Harmful Cell Phone Raditation

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced yesterday that radiation from cell phones increases users’ risk of getting cancer. According to the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

IndoorDoctor LLC, a leading New England-based environmental engineering firm specializing in indoor air pollution, can measure this harmful electromagnetic frequency (EMF) exposure from cell phones. Jeffrey Bradley, President and CEO of IndoorDoctor, likens the uncertainty of EMF exposure to how cigarettes were once viewed fifty years ago.  Bradley is also concerned that the combination of radio frequency and other indoor air chemicals may trigger an allergic condition known as Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS).  A wide variety of physical illnesses such as headaches, migraines, insomnia, neurological illness, cancer, leukemia, tumors, muscle aches and pains, fibromyalgia, neuromuscular disease, and heart disease have also been associated with EMF.

Unlike other indoor pollution such as mold, radon, asbestos, and chemicals, there is no easy fix to EMF other than avoidance. As with any indoor air pollution concern, the most effective plan is to first have your home, car and place of work tested for EMF to understand your exposure. People who are interested in assessing their risk should contact IndoorDoctor at 800-466-1522 to schedule an EMF evaluation. Bradley or one of his environmental engineers will travel to your home for consulting and testing services based on sound engineering principals. Visit www.indoordoctor.com for complete information.

Test Your Home For Radon Every Two Years

Radon is a colorless and odorless gas that can have very serious health effects. According to the Surgeon General, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer within the US. Radon levels fluctuate throughout the year, but often go undetected by homeowners, sometimes placing residents at risk without any detectable air quality changes. Environmental Engineer Jeffrey Bradley explains that it is not unusual for radon levels to be higher in the winter months. Snow cover creates a blanket effect that can trap radon in soil, allowing the gas to escape through the frozen ground and leak into houses at a higher concentration than during other seasons. 

The EPA has set a national action level of 4 pCi/L (picoCuries of radon per liter of air).  Bradley’s New England-based Environmental Engineering firm, IndoorDoctor, specializes in indoor air quality investigations to measure such levels. They recommend radon testing in different seasons at least every two years. Most homebuyers conduct a radon test as part of their purchasing agreement and neglect to test further down the road. “I’d say nearly half of the homes we test have radon levels higher than their initial test when they purchased the home,” Bradley says. He warns, too, that over-the-counter tests can be poor indicators of radon. “The only reliable way to be sure that your home has a safe level of radon is to test your home tested on a regular basis.”

To avoid the dangerous health risks associated with radon, IndoorDoctor engineers strongly urge homeowners to have their home's indoor air quality tested for radon along with other indoor air quality pollutants. Contact IndoorDoctor to schedule unbiased and independent air quality testing

Newer Homes Vulnerable to Airborne Fiberglass

Newer homes are more vulnerable to aerosolized fiberglass insulation, says environmental engineer Jeffrey Bradley, President of the New England-based air quality testing firm IndoorDoctor LLC.  “We’ve seen a substantial increase in air quality concerns from homeowners with young children experiencing chronic coughing and eye irritation,” says Bradley.  “The majority of these homeowners live in newly constructed homes. Once the insulation issue is resolved then the symptoms tend to go away.”

There are many reasons for the increase in fiberglass levels. One such reason is that more people are air conditioning their homes by adding duct work in their attic; the resulting exposed insulation can then filter through the seams in areas such as recessed lighting. The jagged, microscopic fiberglass particles stay airborne longer than a typical dust particle and can penetrate the eyes, throat and lungs, causing irritation and sometimes chronic respiratory distress.  Bradley urges homeowners to seek alternatives to fiberglass insulation, such as safe non-toxic, foam-based lining, and to avoid installing the duct work in the attic.  

Bradley notes that homeowners are also looking to expand their homes by finishing their basement, where there is often exposed insulation. The fiberglass particles in the insulation have the potential to become airborne every time a fan turns on, a door opens or shuts or the room's interior pressure changes due to temperature, leading to respiratory distress, among other conditions.

To avoid the dangerous risks associated with airborne fiberglass, Bradley strongly urges homeowners to have their home's indoor air quality tested for such particles and, if high levels are detected, to take professional restoration action to reduce the dangerous counts. To have Bradley or one of his team members test the air in your home, you can contact him at: jeff.bradley@indoordoctor.com or by calling 800-466-1522.