Environmental Division
List of Environmental Services
● Phase I, II and III Environmental Site Assessments
● Environmental Risk Assessment
● Environmental Risk Management
● Environmental Remediation
● Environmental Assessments
● Environmental Audits and Management Plans
● Environmental Monitoring
● Environmental Permitting
● Wetland Identification, Delineation and Assessments
● Sulphide Bearing Material Investigations, Management Plans
● Petroleum Storage Tank Removal Supervision
● Radon Testing and Mitigation Consulting
● Hazardous Materials Surveys
● Indoor Environmental Quality Investigations
● Industrial Hygiene Testing and Consulting
● Asbestos Consulting, Surveys and Testing
● Microbial Investigations and Identification
Environmental Site Assessments
Maritime Testing completes environmental site assessments (ESAs) in support of real estate transactions including property transfers, re-financing and re-development activities. Our work is thorough, completed to the most current CSA standards and is well received by lending institutions and regulators. We are proud to offer efficient, timely service and practical solutions to environmental challenges.
Maritime Testing has completed ESAs for purchasers, vendors, developers, construction contractors, lending institutions, various municipalities and the Province of Nova Scotia. Properties assessed have ranged from vast tracts of virgin forest through the spectrum of development to farmland, residential sites (apartment buildings), service stations and large industrial plants.
Some of our ESAs have identified contaminants such as petroleum products, heavy metals, chlorinated solvents and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which we have addressed on behalf of our clients through risk assessment or remediation.
Risk Assessments
Since 1999, upon the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour's endorsement of the risk-based approach to the management of contaminated sites, Maritime Testing has been offering risk assessment services. Risk assessment provides an alternative approach to the traditional clean-up of contaminated sites. With risk assessment, site specific conditions are analyzed through computer modelling and/or other mathematical calculations to determine the level of risk posed by an environmental concern. Using this information, a feasible action plan to deal with the concerns can then be developed. To date, Maritime Testing’s risk assessments have included former gas station sites re-developed into multi-use commercial / residential complexes, former heavy industrial and waterfront sites re-developed into commercial and residential properties, and apartment building sites with inaccessible residual fuel oil impacts beneath the structures. Contaminants that Maritime Testing has evaluated through risk assessment include petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dry cleaning and printing industry solvents, and various heavy metals including lead, arsenic and mercury.
Remediation
Some of our environmental site assessment projects have led to recommendations to undertake petroleum hydrocarbon remediation, underground storage tank removal, and disposal of PCBs and other hazardous materials. We provided the supervision of a major clean-up of an industrial site having twenty (20) abandoned underground petroleum storage tanks, along with contaminated sludges in oil-water separators, sumps and drain systems. We also conducted detailed investigation, remediation and risk assessment of a marine slips facility that had been impacted over centuries of industrial activity by a variety of contaminants. Maritime Testing has designed and implemented light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) recovery systems to remove free phase No. 2 fuel oil, bunker C fuel oil and lubricants from the subsurface of sites including a major hotel, a university and a steel manufacturing plant. Other projects have included design, quality control inspection services, environmental monitoring of several landfill and construction and demolition sites, and design, remediation and environmental management for development of a large residential subdivision on a 'brownfield' property.
Since 2002, upon the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour's adoption of the Domestic Fuel Oil Spill Policy (DFOSP) (revised 2003 and 2005), we have been conducting DFOSP remediation programs for homeowners and insurance companies, and successfully closing sites.
Radon Testing and Mitigation Consulting
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed when uranium breaks down naturally. It has no colour, odour, or taste. Radon is slowly released from the ground, water, and some building materials that contain very small amounts of uranium, such as concrete, bricks, tiles and gyproc. When radon is released to outdoor air, it is diluted by the atmosphere and is not a concern. However, in enclosed spaces like dwellings, it can sometimes accumulate to high levels.
What is the current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air?
The current Canadian guideline for radon in indoor air for dwellings is 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m³).
What is the difference between Bq/m³ and pCi/L?
Both these units are measurements of radioactivity. The international community uses the Becquerel per cubic metre of air, while the USA uses the Picocurie per litre to measure radon.
Are there certain parts of Nova Scotia that have higher levels of radon than others?
Within the province, areas that have certain types of rock (shale and granite) and soil can have higher levels of uranium in the ground and likely more radon. This is also true of most other Canadian provinces. A radon test for an individual building is the only way to tell for certain whether radon is present.
