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At All Stucco and Mold Inspections Inc. our name preceeds us in quality, honest, timely, and courteous service as we are dedicated to you our customer.
All Stucco and Mold Inspections Inc.
Scott Zaeske
President
770 590-7880
Atlanta Georgia
All Stucco and Mold Inspections Inc.
Chicago
847 989-0211
Methamphetamine Testing
Meth Lab Assessment Service
* All Stucco Inspections has no affiliation with any
of the companies listed herein or their repair practices
or warranties. This list is used to help assist All
Stucco Inpections Inc. clients in estimating any repairs
or upgrades suggested per the initial inspection report.
All Stucco Inspections Inc. 770 590-7880 www.allstucco.com or
Chicago 847 989-0211 Atlanta stucco inspection.
For stucco cleaning supplies go to: www.sentrychemical.com
Serving:
Bartow County
Cobb County
Gwinnett County
Fulton County
Fayette County
Cherokee County
Dekalb County
Forsyth County
and many more.
Clandestine labs have become prevalent across America. They are used for the illicit production of illegal drugs, mostly methamphetamine, PCP, GHB, or MDA (Ecstasy). Some labs have even been found with the raw materials used to concoct homemade bombs. Law enforcement departments have seen a significant rise in occurrences over the last ten years. The hazardous materials found on these premises have to be properly inspected, tested, and cleaned up. In a three year span between 2000-2002 there were over 7500 removal jobs totally over 150,000 kg of hazardous materials. A thorough understanding of the many challenges involved in working at these sites and properly abating the hazards is crucial.
Types of hazards associated with clandestine labs Individuals usually operate these makeshift labs with little to no training in chemistry. They employ crude homemade equipment to accomplish complex and dangerous chemical reactions. Due to the nature of the chemicals involved there is significant risk of explosion, fire and exposure. Clandestine lab operators have also been known to carry firearms and use booby traps; due to the paranoid delusions associated with meth usage.
Methamphetamine Testing 770 590-7880 or 1-800-MOLD-LAB
The chemical agents used in the production of illegal drugs can include common household products such as methanol, ether, benzene, methylene chloride, trichloroethane, toluene, muriatic acid, sodium hydroxide, table salt, and ammonia. Some of the uncommon household items used include anhydrous ammonia, red phosphorus, iodine, and reactive metals. The poor handling, disposal, and mixing of incompatible chemicals leads to significant hazardous conditions. Once these chemicals are mixed and used in the making or `cooking` process, the production of other potentially harmful chemicals ensue.
Oftentimes, abatement workers focus strictly on the chemical hazards. However, there may be drug addicts and other visitors coming to the lab expecting it to still be operational. Wandering meth users tend to be dillusional, paranoid and desperate. Your personal protection can be at stake.
Health effects related to exposure
Working in clandestine drug labs poses significant dangers that one must be aware of or serious health effects could develop including the most extreme case of death. Knowledge of basic toxicology is crucial. The effect of a chemical can differ significantly depending on how it enters the body. Entry routes include inhalation, dermal absorption, and ingestion. Inhalation is the most common route of entry since we are continuously breathing. Noxious chemicals that are breathed in can rapidly enter the circulatory system (blood) and get transported throughout the body.
Since we are performing manual labor during abatement of the lab our respiratory rate is higher leading to greater exposure. Inhalation exposure also depends on the size of the inhaled particles and the properties of the exposed chemical. Chemicals with higher solubilities tend to get absorbed into the blood system faster. Toxins can also be absorbed through the skin. Although one may not feel pain or discomfort when the chemical contacts the skin, once it is absorbed it can travel throughout the body in the blood. Ingestion is the least likely exposure method but workers should be wary of eating and drinking within the confines of the lab.
Solvents such as acetone, ether, freon, hexane, methanol, and toluene target the eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, and kidneys causing such symptoms as irritation to skin, eyes, nose and throat; headache; dizziness; central nervous system depressant/depression; nausea; vomiting; and visual disturbance. Corrosive chemicals such as anhydrous ammonia, hydrochloric acid, sodium hydroxide (lye), sodium thiosulfate, sulfuric acid (drain cleaner) target the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract causing symptoms such as irritation to upper respiratory tract; cough; eye and skin irritation, inflammation and burns; gastrointestinal disturbances; thirst; chest tightness; dyspnea; muscle pain; syncope; and convulsions. Metals such as iodine, lithium metal, red phosphorus, yellow phosphorus, sodium metal used in the process can target the eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system, liver, kidneys, blood, cardiovascular system causing irritation to eyes, skin, nose and respiratory tract; lacrimation; headache; chest tightness; cutaneous hypersensitivity; abdominal pain; and jaundice.
