Cinnaminson, NJ, September 6th
In March of this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published Maintenance Guidance
and associated materials as part of the agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
suite of documents and resources. The new voluntary guidance is designed to help school administrators and faculty start or enhance their own indoor air quality (IAQ) preventive maintenance plan.
The importance to students and teachers of an effective IAQ preventive maintenance plan is addressed by the agency with the following statement found in the document: Ensuring the school environment is healthy is essential because the health and comfort of students and staff are among the many factors that contribute to learning and productivity in the classroom, which in turn affect performance and achievement. Children especially are vulnerable to poor environmental conditions, and being exposed to such contaminants early in life can cause health problems well into adulthood. Indoor pollutants in schools include mold, dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), radon, lead, asbestos, PCBs, pesticides, secondhand smoke and others. Some of these pollutants can cause or exacerbate such health issues as allergies, respiratory illnesses like asthma and infectious diseases like the flu.
“This new EPA tool shares some important information, including the fact that many school facility issues that could impact indoor air can be prevented from becoming costly problems through preventive maintenance,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “There is also detailed guidance on walkthroughs and assessments of facilities and how to address common indoor air quality issues by implementing integrated pest management, green cleaning, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and equipment upkeep, mold and moisture prevention, and other pollutant source control activities.”
The laboratory professionals at EMSL Analytical, Inc. help to achieve healthy IAQ in the nation’s schools. With facilities across North America, EMSL offers air and indoor environmental quality testing services for mold, bacteria, chemicals, particulate matter, radon, lead, asbestos and other pollutants. They also provide sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits, air monitoring instruments and an array of inspection tools. EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about the EPA’s new Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools: Preventive Maintenance Guidance
that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/KxGMis1Mi_k
To learn more about this or other building science and environmental testing services, or to access air monitoring tools and inspection equipment, please visit www.EMSL.com
, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com
. To view a comprehensive line of IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com
.About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella
, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com
for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.