Formaldehyde Meth and Tobacco Testing in California

Formaldehyde, Meth and Tobacco Testing in California

When was the last time you tested your indoor air? The vapors from formaldehyde, meth, and tobacco can stick around for years if you don’t actively get rid of them. Of course, you can’t get rid of them if you don’t know that they’re in your house or building. Air quality testing is the first step to a clean and healthy environment.

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Why Test Your Air?

Sadly, California has some highly polluted major cities, and if you live near any of them, you may have trapped some smog inside your house. The resulting toxins can cause health issues, especially for children and elderly people. Short term health issues often mimic allergies and asthma. Long term issues include heart disease, lung disease, and cancer. Ready to learn more? Let’s take a closer look at formaldehyde testing, meth testing, and tobacco testing.

Why Test for VOCs?

VOC Testing in Los Angles

Formaldehyde Testing

If you took a biology class in high school, you probably remember formaldehyde. It’s the strong-smelling chemical that preserves animals before a dissection. However, it’s not just for animal preservation. It’s also used in a bunch of household items, too. Any of the following products can contain formaldehyde:

Certain types of wood
Glue
Some fabrics
Paper coating materials
Some insulation materials
Some hair and makeup products

A good formaldehyde inspection will take these products into account. On their own, they only contain small amounts of formaldehyde. However, if you have enough of them in your house, you may have formaldehyde buildup in your air. The Environmental Protection Agency says that high formaldehyde levels can cause cancer. If you’ve recently moved, remodeled, or even bought a lot of new materials, you should consider formaldehyde testing.

When discussing VOCs, one is so much more common than others that all households should have specialized testing done to determine their risk and exposure to it: formaldehyde.

The Most Common VOC

Meth Testing

Meth (or Methamphetamine) is an illegal, dangerous drug that can be created from everyday items. People who have never done drugs are often surprised to hear that their homes need a methamphetamine inspection. However, since meth is often created in homes, it’s up to you to check for meth vapors if you’ve recently moved. Furthermore, you should test your air if you live near a wooded or secluded area. Meth cooks often use these places to get rid of their leftover ingredients. The resulting vapors may get into your house.

Meth comes with well-known health risks, but can second hand meth exposure cause harm, too? Unfortunately, yes, and it happens fast because meth vapors spread easily. Meth exposure can cause any of these illnesses:

Headaches
Stomach Problems
Allergy and Asthma Symptoms
Lung Disease

Many of these symptoms can impact children more than adults. If you’ve noticed any of the above issues among family members, it’s time to test your air quality.

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, are a type of pollution that gets released in the air through burning fuel, evaporating chemicals and can become dangerous when they take the form of a gas or vapor.

VOC Testing in the Los Angles Region

Tobacco Testing

Tobacco smoke may seem tame compared to the other chemicals we’ve listed. Unfortunately, it can still be deadly. The fact that it’s also very common only makes it worse. Tobacco smoke tends to linger, so you should ask for a tobacco inspection if you live in one of California’s smog-filled areas. You might also test if you recently moved and the last homeowner smoked regularly.

Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, many of which cause cancer and other diseases. Some of these health problems include:

Allergy and Asthma Symptoms
Other Breathing Problems, including Infection
Higher Risk of SIDS in Infants
Heart Disease
Stroke

The only way to ensure total safety is to remove the smoke completely. Even if you can’t smell tobacco smoke, it may have embedded itself into your walls and air ducts. With quality air testing, you can find out for sure.

Mold Remediation San Francisco

What You Can Do

Now you know how these three chemicals can harm your family, what can you do about it? First, look for a quality air testing service. Make sure that this service goes beyond a general air check. You’ll want a team that can specifically do formaldehyde testing, meth testing, and tobacco testing. Ask about these options before you hire your team.

Second, have your soft surfaces and air ducts cleaned on a regular basis. Your soft surfaces hold on to pollutants and toxins. When you sit on your couches or walk across your carpets, you can release those substances into the air. Cleaning them can reduce your risk for polluted air. Your air ducts, of course, circulate air throughout the house. By having them cleaned, you can dramatically improve your quality of life.

When you repeat this process fairly regularly, you can rest assured that your family is breathing clean, toxin-free air. Are you ready to protect your family?

Source material:

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/care-your-air-guide-indoor-air-quality
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html
https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/expert-explains-how-children-test-positive-for-meth-when-exposed-at-home
https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/drugs/crystal-meth/contact-high/
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm