Services

 

ISC Environmental Consultancy Services

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Environmental Site Assessment

ISC’s greatest assets are experience and expertise staffs whom have completed projects encompassing a broad range of challenging and complex environmental issues.

Environmental Site Assessments are designed to evaluate potential contamination, regulatory compliance and potential liabilities. They are conducted primarily to determine if a site has been used for hazardous waste disposal or contain hazardous materials regulated under municipal or governmental environmental statutes.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

Phase I Environment Site Assessments typically are required by lenders in order to assure that properties do not process environmental conditions that could diminish the value or the property, the ability of the borrower to repay, or to establish baselines to allocate responsibility for clean-up costs. The initial Environmental Site assessment, or Phase   I-ESA, comprises of a historical review of the site; site inspection and observation; and adjacent property review. Such service includes:

Phase II Assessment

When a Phase 1 ESA report finds a "Recognized Environmental Condition, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment report is typically recommended, in order to screen the soil and/or groundwater for potential significant environmental liabilities, whether they may be regulatory-mandated cleanups. These reports usually consist of using a drill rig or hand auger to collect shallow soil samples to determine if previous storage and use of chemicals at a property has released regulated substances into the ground that may be affecting the value of the property.

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Risk Assessments/RBCA Studies

Risk assessment is the scientific methodology that allows quantitative analytical techniques to be used in decision-making regarding the type and/or amount of remediation, if any, that is required at a particular site. Risk assessment considers information describing an actual or potential release of chemicals or pathogens, the opportunity for human contact with the chemicals or pathogens, the potential level of exposure, the health effects of these agents, and the expected degree of harm. Risk assessments can be performed for hazardous waste sites, exposure to chemicals in the workplace or assessing acceptable cleanup levels for waste sites. Risk assessments can be a valuable cost saving tool in negotiating with regulatory agencies during initial facility sitting discussions, or when determining emergency response needs.

Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA)

Risk-Based Corrective Action or RBCA refers to a systematic, tiered method for managing environmental contamination. In the RBCA approach, all decisions related to site remediation are based on the evaluation of the potential risk to human health and environment. Accordingly, the goals of the

RBCA process is:

• Protection of human health and environment.

• Practical, cost-effective allocation of risk-based decision making.

• Consistent and technically defensible administrative processes.

A detailed framework for taking risk factors into account in making corrective action decisions has been developed by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).

Why Select a RBCA for a Site?

The use of the RBCA approach has shifted remediation goals from the clean-up action levels. RBCA integrates EPA risk assessment practices with traditional site assessment and remedy selection in order to find a sufficiently protective, cost-effective alternative to site closure. With RBCA, clean-up goals are determined on containment or on achieving a given risk-based concentration of contamination at a point of compliance, not by achieving a given

Concentration level at every point on a site.

ISC Can Help

In developing an effective solution to clean-up problems on contaminated property, an experienced environmental consultant can make all the difference. The staff at ISC has experience in all types of site investigation and clean-ups. ISC has all the tools to help define a contamination problem, including soil and groundwater sampling equipment, and groundwater aquifer flow modeling to provide predictive information.  

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Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) Studies

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Air Quality Management

Stack Testing and Air Pollution Emission Monitoring Services

 
An intense focus on air pollution emission services allows ISC to provide clients with the highest level of technical expertise when confronted with environmental compliance and air pollution control issues. Services include isokinetic stationary source sampling for particulate, acid gases, dioxins and heavy metals, continuous emission monitoring, ambient and indoor air monitoring, and analytical laboratory services.

Complying with air quality guidelines is one of the key issues that small and large firms face today.  Staffed by professionals with diversified capabilities in engineering and the physical sciences, ISC has the expertise and resources to accomplish your goals ranging from meeting regulatory deadlines to anticipating future environmental programs.   Routinely conducting compliance emission test programs enables ISC to provide the level of quality that surpasses the rigorous technical testing requirements.

ISC Services

1- Routine Stationary Source / Stack Sampling

Capable of performing any type of stationary source test program, ISC routinely conducts source emission test programs for local regulatory compliance. These programs are conducted employing all EPA Reference Methods as well as state-specific procedures.

ISC Source Sampling Group routinely provides testing services for the following:

2- Continuous Emission Monitoring

ISC operates several Mobile Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) Laboratories providing on-site, real-time analysis for both source emission and ambient test programs. To ensure data quality and optimize data capture, these laboratories offer a wide variety of instrumentation housed in a controlled environment.

In line with these capabilities, ISC also provides performance specification (PST) testing, relative accuracy test audits (RATA), and calibration gas audits (CGA).

