InspectAPedia ^®

Indoor Environmental Hazard Detection, Testing, Cleanup, Illness, Symptoms, Diagnosis InspectAPedia®  -     This website provides consumer advice on environmental hazard inspection, detection, remediation. Indoor Air quality, gas testing, mold contamination, sewage backups, water contamination, other health & safety topics Environmental & health/safety hazard topic links at page left Environmental contamination & safety advice for home owners & home buyers

Environmental hazard inspection, detection, and remediation advice from an un-biased expert. See links at page left or scroll down. We provide authoritative, in-depth, un-biased online articles about environmental hazard detection, inspection, testing, research, health effects, cleanup & prevention: Allergens indoor, Animal dander, Asbestos, Carpet dust, Cell Phones, Carbon Monoxide, Disinfectants, Drinking Water, EMF, Electromagnetic Fields, Electrical Hazards, Exteriors of buildings, Fragrances, Fiberglass particles and Fiberglass Insulation, Fiberglass mold contamination, Formaldehyde, Toxic Gases, Hazmat maps, Indoor Air Quality Testing & Improvement, Lead paint, lead in water, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity, Mold inspection, testing, cleanup, prevention, MVOCs, Odors, Oil Tanks buried/above ground, Pet illness, Rodents mice urine fecals dust, Septic Systems, Sewage spills sewage contamination, Smells & Odors, odor source detection, sewage and septic odors, UFFI or Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation, Water contamination testing and correction.

The photo above shows steel chemical drums that we discovered on a residential property during a home inspection. Not only did these steel drums raise a question of possible environmental contamination of this site, even worse, they were uphill and close to a stream, raising a still more broad question of area contamination.

© Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Go directly to: Asbestos - EMF - Fiberglass - Gases - Chimneys - IAQ - Lead - Mold Insp Test - Oil Tanks - Septic - Water - or use links at page left for our full list of environmental topics

Environmental Hazard Testing, Effects, Remedies, Prevention Articles

• Air Filtration choices of filter types and filter location for optimum indoor air quality (IAQ) on hot air heating and air conditioning systems
• Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
• ASBESTOS IDENTIFICATION IN BUILDINGS provides a detailed guide to recognizing asbestos-containing materials in buildings and links to in depth articles about individual asbestos-containing building materials
• ASBESTOS: List of Asbestos-Containing Products provides our detailed list of known products in which asbestos was used
• ASBESTOS: Photo Guide to Materials / Products provides a photo guide to common asbestos-containing products
• Asbestos HVAC Ducts and Flues field identification photos and guide
• Asbestos Transite Pipes, Chimneys & Flues and safety hazards in buildings
• Asbestos Transite Pipe HVAC Ducts and safety hazards in buildings
• Asbestos Under the Microscope
• Careers in Environmental Science: list of resources, potential jobs, work areas on environmental topics and using environmental science, chemical, engineering, or environmental science degree
• Carpet Dust or Dust from HVAC? An Investigation of Indoor Dust Debris Blamed on a Heating/Cooling System Reveals Carpet Dust
• Cell phones cellular phone towers and possible health or cancer risks
• Chernobyl Nuclear Plant flaws in the Chernobyl Nuclear Facility before the reactor meltdown
• Disinfectants and Sanitizers in HVAC systems - use of, U.S. EPA advice
• Drinking Water Quality, Testing, and related health concerns: Inspection, Maintenance, Repairs, Product Failures
• Drinking Water Supply, Contamination Levels, Water Testing Procedures
  • Drinking Water testing, contamination, correction - all topics
  • Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
  • Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
  • Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is validGeneral water testing and corrective measure advice: contact your local health department
  • .Interpreting Drinking Water Test ResultsCorrecting Contaminated or Unsatisfactory WaterDrinking Water Contamination and Pollution How to Detect, Test, Correct, and Prevent Well Water Contamination - US EPA - Groundwater
  • Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum AllowedHow to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water
  • Lead Contamination from Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains, Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
  • When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
  • Extreme Lead Poisoning Symptoms Suggested by Feb 2006 NY Times Article on Kosovo Roma Camps
  • Water and Waste Water Test Methods, US EPA
  • Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living ATSDR: Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity [Big, Slow-Loading File] U.S. Government ATSDR Science Corner - 2.5MB PDF
  • Water Supply & Drain Piping, wells, Pumps, Water Supply EquipmentSeptic Systems Information Website, septic system maintenance, inspection, testing, repair, & alternatives, preventing septic system failures
• Electromagnetic Fields, Cancer, and Enviro-Scare: the relation of cycles of public fear and property values for Asbestos, UFFI, Radon, EMF, Lead hazards - "Enviro-Scare" - The Normal Curve Cycle of Public Fear of Environmental Issues
• Electromagnetic Field Measurement Procedures, a Recommended Electromagnetic Field EMF Survey Protocol and Procedure to document site conditions and to improve measurement reliability for the assessment of potential EMF exposure risks
• Electromagnetic Fields in the Workplace a good NIOSH document on EMFs, links to other NIOSH docs.
• Environmental Illness, support and health info database [this link is under revision--DF 1/06]
• Exteriors: conditions contributing to moisture, mold, mildew, mites, insects, water entry, ice dam leaks, basement water entry, dampness, and related health concerns for allergy and asthma or other respiratory distress
• Fiberglass building insulation and HVAC duct work insulation hazards
• Fiberglass carcinogenicity: Glass Wool Fibers Expert Panel Report, Part B - Recommendation for Listing Status for Glass Wool Fibers and Scientific Justification for the Recommendation", The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) expert panel for glass wool fibers exposures met at the Sheraton Chapel Hill Hotel, Chapel Hill, North Carolina on June 9-10, 2009, to peer review the draft background document on glass wool fibers exposures and make a recommendation for listing status in the 12th Edition of the RoC. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is one of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The National Toxicology Program is headquartered on the NIEHS campus in Research Triangle Park, NC.
• Fiberglass insulation mold: occurrence of mold contamination in fiberglass insulation can be impossible to see with the naked eye, but can be significant
  
