New Renovation Show Remediates Environmental Hazards as they Rebuild Schools

EMSL Analytical offers environmental testing solutions for school districts across the country to protect students and faculty.

Cinnaminson, NJ

NBC is releasing a new show entitled “School Pride” that follows students, teachers and the community working together to renovate aging and broken public schools. School projects in such places as California, Michigan, Louisiana and other states will be highlighted.

These renovation projects provide new rejuvenated learning environments for students, but they also often reveal environmental concerns from mold, lead asbestos and even PCBs. Construction activities can release these contaminates into the air and create dangerous conditions for anyone in the building.

When projects involving lead or asbestos contaminated materials are begun there are various federal and state laws governing their removal and disposal. These laws are meant to not only keep workers safe, but also to ensure that materials are handled in such a manner as to not expose the building occupants to their dangers.

Water infiltration issues, plumbing problems and HVAC failures are all also common occurrences at many aging schools. These can all lead to potential indoor air quality (IAQ) problems with mold, bacteria and other microbial contaminants.

Production of PCBs in the United States was halted in the late 1970s, but prior to then it was used in some building materials, including caulks. Caulking materials were used in virtually all schools for weatherizing and to seal gaps around doors, windows and other building materials. These PCBs persist in old caulk that may become airborne or settle on surfaces as the material degrades or as it is being removed during renovation projects.

EMSL Analytical, one of the nation’s largest environmental testing laboratories, has decades of experience helping schools test for these and other health hazards. “All children should have a safe and healthy environment when they are attending school,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President at EMSL. “Simple testing can help ensure no one is being exposed to these health hazards.”

To learn more about environmental testing please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

Contact via E-mail