ISC’s specific CEM services include:

3- Specialized Stationary Source Sampling

ISC routinely performs source test programs requiring specialized equipment, techniques and methodologies. Programs are conducted for evaluation or compliance on sources of extremely high temperature and pressure. Other programs involve determinations of complex organic species for which no sampling or analytical methodology is currently available.

Some typical areas for which specialized programs have been developed include:

ISC has both the ability and experience to design a successful testing program according to your specific needs.

4- Ambient and Indoor Air Monitoring

The range of Ambient Air Monitoring programs offered by ISC includes Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) determinations, fugitive emission monitoring and air toxics evaluations. Monitoring installation audits and performance evaluations are also conducted utilizing EPA Quality Assurance guidelines.

The principle services that ISC offers include:

(5) Leak detection and repair (LDAR)

Regulatory agencies have determined that leaking equipment, such as valves, pumps, and connectors, are the largest source of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and volatile hazardous air pollutants (VHAPs) from petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing facilities. Some agencies have estimated that approximately 70,367 tons per year of VOCs and 9,357 tons per year of HAPs have been emitted from equipment leaks. Emissions from equipment leaks exceed emissions from storage vessels, wastewater, transfer operations, or process vents. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone is a major component of smog, and causes or aggravates respiratory disease, particularly in children, asthmatics, and healthy adults who participate in moderate exercise.

Some species of VOCs are also classified as VHAPs. Some known or suspected effects of exposure to VHAPs include cancer, reproductive effects, and birth defects. The highest concentrations of VHAPs tend to be closest to the emission source, where the highest public exposure levels are also often detected. Some common VHAPs emitted from refineries and chemical plants include acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, naphthalene, toluene, and xylene.

ISC is currently providing leak detection and repair (LDAR) services to industrial facilities. The types of services ISC provided include, but are not limited to:

ISC is uniquely qualified to provide high quality LDAR services due to the extensive training and aggressive QA/QC programs we have developed.

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Industrial Hygiene (IH) Services

Industrial Hygiene (IH) is primarily concerned with the control of occupational health hazards. IH main functions are the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses in the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or those living among them.” ISC shall provide fully certified analyses for asbestos, environmental lead, and other traditional analyses of concern to the industrial hygiene professional.   

ISC shall offer the following IH laboratory services:

Industrial hygiene and safety services include:

Like all analytical applications, the field sampling protocol is just as important as the laboratory methods employed. The Company’s customer service representatives shall be available to offer further information and valuable references on field protocols and data interpretation.

Total Nuisance Dust (NIOSH 0500) 
this method is often employed in industrial settings where background aerosols may cause pulmonary health problems.  The method is non-specific and determines only the total dust concentration to which a worker, or the environment, is exposed.  The method requires specialized pre-weighed PVC filters. The method is gravimetric and requires holding times to achieve weight equilibrium in special desiccators.  Our sensitive analytical balances are then used to measure total dust concentrations relevant to the air volumes sampled (mg/m3).  OSHA and others have established threshold values ranging from 5mg/m3 to 15mg/m3.

Total Respirable Dust (NIOSH 0600) 
this method measures the mass concentration of any non-volatile respirable dust.  Similar to NIOSH 0500, the respirable fraction of nuisance dust is a gravimetric procedure requiring special pre-weighted PVC filters. OSHA and others have developed threshold values ranging from 2 to 5 mg/m3.

Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) 
Particulate Materials (PM-10, PM-2.5) 
Particulate matter (PM) is the general term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.  Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke.  
 
Others are so small they can be detected only with an electron microscope (TEM). These particles, which come in a wide range of sizes ("fine" particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and coarser-size particles are larger than 2.5 micrometers); originate from many different stationary, mobile, and natural sources.

Respirable PM includes both fine and coarse particles.  These particles can accumulate in the respiratory system and are associated with numerous health effects such as asthma, decreased lung function, and even premature death.  Sensitive groups that appear to be at greatest risk to such effects include the elderly, individuals with cardiopulmonary disease, such as asthma, and children

Time Weighted Averages (TWAs) 
Evaluations of worker exposures may frequently be limited by conditions outside of the control of the health and safety professional.  In some cases, sample collection times may be impacted by the workplace environments, worker shifts, and sampling equipment failure.  In order to establish a full comparison to OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910, many times abbreviated sampling collection times may have to be mathematically adjusted for a full worker shift (ex: 8 hours). ISC shall provide Time Weighted Averages (TWAs) for industrial hygiene professionals using ASTM E 1370.

Non-Asbestos Respirable Fibers (NARF) 
Man-Made Mineral Fibers (MMMF) 
Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF) 
PLM and TEM are frequently employed to both qualify and quantify asbestos.  There are other fibers that pose health risks. Industrial hygiene applications frequently call for the evaluation of several related fiber species: 
 
  1) Non-Asbestos Respirable Fibers (NARF) 
  2) Man-Made Mineral Fibers (MMMF) 
  3) Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF).   
 
