Most Common House Shopping Pitfalls and Hazards: Identifying Possible Toxins and Pollutants in a Home
Looking for a new home is a milestone, but it can be filled with design errors, toxic failures fire starters and toxic substances that can easily rain on your new-home parade, and even cause a health decline, if the proper precautions aren't taken.
Is There External Sources of Radio Frequency Radiation?
First, you want to determine that your new home is not being blasted by radio frequency radiation, or wireless radiation. Examine the area around the house to understand the potential toxins that can enter the home. You can do a quick check with a good consumer EMR meter or get a building biologist to conduct an EMF assessment.
I always check if there might be antennas just out of sight to the eye from the perspective of being at home. This means taking a walk around the neighbourhood or even visiting other buildings at the same height.
Are there digital infrastructure visible to your eye from the house? In more urban areas, it can be difficult to avoid all radio frequency radiation completely. A general rule of thumb is distance is your friend; and that any antenna ought to be at least 500 metres away from any spot in your home.
Start here to find out why radiofrequency radiation is the 21st-century pollutant that we are only beginning to understand.
Is asbestos used in the building?
Asbestos is found in many places within old homes. It is used in a mind-boggling range of construction materials: everything from heating system insulation, decorative spray-on ceiling treatments, vinyl flooring, flooring adhesive, cement roofing & ceiling sheets to even insulation on boilers and pipes.
Asbestos fibres are able to break into smaller fibres (more than 1,200 times thinner than a human hair). When released into the air, asbestos is pretty much invisible to the eye, and quickly circulates through your home or workplace. These fibres become trapped in lung tissues and can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue that lines the chest cavity.
Most developed nations, including Australia and all countries within the European Union, has a full ban on the use of asbestos.
In Singapore, buildings builts before 1991 could contain asbestos-containing materials.
In Malaysia, the use of asbestos is only partially banned. Asbestos construction materials such as roof and ceiling tiles are still sold in the market. There are no acts or regulations prohibiting the use of asbestos in private buildings in Malaysia.
Is there water leaks or damage? Are there any water stains?
Water damage occurs long before you see any visible sign of it. But many signs of water damage are easy to spot once you know what to look for. Use your eyes — and your nose — to check walls, floors, ceilings, pipes and a few other less obvious areas.
Few things are more frustrating as a homeowner than dealing with water damage. You try to keep your home in good condition, only for a small water leak to snowball into major catastrophes that seem to quickly burn a hole in your pocket.
Water leaks and damage at home are also a major cause of lung-related illnesses.
Any yellow or brownish water stains on the ceilings or walls is a sure sign of water leakage (those areas enclose plumbing). As water makes contact with these areas, it can leave behind unsightly marks that are hard to miss.
Check for foundational issues like leaning walls, large cracks in the foundation floor, or displaced moldings and trim—all signs of chronic leaks and moisture buildup underground.
Another tip is to use your nose. Do you smell anything earthy or musty smell in the home? This is another sign of a potential leak causing water to build up inside your walls, crawlspaces, or elsewhere.
Is there visible mold?
If mold is actually appearing on walls, ceilings, and around wet areas such as the sink, it’s already in an advanced stage of growth.
You might even your sinuses acting up for seemingly no reason. Mold exposure triggers the immune system, which typically involves allergy-like symptoms such as sinus issues, runny nose, itchy skin and eyes, asthma, shortness of breath, and more.
Does the Home Layout Ensure Good Ventilation?
In the bathroom, poor ventilation is a major contributor to condensation. Look for water staining or mould on the walls and ceiling. Note whether the bathroom has an exhaust fan (and that it works!) and check how clean the fan is.
Is There Faulty Wiring?
While old and/or faulty wiring is most often associated with electrical fires, they can cause high levels of artificial electromagnetics to permeate the home, and impact your health.
Regardless of whether faulty wiring is found, it is probably a good idea to give the electrical wiring an electrical inspection, and ideally a complete wiring overhaul, to make things safer and bring the wiring up to code and eliminate any possibility of faulty wiring.
Radon Gas Build-up
Radon is a naturally occurring gas present in almost all soil and rocks, especially in granite regions. It is a radioactive gas that emits alpha particles, a high-energy radiation that damages DNA in human cells and causes lung cancer. Radon particles, when inhaled, become lodged in the lungs where they continue to emit alpha particles.
If a large buildup of this gas seeps into a home, a person breathing in the gas for years on end may become more prone to respiratory issues or even lung cancer. Italy, as an example, estimates that 10% of all cases of lung cancer in Italy are related to radon.
Radon is colourless, odourless, and tasteless so a radon test kit can help determine if there are dangerous levels in the home. Radon enters a building through cracks in the floor or walls of the basement or foundation. indoor radon concentrations can vary widely around the world.
Choosing a Good Place for Your Peace of Mind (And Safeguard for Health)
The reality is that most of us live in polluted environments, and most construction, design, and lifestyle items may be contaminated with toxins. As a homeowner, we want a place that can be our sanctuary and safe haven from external stresses. Inside, any hidden surprises in a home can be your worst nightmare, especially when it comes to its impact on your very health. Keep in mind that this list is just the most common hazard pitfalls in a home (especially in urban areas).