Air Earth and Water Environmental Consultants Ltd.

Air Earth & Water Environmental Consultants

Home Owner / Purchaser Services

If you presently own, or are thinking of purchasing, a home built before 1980 you should consider the potential for the presence of HAZARDOUS materials. Such materials include Asbestos, Lead, Mercury, PCB’s, and Formaldehyde, which were commonly used in the construction of these older homes.
Renovations and/or repairs to older homes may disturb one or more of these hazardous materials resulting in exposures and associated detrimental health effects for occupants.
Home Hazards 1

What are these Materials
and Where can they be Found?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fibre. Asbestos was commonly used as an insulating material on hot water pipes and ducts, sprayed insulation in attics, as a component of floor tiles, sheet flooring, and ceiling tiles, or in stucco finishes. The use of Asbestos in Canada was banned in 1978. However, existing supplies of the various asbestos containing products could be used up after that date.

Lead is a refined metal commonly found as a component of solders on copper piping, at concentrations of 40 to 60% by weight, or as a component of interior or exterior lead based paints, at concentrations of greater than 5% by weight.

Mercury is a refined metal, which remains liquid at room temperature. Mercury is commonly found in thermostats, as a compound inside fluorescent light lamps, and as a paint pigment.

PCB's, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, were manufactured products used as coolant and insulator fluids in transformers and capacitors. They also functioned as heat transfer fluids and as flame-retardants for wood products. PCB’s are commonly found in capacitors, and as a contaminant of the tar filler, of fluorescent light fixture ballasts. The use of PCB’s was banned in 1978.

Formaldehyde is a chemical compound that is used in glues in carpeting, furniture, vehicle upholstery (new car smell), plywood and wallboard, and was a component of sprayed foam insulation in walls of buildings. This foam material was known as Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI) and was mainly installed between 1977 and its ban in 1980. There was a government funded program for the removal of UFFI. But not all homes insulated with UFFI were abated. Even now there are UFFI clauses in most residential purchase agreements.

How Can They Affect Your Health?

Asbestos containing materials, when disturbed, release small fibres into the air, which may be inhaled. Once inhaled these fibres are deposited and retained in the airways and tissues of the lungs. Such deposits are associated with the development of diseases such as Mesothelioma and other types of Cancer. See our section on asbestos services for further details.

Lead is historically known to cause adverse health effects. Lead can be introduced in to the body by inhalation of lead containing dusts and/or digestion through drinking water from systems with lead pipes or solders. Lead poisoning affects primarily the brain and nervous system and may also damage the kidneys, digestive system, reproductive systems, as well as other organs. Lead accumulates in the body and may remain in an adult’s blood for up to 30 days but may also be stored in the bones for up to 30 years. See our section on Lead services for further details.

Mercury is also historically known to cause adverse health effects. Mercury can be introduced into the body through skin absorption, inhalation of vapour, or digestion. Mercury poisoning affects primarily the brain and nervous systems and may cause personality changes, trembling, nervousness, or even dementia depending on the level of exposure. One common name for Mercury poisoning is mad hatters decease.

PCB’s were first discovered as an environmental pollutant in 1966. PCB’s can be introduced to the body through absorption through the skin or ingestion of PCB contaminated foods such as fish. PCB’s accumulate and are stored in fatty tissues. PCB’s are a suspected carcinogen, cancer causing agent, as well as having other known adverse health effects including disruption of reproductive function, neurobehavioral and developmental deficits in children, along with systemic effects such as liver disease, diabetes, and effects on thyroid and immune systems.

UFFI was banned due to the off gassing of formaldehyde, release of formaldehyde gas, following installation. Formaldehyde is an irritating and toxic gas at significant concentrations. Symptoms of over exposure include irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, persistent cough and respiratory distress, skin irritation, nausea, headache, and dizziness. Some individuals are more sensitive and are affected at low concentrations. UFFI remaining in homes today generally is not a problem as off gassing is complete within six weeks of installation. However, if the UFFI gets wet it may break down inducing further release of formaldehyde gas.

Other Potential Concerns

There is also potential for other environmental concerns associated with older homes and property including contamination from Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and/or Past Land Uses, i.e. industrial site or dump site. Such problems can be costly to remediate.

Services Available

Home Inspections for Hazardous Materials and Environmental Concerns
Sampling and confirmation analysis of suspect hazardous materials
Evaluation of abatement requirements
Recommendation of qualified abatement contractors
Project management
Inspection and testing services during any abatement procedures
Complete Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) for mortgage requirements

Air Earth & Water Environmental Consultants personnel have over 30 years experience with hazardous materials. We are available to answer any questions you may have regarding hazardous materials or other environmental concerns. We will be pleased to provide a free (no obligation) quotation for any upcoming projects you may have.