These are all related by various nomenclatures.  Generally, these are defined by their size (certain length and width ratios), chemical composition, and physical properties.  Man-Made Mineral Fibers are controlled by the EPA under the Clean Air Act.  Many times fibrous materials that fall under these categories are by-products of a manufacturing process, or have been altered from their original state.

ISC shall employ several established methodologies for these evaluations including:

ISC can provide photomicrographs and chemical spectrum to further document these analyses.

Materials Characterization (MC) 
Whether for industrial hygiene purposes, product evaluations, general environmental investigations, or forensic studies, ISC shall provide limited materials characterization analyses. Generally, this entails the utilization of all analytical tools. 

These analyses usually employ full light microscopy, analytical electron microscopy, and atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Asbestos Laboratory

ISC owns and operates a fully independent environmental testing laboratory. The asbestos laboratory is divided into the following categories:

Airborne 
Airborne concentrations of asbestos are determined by PCM and TEM.  
 
Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) is widely used to measure fiber concentrations of air samples.  This is routinely done at asbestos abatement sites and can be applied for environmental monitoring, personnel monitoring, and clearance testing for minor abatement projects. 
 
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) represents the most sophisticated technology available for characterizing asbestos minerals.  This technique is now the standard for most airborne investigations including post abatement clearance testing as well as diagnostic and environmental monitoring activities.  

Bulk Building Materials 
The analysis of Bulk Building Materials for asbestos content is conducted by PLM, XRD, SEM and TEM. There are thousands of materials used in construction that contain asbestos.  These materials include, but are not limited to pipe and boiler insulation, acoustical coatings, sprayed-on fire proofing, plasters, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles.

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) is the technique most often employed for the analysis of bulk building materials.  The light microscopy technique utilizes the unique features of polarized light to observe mineral specific optical properties.  In this manner, PLM can differentiate asbestos from non-asbestos fibers and further classify the various species that compose the asbestos mineral family.  Moreover, the technique records the identity of the non-asbestos fibrous component of each bulk building material sample.

Settled Dust and Other Non-Building Materials

The analysis of Settled Dust and other Non-Building Materials for asbestos content continues to be a growing and controversial subject in the environmental industry.  Whether to establish baseline levels, survey historical buildup, or to diagnose episodic releases, the utility of surface dust analysis has proven efficacy for the environmental professional.

The established methods published by ASTM call for detailed field sampling schemes and analysis by TEM. ASTM D5755, D5756, and D6480 have been developed for this specialized analysis. Though TEM is the method of choice, proprietary in-house methods using PLM can be employed. 

Soil, Sediment and Vermiculite

The analysis of Soil and Sediment for asbestos content continues to be a valuable tool for environmental investigations (e.g. possible illegal dumping of asbestos building materials).  Vermiculite minerals have been routinely used by industry in various applications and in the home as insulation. Though Vermiculite mineral originates naturally in the ground, it is not really a 'soil', nor is it a traditional building material. Several analytical protocols exist for the analysis of asbestos in vermiculite. These analytical approaches vary depending upon the nature of the vermiculite mineral being tested (e.g. un-processed gauge, homogeneous exfoliated books of mica, or mixed mineral composites).

Water and Other Aqueous Samples

The analysis of Water and Other Aqueous samples for asbestos content continues to mature.  This growth is evidenced by recent method developments by USEPA.  Investigations of asbestos in drinking water are conducted when water supply pipes are disturbed or replaced.  Municipal utilities serving certain populations are required to test this analyte.  Often effluent or waste streams are tested to survey industrial contamination.

Environmental Lead

The consequences of exposure to lead have been well documented.  These include occupational exposures as well as other means of toxic transport in housing environments, in playgrounds, in drinking water, and before, during, and after remediation activities. 

The company’s Environmental Lead Laboratory shall be designed for the analysis of lead in several matrices: 

Like all analytical applications, the field sampling protocol is just as important as the laboratory methods employed. ISC can assist in determining the sampling protocol that is most appropriate for a given situation.  ISC also can test for other metals.

Lead in Paint

The Company’s lab shall employ Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) for the analysis of its environmental lead samples. 

AAS is a highly sensitive technique (parts per billion levels) that operates by vaporizing a solution of the material in a flame or graphite micro furnace.  The preparation involves the acid digestion of the solid paint samples into solution. 

Extensive Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) regimens shall be performed as part of the certification program.  Proficiency testing shall be conducted through the Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (PAT) administered by AIHA / ELPAT.  On-site technical evaluations shall be also conducted through AIHA.

