Indoor Air Quality: Metal Contaminants in Industrial Building

Metals are essential for normal biological functions in humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. But at some level, they can be toxic. Metal toxicity most often affects people who live in an environment with high air or water pollution, work with metals, eat many foods that contain metal, or drink water from pipes made of lead. The wide range of metal toxicity symptoms–from nausea to allergies–can be prevented in the workplace when proper precautions are in place and an accredited environmental testing consultant deems the space safe. 

A landlord in Portland, Oregon looked to G2 to ensure there weren’t any hazardous contaminants affecting an industrial space that was previously used for metal fabrications and storage. 

G2’s environmental testing consultants can help detect what, if any, metals are affecting the air quality of the environment. G2 performed metal wipe sampling–a process that involves collecting samples from areas in the affected space. With the industrial space, they tested for: 

• Antimony
• Beryllium
• Cadmium
• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Iron oxide
• Lead
• Manganese
• Molybdenum
• Nickel
• Vanadium
• Zinc oxide

After the samples are sent in and reviewed by an accredited lab, G2 formulates a plan of action to reduce or eliminate contaminants if they are found.

Whether the contaminant is mold, lead, or a metal, it shouldn’t be left unchecked. Read how the landlord benefited from having a G2 professional test for metals and offer recommendations to improve business operations and protect future occupants from exposure.