Asbestos
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos by definition is a heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials. Asbestos is an excellent heat and electrical insulator and was used for many years in building construction. Asbestos fibers can be useful because they are strong, resistant to heat and to many chemicals, and do not conduct electricity. As a result, asbestos has been used as an insulating material since ancient times. Since the industrial revolution, asbestos has been used to insulate factories, schools, homes, and ships, and to make automobile brake and clutch parts, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, cement, textiles, and hundreds of other products.
However, it is now known that asbestos can cause many harmful health diseases. The most common diseases directly related to asbestos are Asbestosis, Lung Cancer, and Mesothelioma. The main entry for asbestos is through inhalation.
- Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Prolonged exposure to these fibers can cause lung tissue scarring and shortness of breath.
- Lung Cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the lungs and is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Inhaling asbestos on the job or at home can lead to the development of cancerous tissue within the lungs over time. As asbestos fibers split into smaller portions, they eventually become so small that they get lodged in lung tissue or start to interfere with the process where cells are replenished, known as mitosis.
- Mesothelioma is a cancer of mesothelial tissue, associated especially with exposure to asbestos.
Why do I need to get it tested?
- If you are a homeowner planning on doing any demolition, renovation, or remodeling of your home or business, you are required to perform Asbestos testing. It is required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to get any building structure (Commercial or Residential) tested for Asbestos prior to any demolition or renovation.
- Commonly known areas which have asbestos can include but not limited to interior building Walls (Drywall, Plaster, Etc.), Ceiling (Acoustic Textures), Flooring (Vinyl Floor Tiles, Linoleum, Etc.) It is required by the state of California to hire a Certified Asbestos Consultant. Anybody can sample the material, but it will not be valid unless a Certified Asbestos Consultant performs the sampling.
Lead
What is Lead (Pb) and Lead Based Paint?
Lead is a naturally occurring element found in small amounts in the earth’s crust. While it has some beneficial uses, it can be toxic to humans and animals, causing health effects.
Lead Paint or Lead Based Paint is paint or other surface coatings that, by definition, contain lead in excess of 1.0 milligrams per square centimeter (mg/cm2) 0.5 percent by weight paint which contains lead. Lead was added to paint to speed up the drying time, increase the durability, and resists moisture against corrosion.
Why do I need to get it tested?
Lead Based Paint was banned in the United States in 1978. If you have a home built prior to 1978 and have loose and/or flakey paint chips on the interior or exterior, it is a good idea to have your paint inspected for lead. Lead poisoning is very dangerous to your children and is entirely preventable.
- Deteriorating lead-based paint (peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp) is a hazard and needs immediate attention.
- It may also be a hazard when found on surfaces that children can chew or that get a lot of wear-and-tear, such as: Windows and window sills, Doors and door frames, and Stairs, railings, banisters, and porches.
Mold
What is Mold?
Mold by definition is a fungus that grows in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. In contrast, fungi that can adopt a single-celled growth habit are called yeasts. In biology, a conspicuous mass of mycelium (masses of vegetative filaments, or hyphae) and fruiting structures produced by various fungi (kingdom Fungi). Fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Rhizopus form mold and are associated with food spoilage and plant diseases.
Mold has been associated with all sorts of health problems including respiratory problems, pneumonia, migraines, asthma attacks, and allergic reactions. If you believe you have mold due to water damage or intrusion in your home or business that was not addressed properly and/or professionally remediated.
Why do I need to get it tested?
Mold is found everywhere and can grow on almost any substance when moisture is present. They reproduce by spores, which are carried by air currents. When spores land on a moist surface suitable for life, they begin to grow.
Because common building materials are capable of sustaining mold growth and mold spores are ubiquitous, mold growth in an indoor environment is typically related to water or moisture exposure and may be caused by incomplete drying of flooring materials (such as concrete). Flooding, leaky roofs, building-maintenance or indoor-plumbing problems can lead to interior mold growth. Water vapor commonly condenses on surfaces cooler than the moisture-laden air, enabling mold to flourish.