How Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Cancer

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Most companies in the US stopped using asbestos over forty years ago however, materials that contain asbestos are still found in millions of older buildings across the country. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that contains properties that block heat and dampen the spread of fire. Its fibers can be dangerous to humans when inhaled into the lungs and can potentially lead to cancer in individuals if exposed over a long period of time. 

Since asbestos is found in older buildings and is still used in small amounts in certain appliances and other devices, it is still possible to become exposed to asbestos. 

Where Does Exposure to Asbestos Happen? 

For the most part, exposure to asbestos occurs over a long period of time when working in buildings that have asbestos or generally being exposed to products that contain asbestos. Other possible exposure could occur during a disaster or if you live near a site contaminated with asbestos.

Until the early 1980’s ceiling and floor tiles, drywall, insulation, paint, and even cement contained asbestos. You can find small amounts of asbestos in automotive parts such as clutches, brakes, and other friction-associated materials. So, while the driver of a vehicle is most likely safe from asbestos exposure, a mechanic who works in garages or auto shops is more likely to be exposed. 

How Exposure Can Lead to Cancer

The microscopic fibers of asbestos that float in the air can be inhaled into the lungs or swallowed. The body can get rid of most of the fibers, but many can become permanently stuck. 

When the fibers accumulate over time, the result can be inflammation and damage to the DNA of cells. This can lead to cancers such as mesothelioma and other diseases that include:

  • Laryngeal, Lung, and Ovarian Cancer
  • Diffuse Pleural Thickening, Pleural Effusion, and Pleural Plaque
  • Asbestosis, Atelectasis, and Pleurisy 

Most cancers or diseases caused by exposure to asbestos take decades to develop. For individuals who are exposed to asbestos frequently due to their line of work or constantly being in older buildings can protect themselves to a certain degree by wearing the proper safety equipment. This includes respirator masks. However, the most effective method is to have the potential asbestos removed safely from the site. 

Why Call Brickley Environmental?

If you suspect that your building has asbestos, call the professionals at Brickley Environmental. We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to identify and remove asbestos from your property. In addition to asbestos removal, Brickley Environmental offers additional services, including the following:

  • Demolition 
  • Hazardous Waste Removal 
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Mold Remediation

Call the friendly, courteous staff at Brickley Environmental today. We will listen to your needs, answer questions about our services, and provide the services needed to ensure that the asbestos or other unwanted materials are removed. 

For more information about asbestos exposure and how it can cause cancer, click here to visit the National Cancer Institute website.

How to Stay Healthy During Flu Season

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It is inevitable that during the colder months, sicknesses and germs are more prevalent. There is a multitude of actions that can be taken to prevent and reduce your risk of catching a cold, COVID-19, or the flu. Here are a few simple tips you can employ that may help you stay healthy this season.

Distance

Keep your distance from people who are experiencing symptoms. If you yourself are experiencing symptoms, it is important also to keep your distance from others. Another important prevention method to keep in mind, however simple it may be, is to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing.

Wash Hands to Remove Germs

One of the oldest and most effective ways of preventing the spread of germs is washing your hands frequently. Washing for at least 20 seconds is the most effective way to remove germs and prevent potential viruses from spreading.

The primary means of transmitting colds, COVID-19, and the flu is through contact with the droplets of infected people who talk, sneeze, or cough. If droplets of an infected person come in contact with your hands, this is an easy way for you to get sick as well. This is also why it is important to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth as much as possible.

Vaccines & Anti-Viral Drugs

Even some of the best preventative measures are not 100%. With that said, it is helpful to consider the following:

  • Getting vaccinated 
  • Using anti-viral drugs
  • Vitamins & Zinc
  • Getting plenty of sleep 
  • Eating a healthy diet 
  • Drinking plenty of fluids 

Clean and Disinfect Germs From Your Home, School, and Work

The cleaner you keep your home, the more difficult it is for viruses to survive outside of a human host. While cleaning is important to keep viruses from attaching to organisms or organic matter where they live longer, disinfecting destroy these viruses on contact. It is important to implement the below on a consistent basis.