• Fragrances, and burning scented candles can deposit "soot-like" marks on walls/ceilings and can contribute to health and respiratory complaints. Sometimes the soot marks (thermal tracking) left burning candles, especially scented candles, is mistaken for mold on surfaces. [In Process - DJF]
• Flooding: Mold Action Guide after Flooding: How to Minimize Mold Damage After a Building Flood
• FORMALDEHYDE HAZARDS - exposure sources, exposure limits, reducing exposure


• Gases: Toxic gases, indoor exposure levels, testing, identification
  •  Carbon Dioxide - CO
  •  Carbon Monoxide - CO
  • Gas Toxicity Levels - at what level is exposure to a particular gas considered hazardous or toxic?
  •   Gas Exposure Limits - what are the allowable toxic gas exposure levels? OSHA, NIOSH, etc.
  •   Volatile Organic Compounds - issues of exposure to VOC's and MVOC's from mold
  • Toxic Gas Exposure Effects - what are the effects on humans when exposed to various levels of various gases?
  •   Ammonia Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Arsine Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Bromine Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Carbon Dioxide Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Carbon Monoxide Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Ozone Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Nitrogen Oxides Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Propylene Gas exposure effects on humans
  •   Sulfur Dioxide Gas exposure effects on humans
  • Toxic Gas Test Procedures for screening non-workplace environments
  •   Toxic Gas Test Selection suggestions for choice of instrument and method
  •   Indoor Air Tests for mold, particulates, gases, odors, chemicals
  •   Particulate Testing for house dust, mold, allergens, fiberglass, other problem particles
  •   Non-regulated particulates - what exposure standards or limits should we consider
  •   Common indoor allergens - how to test for and recognize dust mites, animal allergens, mold, etc.
  • Oxygen - O₂- details effects of exposure at high levels
  • Ozone Warnings regarding use of ozone generators for odor removal or mold control
  • Ozone Hazards - risks to humans when ozone is used indoors
• Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
  Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings. We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro™ bellows pump, the Gastec™ cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif 8850 and TIF 8800. All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
• Radon Gas U.S. EPA Radon level maps
• Hazardous Material Waste Site Maps from ATSDR - U.S. CDC Gather - "Geographic Analysis Tool for Health and Environmental Research" online public access to data pertinent to public health


