By Rose Szwed 

It’s called Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The occupants of a building all experience similar health-related problems. Symptoms such as headaches, coughing, throat irritation, itchy skin, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, and fatigue, are often linked to time spent in an unhealthy building. Livonia-based Environmental Maintenance Engineers (EME) is addressing these concerns. Mike Kelly, company president, said that with public attention so focused on environmental health, it only makes sense to examine the toxins that may be in the buildings where you live, work and play. 

  IS THE BUILDING SICK, OR AM I?

“It could be mold spreading, floating asbestos fibers and particles falling, or lead paint chips,” said Kelly, whose first job in the business was the asbestos abatement prior to demolition and reconstruction of the Plymouth Library. "Health problems relating to these issues are there, and are a very real concern. Just look at the number of articles in the media about lead paint, dust from asbestos, asbestosis, skin allergies relating to mold, and more. Call it what you will, but these illnesses have to do with toxins in indoor environments."

According to data from the U.S. Government on asbestos-related deaths, between 1979 and 2001 43,073 people died due to exposure to asbestos. Michigan ranks twelfth in the nation for asbestos ­related deaths. California ranks first. Breathing asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, asbestosis - which makes breathing progressively more difficult - and mesothelioma, an incurable cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs and intesti­nal tract. As little as one or two months of exposure can cause mesothelioma to develop 30 or 40 years later.

Kelly said problems often occur when a building is maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design. In his years in environmental maintenance, Kelly has seen many problems, from fuzzy black mold creeping up walls to lead paint chips poisoning school age children.

"We at EME are professional service contractors who keep crews moving. We do smaller projects for clients with a quicker response time and with more enthusiasm. We take the projects that are too small for the other contractors to handle; the ones no one wants, but are no less important," said Kelly. His niche has generated more than $10 million in projects to mitigate hazardous materials and prevent them from contaminating soil, surface and groundwater supplies.

Kelly has seen his success reach across much of Southeastern Michigan since he established EME in 1996. His clients have included Comerica, University of Michigan, Oakwood Healthcare Systems, the City of Detroit, JM Olson Corp., and Barton Malow, along with several environmental consultants, insurance companies, demolition contractors and residential homeowners 

  DEMOLITION, ABATING, CLEANING

Since asbestos is prevalent in so many facilities, it's no surprise that it accounts for 70 percent of EME's business. Asbestos is found in many building materials such as plaster, drywall, joint compound, duct insulation, thermal system insulation and flame-retardant materials. Asbestos was banned in 1972, but homes, buildings, and schools built before 1974 usually contain the hazardous material. And thanks to raised public awareness, people are much more knowledgeable about the dangers of asbestos than they were a decade or two ago.

Due to this growing awareness, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth Asbestos Program, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA), and the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) dictate the legal obligations that building owners and contractors are required to follow when performing renovations or demolitions. These obligations provide a higher standard of safety for residents because they ensure that during construction asbestos is removed safely. "They impact work in buildings containing asbestos," said Kelly.

The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (MDLEG) regulates asbestos training programs and assures that those working with asbestos are properly trained for their own safety and the safety of those in the building. "By law, in the State of Michigan, anytime asbestos is disturbed it has to be removed by a licensed contractor," said Kelly.

Kelly and his crew pride themselves on the adherence to protocol and the importance of licensing. They spend hours learning how to work with lead-based paint and asbestos materials, and constantly update their knowledge. "All of the EME employees are licensed by the State of Michigan as asbestos workers or supervisors, depending on the individual within the company. They are also cross-trained and licensed as lead contractor supervisors or workers and certified mold remediation technicians," said Kelly. "When working with these materials, they are required to wear Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) consisting of Tyvek suits, respirators and disposable gloves."

Environmental Maintenance Engineers' abatement jobs are handled with state-of-the-art technology including negative pressure HEPA filtration equipment, environmentally designed power tools, HEPA vacuums and EPA-approved specialty chemicals and coatings. On-the-job training and classroom instruction are also an important part of the EME climate.

Even the most efficiently designed buildings trap moisture, encouraging mold growth. Environmental Maint-enance Engineers is able to safely and effectively remove mold to ensure the health of building occupants.

"There is no doubt that paperwork and documentation packages are a crucial part of the work we do," said Kelly. "Everything from the employee training and licensing to waste manifesting and air sampling is documented, because it has to be. This leaves a well documented paper trail to show exactly what has been accomplished on the job."