  • Routine cleaning & disinfecting of all surfaces and frequently used objects
  • Providing disposable towels, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and soap 
  • Staying home when sick 

Why Call Brickley Environmental?

If you need remediation services, Brickley Environmental is here to help. Our knowledgeable, experienced staff will answer your call, listen to your needs, and provide you with the following services to address any problem you may be experiencing. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Hazardous Waste Removal
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Mold Remediation
  • Demolition & More 

Call today and find out more about our services. We hope that you stay safe during the cold and flu season.

For more information on staying safe during this cold and flu season, click here to visit the CDC website.

Negative Effects of Lead Poisoning

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Lead is one of the more common metals present on earth. For over thousands of years, lead has been used for a wide variety of uses from manufacturing to recycling, smelting, mining, ammunition, paints, toys, cosmetics, and perhaps most commonly for the creation of lead-acid batteries. 

However, lead was soon learned to be poisonous to humans. This was not known for many years as it was commonly used to create pipes to distribute drinking water and added to paint which was applied in many homes and buildings. 

The Dangers of Lead Poison

The toxic effects of lead exposure are considerable, but they mostly affect young children. Lead poison can lead to permanent impacts on mental development. If levels are high enough, lead poisoning may cause death. At lower levels of exposure, children may experience mental function and intelligence impacts and even suffer from behavioral changes. 

The long-term effects for adults include damage to the kidneys and high blood pressure. For women who are pregnant, exposure to lead may lead to premature birth, low birth weight, and even miscarriages or stillbirths. 

While the effect on adults is serious, it is young children who are most at risk. Even the tiniest amounts of lead poison may have a profound impact. 

Common Locations for Lead

The presence of lead can be in many places. While plenty of work has been accomplished in removing lead from everyday items and products such as gasoline, it can be commonly found in the items listed below:

  • Paint: Lead was banned from paint in the 1970s, yet it is still present in many homes and buildings mostly because it has been painted over with new, lead-free paint. However, when the top layers of the paint are removed, it exposes the lead-based paint which may contaminate the air itself. 
  • Pipes: Water contamination may be the single largest source of lead poisoning left in the modern world. This may be due to a combination of lead pipes that have yet to be replaced to contaminated water sources where lead has been dumped or otherwise is present.  
  • Lead may also be present naturally, which makes it difficult to locate. And because even a small amount of lead exposure may develop into serious medical issues, finding such sources is paramount for the health of those living or working inside a contaminated home or building. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If you suspect the presence of lead in your home, office, or facility, call the experts at Brickley Environmental. We have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to identify and remove lead from all types of buildings and structures. In addition, we offer the following services.

  • Abatement of Asbestos
  • Removal of Mold
  • Demolition
  • Removal of Hazardous Waste 

Lead poisoning is dangerous to come in contact with. If you believe that lead may be present in the paint or in the pipes, call Brickley Environmental. We will listen to your needs, explain our services, and help bring you peace of mind with our commitment to you. 

For more information on lead poisoning, click here to visit the CDC website.

Climate Change: How It Drives Inland Flooding

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With climate change comes a greater risk of flooding. This includes areas that may be far away from bodies of water. According to the National Climate Assessment, the amount of rainfall in the US has tremendously increased since 1956, particularly in the country’s eastern half. When you add in the increase in population, the potential for flood damage has never been higher. 

What Causes Climate Change

The theory of climate change is that greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels increase the temperature in the atmosphere. It acts like a blanket that traps more heat which in turn means more water vapor is present. The result is when it rains, there is more water present which leads to a greater chance of flooding. 

This is not only directly through rainfall, but mostly indirectly as creeks, streams, and other small bodies of water become flooded and overflow into neighborhoods and commercial properties. The asphalt and concrete surfaces in urban areas are not permeable, which causes water to quickly build and overflow. 

