Do You Need Environmental Consulting?

Certain problems require the guidance of professionals who specialize in environmental consulting. These pros can guide an individual or business owner in proper compliance with the Environmental Protection Agencies. They can also help individuals clean up problematic situations properly. Some consultants work from the environmental perspective while others work from the industrial or commercial perspective. Many of these pros have engineering degrees or undergraduate or graduate certification in Environmental Science or Engineering. Some work in private organizations while others work for the government. Here are some areas where their expertise is required:

- Asbestos problems: Asbestos is a potentially dangerous fiber which has been used in construction and other materials. When it was originally used in buildings, it was seen as a revolutionary product in its functionality. What people back then didn’t realize was that when disturbed or broken up, its mineral fibers get into the breathing pathways of humans and cause serious ramifications. Some illnesses linked to asbestos include asthma, chronic bronchial problems and cancer. It has been banned in some countries.

- Lead issues: Lead can be quite dangerous to the human body and is found in paint, dust and soil. Paint used to routinely be made with lead as one of the ingredients. Children who ingested it while teething on a toy or piece of furniture became very ill. If lead is found in a dwelling or commercial site, professional intervention must sometimes be brought in to eradicate the problem.

- Waste management: How waste is disposed of is very important to the health of humans and the environment. Back in the olden days, factories just dumped toxic waste into bodies of water. This contaminated the rivers, streams, creeks and lakes which in turn killed wildlife, harmed humans and proved detrimental to the entire eco-balance of the region. Other unsatisfactory waste management tactics included burning, which caused air pollution, or burying it which contaminated the soil and groundwater. Even changing out the oil in one’s automobile must be done appropriately in order to not pollute the groundwater and soil.

- Mold infestation: Molds and mildews are especially prevalent in humid locales. While mold is natural and has its place in nature, when it gets into buildings, it becomes problematic. In nature, mold spores multiply and break down components it’s supposed to break down – such as dead leaves or fallen limbs. In homes or commercial buildings, it breaks down wall board, plaster, wood, wall coverings and causes breathing difficulties in the inhabitants. Not only that, if handled improperly, it will continue to multiply and destroy structural components, eat through wallpaper and paint.

When a homeowner or commercial facility manager faces an ecological concern, this can be a complicated problem to deal with. Not only does the problem have to be eradicated, it has to be done properly and in accordance with the rules and regulations of the EPA. In order to be compliant and to protect all of the inhabitants of a structure as well as the environment in general, it is wise to call in professionals for environmental consulting.