Lead in Soil

Maximum Contamination Levels (MCLs) exist for all environmental lead matrices including Lead in Soil.  This category is many times related to playground or building drip line investigations.  Once again, strict field sampling schemes should be employed to ensure meaningful analytical results.  AAS is employed.  Results are reported in mg/kg (ppm).  Accreditation and proficiencies are through AIHA.

Lead on Surfaces 
The examination of Lead on Surfaces is conducted using wipe samples.  This Dust/Wipe category of environmental lead investigations often is employed to establish baseline conditions of surfaces as well as to establish clearance criteria after an abatement activity. 

AIHA and others have promulgated strict field sampling protocols.  Results are viable only when the samples are collected on certain wipe material approved by USEPA.  The submittal of field blanks is also required for this method. Results are reported in micrograms of lead per unit area sampled on the surface (ex: ug/ft2.

Lead in the Air

Occupational exposures to lead can come in various forms.  One source involves testing Lead in Air during lead removal activities. OSHA monitoring involves collecting area and personal samples for workers. 

NIOSH 7082 provides clear directions for field sampling and laboratory analysis.  These directions incorporate air cassette and filter criteria as well as the submittal of blanks.  Detection limits vary according to the amount of air sampled.  Accreditation and proficiencies are primarily through the AIHA.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead in Drinking Water is a concern for many building owners and occupants in public and private settings.  ISC Lab shall employ the AAS graphite furnace technique for these samples.  Results are reported in parts per billion (ppb).  Accreditation is primarily from USEPA through NIST-NVLAP reference material suppliers. 

Other Metals

The Company’s Lab shall offer testing of Other Metals in air, usually associated with occupational exposures.  These include Zinc, Cadmium, and Chromium.  AAS lab techniques and NIOSH field protocols are employed.  Accreditation is provided through AIHA.

Mold Laboratory

Various microscopic techniques are employed to characterize molds. The available science recognizes a few different means of classifying molds. Traditional mycological methods rely on microscopy to differentiate genus and sometimes species of molds. Generally, these techniques are used to differentiate the spores released by the mature mold colonies growing on surfaces.  
 
There are two major categories of mold analysis: viable and non-viable. Sometimes referred to as culturable and non-culturable, the analytical work for both categories relies on the identification of spores (or conidia) by light microscopy to classify the molds present. Culturable samples may require additional identifying factors (i.e. associated hyphae and growth patterns of colonies on select culture media). The viable samples also require time (5-10 days) for cultures to mature enough where they can be accurately identified.  
 
Mold Analytical Services

Non-Viable (Non-Culturable)

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Asbestos Abatement Services

Asbestos is still a killer

Asbestos is responsible for more deaths than any other single work-related cause. Asbestos-related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer) are known to kill thousands of people each year. Because the diseases can take a long time to develop, people who are dying and suffering today may have been exposed to asbestos many years ago. Very large amounts of asbestos were put into buildings during the 1950s, through the 1970s, and much of it is still in place today. Building maintenance workers, upstream and downstream oil industry workers, electricians, plumbers, shop fitters and carpenters can still be at a high level of risk when doing any type of refurbishment or repairs on buildings which may contain asbestos. It is now also thought that frequent low level exposures, such as could occur during everyday repair work, can also lead to asbestos induced cancers. The control of asbestos at work places duties on owners, employers and agencies to manage the risk from asbestos in their workplace buildings, including carrying out a risk assessment and implementation of a plan to manage asbestos risk.

The following are areas that can contain Asbestos and may need Asbestos Abatement

ISC is a long established, independent, professional asbestos consultancy providing a full range of specialist asbestos services including:

ISC can help you to meet your legal obligation

To meet your legal requirements it is necessary to:

Asbestos Surveys  

It is estimated that Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) may be present in up to a millions premises in the country - which is why a legislation was introduced to deal with the potential hazard of health risks due to asbestos exposure. ISC can provide you with a fast and thorough survey, giving you peace of mind that your building is safe for everyone who uses it.

Asbestos Removal

If you require advice on the removal of asbestos products ISC can recommend methods for safe removal & disposal. In addition we can provide details of health & safety plans.

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Right-To-Know Hazard Communication Compliance 

ISC shall provide a manageable approach to Right-to-Know compliance in the form of a custom-design program that will allow your organization to facilitate compliance and identify, analyze, and manage hazardous releases before they can damage health and the environment or become expensive remedial problems.

Compliance of industrial and chemical storage facilities requires a systematic review and dissemination of chemical information about workplace hazards to employees and surrounding communities.

Our services include:

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ISC Environmental Consultancy Services

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Environmental Site Assessment

ISC’s greatest assets are experience and expertise staffs whom have completed projects encompassing a broad range of challenging and complex environmental issues.

Environmental Site Assessments are designed to evaluate potential contamination, regulatory compliance and potential liabilities. They are conducted primarily to determine if a site has been used for hazardous waste disposal or contain hazardous materials regulated under municipal or governmental environmental statutes.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

Phase I Environment Site Assessments typically are required by lenders in order to assure that properties do not process environmental conditions that could diminish the value or the property, the ability of the borrower to repay, or to establish baselines to allocate responsibility for clean-up costs. The initial Environmental Site assessment, or Phase   I-ESA, comprises of a historical review of the site; site inspection and observation; and adjacent property review. Such service includes:

Phase II Assessment

When a Phase 1 ESA report finds a "Recognized Environmental Condition, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment report is typically recommended, in order to screen the soil and/or groundwater for potential significant environmental liabilities, whether they may be regulatory-mandated cleanups. These reports usually consist of using a drill rig or hand auger to collect shallow soil samples to determine if previous storage and use of chemicals at a property has released regulated substances into the ground that may be affecting the value of the property.

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Risk Assessments/RBCA Studies

Risk assessment is the scientific methodology that allows quantitative analytical techniques to be used in decision-making regarding the type and/or amount of remediation, if any, that is required at a particular site. Risk assessment considers information describing an actual or potential release of chemicals or pathogens, the opportunity for human contact with the chemicals or pathogens, the potential level of exposure, the health effects of these agents, and the expected degree of harm. Risk assessments can be performed for hazardous waste sites, exposure to chemicals in the workplace or assessing acceptable cleanup levels for waste sites. Risk assessments can be a valuable cost saving tool in negotiating with regulatory agencies during initial facility sitting discussions, or when determining emergency response needs.

Risk-Based Corrective Action (RBCA)

Risk-Based Corrective Action or RBCA refers to a systematic, tiered method for managing environmental contamination. In the RBCA approach, all decisions related to site remediation are based on the evaluation of the potential risk to human health and environment. Accordingly, the goals of the

RBCA process is:

• Protection of human health and environment.

• Practical, cost-effective allocation of risk-based decision making.

• Consistent and technically defensible administrative processes.

A detailed framework for taking risk factors into account in making corrective action decisions has been developed by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).

Why Select a RBCA for a Site?

The use of the RBCA approach has shifted remediation goals from the clean-up action levels. RBCA integrates EPA risk assessment practices with traditional site assessment and remedy selection in order to find a sufficiently protective, cost-effective alternative to site closure. With RBCA, clean-up goals are determined on containment or on achieving a given risk-based concentration of contamination at a point of compliance, not by achieving a given

Concentration level at every point on a site.

ISC Can Help

In developing an effective solution to clean-up problems on contaminated property, an experienced environmental consultant can make all the difference. The staff at ISC has experience in all types of site investigation and clean-ups. ISC has all the tools to help define a contamination problem, including soil and groundwater sampling equipment, and groundwater aquifer flow modeling to provide predictive information.  

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Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) Studies

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Air Quality Management

Stack Testing and Air Pollution Emission Monitoring Services

 
An intense focus on air pollution emission services allows ISC to provide clients with the highest level of technical expertise when confronted with environmental compliance and air pollution control issues. Services include isokinetic stationary source sampling for particulate, acid gases, dioxins and heavy metals, continuous emission monitoring, ambient and indoor air monitoring, and analytical laboratory services.

Complying with air quality guidelines is one of the key issues that small and large firms face today.  Staffed by professionals with diversified capabilities in engineering and the physical sciences, ISC has the expertise and resources to accomplish your goals ranging from meeting regulatory deadlines to anticipating future environmental programs.   Routinely conducting compliance emission test programs enables ISC to provide the level of quality that surpasses the rigorous technical testing requirements.

ISC Services

1- Routine Stationary Source / Stack Sampling

Capable of performing any type of stationary source test program, ISC routinely conducts source emission test programs for local regulatory compliance. These programs are conducted employing all EPA Reference Methods as well as state-specific procedures.

ISC Source Sampling Group routinely provides testing services for the following:

2- Continuous Emission Monitoring

ISC operates several Mobile Continuous Emission Monitoring (CEM) Laboratories providing on-site, real-time analysis for both source emission and ambient test programs. To ensure data quality and optimize data capture, these laboratories offer a wide variety of instrumentation housed in a controlled environment.

In line with these capabilities, ISC also provides performance specification (PST) testing, relative accuracy test audits (RATA), and calibration gas audits (CGA).

ISC’s specific CEM services include:

3- Specialized Stationary Source Sampling

ISC routinely performs source test programs requiring specialized equipment, techniques and methodologies. Programs are conducted for evaluation or compliance on sources of extremely high temperature and pressure. Other programs involve determinations of complex organic species for which no sampling or analytical methodology is currently available.

