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Is this a safe, secured home, free from potential hazards?
 | In ever increasing numbers, home buyers today find it necessary to add
new kinds of questions to their quest for information. |
| Environmental concerns are becoming an element of the home-buying thought
process. |
The following provides general information about some of the
environmental hazards that have the potential to affect the home
environment. While this information is believed to be accurate, it is not
meant to be comprehensive or authoritative. This publication provides
introductory information to help home buyers understand the possible risk of
exposure to potentially harmful environmental hazards in and around the
home.
RADON:
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According the the EPA, Radon is the second leading cause of
lung cancer after smoking.
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Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that has been
found in homes all over the U.S. Radon comes from the natural decay of
uranium in soil, rocks, and ground water.
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| Radon from surrounding soil enters a home through small spaces and
openings, such as cracks in concrete, floor drains, sump pump openings,
wall/floor joints in basements, and the pores in hollow block walls. It also
can seep into ground water and remain entrapped there. (For more information regarding radon in ground water call the EPA’s
Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.) |
| Radon generally concentrates in the areas of the home closest to the
ground. Radon levels typically decrease as one moves higher up in the
structure. Testing is the only way to know whether or not a home has a radon
problem. Do not rely on radon results taken in other homes in your
neighborhood to estimate the levels in your home. Homes located next to each
other can have different radon levels. |
| While radon problems may be more common in some areas in your local
community or state, any home can have a problem. |
| The health risk associated with prolonged inhalation of radon decay
products is an increased risk of developing lung cancer. When radon gas
breaks down it releases radioactive particles that circulate in the air. |
| As you breathe these particles, they can become trapped in your lungs. As
the particles continue to break down, they release bursts of energy
(radiation) which can damage lung tissue. This damage can cause lung cancer.
The EPA has determined that short-term exposure to a high concentration of
radon is not as severe of a risk as long-term exposure to a lower level of
the gas. |
| There are many effective and relatively inexpensive methods of reducing
radon levels in a home. The method selected will vary from house to house
and from region to region. The techniques used will depend on the source of
the gas, the means of entering the home, and the type of construction used
in the home. Normally, the cost of installing radon reduction equipment
ranges from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Radon
source diagnosis and mitigation normally require skills and equipment not
available to the average homeowner. Therefore, the use of trained personnel
should be considered. |
LEAD-BASED PAINT:
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According to the EPA, it is estimated that lead-based paint
was applied to approximately two-thirds of the homes built in the U.S.
before 1940; one-third of the homes built from 1940 to 1960; and to an
indeterminate (but smaller) portion of US homes built since 1960.
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| Lead can enter the air within a home when surfaces covered with
lead-based paint are scraped, sanded, or heated with an open flame in paint
stripping procedures. Once released into the home atmosphere, lead particles
circulate into the air and can be inhaled or ingested through the mouth and
nose. Lead particles freed in fine dust or vapors settle into carpet fibers
or fabric and can be re-circulated into the air by normal household cleaning
(such as sweeping or dusting) and through normal hand-to-mouth behavior of
young children. The result can be the ingestion of potentially harmful lead. |
| It is best to leave lead-based paint undisturbed if it is in good
condition and there is little possibility that it will be consumed by
children. Other procedures include: covering the paint with wallpaper,
another building material, or replacing the entire painted surface. |
| The only way to determine if paint contains lead is to get it tested by a
certified lead inspector or risk assessor. |
ASBESTOS:
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Asbestos is a fibrous mineral found in rocks and soil
throughout the world. Asbestos has been used in architectural and
construction applications because it is strong, durable, fire retardant and
an efficient insulator. Alone or in combination with other materials,
asbestos can be fashioned into a variety of products that have numerous
applications within the building industry such as flooring, walls, ceiling
tiles, exterior housing shingles, insulation, or fire retardant for heating
and electrical systems.
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| According to the EPA, homes constructed in the United States during the
past twenty years probably do not contain asbestos products. |
| Asbestos has been identified as a carcinogen. Once ingested, asbestos
fibers lodge in the lungs. Because the material is durable, it persists in
tissue and concentrates as repeated exposures occur over time. It can cause
cancer of the lungs and stomach among workers and others who have
experienced prolonged work-related exposure to it. The health effects of
lower exposures in the home are less certain. However, experts are unable to
provide assurance that any level of exposure to asbestos fibers is
completely safe. |
| The repair or removal of asbestos-containing products from a home is
generally a complicated process. It depends on the amount of these products
present, the percentage of asbestos they contain, and the manner in which
asbestos is incorporated into the product. Total removal of even small
amounts of asbestos-containing material is usually the last alternative. To
assure safety and elimination of health hazards, asbestos repair or removal
should be performed only by properly trained and certified contractors. |
HAZARDOUS WASTES:
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Hazardous wastes are those waste products that could pose
short or long term danger to personal health or the environment if they are
not properly disposed of or managed. These wastes can be produced by large
business or industries (such as chemical and manufacturing plants), by some
small businesses (such as dry cleaners and printing plants), and by
individuals who improperly apply, store, or dispose of compounds that
contain potentially toxic ingredients (which can be found in chemical
fertilizers, pesticides, and household products).
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| Concentrations of hazardous wastes occur in the environment when these
wastes are handled, managed, or disposed of in a careless or unregulated
manner. For many decades, hazardous industrial wastes were improperly
disposed of on land, and their toxic components remained in the earth or
seeped into ground water and drinking water supplies. The widespread use of
pesticides and other agricultural chemicals also has resulted in the seepage
and runoff of toxic compounds into land and water supplies. |
| Generally, testing for hazardous waste involves skills and technology not
available to the average homeowner or home remodeling contractor. |
| The specific health hazards in homes contaminated by hazardous wastes are
determined by the kinds and amounts of toxic substances present. |
| Some hazardous wastes can cause death even when ingested in small
amounts. Other hazardous wastes have been linked to elevated risks of
cancer, permanent damage to internal body organs, respiratory difficulties,
skin rashes, birth defects, and diseases that attack the central nervous
system. |
| EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline National
Lead Information Clearinghouse
Consumer Product Safety Commission Hotline
Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon
Consumers Guide to Radon Reduction
Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home
Reducing Lead Hazards When Remodeling Your Home |
800-426-4791 800-424-LEAD
800-638-2772
US EPA 402.R93-003 March, 1993
US EPA 402.K92-003 May, 1995
US EPA 747-K-94-001 May, 1995
US EPA 747-K-94-001 May, 1995 |
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