Mold, Lead, & Asbestos: Testing, Laws, and Regulations

Why Do You Need Mold Testing?

Just like yeast and mushrooms, mold is a fungus. It creates problems for your health in residences, offices, and schools. If your building or a specific room is in a moist area, then it can grow mold. Where there is mold, there is an increased risk of developing mold-related health problems.

Mold exposure can cause allergy-like symptoms. You can have problems with your lungs, throat, nose, skin, and eyes. If you have asthma, mold can make it worse. 

Thus, you need mold testing to see that you can remove mold and make your surroundings safe.

Lead Testing

Why Do You Need Lead Testing?

Lead can be found in small amounts in the earth and has many uses, but it is also harmful in many ways. Lead is very dangerous to children, specifically those under 6 years old, because their bodies absorb lead more easily than older people do. Lead poisoning can lead to brain damage. Lead is also dangerous to pregnant women, who can pass on lead poisoning to the child in the womb. In general, lead is dangerous whether it is in the air, in water, or in materials.   

Therefore, you need lead testing so that you can protect yourself and your family from the harmful effects of lead.

Are There Laws For Removing Lead?

Since lead is a harmful substance in air, water, and materials, you have many laws related to lead. You can find lead in soil, dust and paint, and the laws tell you how to prevent lead from harming your health, especially the health of your children. The laws will also tell you how to clear lead waste.

Remember, in the United States, paints used in homes or buildings built before 1978 contained lead. Therefore, if you are living in such buildings, you have to test the paint for lead. Since 1978, the government has banned the use of lead based paints.

You can find the laws relating to lead here.  

How Do You Test For Lead?

You can test for lead with home testing kits. You can also ask a trained and licensed expert to check your home for lead. 

Onsite, the technician will test for paints using a portable machine, similar to an X-ray machine. Sometimes, the technician will take paint samples to an accredited lab for further testing.