• Heating, Cooling, Air Filtration, Air Conditioning - common sources of both bioaerosol reservoirs and mold amplification in buildings [In Process-DJF]
• Air Conditioning system diagnosis and repair
• Chimneys, Flues, Woodstoves & Fireplaces: Safety Concerns, safe and proper venting of combustion gases, carbon monoxide hazards
• Disinfectants and Sanitizers in HVAC systems - use of, U.S. EPA advice
• Heating Systems: Inspection methods, Product Warnings
• HEATING OIL EXPOSURE HAZARDS, LIMITS exposure risks, hazards, allowable exposure limits for home heating oil
• Heating System Safe and Unsafe Venting & Carbon Monoxide - article by DJF on CO testing devices and the calculation of allowable carbon monoxide leakage from gas fired furnaces (Original: ASHI Technical Journal) [To be added here]
• Humidity: How Low Should You Keep Indoor Humidity to Avoid a Mold Problem
  
  
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS - do air tight homes mean bad indoor air quality? causes of variation in IAQ;
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE in-depth article on strategies for cleaning up indoor air and other indoor hazards
  •   Whole House Ventilation Strategies
      Air Filtering Strategies
      Particles in Indoor Air - Chart
      Air-Cleaner Types
      Air Filter Effectiveness
      Finding & Reducing Air Pollutants
      Radon Hazards
      Formaldehyde Hazards
      Biological Pollutants
      Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs
      Pesticide Exposure Hazards
      Lead Exposure Hazards
      Asbestos Hazards
      Carpeting and Indoor Air Quality
      Combustion Appliance Contaminants
      Backdrafting Appliances
      Fireplace & Woodstove Contaminants
      INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE
      INDOOR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ
• INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED comparing various air quality inspection and test methods shows which ones are reliable and which should not be trusted
• Insulation Material Identification
  
• Insulation Mold in Fiberglass - occurrence of hidden Penicillium & Aspergillus contamination in fiberglass insulation
• Insulation Mold Resistance of Foam - resistance of some foam insulation products to moisture & mold
• Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI - is UFFI a health hazard? how good an insulation product was it anyway?

• Lead Hazards: Advice, evaluation, mitigation, services - lead paint, lead in plumbing, lead in water, air, dust
• How to Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home U.S. CPSC publication with additional links and resource references
• Lead Hazards in Buildings, Dust, Paint, Water: General Advice, Testing Procedures, Illnesses with additional links and resource references for Lead Hazards
• Lead in Drinking Water : Advice
• Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from Lead Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
• Legionella sp. Health Concerns and advice, cleaning air conditioning systems, when to test for Legionella


