Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be identified only with a special microscope. Until the 1970s, asbestos was added to a variety of products to provide strength, heat insulation and fire resistance. Most products made today do not contain asbestos, but those few products which still contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity, and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue. The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increases with the number of fibers inhaled. The risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibers is also greater if you smoke. People who get asbestosis have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, if disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease.

Source: EPA

# You can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled. If in doubt, treat the material as if it contains asbestos or have it sampled and analyzed by a qualified professional.

# A professional should take samples for analysis, since a professional knows what to look for, and because there may be an increased health risk if fibers are released. In fact, if done incorrectly, sampling can be more hazardous than leaving the material alone. Taking samples yourself is not recommended.

# Asbestos may exist in the cement of some roofing and siding shingle, in the insulation of houses built between 1930 and 1950, in blankets or tape that cover hot water and steam pipes in older houses and in insulation for oil and coal furnaces, and door gaskets

If you think asbestos may be in your home, don't panic. Usually the best thing is to leave asbestos material that is in good condition alone. Generally, material in good condition will not release asbestos fibers. There is no danger unless fibers are released and inhaled into the lungs. Check material regularly if you suspect it may contain asbestos. Don't touch it, but look for signs of wear or damage such as tears, abrasions, or water damage. Damaged material may release asbestos fibers. This is particularly true if you often disturb it by hitting, rubbing, or handling it, or if it is exposed to extreme vibration or air flow. Sometimes, the best way to deal with slightly damaged material is to limit access to the area and not touch or disturb it. If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged, or if you are going to make changes in your home that might disturb it, repair or removal by a professional is needed. Repair usually involves either sealing or covering asbestos material. With any type of repair, the asbestos remains in place. Repair is usually cheaper than removal, but it may make later removal of asbestos, if necessary, more difficult and costly.

Removal is usually the most expensive method and, unless required by state or local regulations, should be the last option considered in most situations. This is because removal poses the greatest risk of fiber release. However, removal may be required when remodeling or making major changes to your home that will disturb asbestos material. Also, removal may be called for if asbestos material is damaged extensively and cannot be otherwise repaired. Removal is complex and must be done only by a contractor with special training. Improper removal may actually increase the health risks to you and your family.

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You can't see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood or charcoal is burned. If appliances that burn fuel are maintained and used properly, the amount of CO produced is usually not hazardous. However, if appliances are not working properly or are used incorrectly, dangerous levels of CO can result. Hundreds of people die accidentally every year from CO poisoning caused by malfunctioning or improperly used fuel-burning appliances. Even more die from CO produced by idling cars. Fetuses, infants, elderly people and people with anemia or with a history of heart or respiratory disease can be especially susceptible. If you think you may have CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately and go to an emergency room.

Source: EPA

# An invisible and odorless gas, Carbon Monoxide is very difficult to detect.

# Symptoms of CO poisoning at moderate levels are headaches, dizziness, mental confusion, nausea, or light-headedness. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer-term effects on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, you may not think that CO poisoning could be the cause.

# Possible sources for the gas include unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves and fireplaces; gas stoves; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and environmental tobacco smoke.

# Carbon Monoxide Detectors are widely available in stores and you may want to consider buying one as a back-up, but not as a replacement for proper use and maintenance of your fuel-burning appliances. However, it is important for you to know that the technology of CO detectors is still developing, that there are several types on the market and that they are not generally considered to be as reliable as the smoke detectors found in homes today.

# Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.

# Consider purchasing a vented space heater when replacing an unvented one.

# Use proper fuel in kerosene space heaters.

# Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.

# Open flues when fireplaces are in use.

# Choose properly sized wood stoves that are certified to meet EPA emission standards. Make certain that doors on all wood stoves fit tightly.

# Have a trained professional inspect, clean and tune-up central heating system (furnaces, flues and chimneys) annually. Repair any leaks promptly.

# Do not idle the car inside garage.

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Radon is a cancer-causing, invisible, odorless, radioactive gas. It comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. Radon can be found all over the United States. It can get into any type of building - homes, offices, and schools - and build up to high levels. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of deaths each year. That's because when you breathe air containing radon, you can get lung cancer. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is especially high.

Source: EPA

# Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon.

# The EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor for radon. EPA also recommends testing in schools.

# Testing is inexpensive and easy. There are many kinds of low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits you can get through the mail and in hardware stores and other retail outlets.

# If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a trained contractor to do the testing for you.

# Sealing cracks in floors and walls may help reduce radon levels.

# Simple systems using pipes and fans may be used to reduce radon. Such systems are called "sub-slab depressurization," and do not require major changes to your home. These systems remove radon gas from below the concrete floor and the foundation before it can enter the home. Similar systems can also be installed in houses with crawl spaces.

# Radon contractors use other methods that may also work in your home. The right system depends on the design of your home and other factors.

