Exposure Risk Services

Providing expert and experienced
exposure risk services

Our goal is to protect the health of you and those in your care by providing competent scientific guidance for controlling exposures to chemicals and biological hazards. Together, we can work towards minimizing exposure to hazardous substances to reduce human health risk.

Environmental Exposure

These types of exposures cover a broad range of potentially hazardous substances that could impact human health. Whether its chemical, biological, or physical in nature, the hazard in these situations should be evaluated to determine the associated risk. Generally, risk is the chance of harm from exposure to something identified as a hazard. Chemical or biological hazards can be evaluated using validated scientific methodologies to identify risk following exposure, if any at all. Understanding the risk these exposures present to individuals is important when evaluating the potential for health impacts.

Understanding the nature of the substance (e.g., chemical or biological) is important in determining how to evaluate the potential health impacts.

Environmental exposures can be further broken down to chemical exposures. This can include one specific substance (e.g., chemical) or a variety of substances (e.g., metals, semi-volatiles, volatiles, etc.) under various exposure scenarios. Evaluation of these exposures includes determining if there is a way for someone to be exposed to the substance (i.e., a complete exposure pathway). Further evaluation involves performing environmental sampling to identify the presence of the substance, the concentration of that substance, and the risk using a risk assessment methodology. An evaluation of the literature identifies relevant data for performing a full evaluation of the specific chemical and exposure scenario. These complete assessments aid in determining the exposure dose, and associated risk.

Chemical Exposure

Waterborne Diseases

These pathogens are those that grow in drinking water (i.e., potable water) and cause human disease. Exposure points for waterborne pathogens are typically within a facility (e.g., office building, hotel, condominium, industrial complex). While there is often reliance on local water utilities to deliver safe drinking water to facilities, there can be a false sense of security due to a number of factors that may or may not be within the utility’s control. It is important to understand the responsibility a building owner/operator has on the safety of water within their facility’s control and how any pathogens within that water may negatively impact the building’s occupants. The risk presented by these pathogens should be evaluated to determine if any exposure controls are necessary.

Exposure to biological organisms, including human pathogens like the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes COVID-19) and fungi such as molds, represents a significant challenge to public health. These disease-causing entities can be found in various environmental sources, posing diverse risks to human health.

Indoor air is one such source, potentially carrying airborne pathogens or allergenic particles that could affect respiratory health. As such, monitoring and management of air quality, particularly in densely populated urban areas and enclosed spaces, are vital measures.

Food, when improperly handled or prepared, can serve as a transmission medium for foodborne pathogens. This underlines the necessity for robust food safety practices and regulations, right from the production stage to the point of consumption.

Water, however, remains a key concern, acting as a significant carrier for waterborne diseases. Providing safe and clean drinking water, along with effective wastewater treatment, are crucial aspects of public health policy, especially given the indispensability of water to all forms of life.

In short, to effectively manage health risks posed by pathogenic organisms, a multifaceted approach is needed.

Biological

Effective January 1, 2025, all projects that are placed on a “pause”, “”pencil down”, or other similar wording may be subject to a project restart fee. Projects that are dormant for more than 60 days may be subject to a work re-initiation fee.