• Mold, Toxic or Allergenic Inspection, Testing, Remediation, Prevention
• What to do about mold in buildings Main page for this topic
• Expert Toxic Mold Field Investigation & Mold Testing Service: Our senior expert goes where no one else wanted to look
• Our Toxic Mold Laboratory Analysis Service includes identity, photomicrographs, medical details, remediation advice. On-Site Mobile Lab Service is available for immediate on-premises particle determination.
• Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to a lab
• Action Guide for Mold: easy step by step what to do about mold.
• BUYERS GUIDE - home inspections for mold - when where how and why to check for mold in a building being purchased
• Clinical Atlas of Mold Toxicity - An Online Description of Toxic, Pathogenic, Allergenic Fungi, Fungal Diseases, and A List of Mold Related Illness Symptoms & Complaints
• Common Indoor Molds Found in Buildings, Table of most frequent molds in surface samples
• Flooding: Mold Action Guide after Flooding: How to Minimize Mold Damage After a Building Flood
• Floods in Buildings Basic steps - how prevent mold contamination after a building flood
• Hiring a mold or IAQ consultant - When to Hire Someone
• House Dust from an HVAC system frightened building occupants unnecessarily
• How to Find a Mold or IAQ Consultant, to guide the mold remediation & mold cleanup
• How to Look For Indoor Mold & Other Indoor Contaminants
• How to Recognize Indoor Mold - what mold looks like, mold identification photos - choosing what to sample, stuff that is not mold but is often mistaken for it, examples of harmless black mold
• How to use Your Flashlight to Look for Mold - Proper use of lighting discloses hard to see but toxic light or white mold colonies on walls.
• How to Prevent Mold - priorities, repairs, products
• How to Test For Mold - Which Mold Testing Methods are Valid & Which are a Waste of Time and Money
• How to send a mold test sample to our mold testing laboratory
• Mold Classes, & Mold Contamination Levels - Degrees of Severity of Mold Contamination in Buildings and in Lab Samples
• Mold-Resistant Building Practices - "Mold-proof" construction methods
• Mold Removal by Media Blasting - A test report (complete article, with illustrations) on the effectiveness of baking soda media blasting for cleaning fungal contamination in buildings
• Other Indoor Air Quality Concerns - Allergens, Animals, Asbestos, Carpets, Fiberglass, Toxic Gases, MVOCs, Humidity levels, Lead, Pollen, Rodents, Sewage Backups
• Reporting the Results of Mold and IAQ Investigations, what should be included in your mold inspection and mold test report to make it useful
• Technical & Laboratory Procedures for examining mold
• Products to Reduce or Remove Mold & Allergic Materials to reduce exposure to allergens and improve indoor air quality
• Frequently Asked Questions About Mold - find a quick answer to your mold concern