What are the health effects of radon?
The only known health risk associated with exposure to high levels of radon in indoor air is an increased lifetime risk of developing lung cancer. This is because radiation from inhaled radon gas can damage cells in the lungs. The effects depend on the levels of radon and how long a person is exposed to these levels. Canadian guideline is based on an exposure period of about 70 years spent in a dwelling that contains elevated levels of radon 75% of that time. Exposure to radon and tobacco use together can significantly increase your risk of lung cancer, however, not using tobacco products remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of lung cancer.
How does radon enter the dwelling?
Because radon is a soil gas it can enter a dwelling through any opening that contacts the soil around or underneath the building. For example, it can seep in through cracks or holes in basement floors or walls, including openings for utility connections, and through hollow support posts. If there is radon in the dwelling's water supply, radon can also enter the space via running tap water. Both old and newer structures can have elevated levels of radon.
How can a building be tested for radon?
There are several methods that can be used to test a dwelling for radon. Here are some of the more common devices.
● Electret Ion Chamber (E-perm): These units come in two variations; one for short term tests (2 to 7 days) or long term (90 to 365 days). These units are returned to our laboratory for analysis.
● Continuous Monitors: As the name implies these devices will measure radon over a period and report the results per hour.
How can I decide whether my house should be tested?House construction methods and materials can affect the radon level, however, radon will be present in varying amounts in all types of houses. Because radon enters a building from the ground, the upper floors of a multi-story building usually have lower radon levels than the ground floor. Radon levels vary from house to house, so your neighbour's test results should not be used to make decisions about your house. The only way of knowing the radon level in your house is to have it tested, whether your house is new or old. It is possible to perform an instant radon test, but the result will not give a reliable indication of the average radon level. Due to the variation in radon levels from day to day, the longer the test period, the more reliable the results of the test.
After completing work to reduce radon levels in a dwelling should the air be retested?
Yes. To ensure that the radon levels in the dwelling have been lowered and meet the guideline a retest must carried out.
Where in the building should I perform the test?
The highest radon concentration is most likely to occur in basements and lower floors, especially if those areas have poor ventilation. A radon test should be carried out in lower level rooms of dwellings where the occupants spend the most time, such as bedrooms or living rooms. The instructions included with your testing unit will help you place it properly.
How long should a radon test be conducted?
Because there are so many variables that affect radon, including weather, local soil and rock type, building type and construction materials, the longer the radon test is carried out the more accurate the result. The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour recommends testing be carried out over a period of at least three months and, if possible, in the coolest months of the year. During the heating season ventilation is lowest and radon levels are usually at their highest. For accurate results, carefully follow the instructions included with your test unit.
What methods can be used to reduce the radon levels in a dwelling?
The methods used to reduce radon levels in a dwelling can vary considerably depending on the characteristics of the dwelling, the radon level and the radon entry points. Increasing the ventilation and closing entry points, especially on the ground floor, may reduce the indoor radon levels. However, the reduction may only be small and additional methods of radon reduction may be required, particularly if the initial radon level was very high. More comprehensive measures may be required that need the services of a qualified contractor.
Are the radon detectors themselves dangerous or do they contain toxic substances?
No. Radon detectors do not pose a health risk.
Is anything being done to prevent radon problems in new houses?
Yes. In 1995, the National Building Code introduced measures to prevent soil gas from entering homes. This building code was updated in 2005. Radon is considered a soil gas. Increasing the ventilation and closing entry points, especially on the ground floor, may reduce the indoor radon levels. However, the reduction may only be small and alternative methods of radon reduction may be required, particularly if the initial radon level was very high.
Will high levels of radon affect the value of my house?
Where a high radon level is detected, it can most often be successfully reduced at a cost which is usually small when compared to the value of the house.
I am building a new house, can I have the site tested for radon?
Although techniques are available for measuring radon levels in soil, it is difficult to determine what the radon level in a new house will be from the results of soil measurements. For this reason, site radon measurements are not a reliable means of predicting, before construction, whether a building will have a high radon level.
Individual dwelling owners may wish to reduce radon levels as much as they reasonably can, using methods they find affordable and practical. However, the level in a dwelling should not be above the proposed new Canadian guideline of 200 Bq/m³.
I am interested in buying a house. How can I find out if the radon level has been measured?
You can ask if the house has been tested for radon. If you cannot be sure then you can request that it be tested.
