Additional Environmental Services
Greater knowledge of health risks has created a strong demand for
individual consumer environmental testing. Structure & Site offers the
following tests:
Radon Gas - Radon is a natural
occurring by-product of decaying uranium within the earth. All
buildings have some level of radon gas. The EPA reports that Radon is
the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer in the country, causing 14,000
deaths annually. To calculate the amount of radon within a
building,
Structure & Site utilizes the EPA recommended procedure to collect and
analyze radon gas level over a 48 hour period.
Click to visit the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's map
of radon concentrations in your county
MI RADON MAP
If a
building tests positive for high radon levels, simple and
inexpensive remediation solutions are available. Additional info
can be found at this
EPA site.
Radon Remediation -
If a building tests positive for high levels of
radon gas, the most common remediation is to install a sub-slab
ventilation system. This system consists of a ventilation pipe
inserted into a hole that has been dug through the concrete foundation
slab. A vent fan then pulls radon gas from under the building and
vents it outside before it has a chance to enter the interior of the
building. Costs range from $800 for a home to more than $3,000 for
a large commercial building. The sub-slab vent system is very
effective in reducing radon gas and is unobtrusive within the building.
Water Purity - Homes or buildings
with water supplied by a well can be subject to many impurities.
Structure & Site provides water purity tests that detect levels of
Coliform bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, metals, radon, E-Coli, lead and arsenic.
Buildings
built before 1980 may contain a high lead content within the plumbing
pipe solder which can be picked up by water movement through the pipes.
Structure & Site
Well & Septic
inspections include a water purity test. FHA testing is available.
Additional info can be found at this
EPA site. Water testing can
be a costly endeavor, as many potential contaminants exist in water
supplies. Different geographic areas present unique chemical
ground water circumstances and we recommend that you consult us prior to
testing.
Lead Based Paint - Structures built
before 1975 are subject to lead based paint content. Consumption of lead paint
by way of lead paint dust poses a
health threat. Testing consists of taking air quality
samples, physical samples of paint or a swab tests from
areas within the building, which will be analyzed to identify lead based paint
content. Additional info can be found at this
EPA site.
Indoor Mold - Mold growth comes
from a consistent moisture source which allows mold spores to reproduce.
Mold grows on cellulose based materials such as drywall, lumber,
insulation backing, etc. Each mold growth situation is different
and requires proper testing procedures in order to determine the type of
mold strain(s) growing and the quantity of spores active within the
living space. For more info see our page on
Indoor Mold.
