Howdy! Note: This is a special edition collaboration with Anna Suarez from MAAC, which focuses on health advocacy and awareness of clean air.


For years, toxins have been a part of our daily lives.

Toxins such as asbestos, oil, gas, kerosene, mold, coal, wood tobacco products, household cleaning, maintenance and personal care products and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides and other outdoor pollutants affect our lives directly and can have severe health affects.

  1. What are these toxins?
  2. How can they be harmful?
  3. How can you keep yourself free from harm?

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals used in an abundance of construction materials and household products mostly throughout the late 19th century and prior to the 1980s. However, asbestos is not yet banned in the United States although it is a known carcinogen and the only scientifically proven cause of mesothelioma cancer, which develops in the heart, abdomen or lungs.

Watch out for asbestos in housing and pipe insulation, drywall, artificial fireplace logs, toys, old wiring and electric insulation, tiles, roofing, paints and more. Any asbestos that is exposed at eye site and especially that appears disturbed, crumbling or flaky should be encapsulated by a professional or removed by a certified abatement service. Do not sweep or use fans in areas that may be exposed to asbestos. Once asbestos fibers become airborne or ingested, the fibers can lodge in the pleura lining of the lungs to cause illness years later. For nonsmokers, 20% of all lung cancer diagnoses are attributed to asbestos exposure. Have your home tested if you suspect asbestos containing materials.

Radon is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas found in soil and rock from the radioactive (natural) breakdown of uranium in soil, rick and water and can even pollute the air you breathe. Radon seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation, walls and joints so it can get into any type of building, home office or school.

Among nonsmokers, radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and it is estimated that lung cancer due to radon exposure claims the lives of about 21,000 US citizens annually. High radon levels exist in homes with cracks in concrete slab, pores and cracks in concrete blocks, slab-footing joints, exposed soil (as in sump), cracks between poured concrete slab and blocks, loose fitting pipes and even water. Have your home tested for Radon.

Allergens such as dust and particulate matter and other air pollutants can be difficult to avoid or monitor. For organizations, air quality and particulate matter monitoring systems can test Ozone, Nitrogen oxide, Hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, dust and particulate matter such as PM1, PM2.5 and PM10. Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest health problems because they can get deep into your lungs and may even get into your bloodstream.

Exposure to particles can affect both your lungs and heart and numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems including premature death in those with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing. People with heart or lung disease, children and older adults are the most likely affected by particle pollution exposure.

In order to protect the health of you and your loved ones, consider monitoring the air you breathe! Remote monitoring systems are an excellent way to stay alert about toxins and any potential health risks.

Whether you need to monitor water, air quality, bridges, hydraulics, fleet vehicles with industrial equipment, machinery, trucks, trailers, flood monitoring systems, or anything else, we’re happy to help your organization monitor anything, anywhere.

Have a look at our Customer Stories page for more examples of how Tools.Valarm.net is used by various industries to monitor things like:

Since Tools.Valarm.net is an open platform, your organization can remotely monitor sensors made by any hardware manufacturer around the world. You can use sensor adapter standards (like RS-232, Modbus, 4-20mA, and PWM) to cost-effectively monitor sensors made by any company. Below are a few favorites our customers like to use:

 

How can you, your teams, and your organization improve operations and benefit from effective Industrial IoT applications?

Use custom Web Dashboards to remotely monitor your sensor systems from any of your devices, like phones or tablets.

We’re happy to help your organization deploy your most effective remote monitoring systems for your specific needs.

Please don’t hesitate to Talk To Us at Info@Valarm.net if you’ve got any questions.