Radon Testing

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that forms when radium decays. Occurring as naturally as oxygen, radon is common, but harmful to your health and potentially deadly. Radon is found all over the United States, but some areas have higher levels than others. Radon, like many other elements, occurs naturally, and harmlessly diffuses through outdoor air. But when radon comes into a home or building, the condensed, elevated levels can be harmful to the point of causing lung cancer. Radon enters a home through various means: crawl spaces, brick walls, sump pumps, cellars, or any where that the flow of air is allowed to stagnate. Since humans cannot detect radon gas by sight or smell, and the effects are not immediate, it is important to have your home tested for radon.

Radon is estimated to cause about 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year, according to EPA's 2003 Assessment of Risks from Radon in Homes (EPA 402-R-03-003)..

Asbestos Testing

Asbestos is a mineral fiber. It can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that would crumble easily if handled, or that has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard.

How Can Asbestos Affect My Health?

From studies of people who were exposed to asbestos in factories and shipyards, we know that breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, Mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity), and Asbestosis (in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue). The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Lead Testing

Lead is a highly toxic metal that remains in the environment after use. Lead has been used in the manufacturing of many products for centuries. Until the 1970's, lead could be found almost everywhere in the United States. Homes were covered with lead paint. Cars used leaded gasoline. Water pipes, ink, batteries, crayons and many other household goods had lead in them. Children can be exposed to lead in several ways. The most common way, however, is for children to come in contact with lead-based paint in their own homes. Through chewing on woodwork or just simply hand to mouth contact, children can unintentionally ingest lead particles. Any child living in a house built prior to 1978 could be at risk for lead poisoning and should be tested.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention regards lead poisoning as the number one preventable childhood illness in the United States. Between birth and age six, important developments take place in a child's brain and central nervous system. If exposed during these formative periods, lead poisoning can have a drastic affect on a child's development. Children who are exposed to lead and have elevated levels of lead in their blood are at risk for serious health problems such as:

Reduced IQ and learning disabilities
Attention deficit disorders
Behavioral problems
Decreased stature and growth
Impaired hearing
Neurological problems
Kidney damage and major organ failure
Encephalopathy (brain swelling)
Brain damage
Anemia
Seizures
Coma
Death

Water Testing

Water contamination can have a negative affect on the health of you and your family. The effects may be immediate or long term. A USGS survey found that 70% of private wells were contaminated. The EPA recommends that you test for a minimum of coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead, even if you have public water.

My water looks, smells and tastes great, so why do I need a water test?

Because it's quite possible to be drinking contaminated water for years without knowing it. Often the most harmful contaminants have no obvious odors, colors or tastes.

The government tests the water and gave me a clean report. Why should I test it?

Because there are many ways that water can become contaminated between the treatment plant and your faucet. Water must be tested at the point of use. The EPA recommends that everyone test for coliform bacteria, nitrate and lead. We provide packages that include these vital contaminants as well as other common indicators of contamination.

I have a water filter. How do I know if it's working?

You don't. It is almost impossible to know before installing the system and sending the filtered water to a testing company for verification. Variations of water condition can affect the performance of a filter. Maintenance issues within your filter can also change its effectiveness. The only way to know if your filter is working is to have your water tested on an ongoing basis.