• Animal Smells may be due to current or prior pets in a building, pet urine or fecal waste, cat boxes, animal hair, dog dander, cat dander (are allergens and are indicators of the level of prior pet activity), dust tracked in by dogs. But animal odors in buildings can also occur when an animal such as a mouse or rat has died in a building cavity. A dead animal smell has been described by our clients with a wide variety of terms ranging from a vague noxious stink that seemed to vary with humidity to a sweet sickly smell. Dead animals or even insect nests in building plumbing, especially building vents, can also produce unexpected sewer odors - see Septic and Sewer gas odor links discussed below.
• Drain Odors: Plumbing Drain Noises - Diagnosis & Repair guide. This article discusses the cause, diagnosis, and cure of plumbing drain noises. That "blub blub" or "glug glug" noise you hear from a building drain might mean that there is a problem with the drain system itself, such as a partial drain blockage, a drain venting problem, a drain odor problem, or even a failing septic system. Here we discuss the causes and cures for plumbing drain noises, and we refer to key companion articles that assist in that diagnosis.
• Gas Odors: A Toxic Gas Testing Sampling Plan for Residential Indoor Air Investigations. This document outlines gas toxicity levels and gas testing procedures we use in field IAQ and environmental health investigations for a range of indoor gases which may be produced by building product outgassing, mold and MVOCs, mechanical systems, fire damage, or contamination from nearby industrial, beauty parlor, dry cleaning, or other activities which often produce noxious or toxic odors and gases.
• Mold Odors or Smells: This website provides information and procedures for finding, testing, cleaning and preventing indoor mold, toxic black mold, green mold, testing building indoor air quality, and other sick house / sick building investigations. Here are research articles, inspection and testing procedures, and contact information for expert services. We give in-depth information about indoor air quality problems: causes of respiratory illness, asthma, or other symptoms such as neurological or psychological problems, air quality investigation methods, and remediation procedures such as mold cleanup, handling toxic mold contamination, and building or mechanical system repairs. We offer advice on mold prevention and mold-resistant construction resistant to indoor problem molds such as the Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp. and Stachybotrys chartarum groups.
• Mold Odors: If we smell mold, is mold present and is that a problem? Most people have a pretty good idea of moldy or musty smell as associated with mold. If you smell mold or find it at important levels in screening samples of air, dust, or vacuumed surfaces, (by quantity or by particle type in samples) it is probably there.
• Mold Odors: Why do mold odors occur in our home following rain? Odors at exterior outlets sure sound as if there has been leakage into the wall and a probable mold colony. We need an expert visual inspection and possibly invasive sampling, combined with building history, to find and follow leak paths and high humidity cavities in order to inspect the most-likely mold reservoir targets in a building. The odors may be MVOC's which may be produced by some mold genera/species at varying levels as humidity, temperature, air pressure, and other variables change.
• Oil Odors: Leaky Oil Tank Piping at the oil storage tank filler or vent piping can be diagnosed and repaired
• Oil Tank Leaks and Smells are discussed at our website on handling above ground or buried heating oil storage tanks. These online articles answer most questions about above ground or buried oil storage tanks. Extensive free un-biased oil storage tank inspection and testing advice for property buyers and owners. This document lets you know what to ask about oil storage tanks, what oil tank leak tests to order, how to interpret oil tank testing results, what to do if there is a buried fuel or petroleum storage tank at a property, what to do if there is or was a leaky oil storage tank or petroleum storage tank, and how to reduce the chances of an oil leak or oil spill in the future. We include detailed information about underground (buried) oil storage tanks (USTs), aboveground oil storage tanks (ASTs), above ground fuel storage tanks, reporting and cleaning up oil tank leaks, and choosing among oil tank leak testing methods. We discuss how to find buried oil tanks, how to remove or abandon oil tanks and how to recognize evidence that there was a previous oil tank at a property even if the oil tank may have been removed (or perhaps left buried in place). We discuss what to do if an oil tank has already been removed or abandoned. We provide links to every U.S. state regulatory agency concerned with oil and other storage tanks and to regulatory agencies in Canada and other countries. Environmental damage from oil leaks, oil spill cleanup, are also discussed. We discuss oil spill cleanup, oil spill and odor remediation, and bioremediation, for fuel oil or heating oil. LP Gas tanks are also addressed. Home heating oil tank leak and environmental contamination risks are important concerns for building owners and home buyers as major cleanup and tank replacement costs can be involved.
• Ozone Odors & Ozone "deodorizers": The Use of Ozone Generators Indoors for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims. Ozone is widely promoted by ozone generating equipment companies and cleaning services for use in indoor building environments to deodorize, disinfect, "kill" mold, and for "general health". Ozone generators are also promoted for use to reduce the level of airborne particles, pollen, animal dander, and allergens, ostensibly to improve indoor air quality for asthmatics and people with allergies. While there are some important uses of ozone (such as for medical disinfection under controlled conditions), in general this is an idea which ranges from bad to dangerous in the home. This article explains the effects of using ozone in buildings for these purposes and warns consumers about misapplication of and health risks from ozone in buildings. Because at least some of these claims are based on marketing desire, not good science, and because ozone exposure can be both dangerous and ineffective indoors, we have collected some information and references on this topic.
