Asbestos Testing & Survey

By Author: Asbestos Testing & Survey
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Commonwealth Asbestos Testing is a full service environmental company, dedicated to resolving any and all remediation concerns on a small or large scale basis. We will work individually with each client to expedite the permitting process to get your project started quickly with minimal down time.
Our staff of licensed inspectors have worked in the asbestos remediation industry for the past thirty years. We can easily identify and resolve any concerns or questions regarding your property whether it be commercial or residential. A full detailed professional report will be provided to you inclusive of samples results, location of samples and by photo identification.
WHAT IS RADON?
Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in soil and rock in all parts of the United States. It is formed by the decay of uranium, which is a natural process. Radon gas is invisible, and it has no odor or taste.
What Types of Buildings Contain Radon?
• Radon may be found in all types of homes and buildings in the United States. If there is radon gas in the ground, it can seep into a building.
• Radon typically moves ...
... up from the ground into a home through drains, cracks or other holes in the foundation. Radon then can be trapped inside the home.
Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer In Non-smokers and Smokers Alike
The Facts...
• Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented.
• Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking causes an estimated 160,000* cancer deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004). And the rate among women is rising. On January 11, 1964, Dr. Luther L. Terry, then U.S. Surgeon General, issued the first warning on the link between smoking and lung cancer. Lung cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the number one cause of death among women. A smoker who is also exposed to radon has a much higher risk of lung cancer.
• Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year.
• Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of lung cancer and responsible for an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Smoking affects non-smokers by exposing them to secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can have serious consequences for children’s health, including asthma attacks, affecting the respiratory tract (bronchitis, pneumonia), and may cause ear infections.
• For smokers the risk of lung cancer is significant due to the synergistic effects of radon and smoking. For this population about 62 people in a 1,000 will die of lung-cancer, compared to 7.3 people in a 1,000 for never smokers. Put another way, a person who never smoked (never smoker) who is exposed to 1.3 pCi/L has a 2 in 1,000 chance of lung cancer; while a smoker has a 20 in 1,000 chance of dying from lung cancer.

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