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Faulty kitchen appliances, bare wires, combustible or flammable liquids and chemicals, unsupervised space heaters, overloaded outlets and dirty chimneys are all potential fire hazards. Although fires can start small, they often engulf a single family home within 60 seconds. Fire prevention officials say a home is the most likely place for a fire to begin. Although most home fires are ignited by heating equipment - such as space heaters - that are faulty or improperly maintained, most deaths in home fires result from careless cigarette smoking, often when individuals fall asleep while smoking in bed. Each year, about 2.5 million fires are reported in the United States, causing about 9,000 deaths and billions of dollars worth of damage.

Source: World Book Encyclopedia, Lansing, Mich., Fire Department

# See if the wires of electric space heaters are deteriorating and frayed.

# Check if gasoline and other flammable liquids, oily rags and easily-ignitable fabrics are stored open or near hot sources, such as stoves, chimneys and attics.

# Does the fireplace have a screen front to prevent sparks from flying out?

# Check to see if smoke detectors have old or missing batteries.

# Install smoke detectors, check once a month and change the batteries at least once a year. Smoke detectors sense abnormal amounts of smoke or invisible combustion gases in the air. They can detect both smoldering and burning fires. At least one smoke detector should be installed on every level of a structure. Purchase smoke detectors labeled by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Factory Mutual (FM).

# Keep portable and space heaters at least 3 feet from anything that may burn. Never leave heaters on when you leave home or go to sleep. Children and pets should always be kept away from them.

# Never smoke in bed or when you are sleepy. Carelessly discarded cigarettes are a leading cause of fire deaths in the United States.

# Keep cooking areas clear of combustibles and wear short or tight-fitting sleeves when you cook. Keep the handles of your pots turned inward so they do not over-hang the stove. If grease catches fire, carefully slide a lid over the pan and smother the flames, then turn off the burner.

# In the hands of a child, matches and lighters can be deadly! Store them where kids can't reach them, preferably in a locked area. Teach children that matches and lighters are "tools" and should only be used by adults.

# If an appliance smokes or has an unusual smell, unplug it immediately and have it repaired. Replace frayed or cracked electrical cords and don't overload extension cords. They should not be run under rugs. Never tamper with the fuse box or use the improper size fuse.

# If you have halogen lights, make sure they are away from flammable drapes and low ceiling areas. Never leave them on when you leave your home or office.

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Apartments and houses are often hosts to common pests such as cockroaches, fleas, termites, ants, mice and rats. Pests can be a health hazard to humans, bringing potentially dangerous diseases into the home. Rat-bite fever, although rare in the United States, is a bacterial illness that can be acquired through the bite or scratch of a rodent or the ingestion of food or water contaminated with rat feces. Furthermore, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome - also rare but found throughout the United States - is transmitted through rodent droppings and has been responsible for some deaths in the US.

Source: EPA, CDC

# Signs of rat or mouse infestations include droppings, tracks in the moist earth or dusty places and burrows in the ground.

# Look for signs of gnawing and runways in the grass or trash.

# Smell for the presence of rats and mice, especially in poorly ventilated areas.

# Remove shelters that harbor mice and rats, such as piles of lumber and trash, and set out traps or rodenticide. Most rodenticides available use anticoagulants, which cause death by internal bleeding because they prevent blood clotting.

# Call a pest control specialist to remove rats and mice, and to spray poison for cockroaches and other insect pests.

# Remove standing or excess water. All living things, including pests, need water for survival. Fix leaky plumbing and do not let water accumulate in or around your home.

# Store food in sealed glass or plastic containers, and keep the kitchen clean and free of cooking grease and oil.

# Put food scraps or refuse in tightly covered, animal-proof garbage cans and empty the garbage frequently.

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Despite the widely held misconception, people are not allergic to animal hair - they are allergic to a special protein called "dander" found in the animals' dead skin flakes, oils, saliva or urine. Dander can cause sneezing, congestion and even asthma. Dust mite allergy is an allergy to a microscopic organism that lives in the dust that is found in all dwellings and workplaces. These mites, which live in bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets, thrive in summer and die in winter. In a warm, humid house, however, they continue to thrive even in the coldest months. The particles seen floating in a shaft of sunlight include dead dust mites and their waste-products. These waste-products, which are proteins, actually provoke the allergic reaction. Dust mite allergy usually produces symptoms similar to pollen allergy and also can produce symptoms of asthma.

Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

# Sneezing often accompanied by a runny or clogged nose

# Coughing and postnasal drip

# Itching eyes, nose and throat

# Allergic shiners - dark circles under the eyes caused by increased blood flow near the sinuses

# The "allergic salute" - in a child, persistent upward rubbing of the nose that causes a crease mark on the nose

# Watering eyes

# Conjunctivitis - an inflammation of the membrane that lines the eyelids, causing red-rimmed, swollen eyes, and crusting of the eyelids

# Carpeting makes dust control very difficult; hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors are much better for dust control. A good carpet cleaning by a professional at least once is likely to be helpful.

# Encase box springs and mattress in a dust-proof or allergen-proof cover (zippered plastic).

# Use only washable materials on beds. Sheets, blankets, and other bedclothes should be washed frequently in water that is at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit. Lower temperatures will not kill dust mites.

