Environmental Doctor

Poison Prevention Week is in Full Swing: Parents, How Safe is Your Home?

Posted on by Dan Dreifort

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has partnered with the Poison Prevention Week Council in ongoing efforts to protect people’s health from poisonous household materials. The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported in 2009 that over half of the annual 2.4 million poisoning incidents involve children under six years of age.

The EPA encourages parents to remember the theme “Children Act Fast…So Do Poisons.” The best way to protect children from hazardous household materials is to keep them locked up and away from children. Cosmetics such as perfume, nail polish and deodorant along with household cleaners and medicines are the leading causes of poisonings today. Other poisons include carbon monoxide and radon, which is why health experts recommend regular CO and radon testing. Read more from the recent EPA news release for Poison Prevention Week.

Parents, we encourage you to take this time and check over your home. Prevent accidental poisonings by ensuring that all potentially harmful items are kept locked up and out of the reach of children.

Accidental poisonings can happen in the blink of an eye, but there could be many other dangers in your home that only show effects over time. From the possibility of radon gas to contaminants in drinking water, which can even include pesticides, much of the dangers go unseen. Our focus at Environmental Doctor is to create environmentally healthy homes for people concerned about indoor environmental health issues. To learn more about commonly unseen indoor environmental issues, contact Environmental Doctor in Dayton or visit the EPA for their Introduction to Indoor Air Quality.

It Doesn’t Just Look Gross: The Surprising Side Effects of Mold in Your Home

Posted on by Dan Dreifort

Breaks in winter weather can often lead to mold in your home. Mold likes to grow in damp, dark places, eating away at natural products—like the wood and wallpaper of your walls.  Mold releases spores into the air, and people sensitive to mold can have allergic reactions.

Here is what you should know about mold in your home.

  • Allergic reactions to mold are similar to reactions to irritants found in dust or pollen: sneezing, running nose, itchy and watery eyes, coughing.  Some other reactions can include rashes or asthma.
  • Good news? Many people go throughout the day exposed to mold spores and are just fine.  For those who are sensitive, taking certain precautions—like antihistamines—can make you more comfortable.
  • However, finding large splotches of mold in your household is not a good sign.  It is often an indication of either poor ventilation or water damage. It is important to thoroughly dry any area that has suffered water damage. Also be sure to check your basement sump pump to ensure moisture is not escaping into your home.
  • Mold is one of the basic problems checked for in a house inspection when buying or selling a home. If present, it often indicates that there is either a previous or currently existing problem. For the integrity of the house’s structure, mold tests and remediation can help to fix the problem.
  • On rare occasions, mold can be toxic.  Typically, toxic molds are black molds—though not all black molds are toxic.  Toxic mold can cause you to feel severely ill, so you might feel as if you are constantly suffering sicknesses, when in truth you are reacting to the mold spores that you are breathing in.  Constant exposure can lead to death.

What can you do to get rid of mold in your house?  Toxic or not, you do not want mold growing rampant.  Have a professional perform a mold test and remediation, which will help to treat the problem.  At Environmental Doctor, we know how to take care of mold.  In fact, all of our services—from duct cleaning to radon testing and mitigation—are dedicated to making your home safe and livable.

Allergy Season in Ohio: How Allergens Affect You & What You Can Do to Prevent Asthma & Allergy Attacks

Posted on by Dan Dreifort

According to a recent news story from The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio’s allergy season this year has been and will continue to be miserable for those who are prone to allergies. With May being Asthma Awareness Month, it’s also important to recognize that many common allergens can trigger asthma attacks. While the tree pollen allergens were subdued greatly by the steady rain, these conditions will provide an extremely healthy grass crop that will produce its own set of allergies. Add that to the fact that dampness breeds mold and you can see why so many will be becoming very close with their allergist this year.

