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    AmyH
    Expert opinions wanted: What environmental risks concern...
    Topic posted September 28, 2009 by AmyHSuper Contributor, last edited January 19, 2012
    488 Views, 7 Comments
    Title:
    Expert opinions wanted: What environmental risks concern you?
    Content:

    I'm researching a potential magazine article and I'd like to know: What tests do you, the professional environmental consultants and attorneys, perform in your own neighborhoods/homes? Did you have your home tested for radon before you bought it? Did you consider its proximity to gas stations and dry cleaners? If you're a parent, are there environmental risks that concern you with regard to your children? Do you regularly have your kids' lead levels tested? Did you check the history of their daycare or school? Why or why not?

    Comment

    • EdG
      posted September 30, 2009 by EdGElite Contributor

      I have worked on several residential closings recently - most had radon issues.  I am working a case with residential tenants that lived in an apartment with a child less than 6 years old (and now a new born) with lead based paint in violation of state and federal laws. 

      Several Massachusetts towns including Gloucester, MA - have made the news on this site for coliform bacteria water contamination in the residential drinking water.

      And I am a proud parent of a 6 year old beauty that attends public school.  So yes.

      Ed

    • AmyH
      posted September 30, 2009 by AmyHSuper Contributor

      Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Do you also check your child's school/daycare? How would you go about doing that, with some sort of historical report?

    • dcrocker
      posted September 30, 2009 by dcrockerElite Contributor

      Hi Amy

      I bought my house 2 years ago when my son was a new-born, and yes, I ran a government records check on it even though it's in the woods. Nearest thing I found was a UST 1/2 mile away, downgradient. The seller's radon disclosure was low but I had my own test done and (shocker) it was a bit above CT levels so I spent about $1500 to have mitigation system put in. Also tested well water which checked out fine.  When Kiddie Kollege story broke in NJ, I ran a report on his day care which also checked out fine. I don't have his lead levels checked, but my house was built when lead based paint was no longer in vogue. I tell everyone I know who's buying a house to check out environmental records. You can't count on the seller or realtor to tell you anything and it's just too risky (esp. with new housing developments being built on former landfills or industrial sites) to make such a major purchase without turning over some stones first.

      Dianne

    • Stones
      posted September 30, 2009 by StonesContributor

      I have to admit that I came into the home buying situation with a good background on environmental issues.  The tangible environmental concerns in a house are asbestos and lead in paint.  Radon is a bit more evanescent but a definite concern.  A leaking home heating oil underground tank will hurt your pocketbook more than your health.  Location is a consideration with respect to nearby gas stations, dry cleaners, and industrial areas.  Evaluate your own experience with regard to environmental concerns.  If you're unsure or inexperienced relevant to environmental concerns, then hire an environmental professional to test, research, and interpret the findings.

      In my case, we bought a 1968 house 17 years ago.  It had no obvious friable suspect asbestos-containing materials that I could see.  I've collected thousands of samples over my career so I now have X-ray asbestos vision.  The paint was in good shape, likely with several coats of newer latex paint so I wasn't worried about lead in paint.  Always had gas heating.  The Puget Sound region has low potential for radon because it's mostly covered by hundreds of feet of glacial deposits.  The house was the first development on the property.  The closest commercial properties are over a mile away and it backs up to 120-acres of wooded park land.  Score!

      I considered checking the kid's schools for their asbestos management plans because the elementary school was a vintage 1960s building.  But again, I could see from my visits there that there were no glaring problems and the school was well maintained.  The teachers were mostly organicky greenie young woman who would likely raise alarm bells for any environmental issues.  The high school where my two boys now attend is three years old.  No problems there.

    • Tom Speight
      posted September 30, 2009 by Tom SpeightElite Contributor

      I have no children, so it's pretty much lead, asbestos, and fuel oil issues for houses..... asbestos shingles and siding used to be fairly common up here.  Apparently putting new insulation and siding over asbestos siding is technically legal, but you're still required to disclose.

    • EdG
      posted October 2, 2009 by EdGElite Contributor

      See this link "Family Forced to Vacate Toxic House".  Leaking oil tank - from a major regional developer of single family homes that built numerous similar homes with the tank 'partially buried' under the basement slab.

       

    • Matt Fox
      posted October 2, 2009 by Matt FoxElite Contributor

      I was looking at buying a house near La Puente, California many years ago.  The house was in a nice little development on the side of a hill and backed up to open space.  Base on my experience in the area, I knew there was a landfill there somewhere around there, so just for kicks I decided to take a little hike about 100 yards to the top of the hill behind the home.  When I got to the top of the hill, I saw that the landfill (which must be one of the largest in the world) actually backed up to the hill, and was about 100 yards from the house.  The trucks and earth moving equipment were busy burying garbage right there in front of me.  Of course I decided to pass on the house, and as I was leaving I noticed the main road leading up to the development was called Aroma Road.....I just had to laugh.