March 2007
Renovation hazards
Keeping safe
DUST IN THE WIND Protect your lungs from pressure-treated wood particles by wearing a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator.
Sharp saw blades and nail studded 2x4s are obvious home-remodeling hazards. But other dangers aren’t as easy to spot. For
example, lead dust and asbestos fibers, often kicked up into the air when old walls come down, can settle on everything from
doorknobs to the dinner table.
Here are five serious contaminants associated with common building materials, along with what you can do to protect yourself and your family, and several safer alternatives. Whatever the task, seal off work areas from the rest of the home and wipe down and air out the entire house once the job is done. Also consider temporarily relocating during messy or lengthy projects.
ARSENIC
What it is. A carcinogenic heavy metal known to cause everything from contact dermatitis and diarrhea to kidney damage.
Where it is. In pressure-treated wood preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which was used before 2004 to construct residential decks, foundations, and play sets. The arsenic in this wood can leach into the soil. (Arsenic may also be found in soil contaminated by since banned rat poisons and weed killers.)
How to protect yourself. Stain or seal treated wood and wear a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator mask while sanding or sawing it. Never burn or incinerate it.
Safer alternatives. New wood preservatives like alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), copper azole, and sodium silicate are less toxic compounds. Also consider cedar, ipe, and redwood, which are naturally bug- and rot-resistant.
ASBESTOS
What it is. A microscopic mineral fiber that, if inhaled, can lead to cancer.
Where it is. Insulation for piping, boilers, and furnaces; floor and ceiling tiles; adhesives; popcorn walls and ceilings; and siding made before 1990.
How to protect yourself. Do not disturb building materials that you suspect contain asbestos; instead, go to www.leadlisting.com to locate a local asbestos-abatement contractor, who can remove or encapsulate the material as necessary. Ask for documentation confirming that the contractor has completed federal- or state-approved training.
FIBERGLASS
What it is. A synthetic spun-glass fiber that can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The jury is still out on its long-term health effects.
Where it is. The wall and attic insulation in about 90 percent of U.S. homes.
How to protect yourself. Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, pants, safety glasses with side shields, gloves, and a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator mask when handling the material, and wash work clothes separately. Seal off exposed insulation with drywall.
Safer alternatives. Fully encapsulated fiberglass batts or cellulose, a wood pulp-based insulation treated with borates, have fewer health concerns. (Cellulose is usually installed by professionals.)
LEAD
What it is. A toxic metal that, even in small doses, can stunt cognitive development and cause behavioral problems in children and prompt high blood pressure and reproductive and kidney ills in adults.
Where it is. Primarily in residential paints manufactured before 1978, but also old faucets, plumbing pipes, and solder; some ceramics and crystal; contaminated soil; and older painted furniture and toys.
How to protect yourself. Lead-paint removal is best left to certified specialists. Find one by calling the National Lead Information Center, 800-424-5323, and go to www.epa.gov/lead for more information. DIYers can paint over intact pigments, but avoid sanding, scraping, heating, or otherwise disturbing areas where lead might lurk. Wipe down floors, windowsills, and toys frequently with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Replace lead pipes and solder. Install a water filter that removes lead, and flush faucets for at least 30 seconds before using the water for cooking or drinking.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)
What they are. Noxious chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene, which can trigger short-term headaches, dizziness, and nausea, as well as chronic respiratory problems, and may increase cancer risk.
Where they are. Emitted from carpeting, caulk, cleaners, glues, paints, plastics, pressed wood products, and stains.
How to protect yourself. Wear a snug-fitting respirator with organic filter cartridges while working with building materials or finishing furniture, and open windows and use fans or work outside.
Safer alternatives. Buy products made from untreated solid wood and use nontoxic finishes (like milk paint) and cleaning supplies labeled low-VOC. (The Carpet and Rug Institute, for example, uses its “Green Label” testing program to identify such products.) Water-based latex paints typically contain fewer VOCs than oil-based alkyd paints and clean up with soap and water.
Here are five serious contaminants associated with common building materials, along with what you can do to protect yourself and your family, and several safer alternatives. Whatever the task, seal off work areas from the rest of the home and wipe down and air out the entire house once the job is done. Also consider temporarily relocating during messy or lengthy projects.
ARSENIC
What it is. A carcinogenic heavy metal known to cause everything from contact dermatitis and diarrhea to kidney damage.
Where it is. In pressure-treated wood preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA), which was used before 2004 to construct residential decks, foundations, and play sets. The arsenic in this wood can leach into the soil. (Arsenic may also be found in soil contaminated by since banned rat poisons and weed killers.)
How to protect yourself. Stain or seal treated wood and wear a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator mask while sanding or sawing it. Never burn or incinerate it.
Safer alternatives. New wood preservatives like alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ), copper azole, and sodium silicate are less toxic compounds. Also consider cedar, ipe, and redwood, which are naturally bug- and rot-resistant.
ASBESTOS
What it is. A microscopic mineral fiber that, if inhaled, can lead to cancer.
Where it is. Insulation for piping, boilers, and furnaces; floor and ceiling tiles; adhesives; popcorn walls and ceilings; and siding made before 1990.
How to protect yourself. Do not disturb building materials that you suspect contain asbestos; instead, go to www.leadlisting.com to locate a local asbestos-abatement contractor, who can remove or encapsulate the material as necessary. Ask for documentation confirming that the contractor has completed federal- or state-approved training.
FIBERGLASS
What it is. A synthetic spun-glass fiber that can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. The jury is still out on its long-term health effects.
Where it is. The wall and attic insulation in about 90 percent of U.S. homes.
How to protect yourself. Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, pants, safety glasses with side shields, gloves, and a NIOSH-approved N95 respirator mask when handling the material, and wash work clothes separately. Seal off exposed insulation with drywall.
Safer alternatives. Fully encapsulated fiberglass batts or cellulose, a wood pulp-based insulation treated with borates, have fewer health concerns. (Cellulose is usually installed by professionals.)
LEAD
What it is. A toxic metal that, even in small doses, can stunt cognitive development and cause behavioral problems in children and prompt high blood pressure and reproductive and kidney ills in adults.
Where it is. Primarily in residential paints manufactured before 1978, but also old faucets, plumbing pipes, and solder; some ceramics and crystal; contaminated soil; and older painted furniture and toys.
How to protect yourself. Lead-paint removal is best left to certified specialists. Find one by calling the National Lead Information Center, 800-424-5323, and go to www.epa.gov/lead for more information. DIYers can paint over intact pigments, but avoid sanding, scraping, heating, or otherwise disturbing areas where lead might lurk. Wipe down floors, windowsills, and toys frequently with warm water and an all-purpose cleaner. Replace lead pipes and solder. Install a water filter that removes lead, and flush faucets for at least 30 seconds before using the water for cooking or drinking.
VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCs)
What they are. Noxious chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene, which can trigger short-term headaches, dizziness, and nausea, as well as chronic respiratory problems, and may increase cancer risk.
Where they are. Emitted from carpeting, caulk, cleaners, glues, paints, plastics, pressed wood products, and stains.
How to protect yourself. Wear a snug-fitting respirator with organic filter cartridges while working with building materials or finishing furniture, and open windows and use fans or work outside.
Safer alternatives. Buy products made from untreated solid wood and use nontoxic finishes (like milk paint) and cleaning supplies labeled low-VOC. (The Carpet and Rug Institute, for example, uses its “Green Label” testing program to identify such products.) Water-based latex paints typically contain fewer VOCs than oil-based alkyd paints and clean up with soap and water.