Some typical areas for which specialized programs have been developed include:

ISC has both the ability and experience to design a successful testing program according to your specific needs.

4- Ambient and Indoor Air Monitoring

The range of Ambient Air Monitoring programs offered by ISC includes Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) determinations, fugitive emission monitoring and air toxics evaluations. Monitoring installation audits and performance evaluations are also conducted utilizing EPA Quality Assurance guidelines.

The principle services that ISC offers include:

(5) Leak detection and repair (LDAR)

Regulatory agencies have determined that leaking equipment, such as valves, pumps, and connectors, are the largest source of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and volatile hazardous air pollutants (VHAPs) from petroleum refineries and chemical manufacturing facilities. Some agencies have estimated that approximately 70,367 tons per year of VOCs and 9,357 tons per year of HAPs have been emitted from equipment leaks. Emissions from equipment leaks exceed emissions from storage vessels, wastewater, transfer operations, or process vents. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone is a major component of smog, and causes or aggravates respiratory disease, particularly in children, asthmatics, and healthy adults who participate in moderate exercise.

Some species of VOCs are also classified as VHAPs. Some known or suspected effects of exposure to VHAPs include cancer, reproductive effects, and birth defects. The highest concentrations of VHAPs tend to be closest to the emission source, where the highest public exposure levels are also often detected. Some common VHAPs emitted from refineries and chemical plants include acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, naphthalene, toluene, and xylene.

ISC is currently providing leak detection and repair (LDAR) services to industrial facilities. The types of services ISC provided include, but are not limited to:

ISC is uniquely qualified to provide high quality LDAR services due to the extensive training and aggressive QA/QC programs we have developed.

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Industrial Hygiene (IH) Services

Industrial Hygiene (IH) is primarily concerned with the control of occupational health hazards. IH main functions are the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, and control of those environmental factors or stresses in the workplace, which may cause sickness, impaired health and well-being, or significant discomfort among workers or those living among them.” ISC shall provide fully certified analyses for asbestos, environmental lead, and other traditional analyses of concern to the industrial hygiene professional.   

ISC shall offer the following IH laboratory services:

Industrial hygiene and safety services include:

Like all analytical applications, the field sampling protocol is just as important as the laboratory methods employed. The Company’s customer service representatives shall be available to offer further information and valuable references on field protocols and data interpretation.

Total Nuisance Dust (NIOSH 0500) 
this method is often employed in industrial settings where background aerosols may cause pulmonary health problems.  The method is non-specific and determines only the total dust concentration to which a worker, or the environment, is exposed.  The method requires specialized pre-weighed PVC filters. The method is gravimetric and requires holding times to achieve weight equilibrium in special desiccators.  Our sensitive analytical balances are then used to measure total dust concentrations relevant to the air volumes sampled (mg/m3).  OSHA and others have established threshold values ranging from 5mg/m3 to 15mg/m3.

Total Respirable Dust (NIOSH 0600) 
this method measures the mass concentration of any non-volatile respirable dust.  Similar to NIOSH 0500, the respirable fraction of nuisance dust is a gravimetric procedure requiring special pre-weighted PVC filters. OSHA and others have developed threshold values ranging from 2 to 5 mg/m3.

Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) 
Particulate Materials (PM-10, PM-2.5) 
Particulate matter (PM) is the general term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.  Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke.  
 
Others are so small they can be detected only with an electron microscope (TEM). These particles, which come in a wide range of sizes ("fine" particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter and coarser-size particles are larger than 2.5 micrometers); originate from many different stationary, mobile, and natural sources.

Respirable PM includes both fine and coarse particles.  These particles can accumulate in the respiratory system and are associated with numerous health effects such as asthma, decreased lung function, and even premature death.  Sensitive groups that appear to be at greatest risk to such effects include the elderly, individuals with cardiopulmonary disease, such as asthma, and children

Time Weighted Averages (TWAs) 
Evaluations of worker exposures may frequently be limited by conditions outside of the control of the health and safety professional.  In some cases, sample collection times may be impacted by the workplace environments, worker shifts, and sampling equipment failure.  In order to establish a full comparison to OSHA standards in 29 CFR 1910, many times abbreviated sampling collection times may have to be mathematically adjusted for a full worker shift (ex: 8 hours). ISC shall provide Time Weighted Averages (TWAs) for industrial hygiene professionals using ASTM E 1370.

