Benzene
Benzene is sweet smelling, colourless liquid/gas. It evaporates quickly and dissolves in water, is highly flammable, and is widely used by industry. The EPA set the max permissible benzene level in drinking water at 0.005 mg/L.
Breathing high levels can result in death; lower levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing benzene can cause vomiting, stomach irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death; long-term low level exposure affects bone marrow. The Dept of Health and Human Services classifies Benzene as a known carcinogen, specifically causing anemia and leukemia. Any toxic chemical is a danger factor in tightly constructed new homes.
A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.
Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles, and industrial emissions. Indoor air contains higher levels of benzene from products such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergent. Air around hazardous waste sites, gas stations or close proximity to factory emissions will contain higher levels.
Our state of the art detection devices detect contamination at 0.1 ppm to 40 ppm.
Benzene is sweet smelling, colourless liquid/gas. It evaporates quickly and dissolves in water, is highly flammable, and is widely used by industry. The EPA set the max permissible benzene level in drinking water at 0.005 mg/L.
Breathing high levels can result in death; lower levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing benzene can cause vomiting, stomach irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death; long-term low level exposure affects bone marrow. The Dept of Health and Human Services classifies Benzene as a known carcinogen, specifically causing anemia and leukemia. Any toxic chemical is a danger factor in tightly constructed new homes.
A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.
Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles, and industrial emissions. Indoor air contains higher levels of benzene from products such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergent. Air around hazardous waste sites, gas stations or close proximity to factory emissions will contain higher levels.
Our state of the art detection devices detect contamination at 0.1 ppm to 40 ppm.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. It is given off of new furniture (off-gassing), new construction, and carpeting; and also in some materials in the process of degrading from water, heat, saline or chemical exposure. It can be a significant issue in new homes because they are so tightly constructed that fumes can not dissipate into the atmosphere.
When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm (parts in a million parts of air), it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions. It has also been observed to cause cancer in lab animals.
Why risk exposure to toxic contaminants? Our state of the art electrochemical Formaldehyde sensor can detect 0-200 ppm (parts per million.)
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. It is given off of new furniture (off-gassing), new construction, and carpeting; and also in some materials in the process of degrading from water, heat, saline or chemical exposure. It can be a significant issue in new homes because they are so tightly constructed that fumes can not dissipate into the atmosphere.
When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm (parts in a million parts of air), it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions. It has also been observed to cause cancer in lab animals.
Why risk exposure to toxic contaminants? Our state of the art electrochemical Formaldehyde sensor can detect 0-200 ppm (parts per million.)