Disaster Cleanup Can Lead to Their Own Disasters
Have you ever heard of the problems with disaster cleanup? After a disaster and cleanup starts, that’s when a whole host of other problems can begin.
There has been a lot of concern about exposure from particulate pollution during and after a disaster, especially during the cleanup. Particulate pollution is an everyday occurrence and becomes exasperated when it is combined with toxic ash and hazardous debris from disasters such as wildfires, tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, tropical storms, rising rivers, tsunamis, bombings and terrorist attacks. This debris can contain potentially harmful levels of heavy metals, which may include antimony, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. This mixed array of hazardous debris can also contain electronic waste from computers, monitors, batteries and other toxic substances from, paints, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and asbestos. Airborne particulate pollution does short and long-term damage because of the small size of these particulates. These specks from disasters and cleanup are tiny enough to be launched and travel on simple air currents where they can be absorbed by those they come in contact with. Some of this particulate matter is microscopic and smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. It is especially damaging when inhaled and ingested because these specks are tiny enough that it can lodge deep into the lungs and also travel to other organs, producing grave health concerns. The World Health Organization considers a PM2.5 density above 25 micrograms per cubic meter within a 24-hour period as unsafe. Also, the impact they can have is not just in the immediate disaster area but also wherever they journey and end up. The best way to tackle the problem of airborne dust particles generated by disasters and their cleanup is to contain them before they are released into the environment and become more problematic. But trouble can start if the debris that has been caused by a disaster is not handled properly. It can expose people and, sometimes, entire neighborhoods to airborne hazards that contribute to poor air quality creating levels much higher than those considered unhealthy by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The situation can be further aggravated if the cleanup is tackled by non-professionals, or others not using the proper control techniques while kicking up contaminated surfaces and strengthening the release of the particulate pollution.
Great care should be taken to lock down and contain debris that can become airborne and the entire cleanup focus needs to be on making sure that those contaminants don’t become airborne - negatively impacting people and communities. The best pollution control measures should be easily employed to give you sustained containment before and during cleanup. GEI’s (GLOBAL Encasement, Inc.) MPE (Multi Purpose Encapsulant) is designed to contain and lock down debris and hazardous materials with simple application methods. GEI's MPE is easily applied and immediately starts to control the debris. As the MPE cures it will continue to hold the offending material in place helping prevent it from becoming airborne or attaching to clothes and other surfaces. If you are looking for professional help, John Wayne Construction (http://jwcusa.com/) is one of the best professional companies I’ve ever worked with. They are known for “Building the future while restoring the past,” with an extensive list of completed worldwide projects include Emergency Services, Commercial, Government, Hospitality, and Residential clients. They specialize in the cleanup and rebuild from worldwide disasters and also have the ability for complete restoration of all structures, and management of toxic and hazardous debris. If location is your concern, then you would be happy to know that they operate globally and can quickly assemble teams to overcome all obstacles associated with disasters. The stress of dealing directly with a disaster is enough without having to face further repercussions from the cleanup. So get professional help, the right tools and the right products to prevent a disaster cleanup turning into another disaster.