Non-Asbestos Respirable Fibers (NARF) 
Man-Made Mineral Fibers (MMMF) 
Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF) 
PLM and TEM are frequently employed to both qualify and quantify asbestos.  There are other fibers that pose health risks. Industrial hygiene applications frequently call for the evaluation of several related fiber species: 
 
  1) Non-Asbestos Respirable Fibers (NARF) 
  2) Man-Made Mineral Fibers (MMMF) 
  3) Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF).   
 
These are all related by various nomenclatures.  Generally, these are defined by their size (certain length and width ratios), chemical composition, and physical properties.  Man-Made Mineral Fibers are controlled by the EPA under the Clean Air Act.  Many times fibrous materials that fall under these categories are by-products of a manufacturing process, or have been altered from their original state.

ISC shall employ several established methodologies for these evaluations including:

ISC can provide photomicrographs and chemical spectrum to further document these analyses.

Materials Characterization (MC) 
Whether for industrial hygiene purposes, product evaluations, general environmental investigations, or forensic studies, ISC shall provide limited materials characterization analyses. Generally, this entails the utilization of all analytical tools. 

These analyses usually employ full light microscopy, analytical electron microscopy, and atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Asbestos Laboratory

ISC owns and operates a fully independent environmental testing laboratory. The asbestos laboratory is divided into the following categories:

Airborne 
Airborne concentrations of asbestos are determined by PCM and TEM.  
 
Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) is widely used to measure fiber concentrations of air samples.  This is routinely done at asbestos abatement sites and can be applied for environmental monitoring, personnel monitoring, and clearance testing for minor abatement projects. 
 
Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) represents the most sophisticated technology available for characterizing asbestos minerals.  This technique is now the standard for most airborne investigations including post abatement clearance testing as well as diagnostic and environmental monitoring activities.  

Bulk Building Materials 
The analysis of Bulk Building Materials for asbestos content is conducted by PLM, XRD, SEM and TEM. There are thousands of materials used in construction that contain asbestos.  These materials include, but are not limited to pipe and boiler insulation, acoustical coatings, sprayed-on fire proofing, plasters, ceiling tiles, and floor tiles.

Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) is the technique most often employed for the analysis of bulk building materials.  The light microscopy technique utilizes the unique features of polarized light to observe mineral specific optical properties.  In this manner, PLM can differentiate asbestos from non-asbestos fibers and further classify the various species that compose the asbestos mineral family.  Moreover, the technique records the identity of the non-asbestos fibrous component of each bulk building material sample.

Settled Dust and Other Non-Building Materials

The analysis of Settled Dust and other Non-Building Materials for asbestos content continues to be a growing and controversial subject in the environmental industry.  Whether to establish baseline levels, survey historical buildup, or to diagnose episodic releases, the utility of surface dust analysis has proven efficacy for the environmental professional.

The established methods published by ASTM call for detailed field sampling schemes and analysis by TEM. ASTM D5755, D5756, and D6480 have been developed for this specialized analysis. Though TEM is the method of choice, proprietary in-house methods using PLM can be employed. 

Soil, Sediment and Vermiculite

The analysis of Soil and Sediment for asbestos content continues to be a valuable tool for environmental investigations (e.g. possible illegal dumping of asbestos building materials).  Vermiculite minerals have been routinely used by industry in various applications and in the home as insulation. Though Vermiculite mineral originates naturally in the ground, it is not really a 'soil', nor is it a traditional building material. Several analytical protocols exist for the analysis of asbestos in vermiculite. These analytical approaches vary depending upon the nature of the vermiculite mineral being tested (e.g. un-processed gauge, homogeneous exfoliated books of mica, or mixed mineral composites).

Water and Other Aqueous Samples

The analysis of Water and Other Aqueous samples for asbestos content continues to mature.  This growth is evidenced by recent method developments by USEPA.  Investigations of asbestos in drinking water are conducted when water supply pipes are disturbed or replaced.  Municipal utilities serving certain populations are required to test this analyte.  Often effluent or waste streams are tested to survey industrial contamination.

Environmental Lead

The consequences of exposure to lead have been well documented.  These include occupational exposures as well as other means of toxic transport in housing environments, in playgrounds, in drinking water, and before, during, and after remediation activities. 

The company’s Environmental Lead Laboratory shall be designed for the analysis of lead in several matrices: 

Like all analytical applications, the field sampling protocol is just as important as the laboratory methods employed. ISC can assist in determining the sampling protocol that is most appropriate for a given situation.  ISC also can test for other metals.

Lead in Paint

The Company’s lab shall employ Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) for the analysis of its environmental lead samples. 

AAS is a highly sensitive technique (parts per billion levels) that operates by vaporizing a solution of the material in a flame or graphite micro furnace.  The preparation involves the acid digestion of the solid paint samples into solution. 

Extensive Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) regimens shall be performed as part of the certification program.  Proficiency testing shall be conducted through the Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (PAT) administered by AIHA / ELPAT.  On-site technical evaluations shall be also conducted through AIHA.

