ABOUT US - Qualifications
History • Qualifications • Our Approach to Business • Code of Ethics • Meet Our Team
Indoor Air Quality Education
Neal Adrian completed his Bachelor's and Master's of Science Degrees in Microbiology at South Dakota State University. Environmental microbiology was particularly fascinating because it showed the importance and effect of the invisible world of microorganisms on the world around us. Bioremediation, the use of microorganisms to clean up contaminated soil, sparked his interest even further. He attended the University of Oklahoma to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology, studying the anaerobic biodegradation of N-, S-, and O-heterocyclic compounds, common groundwater pollutants originating from industrial or municipal landfill sites. After finishing his Ph.D., Dr. Adrian was offered a research position at the US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, an Army research and development laboratory in Champaign, Illinois. He and his wife relocated there in 1994 and have resided in the Champaign area ever since.
Indoor Air Quality Research
At CERL, Dr. Adrian studied the biodegradation of energetic compounds (explosives) by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria thrive and grow in the absence of oxygen; oxygen is, in fact, toxic to some of the species. The research was aimed at developing treatment technology for using the bacteria to remediate or cleanup explosive-contaminated sites or wastewater. Special recognition for Dr. Adrian's research included "Outstanding Achievement in Technology Transfer" in 2004, CERL "Researcher of the Year" in 2000, and an Army Research and Development Achievement Award in 2000. Dr. Adrian has published the results of his findings in peer reviewed journals and presented his findings at national and international conferences and meetings.
Dr. Adrian's interests have expanded to indoor air quality, bioaerosols, and providing consumers with needed services that are often neglected or unavailable in this area. He established Adrian Environmental LLC in 2003 to bring these services to the Champaign-Urbana area. Dr. Adrian completed the Indoor Air Quality course taught by the McCrone Research Institute in Chicago, IL. This workshop focused on identifying fungal spores and pollen using a variety of air and surface sampling methods. He attended a national conference on air duct cleaning to learn about the latest advances, tools, and protocols for removing contaminants from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Dr. Adrian is a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association, the American Association of Microbiology, and the Duct Cleaners Network. He is certified by the American IAQ Council as a certified mold remediator (CMR).