Articles

Yes Virginia, There is an Asbestos Clause!

I recently had a personal experience this holiday season involving asbestos that became a learning opportunity. On the evening of December 30th, my wife Lorraine and I were in our warm, comfy home enjoying the holidays. We sat in our living room watching TV, having dinner with a nice glass of wine. There were a few wrapped Christmas presents still on the hearth, waiting for some of the kids who were out of town. We were chatting about the prime rib dinner I would be making for the family on New...
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Wildfire Smoke Secondary Damage and Health

Secondary Wildfire Smoke – The Toll On People and Property The recent Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire are among the most destructive and deadly wildfires in California history, with nearly 250,000 acres burned, thousands of structures destroyed, and over 90 lives lost.  While the damage wrought by the intense heat and flame is undeniable, the smoke generated by these wildfires can also have a significant impact on lives and property. Smoke generated from wildfires not only contains combustion...
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Crystalline Silica: Cal-OSHA Ups Enforcement with New, Tougher Standards

The early 1930s Hawk’s Nest Tunnel disaster in Gauley Bridge, West Virginia is considered one of the greatest industrial tragedies in American history. While the exact number of workers who perished due to working on this project is not known, estimates put the death toll over 1000. The culprit? Crystalline silica. Silica is ubiquitous. It is a major component of the earth’s crust and is found in nearly every form of rock. If you have ever walked on beach sand, you were walking on silica. Bu...
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The Smell of Vomit

The recent concerns and complaints over the natural gas storage well leak in the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles has been a big news story. However, most if not all of the symptoms that people reported don’t match the known symptoms of exposure to the chemicals involved.  Methane – the main ingredient in natural gas – is not toxic.  Meanwhile, tert-butyl mercaptan, the odorant added to the gas (so you know when you have a gas leak, so you don’t have an explosion and...
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When Quality Counts…Choose Gold for Mold!

Who is Your Mold Inspector?  Did you know that many mold inspectors don’t have any formal education and merely attend a three day course to become a “Certified Mold Inspector”?  There are currently NO State of California licenses or registration requirements for mold inspectors.  We’ve met former home inspectors, plumbers, pest control operators, entrepreneurs, realtors, and office supply salesmen who are now “Certified Mold Inspectors” and are supposedly experts.   Some “cert...
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Mold Fact Sheet

 Topics Covered (Click to jump on the topic on Mold Fact) What is Mold? Is the Presence of Mold in My Environment Unhealthy? What About Toxic Mold? Mold, Property Values, and Liability I Have Water Damage.  Will Mold Grow Immediately? If the Mold is Old or Killed with Disinfectant, Can It Still Affect Occupants?  Can’t I Just Spray Bleach On It? How Do I Know When I Need A Mold Inspection? What about Bathroom Mold and Mildew? Is Mold Testing and Identification Necessary? What About Those Te...
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