For more information about Colorado radon, go
here. For radon information from the Environmental Protection Agency, go
here. For radon information from the National Environmental Health Association, go
here.
ASBESTOSAsbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with
a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to many products
to strengthen them and provide fire resistance and heat insulation. If disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers
which can be inhaled into the lungs. Asbestos material that crumbles easily if handled or which has been scraped, sawed, or
sanded into a powder is more likely to create a health hazard. Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased
risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of lining of chest and abdominal cavity), and asbestosis (lungs scarred with the
tissue). Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos insulation. Most of today’s products do not contain asbestos.
If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged or you plan changes that might disturb it, you require a professional for
repair and removal. Before home remodeling, find out if asbestos is present.
Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency “Asbestos and Vermiculite”.
LEADLead is a highly toxic metal
used for many years in products in and around homes. Lead’s adverse health effects range from behavioral problems and
learning disabilities to seizures and death. Because their bodies are growing quickly, children age 6 and under are at greatest
risk. Primary sources of lead exposure for children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated
residential soil. Lead might be present in any home built up until the 1940s. Rarely found in source water, lead can enter
tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, joints, and
solder. New homes are also at risk: even legally “lead-free” pipes can contain up to 8 percent lead and leave
significant amounts of lead in the water for the first several months after installation. Since the 1980s, EPA and its federal
partners have banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. Federal regulations limiting
the amount of lead in paint sold for residential use started in 1978. If your property was built before 1978 or you are considering
remodeling, renovating, or repair, you may wish to think about lead inspection. Water quality can be compromised by such other
trace elements as iron, excess acidity, manganese, calcium, magnesium, mineral salts, hydrogen sulfide, selenium, chromium,
arsenic, mercury, and cadmium.
Excerpts from U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, “Lead in Paint, Dust,
and Soil”.
MOLDMold (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”. WOOD-DESTROYING ORGANISMS/INSECTSTermites, which play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material, become a problem when they consume
structural lumber. Every year thousands of U.S. housing units require termite treatment. These pests cause serious damage
to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. Successful termite management
requires special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction and an understanding of termite biology and
identification. In most cases, it is advisable to hire a professional pest control company for the inspection and control
problem.
Wood-boring beetle larvae feed on wood and wood products. Adults of some species bore
holes into plaster, plastic, and soft metals. Many species cause problems when emerging from wood in newly constructed buildings
because they leave small circular or oval exit holes in the wood. To avoid these problems, infested wood must be kiln-fried
before being used for lumber. The species Deathwatch Beetles is primarily found in soft woods (girder, beams, foundation timbers,
some types of furniture, with some species attacking books). False Powderpost female beetles bore a tunnel, or egg gallery,
into wood or other materials, then deposit eggs in pores or cracks within the tunnel. Adults of some species bore through
such soft metal as lead and silver, as well as plaster and other non-wood materials. Affected structural wood should be removed
and replaced whenever possible.
Wood Wasps and Horntails. Wood wasp damage in buildings is likely to be more cosmetic
than structurally weakening. Emerging wood wasps can chew through any substance: wallboard or plaster walls, hardwood floors,
carpeting, linoleum, non-ceramic floor tiles, and other interior surfaces.
Carpenter Ants. Several
species can damage wood in building and other structures. Though ants don’t eat wood, they bore into it to make their
nests, sometimes causing serious structural damage. Also, they nest in hollow doors, cracks and crevices, furniture, wall
voids, and termite galleries. New building infestation occurs when land-cleaning in the area disturbs existing native colonies.
Excerpts from University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, UCIPMOnline, “Statewide
Pest Management Program”. 
