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Glossary of Groundwater Management Terms 09/02/2017
Groundwater management is an important part of the environmental consultancy services we offer, but the range of services and solutions we provide to identify, contain and remediate groundwater contamination can be a little confusing. This week, we thought we’d make our groundwater management solutions a little less opaque with a glossary. Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)/ …
A Guide to Environmentally Sound Demolition 19/01/2017
Demolitions are a large component of refurbishment and redevelopment projects and can often bring up a whole host of environmental issues. In order to conduct an environmentally sound demolition, various measures need to be taken, including an extensive pre-demolition environmental audit, the salvaging and recycling of useful materials, and the proper disposal of waste. In …
Alpha Environmental’s Guide to Pesticides 13/01/2017
Humans have been using pesticides for many thousands of years, with one of the first instances being around 1000 BC when the Chinese used sulfur to control bacteria and mould. Organic and inorganic compounds continued to be used as pesticides for many years, however synthetic chemistry saw rapid advancement in the 1930s, leading to the …
7 Types of Hazardous Materials Commonly Encountered on Demolition Sites 10/01/2017
Demolishing or refurbishing a building is fraught with potential hazards, not least of all those harmful materials used by builders in decades past. Many of the hazardous materials present in both commercial and residential buildings do not pose a risk to human health until they are damaged or exposed to air and light, so it’s …
10 Interesting Facts About the Environment in Australia 23/12/2016
For our last blog in 2016, we thought we’d take a broader approach to looking at why being environmentally responsible is so important in a country like Australia. Often, Australia is held up as having one of the last pristine and truly ‘wild’ landscapes on earth. But in reality, most of Australia’s ecosystems are either …
3 Industrial Groundwater Contamination Disasters 09/12/2016
Groundwater is something we take for granted and rarely think about. However, groundwater plays a fundamental role in the health of our ecosystems and we rely on the fresh water it provides to drink, bathe in, and use in agriculture. Unfortunately, groundwater is vulnerable to contamination from industrial activities and when this occurs, the results …
10 Facts About Petroleum
Few substances have been more important in the progression of civilisation and modern industry as petroleum. However, our reliance on petroleum as an energy source and manufacturing material comes at an enormous cost to the environment, as petroleum is toxic to virtually every form of life, including humans and has a devastating effect wherever it …
The World’s Biggest Pesticide Induced Disasters 28/11/2016
The wrongful use or overuse of pesticides and herbicides can have huge environmental impacts, and can sometimes even result in devastating man-made environmental disasters. Because of the long-lasting harmful effects of negligent pesticide and herbicide use, and, indeed the accidents associated with their production, it’s important for businesses to engage in thorough environmental site assessment …
5 Disturbing Facts About Pollution in Australia 21/11/2016
In the popular imagination, Australia is a pristine natural paradise unlike anywhere else in the world. In reality however, Australia is a notorious greenhouse emitter with a long history of polluting and poisoning the wealth of natural resources that surround us. This week, we take a look at five sobering facts about the state of …
How to tell if the Mould on your Property is Toxic 10/11/2016
Mould is a fact of life. In fact, right now, there are probably several hundred different types of mould spores in the air around you. That being said, if there is a significant mould infestation in your property, it can cause a whole range of health issues for the people who work in your building. …
Common Misconceptions About Household Mould
Humanity has an intimate relationship with fungi and microbes, yet it remains one of the more misunderstood biological kingdoms. Mould is in our homes, in the plants, the soil, and even in the air we breathe. When it comes to mould growth around the home, a lot of what we think we know about mould …
Environmental Case Study: 3 Soil Contamination Disasters 24/10/2016
Man made disasters are a depressingly common event and it takes no more than a Google search to realise that unregulated industrial activity can have a devastating impact on human health and the environment. This week, we take a look at three prominent soil contamination disasters that could have been avoided with proper site management. …
Environmental Case Study: 3 Historical Heavy Metal Disasters 18/10/2016
For many modern businesses, environmental consulting is simply another bureaucratic hoop that they have to jump through before they can move ahead with their activities. However, there is a very good reason why environmental site assessments are such a central part of your environmental compliance requirements. This week, we take a look at three horrifying instances …
Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Hydroflurocarbons
Last week, 197 nations at the United Nations Environment Programme signed an agreement to phase out hydroflurocarbons beginning in 2019. For many people, the threat posed by hydroflurocarbons was relatively unknown until the announcement on October 15, so we thought we’d dedicate this week’s blog to examining exactly what this substance is, and how it’s …
3 Hazardous Products Commonly Found in the Workplace
In one of our recent articles, we uncovered three seemingly innocuous products commonly found around the home, which actually have a negative impact on the environment and human health. This week, we give the same treatment to office spaces and take a look at three common items workers around the country come in contact with …