Senior Safety and Environmental Hazards

Living in Place
Nov 28, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Dec 11, 2022

adapted from article by Erik Listou

Environmental hazards are a serious matter for everyone. However, it is especially important to check for these in any home where a senior is living.

Here are some of the main hazards potentially present in a home:

Radon Gas
Asbestos
Contaminated Water
Mold
Lead
VOCs

Radon Gas

Exposure to radon is estimated to be the second-leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year (range of 8,000 to 45,000). Testing for radon in air and water is crucial. Just because a radon in air reading is within the EPA limits does not mean that the reading for radon in water will be low. Both tests are crucial. We offer a discount if both tests are ordered at the same time.

Download this .pdf for more information on Radon's toxicity.

Asbestos

Some homes, especially older homes, may contain asbestos.

Where is asbestos often found?

Wall plaster – little white fibers
Vermiculite insulation in attics and walls
Floor tiles and sheet goods, including the adhesives
Wallpaper
Roofing and siding
Textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings
Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves protected with asbestos paper, millboard, or cement sheets
Hot water and steam pipes coated with asbestos insulation
Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets
Heat-resistant fabrics

What Illnesses Can Asbestos Cause?

Cancers:

Ovarian
Laryngeal
Asbestosis
Benign Pleural Diseases - Mesothelioma

Asbestos – What to Do

1. Testing - Hire a licensed professional. Ask for referrals

https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/state-asbestos-contacts 2. Follow their recommendations

Cover
Remove

Resources:

Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.gov/asbestos
Consumer Products Safety Commission - https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/home/asbestos-home
International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants - https://iac2.org

Lead

Naturally occurring, very soft, dense, and ductile (moldable) metal
Still used in some commercial products made in or imported into the United States
Very stable and accumulates in the environment
Resistant to corrosion, although acidic water may leach lead out of pipes, fittings, and solder (metal joints)

Where is lead often found?

If your home was built before 1978, it probably has items that were coated or made with lead. If the finishes still look good, they probably contain lead. Common items with lead include:

Paint
Tile glazing
Cabinet finishes
Floor finishes

Lead and Illness In children, even mild lead poisoning can have a permanent impact on attention and IQ. People who survive toxic lead levels may have some permanent brain damage. Children are more vulnerable to serious long-term problems. A complete recovery from chronic lead poisoning may take months to years. (Jan 31, 2017 Lead poisoning: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia)

Lead stays in the body for different periods of time, depending on where it is. Half of the lead in the blood will be excreted in 25 days (this is called the "half-life"). In soft tissues, it takes 40 days for half of the lead to be excreted. In bones and teeth, it takes much longer, up to 10 years or longer. (May 26, 2001 OSH Basics - The Health Hazards of Lead - Osh.Net www.osh.net/articles/archive/osh_basics_2001_may26.htm)

Lead - What to Do? As a non-professional, it is very risky to remove lead. Surfaces could be damaged which could expose more lead and in general the risk of exposure is too great. Hire a professional to avoid exposure and damage. In addition, a professional can accurately remove all the lead and create a professional report.

Mold

There are over 100,000 types of mold. Most are harmless to humans. The following twelve are some of the more harmful ones: 1. Acremonium

Toxigenic mold whose appearance evolves over time.
Typically grows in humidifers, cooling coils, drain pans and window sealants

2. Alternaria

Most common form of allergenic mold
Typically grows wherever dampness occurs (bathtubs, showers, below leaking sinks, and behind walls or cabinets where a leak has occurred)

3. Aspergillus

Common mold found in American households
There are over 185 species appearing in many different colors

4. Aureobasidium

An allergenic mold
Can sometimes be found growing behind wallpaper or on painted or wooden surfaces

5. Chaetomium

Commonly found in water-damaged homes and buildings
Has a cotton-like texture and usually changes color over time

6. Cladosporium

Can grow in both warm and cold conditions
Often found thriving in indoor materials such as fabrics, upholsteries, carpets

7. Fusarium

Capable of growing and spreading at cold temperatures
An allergenic and toxigenic type of mold that grows in homes with water damage

8. Mucor

Allergenic form of mold that usually grows in thick patches
Grows near air conditioning, HVAC systems and ducting due to moisture from condensation

9. Penicillin

Allergenic form of mold that is easily recognizable by its blue or green colored surface with velvety texture
Often found in water damaged buildings

10. Stachybotrys

Also known as nefarious black mold
Toxigenic type of mold that can also cause allergic reactions
Thrives in damp, wet areas with high humidity levels

11. Trichoderma

Allergenic mold that is generally white in color with green patches
Commonly grows in the home on wet surfaces and moist areas

12. Ulocladium

Thrives in wetness and water and is usually black in color
Can be found in kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and around windows with high condensation levels

Mold - What to Do? Clean It with Bleach? Not!!

OSHA and the EPA have specifically advised against the use of bleach for mold remediation.
Bleach is caustic and extremely harmful to wood and many other surfaces. If bleach is used on wood, it will weaken the wood by breaking down its fibers. This can create further problems with the structural integrity of the home.
When mixed with ammonia, bleach creates a deadly gas! *Remember, urine contains ammonia! Using bleach in the toilet could also create a toxic gas.
Considered a toxic chemical, bleach is classified the same as gasoline.
In its gaseous form (room temperature) chlorine releases dioxins, a known cancer causing compound.
Highly corrosive to skin, bleach exposure to bare skin creates a hydrolysis reaction. This means the “oily” feeling is actually the top layer of your skin beginning to dissolve!
Hire a Professional! Living in Place Assessments performs mold testing.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids
Include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects
Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors
VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products - numbering in the thousands.

Where are VOCs often found?