We’re seeing a rise in home-made pools – from storage containers to natural eco-pools – but did you know these kinds of environments can be home to harmful legionella and other bacteria? Our self-test kits can help you detect it and stay safe!
For more information or to make an enquiry please fill out the form below or live chat one of our team;
Everyone at Envirochem is happy to welcome Eireann, our newest Apprentice lab technician to the team!!!
Our team have been setting up a dust monitor on a demolition site to make sure the works carried out don’t lead to particulates being produced above the ambient level.
The monitor can be left at the site and accessed remotely back at the office to generate long-term data for the client.
For more information or to make an enquiry please fill out the form below or live chat one of our team;
Bio-aerosols are a routine monitoring technique we use to check for airborne moulds or bacteria.
This could be as part of an air conditioning check, post foul/plumbing leaks, newly refurbished/ built housing, or due to mould spore/growth being spotted within the premises. The results are then compared to WHO guidance to check the quality of the air.
For more information or to make an enquiry please fill out the form below or live chat one of our team;
A few nervous faces as some of our analysts get ready to take their P402 exam. This qualification will allow them to carry out surveys, inspect premises to identify and locate materials containing asbestos and to safely take samples of these for analysis. Good luck to all!
For all enquires please fill out the form below or live chat one of our team;
Our analysts have been testing the emissions from a soldering process to identify how well the extraction process is performing in getting rid of metal fumes.
Samples were taken isokinetically by taking the flow rate of the extraction to produce an average concentration of both particulates and metals for the whole duct.
For more information or to make an enquiry please fill out the form below or live chat one of our team;
Redecorating your home can be an exciting process – but whether you’re freshening up the walls with a coat of paint, or you’re undertaking a large-scale renovation, there are a number of health hazards to consider.
Here are five things you should think about before undertaking any DIY projects in your home:
Asbestos
Asbestos is a harmful substance that is often used to insulate homes. While it’s harmless if left alone, any disturbances to the substance can cause serious health problems. If you’re planning on making any changes to your home – for example, knocking down or drilling into walls – then ensuring no asbestos is present is the first step! We offer on-site asbestos monitoring, as well as providing self-test kits so you can safely test your home before making any changes.
Lead in paint
A number of houses built before 1992 contain lead-based paint. Like asbestos, if left untouched, this is unlikely to cause any issues. If damaged or disturbed, however, it can release harmful dust. If exposed to too high a level of this, people can experience unpleasant symptoms such as headaches, insomnia and stomach aches. Our self-test kits enable you to test for the presence of lead in paint safely!
Arsenic in paint
If you live in Victorian home, there is a chance some wallpapers contain arsenic. In a similar way to lead in paint, arsenic can produce harmful dust if disturbed. If you’re concerned about arsenic in paint, it’s always safest to test before beginning any work.
Legionella
This bacteria tends to live in water systems – so in the right conditions, even your shower head can be home to legionella, which could cause legionnaires disease. Regularly disinfecting shower heads and running taps for a few minutes after they have not been used for a while can help reduce risks, but it can also be found in places like gardening soils, air conditioners and humidifiers. If you’re worried about the presence of legionella, our self-test kits are safe, quick and easy to use!
Domestic heating water testing
If you’ve noticed corrosion on pipes and radiators, before you decide to replace them, it’s a good idea to find out what might be causing it in the first place. Factors such as the pH and the chemical makeup of water, among other things, can lead to corrosion. Our domestic heating water self-test kit can help you get to the root of the problem and help avoid future damage to pipes and radiators.
For any help and advice get in contact us via the form below or by telephone (01329 287777).
With Christmas fast approaching, decorating the house like a Santa’s grotto is something that everyone can get excited about.
Whether you’re a tinsel person, paper chain lover or just wishing for a white Christmas, we know there’s a bit of festive spirit in all of you!
Using artificial snow to cover window ledges, plants and trees has been a festive tradition since the late 19th century. Most sprays and powders are a biodegradable and environmentally friendly way to keep a house feeling fresh and festive for weeks at a time.
But did you know artificial snow used to contain asbestos?
For quite a long time in the early 20th Century, asbestos was widely used in artificial snow found in ornamental decorations or sprinkled on tree branches and wreaths. Because of its white, fluffy appearance it was the perfect substance to use — before people realised how damaging the effects of asbestos could be!
