`Aina Environmental Group, Inc.
FAQ
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber widely used in a variety of materials. Exposure to airborne asbestos fibers can result in Respiratory disease including Asbestosis, Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma. Both lung cancer and mesothelioma are cancers, while asbestosis is a lung disease with symptoms similar to silicosis and "black lung".
What kinds of materials contain asbestos?
It is estimated that asbestos has been used in over 3000 different products. Some of the common ones include floor tiles and mastic, sprayed on ceiling material (pop-corn ceiling), drywall, grout, caulking, and roofing material. The presence of asbestos cannot be determined with the naked eye-only laboratory tests can confirm this.
What should I do if I am worried about asbestos at my property?
Call AEG today and we can discuss a number of options with you, including removal, encapsulations, enclosure, and maintenance. We can also send our certified inspectors to your property to properly collect samples and document conditions to give us a better idea on how to proceed. If necessary, we can also remove the asbestos materials completely, so you never have to worry about them again.
What is lead?
Pure lead is a soft, dull, gray metal that is highly malleable. Examples are found in plumbing, car batteries, and fishing weights. More commonly, lead compounds are found in most old and some new paint.
Why should I be concerned about lead?
Although lead contamination can come from many sources, the major source of lead poisoning today is lead-based paint. Lead-based paint has been banned from residential use since 1978, but there is still a lot of lead paint out there.
What are the hazards from lead-based paint?
The danger from lead-based paint depends on how much lead is in the paint and the condition of the paint. Lead-based paint in good condition is not a hazard. If the paint is under several newer layers of paint, it is safely covered and there is little danger of contamination. However, chipped or peeling paint is a different matter. Paint chips can break down into a fine dust, which settles on floors, furniture and toys. Dust is re-circulated by sweeping, vacuuming or even just walking. Lead can also be found in the soil around buildings with exterior lead-based paint.
What are the health hazards from lead?
Lead is especially toxic to children under six. This is because of smaller body size and because children in this age group, especially infants and toddlers, are more likely to put their hands or other objects, which may be contaminated with lead dust, into their mouths. Also their young bodies are still developing and will absorb more of the lead that enters their systems. Since the fetus is also at risk from exposure to lead, pregnant women and women who wish to become pregnant should be aware of the hazards of high blood lead levels. Elevated blood lead levels in children can cause reading and learning disabilities, behavior problems, developmental deficiencies, or hearing problems. Very high levels of lead can cause permanent kidney or brain damage and may even result in death.
What are the symptoms of lead poisoning?
Symptoms of lead poisoning, if there are any at all, are easily confused with other illnesses. Symptoms may include tiredness, mood changes, headaches, loss of appetite, stomachaches, and insomnia.
What should I do if I am concerned about lead at my property?
Call AEG today and we can discuss a number of options with you. We can also send our certified inspectors to your property to properly collect samples and document conditions to give us a better idea on how to proceed.
What is mold?
Mold is the generic name for any one of a number of different genera of fungi. Generally they grow anywhere there is ample moisture and organic matter, and prefer areas out of direct sunlight. Heavy mold growth is easy to see, and will generally appear black, yellow, white, pink, or brown. Some molds will also have a fuzzy appearance.
Is mold dangerous?
Mold is found nearly everywhere in our environment, both indoors and out. Mold can become a hazard when it begins growing indoors and caused elevated concentrations of spores and mycotoxins in the air. Spores are essentially mold seeds. The are released into the air, and when they land on a surface suitable for growth, they begin colonizing that surface. The proteins that make up the spores can cause allergic responses in some individuals. Mycotoxins are chemicals released into the air by mold. Some of these are toxic to humans and can cause a variety of symptoms. Both spores and mycotoxins can cause sensitive individuals to experience sinus and respiratory problems. In rare cases, people with compromised immune systems can actually serve as hosts for certain types of mold. Fungi can take up residence on the skin or in the lungs, with potentially fatal results.
What should I do if I am concerned about mold in my property?
Call AEG today. Mold can be difficult to deal with, in part because of the lack of government regulation. Generally, mold is handled on a case by case basis, with each situation treated separately. We can send our experienced inspectors to evaluate the situation at your property, then provide you with the best answers on how to most efficiently deal with the problems.
330 Sand Island Access Road, #107, Honolulu, Hawaii 96819, T 808.842.4156, F 808.842.4157, info@ainagroup.com