New Website Announcement

Fisher Environmental is excited to announce the launch of their newly designed Website at: www.fisherenvironmental.com 

Fisher Environmental - home page

The site welcomes visitors with bold colours and a clean easy-to-read layout. Full of topical content and videos, our aim is to share our knowledge and expertise on environmental due diligence and how environmental issues impact real estate. 

The new site is divided into relevant sections including:

1. Environmental Site Assessments - the industry's most recognized due diligence report.
2. Indoor Air Quality - a growing human health concern.
3. Site Remediation - dealing with environmentally contaminated properties.
4. News Releases - topical articles from a variety of national publications.
5. Social Media - links to Associations and Fisher's other sites: Fisher Labs and Fisher Drilling.

The Website will be updated on a regular basis with new content.

Mould Control in Toronto, GTA and all of Ontario

Microscopic Mould

Gone are the days when Mould (or Mold - both spellings are acceptable) was simply the ‘nasty black stuff’ growing on a wall that was cleaned up with some bleach.  Today we are more aware of indoor air quality and that exposure to mould can cause a wide variety of illnesses. Symptoms such as allergenic reactions or asthma attacks, can progress into severe and chronic ailments with prolonged exposure. 

It doesn't matter where you live: Mississauga, Waterloo or Barrie, mould is everywhere. It’s in the air we breathe and grows on virtually any surface. In fact there are over 1,000 species of mold in Canada. So what can you do to protect yourself from mould and maintain reasonable indoor air quality?

'Black' Mould in house in Toronto

Control the Moisture, Control the Mould.

Mould requires water to grow, so it is important to prevent moisture problems in buildings. When poor ventilation is mixed with high humidity, often caused by leaking roofs and basements, the right environment for mould growth is created. Under these conditions visible mould can appear in 24 hours and will flourish, if left unchecked, eventually becoming airborne spores. 



"Grow Op" home in Markham

 What do you do if you see or suspect you have mould? It is recommended you get a qualified mold inspector to do an assessment. Many home owners have unwittingly made their mould situation worst by attempt to remedy the problem themselves.  

The inspector will test and safely remove the mould, while keeping everything outside the contamination area free from spores.  Indoor air quality testing performed before and after the clean-up, will confirm the mould has been effectively removed.

Thanks to Ross Sullivan of Mold.ca for contributing to this blog.  Mold.ca is Canada's leading mold inspection and removal firm.

Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in much of North America until the 1980’s for acoustic and thermal insulation, and fire proofing. As such many older industrial, commercial and residential buildings still have asbestos-containing materials which can include: ceiling tiles, plaster, texture coat (stucco), drywall compound, vinyl floor tiles and sheeting, pipe insulation, and some loose-fill vermiculite insulation.

Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibres  that can become airborne when the asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. When these fibres get into the air they may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems. Prolonged exposure to high levels of asbestos fibres has been link to diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma or asbestosis.

In an effort to limit people’s exposure to asbestos the Ministry of Labour’s, Occupation Health and Safety Act, has listed asbestos as one of 11 “Designated Substances” (Other products on this list include lead, arsenic and mercury), with specific procedures regarding the use, handling and disposal of these products. For buildings containing any Designated Substances annual Designated Substance Surveys are recommended to verify the condition of the products and whether repair or removal is required.

So is asbestos dangerous? Yes it is. First though you should determine if products in your home or workplace contain asbestos or other 'Designated Substances'. The best way to do this is have an experienced consultant inspect and analyze any suspected products.  Be sure and be safe.

Something to ponder: The use of asbestos in Canada today is very limited, but more than 240,000 tonnes of asbestos is mined each year in Quebec, making Canada the fourth largest exporter of asbestos in the world. The main destinations for Canadian asbestos are countries such as India and Pakistan, where safety regulations surrounding asbestos handling and use are either sparse or non-existent.