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Fire & Water Damage Recovery
4.7(
69
)
Toxic Lead - Testing

Serving San Rafael, CA and surrounding areas

In business since 1997

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"The experience with Justin at Fire & Water Damage Recovery was excellent. They were referred by the plumbing company that serviced my sump pump. We still got 3 estimate, Justin's estimate was in the middle but I felt good with Justin based on our phone conversation and the referral so we went with this company. Justin did tell me that he might have estimated on the high side because he does not like to surprise the homeowners. What a surprise when I go the final invoice. The final invoice came in much lower and was very close or lower than the lowest estimate I got. Justin and his team also took pictures of how the place was before and after for me to see. They even took pictures of the pathway that they took to get to the crawl space to assure me that they kept the place clean when they got in and out. I was very satisified with Justin and his company."
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Recommended by88%of homeowners
Lead Testing and Removal questions, answered by experts

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), hazardous waste is generally classified into four main categories:

1. Characteristic Wastes: These exhibit at least one of four hazardous traits: ignitability (flammable, like gasoline), corrosivity (can rust or decompose materials, like car batteries), reactivity (unstable and can explode, like aerosol cans), or toxicity (harmful when ingested, like lead-based paint).

2. Listed Wastes: These are specific wastes from manufacturing and industrial processes that the EPA has officially designated as hazardous. They include byproducts from processes that use solvents, pesticides, and other chemicals.

3. Universal Wastes: These are commonly generated hazardous items that are subject to streamlined regulations. Examples include batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment (e.g., bulbs), and some lamps.

4. Mixed Wastes: This category includes waste that contains both hazardous and radioactive components, making it subject to regulation by both the EPA and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Lead toxicity comes from inhaling lead or consuming it. Before the 1980s, when the government banned lead from consumer use, it could be found in paint, plumbing, pipes, ceramics, and even gasoline. Lead paint is toxic for the same reason lead itself is toxic, which is why lead poisoning from paint presents the same as lead poisoning from water or food sources, with a slight increase in respiratory symptoms vs. digestive symptoms. Lead paint is most dangerous when it’s old and peeling, cracking, or otherwise disturbed. This increases the concentration in the air and, therefore, in breathable air. 

With regular testing, treatment, and maintenance, water from a community well should be safe to drink. Unfortunately, the EPA does not regulate private wells, and contamination can happen. 

If you have doubts about the quality and safety of your drinking water, you have options for testing. You can pick up kits from your local home supply store or harvest samples and send them to a local testing facility. To get the most complete water quality testing and system diagnosis, seek a local well professional. They know what to test for and can recommend and implement a longer-lasting solution.

According to the EPA, there is no safe level of lead in the blood, and so the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for lead in water is zero. Even at low levels, lead is harmful to human health. It can also remain in the body and build up over time with repeated exposure.

No, a standard home inspection includes the basics and does not offer lead paint testing. Professional lead paint inspectors need specific licenses to perform these inspections, which not all home inspectors have. If you suspect lead paint in the home you are about to purchase, you will need to pay separately to have that done. If the findings come back positive, you may be able to negotiate with the buyer to cover the cost of the removal.

The San Rafael, CA homeowners’ guide to lead testing and removal services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.