Your house can make you sick. You may be exposed to dangerous toxins.

[Guest guest]

Your house can make you sick

You may be exposed to dangerous toxins. Get rid of them without

getting ripped off.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/05/real_estate/home_toxins.moneymag/?

postversion=2009010606

(Money Magazine) -- You're sniffling and wheezing your way through

another winter. A run of bad luck with germs? Sure, but it also may

be the result of something more insidious: toxins.

Chemicals found in common home furnishings can cause asthma and flu-

like symptoms, and your basement or bathroom may be harboring

allergy-inducing mold. You could even be experiencing a reaction to

a more dangerous substance that could cause kidney damage or cancer.

The problem of home toxins has increased in recent years, says

Kincaid, an industrial hygienist in San . It's a nasty byproduct

of the well-meaning drive to become more energy-efficient. " We used

to live in houses that were not well insulated and allowed a lot of

air to come in, " says Kincaid. Now that homes are tightly sealed to

prevent airflow from outside, chemicals can become more concentrated

in your indoor space. That risk goes up in the winter, when your

doors and windows generally remain shut.

Banishing toxins from your home isn't an exciting improvement, but

it's a crucial one, since many states counsel home buyers to do

environmental checks before closing on a home. Below you'll find

five of the most dangerous and common toxins to watch for, along

with the most wallet-friendly ways to nip them in the bud.

TOXIN RADON DANGER LEVEL: HIGH [4]

It's the second-leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

Who's at risk: Everyone. It's an odorless, colorless gas that comes

from the soil and can leak into your home. It's been found in every

type of house and in every state.

What to do: Radon test kits are available at most hardware stores

for $10 to $20. Place one in your basement and leave it for two

days. If the level of radon in your home is high, you'll need to

spend about $1,200 to have a contractor who's an expert in radon

removal put in a venting system, which will direct the gas away from

the house. Unfortunately, your homeowners insurance probably won't

cover the cost.

If you have recently installed granite countertops, you'll need to

buy a second test kit for your kitchen too, since some granite that

includes uranium can emit radon gas. It's not likely that your

countertop will cause a high radon reading (it affects only about 5%

to 10% of granite on the market), but if yours is affected, you'll

have to either revamp your kitchen ventilation or replace your

granite counter.

TOXIN ARSENIC DANGER LEVEL: HIGH [4]

The poison has been linked to various kinds of cancer and a range of

unpleasant side effects, from nausea to blindness.

Who's at risk: Anyone who has a wooden deck, porch, fence, tree

house or outdoor play furniture built before 2005. Arsenic is a

preservative, and until four years ago, wood was treated with it to

prevent rotting. The chemical can leach into surrounding soil

(affecting plants growing in the ground nearby), and it's possible

to touch arsenic-treated wood and come away with it on your hands.

Young children are especially vulnerable, since they tend to put

their fingers in their mouths.

What to do: No need to pony up for a new deck; just treat the wood

every year with an oil-based stain so that when you touch the wood,

you're touching the sealant, not the arsenic. It's best to do it in

the spring, says Ginsberg, Ph.D., author of " What's Toxic,

What's Not, " so your deck will be ready for the summer, when it's

going to be used the most. You can find various weatherproofing

stains for about $25 a gallon.

TOXIN LEAD DANGER LEVEL: MODERATE [3]

Lead can damage the central nervous system, kidneys and blood cells;

even low levels in the blood can impair mental and physical

development.

Who's at risk: Those living in homes that date back to the '70s.

What to do: Don't use home test kits for lead -- they aren't

reliable. Instead, get recommendations for private labs from your

state housing department. The test will cost you about $20 to $30;

if it comes back positive, cover your walls with a coat of

encapsulant (about $40 a gallon).

Unfortunately, the biggest problem probably isn't the paint on your

walls -- it's the paint on your windowsills. " The window grinds it

down to a fine powder and the breeze can blow it in, " Ginsberg

says. " It can contaminate the whole room. " Your best bet is to

replace the windows, including the woodwork and tracks. If there's a

toddler in the house, consider replacing moldings and baseboards as

well, since kids can chip off paint by chewing on it.

