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Environmental Hazards
Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert
you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours
is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property. While we may be able to alert you to possible problems, our basic inspections
are no substitutes for specialized contaminant testing.
MOLD
Mold (fungi) is present everywhere, indoors and outdoors. There are more than 100,000 species
of mold, at least 1,000 of which are common in America. Species of Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are some of
the most commonly found species. Mold most likely grows in bathrooms, basements, and anywhere else where there is dampness
or water. Many types of mold routinely encountered aren’t hazardous to healthy individuals. Too much exposure to mold
may cause a worsening of such conditions as asthma, hay fever, or other allergies. Fevers and breathing problems in a vulnerable
individual are possible but unusual. When moldy material becomes damaged or disturbed, spores, which are reproductive bodies
similar to seeds, can be released into the air. Exposure can occur if people inhale the spores, directly handle moldy material,
or accidentally ingest the spores. Since all molds need water to grow, mold can grow almost anywhere where there is high humidity,
dampness, or water damage. Most often molds are confined to areas near the water source. Removing the source of moisture through
repairs or dehumidification is crucial in preventing mold growth. Correcting underlying water damage and cleaning the affected
area is the best way to treat mold. If mold contamination is extensive, a professional abatement company may be needed.
Excerpts from The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Environmental & Occupational Disease
Epidemiology, “Facts About Mold”.
RADON
Radon is a radioactive gaseous element produced in the disintegration
of radium, a radioactive metallic element. It cannot be detected by the senses and can be confirmed only by sophisticated
instruments and laboratory tests. The gas enters a house through pores and cracks in the concrete or through floorboards of
poorly ventilated crawlspaces, especially when wet ground allows the gas to escape easily through the soil and disperse in
the atmosphere. Radon is a lung carcinogen: the National Academy of Sciences estimates radon causes some 15,000 to 22,000
lung cancer deaths annually. The U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend all houses be tested for radon. Houses with high
radon levels can be fixed.
Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Indoor Radon”.
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