What sort of risks would Ed Sheeran be taking if he swam in his “natural pool”

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A growing trend for natural and chemical-free pools was brought into sharp focus this week when the neighbours of the nation’s favourite musician Ed Sheeran said they were worried his new pond could double as a swimming pool.

 

Here at Envirochem we have noticed a growing trend for these natural swimming pools – a garden pond with plants to oxygenate the water and keep it clean enough to swim in. No need for chlorine or other potentially harmful chemicals.

 

In Ed Sheeran’s original planning application for the pool on his estate in Suffolk, it was described as supporting ‘nature conservation’, however, some of the star’s neighbours have said they are worried it could be used for wild parties, swimming and other recreational activities.

The neighbours might be worried about loud noise from late night parties. But Ed might have other things to be worried about if he was thinking of swimming in his natural pool.

What are natural pools?

 

Natural pools are becoming increasingly popular – perhaps most commonly owned by the rich and famous. They tend to blend into outdoor environments better than a traditional pool, and use plants in place of chemicals for cleaning purposes. Water filters through the plants, as well as enabling an ecosystem to exist within the pool.

 

Sounds like a good idea, right?

What’s the problem?

Without proper filtration and regular cleaning, pools like these can become home to harmful legionella, which regularly occurs in natural water sources. Legionella is a bacteria that can cause Legionnaires’ disease – a lung infection caused by inhaling the bacteria. Symptoms can range from severe chest pain to high temperatures.

What should I do if I’m concerned?

If you are concerned about the water quality of a natural pool, we sell self-test kits so you can quickly, safely and easily test for the presence of legionella. Purchase yours here, or get in touch with a member of the Envirochem team today.

Or fill out the form below for more information;

 

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Test your home for lead-based paint before renovating or redecorating

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If you’re thinking of redecorating or renovating your home, before you pick out a new paint colour and start taking measurements, it’s crucial to test for the presence of lead-based paint. It is a great way to ensure your walls are safe before releasing potentially harmful dust and paint chips into your home. In fact, there are a number of substances you should consider testing for before making changes to your home.

What is it?

Until the early nineties, when it was banned from being sold in the United Kingdom due to the dangers is posed to people’s health, lead was a common component in paint. If you live in a home that was built before 1992, there’s a chance it contains lead-based paint – even if it’s hidden under layers of new paint!

Why do I need to test for it?

When left untouched, lead paint is generally unharmful. However, if it is disturbed during home improvements – from being cracked or drilled into, for example – it becomes hazardous. If paint chips are ingested, or lead dust is inhaled, there are a number of risks – especially for young children or pregnant women.

High exposure to lead dust can cause a number of problems that affect the body’s organs and function, including the neurological, gastrointestinal and reproductive organs. Symptoms can include headaches, insomnia and nausea, among others.

What should I do about it?

If you’re a landlord planning on renovating, or a homeowner thinking of doing some DIY, the first step is to test for the presence of lead in paint.

Our self-test kits are safe, easy to use, and come complete with instructions and return packaging. The results will be back to you within three working days.

Purchase your self-test kit here, or get in touch with a member of the Envirochem team today: on our live chat or via the form below;

 

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We’re seeing a rise in home-made pools

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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;

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Dust monitoring

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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;

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Bio-aerosols Monitoring

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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;

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Emission Testing

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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;

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Five things to think about when redecorating:

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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).

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What are the benefits of purchasing an air quality self-test kit?

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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.

 

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Why you should purchase a self-test legionella kit.

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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.

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Three simple steps to taking waste to landfill

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Three simple steps to taking waste to landfill

 

Making sure waste from your construction or demolition site is classified before it goes to landfill is a legal duty for contractors. There are several stages to take before you can confidently deliver your waste to landfill – here they are in three simple steps:

 

Step one

 

Work out how your materials for disposal are classified in government guidance on different types of waste[https://www.gov.uk/how-to-classify-different-types-of-waste]. Construction waste must be classified as hazardous or non-hazardous before it can be tested further or taken to landfill.

 

Step two

 

If your waste is characterised as hazardous it will need to be tested against Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) as this will determine which landfill site can accept it based on their waste license. Some non-hazardous or inert waste will also need testing so make sure you get expert advice on this.

 

WAC testing works by looking at how waste will behave once it’s buried in a landfill; specially what leaches out from it and the concentration of organic materials.

 

Step three

 

When it comes to taking your hazardous waste to landfill the site operators are likely to want to see your WAC testing analysis. This will help them decide if they can take it based on their landfill license and what they need to do with it next. Each landfill site is different.

 

How to arrange WAC analysis

 

WAC analysis isn’t a quick process so plan ahead to ensure you know exactly where your waste should be taken. This will speed up your waste disposal process.

 

At Envirochem we offer Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing on:

  • contaminated soil
  • spent grit
  • industrial waste
  • other waste streams.

 

You could purchase one of our WAC self sample kits below;

 

Alternatively, Find out about these services and the analysis consultancy we offer by completing the contact form below or calling our WAC experts on 01329 287 777.

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