Recently, EME was subcontracted to do work for the State of Michigan. Kelly described it as the most unsightly asbestos removal project to date. "The State of Michigan needed some tax deferred properties demolished in the City of Detroit. The conditions were awful. These were vacant homes. EME had to supply water and power to complete the abatement work, and it was a cold winter," said Kelly. "The buildings were being demolished because there were squatters on the premises and they were unsafe for the neighborhood." Since EME did the "dirty work," the property has been cleared and prepared for demolition. Now the vacant site does not present any dangers to the community and it will soon be developed in Detroit's effort to revitalize the city. Many of Kelly's asbestos removal jobs have been for older buildings, such as schools and churches. Often, these are havens for asbestos because they contain old boilers, pipe insulation, floor tiles, ducts and asbestos decorative ceilings. EME has also been involved in a large historical renovation project at St. Johns Golf and Family Center in Plymouth. It is just one of the several jobs completed for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

"St. Johns Center was a huge renovation project," said Kelly. "The property had large boilers covered with asbestos wrap, pipe insulation and asbestos flooring. We also had to remove pigeon debris in the bell tower since it is a carcinogen. The chapel needed its floor tiles removed and holes cut into the ceiling for new light installation." Environmental Maintenance Engineers worked carefully to keep the early-1900s integrity of the facility's decor intact.

  IS ASBESTOS ALWAYS A CULPRIT?

Asbestos is a problem in many attics, such as this one.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos is not dangerous if it is in good condition and is undisturbed. Often in buildings such as schools, equipment gets old and starts to wear, allowing for potential disturbance. EME is working on another common problem in schools, removing old vinyl asbestos tile. EME has been contracted to take out the asbestos floor tile in several school districts during bond renovation projects. Using the newest training methods, the EME crew safely removed the tile prior to the installation of new floor coverings.

Asbestos can also linger in shingles, siding, roofs and glass panes. According to Kelly, a licensed inspector can conduct home and building surveys, take samples of suspected materials, assess the condition, and advise about what corrections are needed.

When the Detroit Free Press reported in the spring that the Karmanos Cancer Institute was to study effects of insulation, Kelly said he received many calls. "The article mentioned how vermiculite insulation is in thousands of Michigan attics, and people wanted to know if their homes contained it and how to get rid of it," said Kelly. He told callers that the attic can be sealed off and that EME uses specialized equipment to remove the asbestos.

Because of the many dangers posed by asbestos, it is critical that the release of asbestos particles is controlled from removal to disposal. "All asbestos material is regulated, and it has to be disposed of in a Class 11 landfill," said Kelly. These landfills are situated in areas designed to reduce the potential for adverse environmental effects. And adherence to a strict protocol for Licensing and disposal ensures the safety of everyone involved.

  MUSHROOMING MOLD

While asbestos removal accounts for the majority of EME's business, the company also offers mold remediation solutions, lead-based paint abatement, lead safe construction, industrial cleaning, gun range cleaning and maintenance, PCB ballast/fluorescent light tube removal and disposal, and pigeon debris cleaning and sanitizing.

"People think that they can remove mold with bleach. Unfortunately that is not true. Mold comes from a moisture problem. If you don't eliminate the moisture problem, you don't eliminate the mold," said Kelly.

Moisture and mold eat away at a building over time, causing unsightly and unhealthy damage.

There is no question that mold is an unwanted four-letter word in the real estate and construction industries. Mold, mildew, fungi and microbial contaminants have infested homes and workplaces. There is no such thing as a mold-free environment; buildings and homes constructed with efficient designs and materials have actually promoted mold growth by trapping moisture. EME's certified technicians go beyond simple cleaning in attacking mold and use special EPA approved chemicals. "We have provided this service for hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, multi-housing units, and residential homes," said Kelly.

Environmental Maintenance Engineers has offices in Livonia and Ann Arbor. Their crew has grown to 25, plus six office employees and a fleet of vehicles that are always on the road. "Our technicians are supported by a professional management team. EME's unique common-sense approach, and our blend of technical knowledge and regulatory expertise allows us to provide solutions that clearly focus on limiting environmental liabilities and minimizing financial impact for our clients," said Kelly. And while you can't put a price on a healthy environment, it is important to know that when indoor air quality needs improvement, the professionals at EME are there to serve. And for their customers, that's a breath of fresh air.

Rose Szwed is president of Szwed Communications PR, in Ferndale.