How to Test for Hazards
Testing for Lead
Lead test swabs are commonly available at most hardware stores or on-line. The test swab comes in a small cardboard sleeve that holds a glass vial with two bubbles and a foam tip. Firm pressure will crack the glass bubbles within the cardboard sleeve allowing the reagents to mix and saturate the foam tip. The tip can then be rubbed on the surface to be tested. If the foam tip remains yellow, no lead has been detected. If the tip turns red, lead has been detected.
Purchase Lead Test Kits:
LeadCheck offers lead test swabs for hard surface testing, and water test kits for detecting lead in water from home faucets or pipes. They also offer test kits for arsenic, if you have treated wood playground or yard equipment and want to find out if arsenic is present. http://www.leadcheck.com/index.shtml
Lead test kits are also available at Home Improvement Center in downtown Santa Barbara and Home Depot in Goleta. These retailers carry lead swipe sticks for testing lead on hard surfaces (painted walls, etc.) and kits for testing lead in water.
Radon gas
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers a thorough radon overview and guidance on testing and mitigation on their website http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html You may also call the Radon Hotline at
1-(800) SOS-RADON.
There are two types of do-it-yourself radon test kits available – short-term and long-term air sample collection. It is recommended to do the short-term test first, and if radon is detected, to do the long- term test for more complete information. Both tests require collecting an air sample over the course of 2-90 days (short-term test) depending on the type of collection device, and 90 days to 1 year (long-term test).
The test kits include the air sampling collection device and instructions, as well as information on where to send the sample for lab analysis. It can take a few weeks to get your results. Some kits include the pre-paid lab fee as part of the purchase price, and others require that you pay the fee when you mail in the sample.
Purchase Radon Test Kits & Services:
Radon test kits are available in most hardware stores. In Santa Barbara kits are available at Home Improvement Center.
Many home inspection companies also provide radon testing services. Independent Building Inspections in Santa Barbara is a certified radon testing consultant and may be reached at (805) 898-1122.
California Department of Health Services offers discounted radon test kits. To order a $5 radon test kit, visit their website. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/environhealth/Pages/RadonTestKits.aspx
How to test for Arsenic on Treated Wood:
Click here to watch Phil Boise, Director of GreenCare for Children and author of the Go Green Rating Scale and Handbook describe how to test for arsenic on treated wood, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAgT7GC5kT