770 590-7880
Sampling and laboratory analysis (basic, short and sweet)
Many States have specific guidelines for clearance testing associated with clandestine laboratories. For clandestine methamphetamine operations, the clearance contractor is usually required to wipe surfaces and send the samples to an accredited laboratory. NIOSH and OSHA have not published validated methods for the analysis of methamphetamine in air. OSHA has published a CSI (Chemical Sampling Information) procedure that utilizes gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC/FID). However, most states require gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Detection limit requirements are sub microgram methamphetamine per wipe.
Samples can be taken from kitchen areas of the home where cooking activities are intensified. The clearance contractor should take samples from the refrigerator (inside and out), the stove/oven, and the gap between the counter and the stove where those nasty little toast crumbs build up.
Testing should also be performed where a wall or floor meets a cold/warmer exterior. The meth will tend to crystallize out at these temperature transition interfaces. HVAC ductwork should be inspected as well for settled residue. The vehicles used in transportation, if clearance is required, may need wipe testing. Dashboards and seats can be wiped and submitted for testing.
When searching for testing services, it is important to make sure your laboratory is aware of the clearance testing requirements for your State´s program. Also, make sure that the required instrumentation is available for use. Lastly, make sure the detection limits will meet your clearance needs.
Other types of laboratory testing may also be required that are related to the chemicals used in the manufacture of the illegal drug. The alchemist cooker may have used a variety of solvents and reactive metals to produce his/her illicit powders. Be sure to consult RCRA and State regulations regarding the testing and disposal of drummed wastes, building materials, carpet, wallboard, ceiling tiles, furniture, and appliances. There may be toxic materials buried or dumped in the surrounding grounds. A thorough investigation of the entire property is required.
Abatement & Hazardous Materials Handling Guidelines
Only trained personnel should be handling any chemicals. These individuals must be able to recognize chemical names and understand the effect of chemical combinations. Separating any incompatible chemicals can reduce the risk of explosion. Ventilate all confined spaces thereby limiting the concentration of explosive fumes and turn off any heat sources. Make sure all the lab equipment is turned off and no longer heating the chemicals.
Household materials, including carpets, sheetrock, ceiling tiles, upholstery, and draperies, may become contaminated with chemicals requiring abatement. During cleanup and removal of contaminated materials, workers should have personal protection equipment. This includes eye, hand, and foot coverings. Disposable gloves and a Tyvek jumpsuit are good precautions for direct contact exposure but if toxic fumes are suspected then a suitable breathing apparatus is needed. More often then not, abatement includes removal of contaminated materials, and scrubbing and painting solid surfaces. Depending on the site and extent of contamination, soil and groundwater may need extensive cleanup.
Call us at 770 590-7880 or 1-800-MOLD-LAB Meth Lab Assessment Service
Liz Hoffman Providing A Voice To Stop the Nation's 2nd Leading Cause of Lung Cancer One in five people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked. Prevention for your family starts with a simple test of your home. My name is Elizabeth Hoffmann and I’m a survivor of radon induced lung cancer. Although, I have never smoked, my 15-year exposure to dangerous levels of radon in my home resulted in doctors having to remove the cancerous lower lobe of my left lung prior to my 38th birthday. Lucky for me, they caught my cancer early. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and EPA blame radon for the deaths of 21,000 Americans every year. But, their deaths, like my cancer, could have been prevented. A simple radon test at the time we bought our home in 1988 would have alerted me to fix our house before we moved in. If I’d only known... Since few oncologists provide a potential explanation for the cause, most non-smokers diagnosed with lung cancer never make a connection to radon exposure. I would remain clueless myself, if it hadn’t been for the determination of my family to find out why. My cousin mentioned radon to my father, who tested my house upon my return from the hospital. The purpose of this website is two-fold: First, to put a face on radon, empowering sufferers of an apparent radon-induced lung cancer (and their families) with a voice. While it is obviously too late to prevent our cancer, our stories can convince others to prevent deadly radon exposure by testing and fixing. We can also shape public policy by convincing lawmakers and government agencies to treat the radon issue and lung cancer with the seriousness they deserve. Second, to prevent LC victims from remaining clueless. If you or a family member has been recently diagnosed with lung cancer, it is imperative that you test your home for radon. If you determine radon is the likely cause of your lung cancer, we’ll simply invite you to come forward and share your story. Together, we can make a difference for generations to come. Doctors Warn of the Need For Prevention People come into my office and say Doc Price I just don’t understand it. How can this happen to me? I don’t smoke. Nobody ever smokes around me. How can I have lung cancer? While it is true that most of my lung cancer patients have had a lot of tobacco exposure, the ones that are especially sad are the people who have never smoked, have never been around secondhand smoke, who have lived “good clean lives” and lo and behold, they have a cold or bronchitis, and the chest x-ray and the cat scan show they have lung cancer. But, it is really hard to convince the public that radon is a problem when the nation’s leading housing authority, HUD, refuses to take action to prevent radon exposure. They require a termite letter to qualify for a mortgage, yet to my knowledge a termite never killed anybody. Why are they not requiring a radon test? We know the direct association between radon and lung cancer. But to the people at risk, it’s a totally unperceivable problem because you can’t feel it; you don’t smell it and you don’t see it. Lung cancer kills more Americans each year (160,000) than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. The EPA estimates 21,000 of them are the result of radon-induced lung cancer. That’s nearly 60 per day!” Never underestimate the importance of prevention in all aspects of your life. If you’re a lung cancer victim aware of all the ways it is impacting you and your family – you’d be kicking yourself if you knew something a simple as a radon detection device would have allowed you to prevent this from occurring. Please contact us at All Stucco and Mold Inspections today 770 590-7880 and schedule a Radon test. Where Does Radon Come From? Radon is a naturally occurring odorless, tasteless, colorless radioactive gas. It is produced by the natural breakdown of radium in soil, rock and water. Many homes and other buildings, such as schools and offices have high levels of radon. Because it's odorless and invisible and the lung cancer usually shows up over a long period of exposure, the danger of radon is often underestimated. Because of the stack effect, radon can be drawn into the home from the soil below. Common entry points are cracks in concrete floors, utility access points, spaces around floor drains, sump pits, construction joints and tiny cracks in basement walls. The concentration will depend on the source strength and the rate of pressure driven entry. How Does Radon Induce Lung Cancer? If inhaled, airborne radon decay products become deeply lodged or trapped in the lungs, where the alphas radiate and penetrate the cells of the mucous membranes, bronchi, and other pulmonary tissues. The ionizing radiation energy affecting the bronchial epithelial cells is believed to initiate the process of the carcinogenesis. Although, radon-related lung cancers are mainly seen in the upper airways, radon increases the incidence of all histological types of lung cancer, including small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. What is The Evidence? More is known about the health risk of radon exposure than almost any other human carcinogen. In fact, the University of Iowa College of Public Health recently compiled a bibliography of radon epidemiology research that took 192 pages just to list! These include extensive studies of thousands of underground miners, carried out over more than 50 years worldwide, that have consistently shown an increase in lung cancer occurrence with exposure to radon progeny. Miner studies have produced some interesting findings. For example, at equal cumulative exposures, low exposures in the range of EPA’s 4 pCi/L Action Level over longer periods produced greater lung cancer risk that high exposures over short periods. Non-smoking miners were observed to have a significant increased risk, even after controlling for, or in the absence of other mine exposures such as asbestos, silica, diesel fumes, arsenic, chromium, nickel, and ore dust. An added synergic effect between radon exposure and cigarette smoking was also found. The NAS has repeatedly concluded that it is reasonable to extrapolate from the miner data to a residential situation and in doing so, consider that the effective doses per unit of exposure for people in homes is approximately 30% less than for the miners. Residential studies have yielded similar findings. The Iowa Residential Radon Study completed in May of 2000 determined that even at the EPA Action Level of 4 pCi/L, an approximate 50 percent excess lung cancer risk was found among the women in the study after correcting for the impact of smoking. A 2002 residential study conducted in northeast Spain yielded similar results. Even at concentrations far below official guideline levels, the Spanish study found that radon might lead to a 2.5-fold rise in the risk of lung cancer. Exposures of animals further confirm that radon and its progeny cause lung cancer. Health effects observed in animals exposed to radon include lung carcinomas, pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, and a shortening of life span. The incidence of respiratory tract tumors increased with an increase in cumulative exposure. Exposure to ore dust and diesel fumes simultaneously with radon did not increase the incidence of lung tumors above that produced by radon progeny exposures alone. In a study of rats exposed to radon progeny, it was observed that the risk of lung cancer was elevated at exposure levels similar to those found in homes. Can High Radon Levels Be Reduced? A certified or licensed contractor can easily and affordably reduce elevated radon levels. Most techniques prevent radon from entering your home by drawing the radon from below the house and venting it through a pipe to the air above the house where it quickly dilutes. Mitigation can also decrease moisture and other soil gases entering the home, reducing mold, mildew, methane, pesticide gases and other air quality problems. Facts About Lung Cancer Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Lung cancer kills more Americans each year than breast, prostate and colorectal cancers combined. Lung cancer kills more women each year than breast cancer. Lung cancer kills 85% of newly diagnosed patients within five years. Approximately 50% of the people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked or are former smokers. Lung cancer gets few of the research dollars because of the perception it is self-inflicted by smoking. In 2003, approximately $1,740 was spent on research per lung cancer death, compared with: $13,649 per breast cancer death, $10,560 per prostate cancer death and $4,581 per colorectal cancer death.