Behind The Scene: How Our Laboratories Keep You Safe
When it comes to determining if your family is at risk of being exposed to asbestos, one of the surefire ways of getting this done is to engage a certified laboratory to test both the air and any materials you suspect have asbestos or mold. Both these substances can be harmful to your health and that of your family. Before we look at how our laboratories protect you from these harmful substances, let us look at how mold and asbestos can impact the health of your family.
Danger Of Mold
Mold is a type of fungi that thrives in moist and warm areas. For example, mold is likely to form in the attic or basement, especially if there is a leak that allows water to permeate through. Typically, mold has a musky smell and forms a green-colored material that clings to the wall or any flat surface. Mold infestations are typical in houses that have suffered flooding damage, although they can also occur through pipe leaks and gaps in the window frames that allow in water.
Periodically, mold will release spores which are then carried in the air. If inhaled, these spores can cause serious respiratory problems and can also make conditions such as asthma worse. Although the examples we have given involve mold infestations that are easily visible, this is not always the case. Often, mold infestations will occur in hidden areas such as the air conditioning system. In most cases, the most effective way of determining if you have a mold problem is through professional mold testing services.
Danger of Asbestos
Asbestos is a silicate mineral that is mined from the ground. Asbestos has many uses including in the automobile industry, where it is used to manufacture brake pads. This is because asbestos is both heat-resistant and fire-resistant. These qualities also made asbestos a popular building material where it is used in the manufacture of roofing, floor, and ceiling tiles.
However, asbestos eventually degrades, and when this happens, it releases fibers that can cause serious health problems to anyone who inhales them. These asbestos fibers have been linked to lung cancer, asbestosis, and many other lung conditions. In fact, it is estimated that about 50,000 people die yearly in the United States from asbestos-related conditions. This is why it is important to test for asbestos contamination if you are about to renovate your home, purchase a house or if your house has suffered any kind of structural damage. This is because asbestos poisoning occurs when asbestos tiles are damaged and thus release these harmful fibers into the air.
Having looked at how these materials can harm your family, here are some of the ways in which our laboratories can protect you from asbestos and mold poisoning.
Air Testing
In many cases, property owners can only know if they are at risk of mold and asbestos poisoning by testing the air in the building. Experts from our laboratories will collect air samples from your building, which will be analyzed in our state-of-the-art laboratories. After our analysis, you have the right information to be able to take remedial action to keep your family safe.
Surface Testing
Apart from testing the air, we can also collect samples from various surfaces to test for mold and asbestos This way, you get the peace of mind to proceed with any renovation or demolition work you may need to undertake.
Post-cleanup Testing
Once you have taken remedial action to remove any asbestos or mold that may have been in your building, you are required to engage a third party to confirm that the air in your building is safe once more. This means engaging us to collect air samples to test for mold or asbestos to give you the peace of mind that your building is safe for habitation.