If you suspect that the insulation in your attic contains asbestos, it’s recommended that you contact an asbestos consultant to inspect it for you. Any samples that the inspector collects will be sent to an analytical laboratory for testing.
The earliest indications of civil environmental engineering date as far back as the Harappan civilization of the Indus River valley. Their cities had sewers and drainage systems for removing contaminated water and garbage away from population areas.
When it comes to mold testing, surface samples are taken directly from a single square inch of a suspected surface using tape lifts or swabs. In some cases, bulk sampling is used, where an actual piece of the surface is submitted for testing.
Groundwater contamination may occur when surface water, soil, lakes, rivers, and streams become polluted. When pollution gets into the soil, rainwater collects the pollution and carries it underground.
In a biological assessment of a wetland environment, direct quantitative measurements are taken of various components of the wetland systems. This biological data demonstrates clear empirical changes in value in relation to human influence.
A Pinge or Binge is a German word for sinkholes caused by the collapse of old mining works near the earth's surface. The resulting depression can be wedge, ditch or funnel shaped. In the American South, sinkholes have formed from abandoned salt domes.
While some employees will use any excuse to get out of work a little early, getting similar complaints from most of your team could indicate a problem in your building. When you need to know what’s in your air so that you can address it, we’re always here for you.
One of the first efforts in the United States at environmental engineering was in New York in the early 1800s. City officials decided it was time to clean the streets. As they began cleaning, they discovered that garbage had become so deep, that what were thought to be basements were actually the first floors of buildings.
When you’re trying to develop the land in a relatively untouched area, there are additional aspects to consider. For instance, you may need to perform a study to ensure that no rare or protected animals will lose their homes as a result.
Geoengineers in North America use the Unified Soil Classification System. In this system, soils are divided into three main groups: coarse-grained soils such as sand and gravel, fine-grained soils such as silt and clay, and highly organic soils such as peat.
Condensation can increase risks for mold growth in all areas of the home. To create an atmosphere in the home that will not be friendly to mold, ensure that the home has adequate ventilation and low humidity.
In a crosshole test, seismic waves are generated in a source borehole and recorded by a geophone in a nearby receiving borehole. The recorded wave velocities allow engineers to design dynamically loaded foundations and to anticipate stress caused by earthquakes.
Not only does disposing of hazardous wastes properly save the environment and save businesses large amounts of money in fines, but it also saves individual homeowners and their children, who drink from the local water supply and can get very sick if it is contaminated.
While sinkholes can occur almost anywhere, in the US the largest sinkholes and those that create the most damage tend to form in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
Some of the sources of air pollution include tobacco smoke, cabinetry, carpet, dust mites, pollen, mold, gas, wood stoves, personal care products, pesticides, viruses and others.
One benefit of ground penetrating radar (GPR) is that it can be used in a variety of media. This includes everything from rock and soil to ice and fresh water to pavement, concrete, and a variety of other manmade structures.
The only safe way to remove asbestos is to bring in professionals who are certified in asbestos removal and know exactly what they’re doing. Asbestos is a dangerous material, and if you don’t know what you’re doing you could make yourself very sick attempting to remove it.
Do you know what “pump and treat” accomplishes, in terms of environmental remediation? It pumps out contaminated groundwater with the use of a submersible or vacuum pump, and allows the extracted groundwater to be purified by slowly proceeding through a series of vessels that contain materials made to absorb the contaminants.
In wetlands testing, the HGM functional assessment approach identifies seven geomorphic settings or subclasses of wetlands. Characteristics of settings differ according to dominant sources of water and hydrodynamics such as flow rates and water fluctuation.
Where does asbestos come from? Asbestos forms underground, so it’s mined using conventional open-pit or tunnel-based processes. The fiber-like crystals grow across cracks and veins of soft rock formations and the width of the vein or crack determines how long the fibers become.
Environmental engineers are primarily charged with developing solutions to current environmental problems. This branch of engineering also draws on principles of soil science, biology, and chemistry to assess conditions and propose solutions.
