| Do you have hazards around your house? I mean | | | | built before 1978. Buyers or renters must be given |
| besides the toy fire truck in the middle of your hall | | | | ten days in which to conduct risk assessments or |
| floor in the dark in the middle of the night? Besides | | | | inspections for lead-based paint hazards. Buyers are |
| the Razor scooter that your little girl left behind your | | | | not bound by any real estate contract until the |
| car that you didn’t see when you had to back | | | | ten-day period has expired. Real estate agents are to |
| up. Eighty-nine dollars later you learn to look for | | | | ensure that all parties comply with the law. For more |
| hazards around your house. If you have kids, you | | | | information and pamphlets on lead-based hazards, call |
| have constant hazards around your home. There are | | | | The National Lead Information Center, |
| other potential hazards in your house that are not | | | | 1-800-424-5323 |
| child’s play. I am speaking of environmental | | | | Radon is a radio active gas produced by the natural |
| hazards than can affect your home. You should | | | | decay of radioactive substances. Some areas are |
| consider environmental hazards in your home or | | | | known to have more significant amounts than others. |
| when you are considering purchasing a home. | | | | Radon is found in every state. The highest |
| In my experience of inspecting homes in Charlotte, | | | | concentrations can be found in the plains states, the |
| NC I have come across some common environmental | | | | upper Midwest and Northeastern United States. In |
| hazards you should be aware of. Some of these | | | | the open air, radon usually dissipates into the |
| hazards are asbestos, carbon monoxide, lead, radon, | | | | atmosphere and is not likely to cause harm. When |
| carbon monoxide, and groundwater contamination. In | | | | radon enters buildings and is trapped in high |
| this article I hope to identify the basic environmental | | | | concentrations, it causes health problems. This usually |
| hazards and to describe the warning signs, | | | | happens in basements with poor ventilation. Radon is |
| characteristics, causes and solutions of the various | | | | odorless and tasteless. It is impossible to detect |
| environment hazards most commonly found in the | | | | without testing. Radon levels are relatively easy to |
| real estate transaction. | | | | reduce by installing ventilation systems or exhaust |
| Asbestos is a mineral that was once used as | | | | fans. The modern practice of creating |
| insulation because it was resistant to fire and | | | | energy-efficient homes and buildings with practically |
| contained heat effectively. Asbestos was used in | | | | airtight walls and windows may increase the potential |
| residential buildings up until it was banned in 1978. In | | | | for radon gas accumulation. Heating and ventilation |
| my inspections I usually found asbestos in older | | | | systems can spread radon gas throughout the house |
| homes on heat ducts at the joints. It’s usually | | | | once it has accumulated. Radon has been proven to |
| that white wrap on the joints of metal ducts. | | | | cause lung cancer. Individuals who smoke and spend |
| Asbestos can be found covering pipes, ducts, and | | | | considerable time indoors are particularly at risk. The |
| heating and hot water units. Its fire resistant | | | | EPA has a pamphlet “ A Citizen’s guide to |
| properties made it a popular material for floor tile, | | | | Radon” It is available online or at your local EPA |
| exterior siding and roofing products. Today we know | | | | office. |
| that breathing asbestos fibers may result in a variety | | | | Another colorless and odorless gas that poses health |
| of respiratory diseases. Just the presence of | | | | risks is carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a |
| asbestos is not necessarily a heath hazard. Asbestos | | | | by-product of a fossil fuel burning appliance or heating |
| is only harmful when it is disturbed or exposed | | | | system. It also can come from a car exhaust. A few |
| causing it to become airborne. This often happens | | | | years ago in Charlotte, four people were killed when |
| during renovation. Asbestos is highly friable. As it ages | | | | someone left their car running in a townhouse garage. |
| it breaks down easily into tiny fragment and particles. | | | | The garages were under the units. Apparently |
| When these particles become airborne, they pose a | | | | someone pulled in their garage and forget to turn |
| risk to humans. Asbestos is costly to remove | | | | their car off. It killed four people. After that Charlotte |
| because the process requires state licensed | | | | made it a law to have a carbon monoxide detector if |
| technicians and specially sealed environments. | | | | you have any gas-burning appliance. When these |
| Removal itself may be dangerous. Improper removal | | | | appliances are ventilated properly there is not a |
| may further contaminate the air within the structure. | | | | problem. When improper ventilation or equipment |
| The waste generated should be disposed of at a | | | | malfunctions and permits large quantities of CO to be |
| licensed facility. This further adds to the cost of | | | | released into the structure, it poses a significant |
| removal. An alternate method of control that may be | | | | health hazard. Its effect is compounded by the fact |
| preferable is encapsulation. Encapsulation is the sealing | | | | that CO is so hard to detect. CO is quickly absorbed |
| off disintegrating asbestos. More information on | | | | by the body inhibiting the blood’s ability to |
| asbestos-related issues is available from the EPA | | | | transport oxygen. This causes dizziness and nausea. |
| (telephone: 1-202-554-1404). The EPA has numerous | | | | More than 200 deaths occur from CO poisoning each |
| publications that provide information on asbestos. | | | | year. Carbon monoxide detectors are available and |
| Lead-based paint was used on houses built prior to | | | | their use is mandatory in some areas. |
| 1978. Lead-based paint may be on any interior or | | | | Groundwater contamination is a problem in some |
| exterior surface. It is particularly common on doors, | | | | areas. Groundwater is the water that exists below |
| windows and other woodwork. About 75% of all | | | | the earth’s surface. Any groundwater |
| private houses built before 1978 have lead present. | | | | contamination can threaten the supply of pure, clean |
| That is approximately 57 million homes. Crawling | | | | water for private wells or public water systems. If |
| babies can ingest lead dust from the hands. It can | | | | the water gets contaminated, the earth’s natural |
| also be ingested in water from lead pipes or lead | | | | filtering may not be adequate to ensure the |
| solder. Elevated levels of lead in the blood can cause | | | | availability of pure water. The groundwater can be |
| serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous | | | | contaminated in several ways. There is runoff from |
| system and red blood cells. The degree of harm is | | | | waste disposal sites, leaking underground storage |
| related to the amount of exposure and the age at | | | | tanks and pesticide and herbicides are usually some |
| which the person was exposed. Presently, there is no | | | | of the sources. |
| federal law that requires homeowners to check for | | | | There are several hazards one should consider and |
| the presence of lead-based paint. Lead-based paint | | | | test for in their own homes or one they are |
| hazards must be disclosed however. In 1996 the EPA | | | | considering buying. Some of these hazards include but |
| and the Department of Housing and Urban | | | | are not limited to radon, asbestos, lead based paint, |
| Development issued regulations requiring disclosure of | | | | carbon monoxide, and groundwater contamination. |
| the presence of any known lead-based paint hazards | | | | The costs of testing for these hazards are relatively |
| to potential buyers or renters. A lead based paint | | | | small. The cost is especially small when compared to |
| disclosure statement must be attached to all sales | | | | the cost of the presence of an environment hazard |
| contracts and leases regarding residential properties | | | | that you don’t know exists. |