WHAT THE HOMEOWNER SHOULD KNOW

Indoor air quality is a world-wide problem. According to the EPA, lung cancer due to radon exposure accounts for approximately 21,000 deaths each year. In fact, Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Lead is a great health threat to children and infants, with exposure leading to brain damage, kidney damage and neurological deficiencies. The EPA also reports that “Outbreaks of the fungi Stachybotrys chartarum (S. chartarum) are under investigation for an association with the deaths of infants in Cleveland, Ohio, and serious health problems in other areas of the U.S.” With recent hurricanes and flooding, damaged properties are overcome with high amounts of mold which carries with it potential respiratory problems and/or severe illness for the occupants of the property. Even owners of new commercial buildings and residential homes are finding that efficient air-tight construction often seals up moisture and allows for mold growth inside walls and insulation which often is undetected until someone gets symptoms of an illness. Sadly, these are just a few of the environmental hazards facing the world today.