Environmental
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Air Particle Counter Testing
Airborne particle counters play a crucial role in monitoring, classifying, and diagnosing the source and complexion of contaminants in your home and property.
Laser particle counters help you monitor your indoor air quality and know when to take action to reduce allergens and ensure your air stays healthy. These highly advanced devices use scattered light technology to detect small and large particles in your air including common allergy triggers like pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold. Ultimately, particle counters help you identify air quality problems and stand ready to restore healthy air.
How Laser Particle Counters Work
A laser particle counter uses a laser to detect and count small and large particles floating in your room's air. The counter's readings give you a general idea of the total particles -- or symptom triggers -- in your space and different areas in your home. Although it can't tell you what kinds of particles are being measured, you will understand and know the types based on the sizes.
The bullets below show the average micron sizes of different allergens and airborne pollutants.
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Pollen - 7 to 100 microns
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Pet Dander - 2.5 - 10 microns
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Mold Spore - 10 - 30 microns
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Dust - 0.1 to 100 microns
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Dust Mite - 250 - 300 microns
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Smoke Particles - 0.01 - 1 micron
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Airborne Bacteria - 1 to 10 microns
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Pet Hair - 50 to 150 microns
Allergen Testing
Mild allergies like hay fever are very common in the human population and cause symptoms, such as red eyes, itchiness, and runny nose, eczema, hives, or an asthma attack.
Allergies, however, can play a major role in conditions such as asthma. In some people, severe allergies (environmental, dietary, or medication) may cause life-threatening reactions called anaphylaxis.
Inhaling unseen particulates and other pollutants in the indoor air can result in adverse health symptoms ranging from quality of life issues like allergies, headaches, coughing, depression, asthma, and COPD to life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Allergen exposure in the home is a major risk factor for developing allergic diseases like allergic rhinitis and asthma. Since we spend 90 percent of our time indoors, and the level of pollutants are 2-5 times higher indoors than outside, a large proportion of the population is sensitized to one or more allergens found indoors.
Both adults and children can be allergic to several different types of plants, insects, animals, and other allergy-causing materials. Many allergic agents cannot be easily avoided.
However, just imagine if you are allergic to things in your home or office that are simple to detect and avoidable?
Assessments of allergen exposure are made by measuring major allergens in dust samples.
StoneCrest Team has a variety of methods to sample the indoor environment for particulates, allergens, and other irritants. Combined with an inspection and personal interview, the results of the sampling can provide guidance about what you can do to reduce the harmful effects the indoor air can have on your family’s health.
The most common test is the MARIA (Multiplex Array for Indoor Allergens) a.k.a. ‘Allergen Screen’, this powerful and informative test can detect if problematic levels of four troublesome, invisible allergens are present in your home. If allergen levels are elevated, we will provide you with detailed information on how to properly clean your home and rid yourself of these elevated allergen levels.
Please keep in mind that your home or office may have elevated levels of these allergens even if you don’t see the evidence.
When it comes to your health, what you breathe matters.
Water Testing
Concerned about what’s in your family’s water supply? Is your water filter truly working? If you care about water quality, you know that a bad taste or bad smell can ruin the pleasure of drinking. If your water tastes “weird” or smells “chemical” then there is clearly reason for concern. But, not every water pollutant can be tasted or smelled. Some dangerous forms of bacteria and many common pesticides cannot be detected without lab analysis. Not knowing if your water supply is safe can cost you more than just anxiety and investment in bottled water or water purification can be expensive and unnecessary. Water testing can determine if filtration is necessary or effective.
The young and elderly, immune compromised, or pregnant women should be especially cautious. The US EPA suggests private wells be tested annually for nitrates and coliform bacteria. Unfortunately, however, the US EPA does not regulate many chemicals commonly found in our water supply. However, the more we know about our water system, the more empowered we are to make sure we are getting the highest quality water possible. Through precise lab analysis, we can help you make informed choices.
The EPA, University of Maryland Water Experts, and the American Ground Water Trust recommend annual testing of private wells for bacteria and nitrite/nitrate chemical contamination.
In addition, water should be tested every three years for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and corrosion.
Test for a new home purchase using EPA standards that meet FHA/VA/USA requirements:
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PH
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Nitrates
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Nitrites
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Iron
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Total Dissolved Solids
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Hardness
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Lead
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Total Coliform Bacteria
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E. Coli
Testing once or more a year can be advisable in certain situations:
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pregnant or nursing household member
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unexplained illnesses in the family
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any change in taste, odor, color or clarity of the water
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a neighbor tests positive for contaminants in their water
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any dumping of chemicals, pesticides or fuels into or near your well
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if any part of your well system has been replaced or repaired