Cans of artificial snow made from asbestos used to be sold under a number of branded names such as: White Magic, Pure White, and Snow Drift, particularly throughout the late 1920s and 30s.
A number of film sets have also used chrysotile asbestos in its purest form to create the illusion of snow falling.
Iconic film scenes such as the ‘poppy field’ scene in the original Wizard of Oz and the traditional ‘flurry’ scenes of It’s A Wonderful Life are coated in artificial snow which was actually made of pure asbestos. In A Wonderful Life, 6,000 gallons of the substance was used throughout the film which stuck to the actor’s hair, clothes and skin.
The fake snow used contained 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos fibres. Anybody who came into contact with the substance, whether it was one of the actor’s or a member of the crew, would have inhaled a substantial amount — similar to those who worked in asbestos mines. This is despite the fact that the health hazards of asbestos had been known for many years.
Today, there is so much more knowledge about asbestos at our disposal, compared to the limited knowledge of asbestos in centuries gone by.
You can now buy artificial snow in many different shops to sprinkle on your tree, decorate your windowsills or imitate Santa’s footprints and is now made from a patented, safe and non-toxic super-absorbent polymer developed specifically to imitate the properties of snow but in a safe and child-friendly way.
On our website you can find out more about where you can still find asbestos and what to do if you think you might be at risk. Always check the safety procedures and precautions before approaching anything you think might be dangerous.
You may have seen that here at Envirochem, we have launched a new range of self-test kits, specifically designed to help keep you safe in your own home and working environment. The new self-test kits are cost-effective, fast and easy-to-use.
When many people hear the words ‘Air Quality testing’ they usually think externally, like exhaust pollution, CO2, fossil fuels.. the list goes on! What many people don’t realise is there can be a number of chemical substances found in the air inside a property or building known as VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), which can also be harmful.
VOC’s are common chemical contaminants that are often found in an internal environment, as gases emitted from certain solids or liquids and the concentration of many VOCs are, predictably, higher indoors than outdoors due to the ‘trapped’ environment.
Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in common household items like paints and varnishes, cleaning agents, sealants, glues, fuels, and combustion products. All of these products and others are capable of releasing organic compounds when you use them and also, to a certain extent, when they are stored.
To help identify these VOC’s you can use our indoor air quality self-test kit, in which you will find an SKC 575-001 indoor air quality badge in a sealed bag, detailed and easy-to-follow instructions on how to test, a sample submission form and return packaging.
If you’re concerned about the quality of the air inside your own home or workplace environment, you can order one of our self-test kits from our online shop on the Envirochem website and our expert team of staff are always on hand to answer any questions you might have and help you through the process.
Alternatively, if you feel that you cannot take your own samples for any reason, we are also able to attend site and take the samples for you and return them to our own in-house accredited Laboratory for analysis. Please live message or email us for this service.
Order your kit below or on our website https://envirochem.co.uk/shop/products
For more information or to get in touch with one of our team please fill out the form below or email us at office@envirochem.co.uk.
Here at Enviorchem, we have recently launched a range of self-test kits to help keep you safe and make it easier for you to test for harmful substances in your home or workplace. Our wide range covers a multitude of various substances, including Legionella, and comes with all the necessary equipment and safety measures needed, so it’s super quick and easy to test for it yourself.
When it comes to the water we use everyday, it’s important to ensure that it’s safe enough to be used and consumed and to make sure it poses the least risk of immediate or long-term harm.
Legionella is a bacteria which, if left in favourable conditions, can cause Legionnaire’s disease. The bacteria can be found in areas like cooling towers, spa pools and showers, among other places. It can be hard to know when water isn’t quite right without organising proper testing. Our self-test kits allow you to take a sample of the water to send to us for testing.
In our kits you will find specialist water sample bottles, a sample submission form, and easy to-follow detailed instructions of how to take the sample yourself. They’re quick, safe and easy to-use.
If you’re concerned about water quality or the presence of legionella, you can order a self-test kit from the Envirochem website today. And, our expert team is always on hand if you need more information or would prefer for someone to attend a site to take samples for you.
Below are the links to purchase any of our self test kits or if you prefer to visit our website – https://envirochem.co.uk/shop/products
For more information or to get in touch with one of our team please fill out the form below or email us at office@envirochem.co.uk.