TOXIN FORMALDEHYDE DANGER LEVEL: MODERATE [3]

Formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can cause

nausea, dizziness and allergy symptoms. Chronic exposure can damage

your liver and central nervous system.

Who's at risk: Anyone who has recently added new floors, carpets or

furniture; moved into a new home; or used common brands of paints or

aerosol sprays. The adhesive used in carpeting and to hold together

pressed-wood products contains formaldehyde, which releases that and

other chemicals into the air. (That " new carpet " smell may be your

Berber emitting chemicals.) Many paints, sealants and lacquers also

release compounds.

What to do: If you've been in your home for a few years, relax. " The

building has had a chance to outgas, " says Banta, an industrial

hygienist and co-author of " Prescriptions for a Healthy House. "

If you're refurbishing, one option is to opt for VOC-free building

materials, but you'll pay a steep price: Formaldehyde-free bamboo

flooring from EcoTimber, for instance, costs $5.79 to $6.49 a square

foot, compared with $3.87 to $4.57 a square foot for bamboo wood

flooring from Home Depot.

Can't afford to go totally VOC-free? Splurge on the bedroom; it's

generally where you spend the majority of your indoor time, so

you'll reap more benefit from the change. Alternatively, simply

renovate and buy new furniture during warmer months, when you can

leave your windows open. When you order a new carpet, ask the

factory to let it air out for a couple of weeks in the warehouse

before delivering it. Almost all VOC chemicals will dissipate into

the air over time.

TOXIN MOLD DANGER LEVEL: LOW [2]

Mold doesn't present a severe health risk, but it may worsen asthma.

If you're allergic to mold, it can also cause nasal congestion,

irritated eyes or wheezing.

Who's at risk: If you've had a water problem, such as a roof or

plumbing leak, and the area was wet for more than 48 hours.

What to do: Toxic black mold has gotten a lot of press in recent

years, but regular mold spores " are everywhere, " Ginsberg says, and

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they rarely

cause adverse health conditions.

That said, if mold is unsightly or causing your sinuses to act up,

you'll probably want to get rid of it. If it's a small area (less

than three feet by three feet), remove it yourself with detergent

and water. If it's a larger section, you'll want to bring in a

professional to prevent spreading mold spores around your house.

Expect to pay $150 to $200 for a mold inspection and $500 and up for

removal, depending on how widespread the problem is. Your homeowners

insurance may cover it, but be warned: After insurers were slapped

with lawsuits over black mold a few years back, they began excluding

mold coverage and socking homeowners who reported water damage with

higher premiums and deductibles.

Regardless, it's certainly worth spending $150 or so for a

dehumidifier in your basement to draw extra water out of the air.

Sometimes an ounce of prevention is the healthiest possible fix.

3 more toxins to avoid

Carbon monoxide

To avoid exposure, get your furnace inspected, cleaned and tuned up

every fall. Place a CO detector in the basement, where levels tend

to be highest, and another one in the bedroom, where it would wake

you if you were sleeping.

Asbestos

Until the 1970s, it was common to find asbestos used in insulation

and other building products. If the insulation is in good condition,

though, it's fine to leave it -- just wrap it in duct tape to keep

the asbestos in place.

Cleaning products

Ditch ones with bleach or ammonia, which can cause breathing

problems, and stop using aerosol spray cans. Instead, opt for

cleaners based on peroxide and vinegar, and use baking soda instead

of spray air freshener.

[Guest guest]

Excellent article, KC. Of course, mold would have been given higher

priority than it was. Certainly was downplayed. Thanks.

Barth

t> Your house can make you sick

t> You may be exposed to dangerous toxins. Get rid of them without

t> getting ripped off.

t> http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/05/real_estate/home_toxins.moneymag/?

t> postversion=2009010606