Lead in Soil

Maximum Contamination Levels (MCLs) exist for all environmental lead matrices including Lead in Soil.  This category is many times related to playground or building drip line investigations.  Once again, strict field sampling schemes should be employed to ensure meaningful analytical results.  AAS is employed.  Results are reported in mg/kg (ppm).  Accreditation and proficiencies are through AIHA.

Lead on Surfaces 
The examination of Lead on Surfaces is conducted using wipe samples.  This Dust/Wipe category of environmental lead investigations often is employed to establish baseline conditions of surfaces as well as to establish clearance criteria after an abatement activity. 

AIHA and others have promulgated strict field sampling protocols.  Results are viable only when the samples are collected on certain wipe material approved by USEPA.  The submittal of field blanks is also required for this method. Results are reported in micrograms of lead per unit area sampled on the surface (ex: ug/ft2.

Lead in the Air

Occupational exposures to lead can come in various forms.  One source involves testing Lead in Air during lead removal activities. OSHA monitoring involves collecting area and personal samples for workers. 

NIOSH 7082 provides clear directions for field sampling and laboratory analysis.  These directions incorporate air cassette and filter criteria as well as the submittal of blanks.  Detection limits vary according to the amount of air sampled.  Accreditation and proficiencies are primarily through the AIHA.

Lead in Drinking Water

Lead in Drinking Water is a concern for many building owners and occupants in public and private settings.  ISC Lab shall employ the AAS graphite furnace technique for these samples.  Results are reported in parts per billion (ppb).  Accreditation is primarily from USEPA through NIST-NVLAP reference material suppliers. 

Other Metals

The Company’s Lab shall offer testing of Other Metals in air, usually associated with occupational exposures.  These include Zinc, Cadmium, and Chromium.  AAS lab techniques and NIOSH field protocols are employed.  Accreditation is provided through AIHA.

Mold Laboratory

Various microscopic techniques are employed to characterize molds. The available science recognizes a few different means of classifying molds. Traditional mycological methods rely on microscopy to differentiate genus and sometimes species of molds. Generally, these techniques are used to differentiate the spores released by the mature mold colonies growing on surfaces.  
 
There are two major categories of mold analysis: viable and non-viable. Sometimes referred to as culturable and non-culturable, the analytical work for both categories relies on the identification of spores (or conidia) by light microscopy to classify the molds present. Culturable samples may require additional identifying factors (i.e. associated hyphae and growth patterns of colonies on select culture media). The viable samples also require time (5-10 days) for cultures to mature enough where they can be accurately identified.  
 
Mold Analytical Services

Non-Viable (Non-Culturable)

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Asbestos Abatement Services

Asbestos is still a killer

Asbestos is responsible for more deaths than any other single work-related cause. Asbestos-related diseases (mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer) are known to kill thousands of people each year. Because the diseases can take a long time to develop, people who are dying and suffering today may have been exposed to asbestos many years ago. Very large amounts of asbestos were put into buildings during the 1950s, through the 1970s, and much of it is still in place today. Building maintenance workers, upstream and downstream oil industry workers, electricians, plumbers, shop fitters and carpenters can still be at a high level of risk when doing any type of refurbishment or repairs on buildings which may contain asbestos. It is now also thought that frequent low level exposures, such as could occur during everyday repair work, can also lead to asbestos induced cancers. The control of asbestos at work places duties on owners, employers and agencies to manage the risk from asbestos in their workplace buildings, including carrying out a risk assessment and implementation of a plan to manage asbestos risk.

The following are areas that can contain Asbestos and may need Asbestos Abatement

ISC is a long established, independent, professional asbestos consultancy providing a full range of specialist asbestos services including:

ISC can help you to meet your legal obligation

To meet your legal requirements it is necessary to:

Asbestos Surveys  

It is estimated that Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) may be present in up to a millions premises in the country - which is why a legislation was introduced to deal with the potential hazard of health risks due to asbestos exposure. ISC can provide you with a fast and thorough survey, giving you peace of mind that your building is safe for everyone who uses it.

Asbestos Removal

If you require advice on the removal of asbestos products ISC can recommend methods for safe removal & disposal. In addition we can provide details of health & safety plans.

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Right-To-Know Hazard Communication Compliance 

ISC shall provide a manageable approach to Right-to-Know compliance in the form of a custom-design program that will allow your organization to facilitate compliance and identify, analyze, and manage hazardous releases before they can damage health and the environment or become expensive remedial problems.

Compliance of industrial and chemical storage facilities requires a systematic review and dissemination of chemical information about workplace hazards to employees and surrounding communities.

Our services include:

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