Asbestos Lead

Asbestos is a Dangerous Carcinogen

Asbestos, a dangerous carcinogen, poses the greatest danger when it becomes airborne. Exposure may cause mesothelioma and lung cancer. Demolishing, repairing, or just disturbing suspect asbestos containing materials may cause the asbestos fibers to dislodge and release into the air.

Some of the common asbestos containing materials that might be found in your home are: acoustic ceilng spray, floor tiles, linoleum, insulation, drywall/joint compound, exterior stucco, roofing, etc. Before you disturb any material you suspect might contain asbestos, it would be a good idea to have a sample of that material tested by a qualified laboratory. DANWAY INSPECTION GROUP uses a fully-accredited laboratory to provide fast and confidential testing.

DANWAY INSPECTION GROUP Services:

    • Provide Identification - sampling and testing of suspect Asbestos/Lead materials.
    • Provide Information - building surveys, building occupant notifications, and related records.
    • Provide Project Monitoring - oversee outside abatement contractors, perform exposure assessment and project air monitoring.
    • Provide Material Management/Control - routine evaluation of identified/known Asb/Pb materials and protective maintenance measures to prevent their deterioration or release.
    • Provide Training - provide both awareness-level and in-depth training as required by regulations for various campus employees.
    • We provide affordable, quick turnaround asbestos testing for home owners/buyers/sellers, realtors and environmental consultants nationwide.

Lead Testing

Lead is a powerful neurotoxin that interferes with the development and functioning of almost all body organs, particularly the kidneys, red blood cells, and central nervous system. In young children, lead retards the development of the central nervous system and brain.

High levels of lead exposure can result in coma, convulsions, and death. At low levels, lead can cause reduced IQ, reading and learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavioral problems. As a result, childhood lead poisoning is associated with lower educational achievement, higher rates of high school drop-out and increased behavioral problems. In the long run, children who are lead poisoned may be less likely to become positive contributors to our communities and our economy.

Childhood lead poisoning is the number one environmental health risk for children today. In the United States, more than three million children age six and younger -- that's one out of six -- already have toxic levels of lead in their bodies.
Lead interferes with the development and functioning of almost all body organs, and retards the development of the central nervous system and brain. Lead is sometimes called, "brain poison."

Even tiny amounts of lead can cause reduced IQ, reading and learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and behavioral problems. As a result, lead poisoning is associated with lower educational achievement, higher school drop-out rates, and increased delinquency. It is estimated that lead poisoning has tripled the number of children needing special education.

Causes

80% of childhood lead poisoning occurs at home. Many homeowners are not aware of the hazards associated with lead-based paint and unknowingly poison their own children by not following safe work practices during renovation or by not attending to deteriorating and/or chipping paint.

While it is true that many kids get poisoned by eating paint chips -- they taste sweet -- most children are poisoned by invisible lead dust created when lead paint deteriorates from age, is exposed to the elements, is damaged by water, is exposed by friction (such as the opening and closing of a door or window), or during home renovation.

In Adults -- Most adults are poisoned at work. There are laws that seek to prevent this, but many are not yet widely enforced. Any employee who may be exposed to lead in any amount, should have personal air sampling done.

Paint

To thoroughly analyze the paint in your home, each different painted surface should be tested. Different paints may have been used on walls, window frames, doors, and so on. Paints may also differ from room to room. Each of your home's painted surfaces, both inside and outside, should be tested separately.

Two basic methods to measure lead in paint:

    • X-ray fluorescence (XRF) uses portable detectors that X-ray a painted surface to measure the amount of lead in all the layers of paint. This type of testing is done in the home and disturbs little, if any, paint.
    • Laboratory testing of paint samples involves removing samples of paint from each surface to be tested, usually from an area of about two square inches. Samples are sent to laboratories for analysis. This method leaves a bare spot on each surface tested.

Dust

Household dust may contain tiny particles of lead released from lead-painted surfaces inside the home or tracked in with lead-contaminated soil from outside.

The recommended sampling method for dust is the surface wet wipe. Dust samples are collected from different surfaces, such as bare floors, window sills, and window wells. Each sample is collected from a measured surface area using a wet wipe, which is sent to a laboratory for testing.

Water

Household drinking water may contain lead, usually from old pipes that contain lead or from lead solder in plumbing.

Water samples can be collected directly from the faucet. Two samples are usually collected. One sample is taken from water that has been standing in the plumbing lines overnight or for eight hours or longer, and a second sample is taken after letting the water run for several minutes to flush the lines. The water samples are then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

Soil

Lead may be present in the soil around your home and near streets and highways close to your home. To test soil for lead, samples are taken from areas near your home where children play and from areas that contain soil likely to be tracked into your home. The soil samples are sent to laboratories for analysis.