• Ozone generators: The Hazards of Ozone & Ozone Gas Generators. This article gives an overview of the hazards associated with use of ozone indoors as a "mold remedy" or as an "air purifier". Ozone is widely promoted by ozone generating equipment companies and cleaning services for use in indoor building environments to deodorize, disinfect, "kill" mold, and for "general health".
• Ozone Toxicity & Ozone Gas Exposure Hazards This article discusses Ozone Toxicity in Buildings - A Summary of Hazards of Indoor Ozone, Ozone Generators, and Use of Ozone for Mold Remediation. While there are some important uses of ozone (such as for medical disinfection under controlled conditions), in general this is an idea which ranges from bad to dangerous in the home. This article explains the effects of using ozone in buildings for these purposes and warns consumers about misapplication of and health risks from ozone in buildings. Because at least some of these claims are based on marketing desire, not good science, and because ozone exposure can be both dangerous and ineffective indoors, we have collected some information and references on this topic.
• Paint Failures & Odors: How to Diagnose, Correct, & Prevent Paint Failure on Buildings. Paint odors: solvents and other chemicals in building paints or coatings are often a source of odor or paint smell complaints, even where low-VOC paints are in use.
• Pesticide Odors U.S. EPA advice on pesticides and possible pesticide contamination
• Pet odors: from dogs, cats, or other pets, source identification, testing, removal, are discussed beginning at our article "Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens" This article discusses methods to check a building for animal allergens (cat, dog, etc) using as an example, Cat Dander: how to inspect and test a building for past or current presence of cats, cat hair, cat dander, and cat allergens. This website provides information and procedures for finding, testing, cleaning and preventing indoor mold, toxic black mold, green mold, testing building indoor air quality, and other sick house / sick building investigations. Here are research articles, inspection and testing procedures, and contact information for expert services. We give in-depth information about indoor air quality problems: causes of respiratory illness, asthma, or other symptoms such as neurological or psychological problems, air quality investigation methods, and remediation procedures such as mold cleanup, handling toxic mold contamination, and building or mechanical system repairs.
• Plastic odors: see Siding Odors below. This discussion also pertains to other vinyl or plastic materials used in buildings such as diagnosing odors from plastic trim, plastic or vinyl windows, window screens, doors, or similar materials.
• Septic or Sewer Odors: Diagnosing and Curing Sewer Gas Smells and Septic Tank Odors. This page describes how to diagnose, find, and cure odors in buildings including septic or sewage or sewer gas smells or "gas odors" in buildings with a focus on homes with a private onsite septic tank but including tips for owners whose home is connected to a sewer system as well. Sewer gases are more than an obnoxious odor. Because sewer gas contains methane there is a risk of an explosion hazard. In addition some writers opine that there are possible health hazards from sewer gas exposure, such as a bacterial infection of the sinuses (which can occur due to any sinus irritation). Depending on the sewer gas source and other factors such as humidity and building and weather conditions, mold spores may also be present in sewer gases.
• Septic or Sewer Odors: Wet Weather or Cold Weather Sewage or Septic Odors: Diagnosis and Repair Guide. This article discusses the diagnosis and correction of sewer gas or septic odors with focus on diagnosing odor sources and causes in cold weather. Some of the diagnostic steps pertain to all seasons.
• Sewer Gas Odors from drains: Diagnosing Clogged Drains & Septic System Backups: Is it a blocked drain or the septic system? - A First Step for Homeowners. This website explains how to investigate slow or blocked drains and septic system backups to distinguish between a probable septic system failure versus a probable blocked building drain. When a building drain is clogged or slow, or when there is a septic system backup, it's important to determine where the problem lies, since the repair steps can be quite different and costs can vary widely.
• Siding Odors: Vinyl Siding Failures, Diagnosis, Repair, Proper Installation: Siding, window, screen, & other "plastic" odors: We've investigated a number of reports of strange odors in residential buildings that were ultimately traced to vinyl or plastic which was outgassing. we have observed this phenomenon with vinyl siding, plastic or vinyl window or door screens, and plastic or vinyl windows. A key diagnostic step was the observation that the odors were strongest when the material under investigation was exposed to sunlight or other sources of heat. [This article is under development, September 2007, and we welcome content suggestions or questions].
• Home Buyer's Detailed Guide to Septic Systems - Buying a Home With a Septic Tank. This article discusses septic tank care and maintenance and addresses some causes and cures of septic odors indoors or outside.
• URETHANE FOAM Deterioration, Outgassing
• Water Odors: How to Identify Odors in Drinking Water. This article discusses how to identify, diagnose, and cure common odors that may be present in drinking water. We also discuss which of these odors may warn of unsanitary conditions.
  

