Press Releases at EMSL

In late January, a powerful winter storm pounded the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast with record snowfall in many areas and a storm surge that inundated some coastal communities. An area particularly hard hit were the beach communities along parts of the Jersey Shore.

Some area residents are now faced with worse damage to their homes and businesses than was caused by Hurricane Sandy back in 2012. Media reports showed portions of communities such as North Wildwood, Sea Isle and Stone Harbor suffered significant property damage due to a combination of rain, melting snow and seawater.  

“As property owners and tenants continue to clean up the mess and file insurance claims, it’s important for people to understand that buildings that have been damaged by flood waters can also often pose health concerns for building occupants,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for microorganisms. These include everything from viruses and bacteria to mold. Elevated humidity levels can also support the growth of dust mites. Many of these contaminants and indoor pollutants can become airborne and trigger allergic reactions and asthma or even cause disease in some circumstances.”  

Another health and safety concern is the possible presence of lead-based paints and asbestos-containing materials. Many residential and commercial properties built up until the late 1970s contain these substances.  Clean up, demolition and repair activities can aerosolize these materials that can then be spread throughout a property creating an exposure risk to inhabitants and workers tasked with rebuilding efforts.

To help identify mold and other microbial contaminants, in addition to lead-based paints and asbestos, EMSL Analytical has over a dozen laboratories located in the Northeast and throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  Sampling supplies, easy-to-use test kits and a comprehensive array of testing services to identify sewage contamination, mold, bacteria, lead, asbestos and other potential contaminants are available. EMSL has also sponsored a video about flood cleanup and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/3Q1tnHFkPF0.

For more information about water damage, mold, IAQ or other environmental, health and safety issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675. To learn more about EMSL’s indoor environmental test kits, please visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.

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