Environmental Quality Sampling

Envirovision Inc. provides a comprehensive program of environmental quality sampling in Toronto, GTA and Ontario. Our services include the following:

Air sampling – various chemicals/substances
Water sampling – sanitary and storm sewer sampling, and surface and underground water sampling and monitoring, drinking water, waste water.
Soil sampling – confirmatory and composite sampling.
Waste sampling – waste characterization and classification.
Mould Sampling – airborne mould sampling and mould in building materials.

Indoor Air Quality

Moulds are part of the Fungi family and live in soil, on plants and on dead or decaying matter; they lack chlorophyll and survive by digesting organic materials. Common sites for indoor mould growth include bathroom tile, basement walls, leaky roofs and improperly insulated air conditioning ducts in humid areas. Prompt remediation of contaminated material and infrastructure repair is the primary response to fungal contamination in buildings. Emphasis should be placed on preventing contamination through proper building and HVAC system maintenance, and prompt repair of water damage.

Envirovision performs Mould Assessments, including air sampling and building materials in Toronto, GTA and Ontario to provide clients with conclusions and recommendations for remediation activities within the affected buildings in accordance with acceptable guidelines.

Water Sampling (Sewer, Drinking, Wastewater)

Sewer sampling is an integral part of due diligence of any facility Health & Safety Coordinator/Manager. The purpose of this sampling is to assist facilities in complying with their local sewer By-Laws. Envirovision performs sewer sampling according to specific methodology, legislation requirements and facility’s specifics (processes, size, chemicals used, etc.). The samples are placed directly into laboratory-supplied containers and marked with unique field identification numbers. The water samples collected are submitted only to accredited analytical laboratories for analysis. The results are then compared with the limits of Region and/or City/Town Sewer by-laws that are applicable to each facility.

In addition, drinking water samples and wastewater samples are part of facility’s management due diligence in assessing potential contamination that can affect the workers’ health and/or the environment.

Soil and Groundwater Sampling

As part of Phase II ESA investigation, a remediation process or UST removal, Envirovision developed standard operating procedures (“SOPs”) for soil and groundwater samples collection to ensure compliance with Part XV.1 of the Environmental Protection Act (“Act”), O. Reg. 153/04, Guide for Completing Phase Two Environmental Site Assessments under Ontario Regulation 153/04 and Guidance for Sampling and Analytical Methods for Use at Contaminated Sites in Ontario. Envirovision uses appropriate soil and groundwater sampling equipment and media, and adheres to all appropriate regulations and protocols for sample handling, shipping, maintaining chain of custody, field and laboratory quality assurance/ quality control (QA/QC) and chemical testing work. All the samples collected are submitted with completed chain of custody form(s) only to laboratories accredited by the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (“CALA”), in compliance with the Protocol for Analytical Methods used in the Assessment of Properties under Part XV.1 of the Act, MECP, March 8, 2004 amended as of July 1, 2011 and as of February 19, 2021.

Mould Sampling

In the last twenty years there has been a dramatic increase in the incidence of health complaints which appear to be related to the buildings in which people work or leave. Common signs of indoor air pollution include:

Headaches
Respiratory problems, including asthma
Sore throat
Fatigue
Sinus infections and/or irritations Itching, burning, red eyes
Skin irritations

Since many or all of these symptoms disappear when the individual leaves the building, the symptoms are seen as building related, hence the term “Sick Building Syndrome” or “Tight Building Syndrome”. Envirovision performs Indoor Air Quality Assessment to identify issues related to “Sick Building Syndrome“.