• Health Effects of Radon
• Guide to Measuring Radon
• Effects of Radon on Home Sales
• How to Remove Indoor Radon
• See Radon Enviro-Scare for a full discussion of the normal cycle of public fear that accompanies the discovery and publicity of various environmental hazards, including radon gas and see Enviro-Scare, the Cycle of Public Fear for our article about consumer environmental safety worry cycles that change over time.
• For a Thorough Background in Radon Hazards, Radon Mitigation, & the History of Radon Concerns in the U.S. also see these articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.
  • "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 1 - William Turner, Terry Brennan, Solar Age Magazine Radon and its progeny are the slipperiest pollutants in the indoor environment, but there are simple ways to keep radon and its relations at bay.
  • "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 2 - what is radon, where does radon come from, how does radon get indoors, and why is radon a problem in buildings.
  • "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 3 - standards for airborne radon levels in buildings and recommended levels of radon for action, how radon is best detected, and radon action plan.
  • "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 4 - radon prevention advice for new construction, radon in well water - how it is removed, sources of information about radon gas and radon contamination.
    
    
  • "Defeating Radon" part 1- Terry Brennan, Bill Turner, Solar Age Magazine - How does radon get into buildings, how do I know if a building has a radon gas problem, how can I solve radon problems in existing homes, and what can I do to prevent radon from entering new homes. Part 1: where Radon comes from, how to diagnose radon
  • "Defeating Radon" part 2- Guide to keeping radon out of new houses - design details
  • "Defeating Radon" part 3- Key spots to seal, to stop radon gas leaks into buildings
  • "Defeating Radon" part 4- Data on radon levels in buildings before & after radon mitigation treatment
  • "Defeating Radon" part 5- Air filtering, testing after radon mitigation, where to buy radon tests
    

Stain Diagnosis on Indoor Surfaces, how to diagnose stains on walls, floors, carpets, and how to determine the stain source

SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS - principles of sound transmission, soundproofing designs, materials, details

The Septic System Information Website - Home Owners and Home Buyers Guide to Septic Systems, Septic Inspectors Guide, Septic Repair Guide, Septic Design: Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Repairs, Alternative Designs for on-site waste disposal

• Additives & Chemicals for Septic System Maintenance , Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
• Alternative Onsite Wastewater Disposal (Septic System) Designs for Septic Systems - design engineers, consultants, products, books for special problem situations, difficult soils, old system repairs
• Biomat Formation in the Septic System Drainfield Absorption System - what leads to drain field clogging and expensive drainfield repairs
• Buyer's Guide to Septic Systems for home and other Building buyers
• Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Septic Tank Capacity vs. Usage: What size is required?
• Capacity: Determining Needed Septic Capacity - Water Usage: Typical residential water usage for people, appliances, and activities.
• Clearances Required - Well distance to Septic, Septic clearance from well, trees, lakes, streams, property boundary, etc.
• Clogged Drain Diagnosis - is the problem the septic system or the Building drain system?
• Contaminants, Septic identifying water and soil contaminants produced by onsite waste disposal systems
• Contamination in Buildings from Sewage and Septic backup: inspection, testing, remediation, & references
• Dye Tests: how to perform a Septic Loading and Dye Test - a septic function test
• Inspecting and Testing Septic Systems: How to inspect and test onsite waste disposal systems Book materials: Detailed step by step procedures for owners and septic inspectors; inspection safety, procedures, problems, clearances, reports
• Inspecting Onsite Waste Disposal Systems Class Materials: Explaining Septic System Operation to Clients; Visual Inspection, Testing, Invasive Inspection , Evaluation, Reporting; Future Trends, Legislation
• Septic Contaminants, identifying - what are the contaminants produced by septic systems and what can be done about them if they escape initial treatment?
• Library, Septic Drawings © These are educational, not engineering drawings and are © protected. Sample engineering drawings and plans wanted for the website.
• Pumping Septic Tanks: When, How, What to Watch For when pumping or cleaning septic tanks
• Septic System Inspections, Diagnosis, Repair, & Maintenance:: Septic Testing, Loading & Dye Tests, Septic Tank Pumping, Clearances, Septic System an online book, details of inspection and testing procedures.
• Septic System Maintenance - Tank Pumping: When, How, What to Watch For
• Septic System Maintenance - Additives & Chemicals, Are they even needed? Are they even legal?
• Sewage and Septic backup contamination in Buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources
• Tank Size, calculating septic tank size required by occupants and anticipated usage
• What is a Septic System An Engineer's View, provided by Lockwood Engineering, & Septic System FAQ's

Sewage and Septic backup contamination in buildings: inspection, testing, remediation, & references to expert sources

Share this Article      

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Books, Complete List of Environmental Inspection, Diagnosis, Cleanup, Air Quality & Design, Inspection, Repair Books at the InspectAPedia Bookstore
• Environmental Health & Investigation Bibliography - our own technical library on indoor air quality inspection, testing, laboratory procedures, forensic microscopy, etc.
• ...

More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• ...

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting