Hazardous Materials Including Radon


Antiquity provides a full range of hazardous materials sampling including sampling for:
  1. Asbestos containing material (ACM)
  2. PCB's
  3. Mercury
  4. Lead
  5. EMF/ELF
  6. Radon


Hazmat Sampling

Antiquity conducts hazardous materials assessments prior to renovation or demolition on residential and commercial buildings.

Antiquity offers consultation services around removal, enclosure, and encapsulation of asbestos containing materials, which are all components an asbestos management plan. Suspect asbestos containing materials are identified, sampled and managed. Analysis of bulk samples is conducted by an independent AIHA certified lab.

Asbestos management plans incorporate the Work Safe BC Exposure Control Plan requirements and are extremely useful for both commercial, institutional, and industrial facilities.




Vermiculite Attic Insulation

Of particular concern to homeowners today is vermiculite attic insulation which is known to contain both actinolite and tremolite asbestos. If a home contains vermiculite attic insulation in need to be sampled and if it contains ACM it needs to be remediated. The cost of remediation is between $8000.00 to $22,000.00 depending on the removal method and size of the attic. This is extremely important for realtor's, sellers, and prospective home owners to know and understand from both a financial and liability perspective.

Vermiculite Attic Insulation Removal

Many realtor's are conducting sampling and are not qualified to do so. In accordance with Work Safe BC regulations only AHERA certified inspectors should be conducting this type of sampling to ensure the sampling is done correctly, is representative and is analyzed by a certified lab.

All Antiquity staff are AHERA certified to conduct ACM sampling.

Bulk Vermiculite Attic Insulation Sample
 
Every sample must be submitted to a certified laboratory

If you think you've been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing any of these symptoms alone or in combination, contact your doctor or a specialist in occupational medicine. The specialist will want to know what kind of jobs you've worked on in the past and for how long. They may want to do tests to see if any problems are developing or already exist.

  • Shortness of breath-increases over time
  • Coughing
  • Increased sputum
  • Weight loss
  • Chest pain
  • Hoarseness
  • Coughing up blood

Lead

Exposure to lead and lead fumes as a result of disturbing lead paint is becoming a significant concern in the workplace and at home today when renovation and demolition is conducted. Whenever renovating older buildings, generally prior to 1978 lead exposure could be a concern for employees and homeowners during construction, demolition and renovations.

Lead used to be very common in gasoline and house paint in the U.S. Children living in cities with older houses are more likely to have high levels of lead. Although gasoline and paint are no longer made with lead in them, lead is still a health problem. Lead is everywhere, including dirt, dust, new toys, and old house paint. Unfortunately, you can't see, taste, or smell lead. Lead is found in:

  • House paint before 1978. Even if the paint is not peeling, it can be a problem. Lead paint is very dangerous when it is being stripped or sanded. These actions release fine lead dust into the air. Infants and children living in pre-1960's housing (when paint often contained lead) have the highest risk of lead poisoning. Small children often swallow paint chips or dust from lead-based paint.
  • Toys and furniture painted before 1976.
  • Painted toys and decorations made outside the U.S.
  • Lead bullets, fishing sinkers, curtain weights.
  • Plumbing, pipes, and faucets. Lead can be found in drinking water in homes containing pipes that were connected with lead solder. Although new building codes require lead-free solder, lead is still found in some modern faucets.
  • Soil contaminated by decades of car exhaust or years of house paint scrapings. Lead is more common in soil near highways and houses.
  • Hobbies involving soldering, stained glass, jewellery making, pottery glazing, and miniature lead figures (always look at labels).
  • Children's paint sets and art supplies (always look at labels).
  • Pewter pitchers and dinnerware.
  • Storage batteries.

Children get lead in their bodies when they put lead objects in their mouths, especially if they swallow the lead object. They can also get lead poison on their fingers from touching a dusty or peeling lead object, and then putting their fingers in their mouths or eating food afterward. Children also can breathe in tiny amounts of lead.

Symptoms

There are many possible symptoms of lead poisoning. Lead can affect many different parts of the body. A single high dose of lead can cause severe emergency symptoms.

However, it is more common for lead poisoning to build up slowly over time. This occurs from repeated exposure to small amounts of lead. In this case, there may not be any obvious symptoms. Over time, even low levels of lead exposure can harm a child's mental development. The health problems get worse as the level of lead in the blood gets higher. Lead is much more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children's developing nerves and brains. The younger the child, the more harmful lead can be. Unborn children are the most vulnerable. Possible complications include:

  • Behavioral or attention problems
  • Failure at school
  • Hearing problems
  • Kidney damage
  • Reduced IQ
  • Slowed body growth

The symptoms of lead poisoning may include:

  • Abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison)
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Anemia
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Loss of previous developmental skills (in young children)
  • Low appetite and energy
  • Reduced sensations

Very high levels of lead may cause vomiting, staggering walk, muscle weakness, seizures, or coma.

The widespread use of very high lead content paint was common until 1978, after which high lead content paint (up to 5000mg/kg) still continued to be used. In 1977, the intentional addition of lead to consumer paints was prohibited in the United States with the maximum set at 600mg/kg. Canada voluntarily adopted this value in 1991 for all Canadian produced consumer paints. The Surface Coating Materials Regulations made this official in 2005.

An estimated 37% of commercial buildings, schools and houses in Canada have lead based paints both inside and outside. In addition, lead is found in plumbing, water faucets, ceramic pottery glaze and crystal. The equivalent of 3 grains of sugar in lead dust ingested daily for a period of a couple of months can make a child lead toxic.

Antiquity can conduct sampling for lead paint at home or in the workplace as part an parcel of a hazardous materials assessment.


Mould

What are molds?

Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors. No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp, and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth.

What are some of the common indoor molds?

  • Cladosporium
  • Penicillium
  • Alternaria
  • Aspergillus
How do molds affect people?

Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

Where are molds found?

Molds are found in virtually every environment and can be detected, both indoors and outdoors, year round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions. Outdoors they can be found in shady, damp areas or places where leaves or other vegetation is decomposing. Indoors they can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or showers.

Mold and Marijuana Grow Operations.

Marijuana grow operations (MGOs) usually leave big problems in the house such as structural damage and toxic mold This problem is so severe that damage cannot be hidden by a simple paint job.

After marijuana grow operations homes often have holes in the walls for vents that get rid of the majority of moisture. Damage to the concrete foundation of the home can also occur as a result of rewiring that is used to steal electricity and run the operation.

Radon

Antiquity Environmental Consulting Ltd. is certified by the EPA to conduct radon measurements.

Antiquity Environmental Consulting Ltd. is listed on the EPA certified measurment specialist site list www.radongas.org to conduct radon measurements in Canada.
Radon Test Kit

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas released from the normal decay of uranium in rocks and soil. It is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas that seeps up through the ground and diffuses into the air. In a few areas, depending on local geology, radon dissolves into ground water and can be released into the air when the water is used. Radon gas usually exists at very low levels outdoors. However, in areas without adequate ventilation, such as underground mines, radon can accumulate to levels that substantially increase the risk of lung cancer.

How is the general population exposed to radon?

Radon is present in nearly all air. Everyone breathes radon in every day, usually at very low levels. However, people who inhale high levels of radon are at an increased risk for developing lung cancer.

Radon can enter homes through cracks in floors, walls, or foundations, and collect indoors. It can also be released from building materials, or from water obtained from wells that contain radon. Radon levels can be higher in homes that are well insulated, tightly sealed, and/or built on uranium-rich soil. Because of their closeness to the ground, basement and first floors typically have the highest radon levels.

Where is Radon A Problem?

Radon is a problem in certain areas in western Canada. There are certain hot spots in the province of BC and other western provinces where uranium deposits are known to exits.

How Do I Know if My Home Has Radon A Problem?

The only way to determine if your home has a radon problem is to have it sampled by a certified radon measurement specialist. You can find our who is certified in your area by contacting the EPA or visiting the their radon web site which can be accessed at radongas.org

How does radon cause cancer?

Radon decays quickly, giving off tiny radioactive particles. When inhaled, these radioactive particles can damage the cells that line the lung. Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer, the only cancer proven to be associated with inhaling radon.

How many people develop lung cancer because of exposure to radon?

Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Radon represents a far smaller risk for this disease, but it is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Scientists estimate that approximately 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths per year are related to radon.

Although the association between radon exposure and smoking is not well understood, exposure to the combination of radon gas and cigarette smoke creates a greater risk for lung cancer than either factor alone. The majority of radon-related cancer deaths occur among smokers.

Researchers have combined and analyzed data from all radon studies conducted in Canada and the United States. By combining the data from these studies, scientists were able to analyze data from thousands of people. The results of this analysis demonstrated a slightly increased risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to household radon. This increased risk was consistent with the level of risk estimated based on studies of underground miners.

How can people know if they have an elevated level of radon in their homes?

Testing is the only way to know if a persons home has elevated radon levels. Indoor radon levels are affected by the soil composition under and around the house, and the ease with which radon enters the house.

Homes that are next door to each other can have different indoor radon levels, making the persons test result living next door a poor predictor of radon risk. In addition, precipitation, barometric pressure, and other influences can cause radon levels to vary from month to month or day to day, which is why both short- and long-term tests are available.

Short-term detectors measure radon levels for 2 days to 90 days, depending on the device. Long-term tests determine the average concentration for more than 90 days. Because radon levels can vary from day to day and month to month, a long-term test is a better indicator of average radon level.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends taking action to reduce radon in homes that have a radon level at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). About one in 15 U.S. homes is estimated to have radon levels at or above this EPA action level. Scientists estimate that lung cancer deaths could be reduced by 2 to 4 percent, or about 5,000 deaths, by lowering radon levels in homes exceeding the EPA's Action Level.

Health Canada and Radon

Health Canada collaborated with the Federal Provincial Territorial Radiation Protection Committee (FPTRPC) to review the health risk from exposure to radon. The risk assessment is based on new scientific information and was the subject of broad public consultation. Using the risk assessment and feedback obtained from the public consultation, the Government of Canada is updating its guideline for exposure to radon in indoor air. This updated guideline provides advice that is more broadly applicable and more protective than the previous FPTRPC guideline.

Remedial measures should be undertaken in a dwelling whenever the average annual radon concentration exceeds 200 Bq per cubic meter in the normal occupancy area.

The higher the radon concentration, the sooner remedial measures should be undertaken.

When remedial action is taken, the radon level should be reduced to a value as low as practicable.

The construction of new dwellings should employ techniques that will minimize radon entry and will facilitate post-construction radon removal, should this subsequently prove necessary.