Randy Banton

Untitled The "Snapshot" Science: When to Test and How to Read the Results In professional remediation, sampling is a diagnostic tool, not a shortcut. The ANSI/IICRC S520 emphasizes that data without context is often meaningless; a "clean" air test does not guarantee a mold-free building if a visual inspection reveals moisture or odors. • When to Sample: Testing is appropriate to identify hidden growth behind surfaces, to provide legal/medical documentation, or to perform Post-Remediation Verification (PRV). • The "Red Flag" Species: While there are no federal "safe limits" for mold, interpretation relies on the Indoor/Outdoor Ratio. If indoor levels are higher than outdoors, or if "marker species" like Stachybotrys (Black Mold) or Chaetomium appear indoors (which are rarely found in the wind), a localized moisture problem is confirmed. • The DIY Fallacy: Home "Petri dish" kits are scientifically invalid under professional standards. Because mold is ubiquitous in nature, these kits will almost always grow a colony, leading to "false positives" that lack the quantitative data needed to determine if a true risk exists. • Professional Judgment: The S520 mandates that lab results should never be the sole factor in clearance. If the air test is "clear" but the olfactory evaluation (the smell) indicates musty MVOCs, the project fails. The data must match the physical reality of the space....

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Pleased to share a newly published, open-access paper in Environmental Science & Technology: “Identifying Priority Research Questions for Decentralized Wastewater.” https://lnkd.in/gAfTtDhR This work reflects a large, bottom-up effort involving 450+ professionals across academia, government, industry, and nonprofits to identify the most pressing research questions facing decentralized wastewater systems—in the U.S. and globally. A few key takeaways with direct relevance for researchers and decision-makers: Decentralized wastewater systems are critical public health infrastructure, serving ~25% of the U.S. population, yet data on performance, failure, and resiliency remain fragmented and inconsistent. Priority research gaps extend well beyond technology and include governance, operations & maintenance, data standards, environmental justice, and regulatory implementation. Climate change, extreme weather, and aging infrastructure are amplifying risks; particularly in rural, peri-urban, and low-resourced communities. There is a clear need to move toward risk-based, data-driven, and One Water–aligned approaches, supported by better monitoring, standardized data, and coordinated policy frameworks. Addressing these questions is not just academic. It directly affects equity, public health protection, water security, and long-term sustainability. Our hope is that this paper helps shape research agendas, funding priorities, and policy conversations over the next decade, and encourages closer alignment between science and practice. I encourage researchers, regulators, and policymakers to explore the paper and consider where their work can help move these priority questions forward. #EnvironmentalHealth #NOWRA #NEHA #DecentralizedWastewater #WaterResearch #OneWater #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalPolicy #ResearchAgenda

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An EPA that serves industry first and public health last needs to be renamed, because it is no longer about protecting people or the environment. Could not agree more with Mia. This move is exactly the opposite of the precautionary principle, where chemicals are presumed harmful until proven safe.

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Think about it… 12-20 breaths per minute is the average human BPM. Now imagine the impact on the Exposome in such environments. Bruker leads the field with differentiated scientific innovation. Join us to learn more.

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Maine is leading the charge against "forever chemicals" with its groundbreaking PFAS restrictions, set to take effect in 2026. Manufacturers are proactively seeking alternatives and updating product labels to comply with this stringent law, which bans PFAS in most consumer products. While certain exemptions exist for items like medical devices and semiconductors, the law's comprehensive scope positions Maine as a potential model for nationwide PFAS regulation. This initiative underscores the growing momentum for stricter chemical safety standards across the U.S., prompting companies to reevaluate their supply chains and prioritize safer, more sustainable materials. 🔗 Learn more about Maine's PFAS regulations, read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gmKyWqKD Each week we publish The Pulse, a free email newsletter with news, research, and information of interest to anyone in the uniform, image apparel, and public safety equipment industry. Subscribe now at https://lnkd.in/gzcR4dr #PFASBan #SustainableManufacturing #RegulatoryCompliance

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The EPA publishes emissions data quarterly for facilities that have to report, and most people ignore it because it's technical and buried in government databases. If you're selling environmental testing or compliance services, it's actually really useful for building targeted lists. Here's what we look for. Emissions spikes above historical baselines are the main thing. If a facility's benzene emissions jump 300% quarter over quarter, something changed in their operation. Could be equipment failure, process change, new production volume. Whatever caused it, they're now on a trajectory that might trigger regulatory attention down the line. We also look for reporting gaps or late filings, and threshold crossings that historically tend to precede enforcement actions. The interesting thing is that most facilities don't know they have a problem yet when we reach out. The spike just happened, the EPA hasn't flagged it, their compliance team probably hasn't caught it. The data is already public though, sitting there waiting for someone to look at it. When you reach out and reference what their emissions data shows, you're telling them something useful about their own situation. We've been running this approach for a client, and the early responses have been good. Campaign is still new so I don't have final numbers yet, but the conversations are starting from a very different place than typical cold outreach.

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