatement services in residences and childcare centers.
• Work practice standards have been developed to ensure that lead-based paint activities are conducted safely, reliably, and effectively.
• Most states require licensing of lead inspectors and contractors.

Dangers

Molds are most often found in areas that have high humidity levels such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms or damp basements (especially after flooding). It is important to try and prevent mold and mildew growth, and if it’s too late, try mold remediation and mold removal. In order to have the best chance to eliminate the chances of mold returning after it has been properly remediated, the source of moisture must be identified and, ideally, stopped or properly managed.

At Risk

• Mold, mildew, fungi and bacteria are the leading biological pollutants generated in many places. Often those places include commercial and residential structures.
• Health hazards include Systemic Mycosis (fungal infection of the sinuses, digestive tract, lungs, and/or skin), Asthma, nasal and sinus congestion, respiratory problems, throat irritation, etc.

Current Regulations

• Standards or Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set. Currently, there are no EPA regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants.
• Mold (and other unregulated bio-hazardous waste) does present a liability concern for the building owner.

Dangers

Neglecting to keep up with the cleanliness of air ducts can cause them to become contaminated and become a liability to the building owner. Regular air duct cleaning prevents potentially releasing various allergens and pathogens into the indoor air, which could cause health problems for occupants with severe allergy issues or compromised immune systems.

At Risk

• Air contaminants like chemicals, mold, dust, bacteria and others can cause dry irritated eyes, nose, throat, and skin; headaches, sinus congestion, coughing sneezing, and other related symptoms.
• Individuals with severe allergies and compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of being affected by the contaminants found in ducts that are left un-cleaned for an extended period.

Current Regulations

• Snyder Environmental is a licensed member of The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). The NADCA has developed a standard for assessment, cleaning, and restoration of HVAC systems. This comprehensive standard is specified for commercial projects worldwide, as well as residential consumers who want assurances of effective air duct cleaning.

Dangers

Facilities can present a health hazard to human occupants when viruses such as SARS, Norovirus, and COVID-19 are spreading and settling on surfaces, and decontamination steps need to take place to sterilize the facility. Additionally, bio-waste such as pigeon droppings and bat guano, and materials containing mercury and PCBs, present serious concern for public health and need to be handled with care when disposed of. Mercury is a toxic substance which is present in batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers and thermostats, and more. PCB is a chlorine compound that can be found in insulating fluids, old fluorescent light ballasts, electrical equipment, adhesives and tapes, plastics, caulking, and more.

At Risk

• When viruses are being spread, individuals carrying the virus may be quarantined, but the virus can still settle on surfaces and stay alive, risking the possibility of spreading to new hosts even though the original carrier is no longer present.
• Large concentrations of roosting birds, bats, and other small wild animals and the waste they produce can spread disease and parasites in areas where humans are present.
• Mercury can cause adverse health effects to the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and immune system of people of all ages, but is particularly harmful to the nervous system of developing fetuses and young children.
• The EPA has deemed PCBs as a carcinogen for animals and a probable carcinogen for humans. They effect neurological, endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems, and can show similar effects to the human body as dioxins and neurotoxins.

Current Regulations

• Regulations on Universal and bio-waste can vary on a state-by-state basis. Universal biohazardous waste always presents a liability concern for the building owner and needs to be removed/disposed of properly, followed by proper sterilization.
• PCBs were banned in 1979 but can still be found in products manufactured in prior years. Some individual states also have more stringent regulations on PCB containing wastes on top of the federal regulations.
• Mercury application, export, management, and disposal is regulated through multiple different federal environmental protection laws.

Dangers

A Phase I ESA is necessary to avoid legal liability for pre-existing contamination on a property. A properly conducted Phase I ESA allows the buyer to qualify for certain defenses under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), which provides protection from liability for certain landowners and prospective purchasers of real property. 

A Phase II ESA is necessary to confirm or deny the presence of Recognized Environmental Conditions (Petroleum products or hazardous materials) in amounts that can greatly reduce a property’s value. Stakeholders want to reduce liability and future cleanup expenses on their investment by conducting a Phase II ESA, in which a subsurface investigation tests soil and/or groundwater to identify sources of environmental impacts.

At Risk

• Bonafide prospective purchasers of commercial, industrial or agricultural property 
• Contiguous property owners    
• Current landowners 
• Government entities that acquire property through eminent domain 
• Innocent landowners    
• Institutional landowners   
• Units of state or local government that acquire ownership or control involuntarily through bankruptcy, tax delinquency, or abandonment
• Gas stations with underground storage tanks
• Automotive repair facilities
• Dry cleaners with on-site cleaning equipment
• Manufacturing and industrial properties that used hazardous chemicals or petroleum products
• Properties with a history of spills or releases of hazardous substances or petroleum products
• Properties that have any of the above in the immediate vicinity

Current Regulations

Phase I & II ESAs are performed using practices issued by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Phase I ESAs (ASTM E1527-13) are intended to identify conditions indicating the presence of Recognized Environmental Conditions (Petroleum products or hazardous materials), and Phase II ESAs (ASTM E1903-19) are intended to quantify the risk. EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant funds can only be awarded in compliance with the AAI (All Appropriate Inquiries) Final Rule, which states that ASTM International Standards for Phase I ESAs satisfies its requirements.

Dangers

An Underground Storage Tank (UST) can contain hazardous materials such as petroleum that can contaminate soil and groundwater if the tank is leaking, posing a threat to the local environment. Property owners with UST systems need to be sure that the system is installed properly, maintained as needed, and properly remediated when compromised. Some properties can contain USTs that are old and in a state of decay, leaking hazardous waste into the surrounding areas unbeknownst to the property owner. 

At Risk

• Tank owners and operators  
• Gas stations with underground storage tanks 
• Automotive repair facilities 
• Unregistered or orphaned USTs  

Current Regulations

The EPA works with states, territories, and tribes to monitor the potential effect UST systems have on the environment and human health. The U.S. Solid Waste Disposal Act and Energy Policy Act give the EPA the authority to regulate USTs, which combined with 40 CFR 280 regulations create licensing and registration restrictions that make working on UST systems require detailed technical knowledge and expertise.