Asma Sport Player

Prevention Steps to Reduce Allergens in Your Home

While there is little that you can do to prevent coming in contact with allergens whilst out in the wide world, there are plenty of things you can do to minimize their presence in your home. By taking the following preventative steps, you can rest easy in your home knowing it is a safe haven against sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and possibly even severe pulmonary complications:

  • Keep dust mites at bay by washing your bedding at least every ten days or so in hot water. Vacuum regularly and avoid traditional sweeping and dusting methods; damp is always best.
  • Invest in a home mold test and remediation, if necessary.
  • Change your HVAC filters regularly. Their job is to catch dust and allergens—you certainly don’t want used ones lingering in the background.
  • Learn about the benefits of HEPA air filters. HEPA filters must remove at least 99.97% of all airborne particles by particle count at a size of .3 microns. They are often used in hospital rooms, burn centers and laboratories to remove bacteria and other airborne contaminants.
  • Seal your home as well as possible. Not only will this help to reduce the number of outdoor allergens that make their way inside, but it will also help to lower your HVAC costs.

If you think you may have allergens in your home that are triggering some of your allergy or asthma symptoms, then call us today at Environmental Doctor. One of the best treatments for indoor air quality is the HEPA air filtration system. Learn more about HEPA air filters and how they can help minimize the effects of allergens in the home. In addition to HEPA air filters, we also offer mold test and remediation along with HVAC service and maintenance. Don’t suffer from allergies or asthma triggered from allergens inside your home. Contact us for some relief!

Suffering from Allergies in Dayton? Manage Your Allergies with the Help of Technology

Posted on by Dan Dreifort
allergy concept

If you are an allergy sufferer, then you have no doubt had days that you’ve woken up wondering if you should take extra precautions because of a high pollen count…except you don’t know what the pollen count is. Or, perhaps you know exactly what symptoms you’d like to discuss with your allergist at your next appointment…until you get in the office and can’t remember what they were.

With the AllergyManager App from iTunes, these problems are a thing of the past. Find out pollen counts in seconds, track your symptoms right from your iPhone, and even get reminders for your prescription refills. If you have allergies, this app is for you.

And if you are looking for more ways to reduce your allergy symptoms, then contact us here at Environmental Doctor

in Dayton. We offer mold test and remediation, duct cleaning, and HVAC service to help keep the allergens at bay.

4 Effective Ways of Treating the Health Hazards Lurking in Your Home

Posted on by Dan Dreifort
clean air concept

There are many hazards hidden inside your home that can be very dangerous to your health. What’s most concerning about home health hazards is their inability to be seen. This video highlights some of the dangers of household mold. Your air ducts could be full of dust and dirt that is aggravating your allergies, or radon might be seeping into your home, slowly making you sick. However, each of these health hazards can be treated by a professional as described below:

Duct Cleaning

Have the ducts of your HVAC heating and air system cleaned in order to maximize your air conditioner’s efficiency and remove dust, pollen and other debris from your home. Duct cleaning is especially important for allergy sufferers because it has been proven to prevent health problems, including allergic reactions.

Radon Testing & Mitigation

When soil and rock erodes, uranium can seep into your home through cracks or holes in your foundation. Radon is colorless, odorless and tasteless, meaning that many people live with it in their homes without realizing it. This dangerous substance increases your risk of lung cancer and is a major health hazard, so if you are concerned, then contact a radon testing and mitigation company.

Mold Testing

Mold is a part of our natural environment, but in homes it can cause property damage as well as adverse health effects. It is almost impossible to eliminate all molds and mold spores, but many can be removed, resulting in a cleaner household. Hire a professional to test your home for mold and mitigate fungus if necessary.

Water Treatment

Although it may look clear, your drinking water has many pollutants floating in it, such as bacteria or chemicals that put your health at risk. Call a water treatment professional for a water filtration system that can improve your drinking water and your health.

For all of these health-enhancing treatment options, contact the Environmental Doctor. Since 1989 we have been providing customers with healthy and efficient solutions to the many contaminants that can affect your household. As a family-owned business, we are committed to the health of you and your family, so call (937) 319-4074 today!