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 | The basement is contaminated with mold. |
| The mold condition cannot be controlled. Expensive waterproofing is required. |
| Because of mold behind the sheetrock, a finished basement must be "unfinished." |
| The attic has elevated mold due to neglected roof leaks, even leaks that have been repaired. |
| Ductwork has mold and cannot be adequately cleaned. |
| Custom-built old windows must be replaced due to lead paint. Peeling exterior paint tests positive for lead. |
| Magnetic fields are elevated from the power lines. |
| There is stray voltage in the earth. |
| Asthmatic attacks increase due to mold from an old roof leak, fixed long ago. |
| Water enters at foundation of the bi-level in numerous places. Allergies and asthma increase in family members. |
| The house is in a location conducive to mold growth. |
| The flooring on the first floor of the house is contaminated with mold. The teenage son with asthma refused to take his coat off in the house after the family moved in. He moved to his grandmother's house. |
| A "dry" finished basement has elevated mold growth. |
| Improper flood clean-up results in elevated levels of Aspergillus mold. The man has a headache all the time in the house. |
| Magnetic fields from power lines are elevated throughout the house. This house is in the top 5% of residences for elevated power line fields. |
| Grounding issues result in elevated magnetic fields at this house. The problem is that the source of the problem is at the neighbors' house. |
| Magnetic fields are elevated in this co-op apartment, because the living room wall backs onto the complex's electric room. |
| Magnetic fields are elevated in the children's play area in the backyard. |
| Even though magnetic fields from the power lines are low, magnetic fields in the house are high. The woman reports memory loss. |
| A mold risk assessment, including on-site microscope investigation |
| Electromagnetic fields from power lines and stray voltage in the earth |
| Electromagnetic fields from wiring and grounding issues |
| Radio frequency transmissions |
| Chemical lead screening (unless an XRF inspector is called in) |
| Other topics such as pesticide history, volatile organic compounds, and ventilation concerns |
| Assessment of ductwork
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| Call Enviro Health Environmental Home Inspections to schedule one (717-583-4155 - voice mail). Because
there are so few firms doing this specialized type of inspection, we do our best to meet people's needs and timetables -- but we are limited. Please give us as much lead time as you can. Be prepared for travel fees if there is no inspector nearby. Although we are located in eastern Pennsylvania, we schedule inspections in CT - MA - MD - NJ - NY - PA - VA - WV. We are continually on the road, "circuit riding." For those not in this area, we may be able to refer you to a similar company in another part of the country. | ||||||||||||||
| Do your own environmental pre-purchase screening on the houses you are considering, guided by the Enviro Health
self help manual, How to Screen a Prospective Purchase ( or Rental Property).
See the Product section. I don't recommend doing this anymore than I would recommend that you check your prospective home for structural defects. An engineer's report is pretty standard when you are buying a house. You are paying for the individual's training, equipment, and expertise. It's the same with hiring an environmental inspector. The problem arises when there is no environmental inspector to be had. If you can't find someone to hire who will cover all the items discussed on this page, then your only other option is to educate yourself as best you can and hope that you will be able to pick up on red flags. A main portion of the manual relates to electromagnetic fields. You will be shown how to determine which areas of elevated magnetic fields can be fixed after you move into the house, and which cannot be fixed. You will even be shown how to measure stray voltage in the yard, something which experience shows affects sensitive individuals. Other subjects addressed in this pre-purchase manual include:
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Please note that a more extensive discussion of indoor air quality and EMFs is found in the follow-up Enviro Health
manuals. The pre-purchase manual addresses only what is necessary to know for deciding for or against a house purchase.
Those are your choices: connect up with a company experienced in this type of inspection or do the best you can on your own, guided by the Enviro Health manuals. Allow two weeks for the arrival of a manual.
If you wish to schedule an Enviro Health pre-purchase evaluation, call
1-888-735-9649 or 717-583-4155 (voice
mail) or send a note to envirohomeinfo@mindspring.com. Pre-arranged phone consultations are also available ($60/hour, plus phone charges).
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© 2001 May E. Dooley -
Enviro Health Environmental Home Inspections |
