Mercury is still a Hazard in Most Buildings across the U.S.

WEBWIRE – Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark (CSC) provide mercury and other heavy metal testing services to protect building occupants from its toxic health hazards.

Mercury is a metal that is in a liquid state at room temperature, but can easily evaporate. A recent article in the September 2010 issue of Indoor Environment Connections (IEC) newspaper entitled “All that Glitters is Not Gold – Sometimes it’s Mercury” discusses the hazards the metal posses to people.

According to the article, “It can get in your body via your gastrointestinal system if you eat or drink contaminated items, via your pulmonary system if you inhale mercury vapor, and via your integumentary system (skin) if you handle it. Mercury is difficult for the body to eliminate. It can accumulate in the body, reaching dangerous concentrations over time.”

The onset of symptoms may be delayed for weeks after exposure. The article reports that symptoms may include headaches, visual field constriction, blindness, hearing impairment, numbed limbs, violent uncontrollable seizures as well as difficulty walking, speaking and tasting.

Clark Seif Clark, a leading provider of indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental services, has extensive experience dealing with mercury hazards, and two of their employees authored the article in IEC. “Mercury can be found in almost any building in the United States,” reported Derrick A. Denis, V.P. Indoor Environmental Quality at CSC. “It can be found in thermometers, barometers, switches, thermostats, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), batteries and even in amalgam dental fillings. When a mercury spill occurs it is imperative to act quickly to ensure the safety of people. Handling the cleanup is a process that should be left to qualified professional that follow the EPA’s Draft Mercury Response Guides.”

The full IEC article can be viewed at: http://www.ieconnections.com/pdfs/newsletter/2010/IEC-09-2010.pdf

To learn more about how CSC can help with IAQ services please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark (CSC)
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both the public and private sectors address environmental issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.