When a great amount of rain falls in a short time, it can cause flash flooding which can also be dangerous. This type of flooding has the ability to move homes off their foundations, fill underground subways, and even destroy roads. 

Climate Change Warning & Protection 

Technology has provided some warning of imminent flash flooding. The National Weather Service and local news stations can report the potential for damaging rainfall which is known as Flash Flood Watches. When the potential for an area is realized, the watch changes to a Flash Flood Warning which is sent out over television, radio, and the internet. 

Protection from flash flooding starts with channels and overflow areas that direct the water away from residential and commercial buildings. Forests, wetlands, and retention ponds can absorb a considerable amount of water if they were dry before the rain starts. 

Increasing the size and circumference of underground sewers and pipes can also pull away much of the water to help prevent flooding. 

How Brickley Environmental Can Help

If your property has experienced flooding, call the experts at Brickley Environmental. We offer the best in mold remediation services that identify and remove mold that might be growing in your residence, building, or facility. In addition, we offer the following services: 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Hazardous Waste Removal
  • Demolition & More 

At Brickley Environmental, we are here to help. Please call and talk to our friendly, courteous staff about the services we provide. We will listen to your needs, answer your questions, and help restore your property back to its original condition. 

For more information about flooding, click here to visit the EPA website.

Methods of Demolition

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The demolition of a home, building, or structure takes proper planning that accounts for everything that needs to be accomplished in the removal of unwanted material. It begins with surveying the structure, identifying any areas of hazardous materials that will need to be removed first, and finally choosing the method of demolition. 

There are two basic methods used to demolish a structure, non-explosive, and explosive. Choosing the proper method will depend on certain factors, but it is safe to say that the non-explosive process is the most popular. 

Non-Explosive Demolition

This is demolishing a structure by hand or machine that does not employ explosives. There are different tools and machinery that can be used with this method. 

  • Sledgehammer: This is arguably the most popular of all hand-held tools used to destroy walls and structures on a property. 
  • Wrecking Ball: A large, heavy ball that swings on the end of cables attached to a crane, the wrecking ball is quite efficient at knocking down structures that otherwise stand up to bulldozers or excavators. It’s also safer to use as well since this does not put the driver in harm’s way. 
    • The only downside is that once the ball starts its swing, its trajectory cannot be precisely controlled. So, it is possible that the wall or structure comes down in an area that was not intended. However, wrecking balls are not used for demolition where such precision is needed. 
  • Bulldozers & Excavators: These large machines are often seen at demolition sites. The bulldozer is used to push down walls and other large materials. The excavator may be even more prominent as it can pull down larger structures and scoop up the material for disposal. 

Explosive Demolition

This method is used when non-explosive methods simply will not work. In other words, structures that are so tall and heavy that only a series of explosions can bring them down. The technique is rather simple. The explosives are used to destroy the support structures of the building all at the same time. Once gone, the weight of the building collapses on itself. 

The building or structure will fall in two basic ways. Like a tree that tips over and crashes into the open ground. Or it can fall into itself which is called an implosion. The latter is generally preferred when there are other structures nearby. By collapsing into itself, it limits the clean-up area to a size smaller than if the building was tipped over. 

Why Choose Brickley Environmental?

At Brickley Environmental, we are experts in the field of demolition. If your home or property needs demolition services, we are the ones to call. 

In addition to demolition, Brickley Environmental offers the following services. 

  • Asbestos Abatement
  • Lead-Based Paint Removal
  • Mold Remediation
  • Hazardous Waste Removal 

Call today to speak with one of our experts. We will listen to your needs, answer your questions, and help you make the best-informed decision about which course of action to take. At Brickley Environmental, we place your needs first when it comes to demolition and the many other services we offer. 

For more information on demolition, click here to visit the OSHA website.