# Clean floors, furniture, tops of doors, window frames, sills, etc., with a damp cloth or oil mop.

# Air filters-either added to a furnace or a room unit-can be useful in reducing the levels of allergens.

# A dehumidifer may be helpful because house mites require high humidity to live and grow. Care should be taken to clean the unit frequently to prevent mold growth. However, while low humidity may reduce dust mite levels, it also may irritate the nose and lungs of some people.

# If the dust-sensitive person is a child, avoid stuffed toys; use washable toys of wood, rubber, metal or plastic, and store them in a closed toy box or chest. Limit your child to two or three favorite stuffed toys, which should be laundered with the bed linens each week. Some brands of stuffed animals are specially made to withstand this rigorous treatment. An alternative is to place them in a freezer for 12 to 24 hours every two weeks. This markedly reduces the dust mite population without risking damage to the toys.

# Clean floors, furniture, tops of doors, window frames, sills, etc., with a damp cloth or oil mop.

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Needing only moisture and nutrients, molds are fungi that should not be permitted to grow and multiply indoors because of possible adverse health effects they can have on humans. People are mainly exposed to mold by breathing its spores or other tiny fragments and those suffering from asthma can experience severe breathing difficulties. But the most common health problems caused by indoor mold are allergy symptoms. Outbreaks of the most toxic of household molds, called Stachybotrys, are under investigation in the deaths of infants in Cleveland, Ohio, and in serious health problems in other areas of the United States. Stachybotrys produces toxigenic spores that are potentially hazardous, especially when air conditioners or heaters help spread the airborne elements. But, because there is no conclusive scientific evidence of the toxic effects Stachybotrys can have on humans, there are currently no EPA regulations or guidelines for evaluating potential health risks of Stachybotrys contamination. The Center for Disease Control has taken a conservative approach to labeling the mold deadly.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health, CDC, EPA, Case Western Reserve University

# Look for visible mold growth - may appear cottony, velvety, granular, or leathery and have varied colors of white, gray, brown, black, yellow, green. Mold often appears as discoloration, staining, or fuzzy growth on the surface of building materials or furnishings. When mold is visible, testing is not recommended.

# Search areas with noticeable mold odors. If there is an earthy or musty smell, you should assume a mold problem exists.

# Look for signs of excess moisture or water damage. Look for water leaks, standing water, water stains, condensation problems. For example, do you see any watermarks or discoloration on walls, ceilings, carpet, woodwork or other building materials?

# Search behind and underneath materials (carpet and pad, wallpaper, vinyl flooring, sink cabinets), furniture, or stored items (especially things placed near outside walls or on cold floors). Sometimes destructive techniques may be needed to inspect and clean enclosed spaces where mold and moisture are hidden; for example, opening up a wall cavity.

# Sometimes, mold growth is hidden and difficult to locate. In such cases, a combination of air (outdoor and indoor air samples) and bulk (material) samples may help determine the extent of contamination and where cleaning is needed.

# If allergy-like symptoms worsen, there is a possibility for having mold.

# If you have more than two square feet of mold growth you should seek professional advice on how to perform the clean up.

# The source of the water problem must first be corrected. All roof or plumbing leaks/flooding must be fixed.

# All moldy surfaces should be cleaned with a household bleach and water mix, use one cup of bleach mixed with one gallon of water. You can add a little dish soap to the bleach water to cut dirt and oil on the wall that can hold mold. With good ventilation, apply the bleach water mix to the surface with a sponge, let sit for 15 minutes and then thoroughly dry the surface. Be sure to wear a dust mask, rubber gloves and open lots of windows when cleaning with bleach water.

# If the area cannot be cleaned (like some wet broken ceiling tiles), is too damaged, or is disposable (like cardboard boxes) discard them and replace with new ones.

# It may be necessary to do more clean up in the home (carpets, crawl spaces, heating ducts) if you have a bad mold problem.

# During all clean up activities, a tight-fitting dust mask and goggles should be worn. Rubber or vinyl gloves and waterproof boots should also be worn during all phases of the clean up. Open all windows for drying and ventilation.

# NOTE: If you think you may have Stachybotrys and have extensive mold growth (less than 2 square feet), seek professional advice from your health department before proceeding.

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Approximately 434,000 children in the U.S. between the ages of 1 to 5 have greater than the recommended lead levels in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Lead can be found in the dust, paint, or soil in and around your house -- even in your drinking water or food.

Here are some expert tips on how to protect your children from the threat of lead poisoning.

Credits: Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control, Keepkidshealthy.com

# Children can begin being tested at age 1 and should continue to be tested until they are 6 years old.

# Children under the age of 6 are especially at risk, and the long-term effects of lead in a child can be severe. They include learning disabilities, decreased growth, hyperactivity, impaired hearing, behavioral problems, seizures, coma, brain damage, and even death.

# The major source of lead exposure among U.S. children is lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust found in deteriorating buildings. Children living in or below the poverty line, or in older housing, are also at a greater risk.

# If you are pregnant, avoid exposing yourself to lead. Lead can pass through you body to your baby.

# Although the natural level of lead in children is zero, it is considered normal to have a blood level of less than 9.

# If a child has recently ingested lead paint, glazes, or a lead weight, he'll need to undergo decontamination until it is removed from his body. See the section under treatment for more information.

# Dust from the floor or nearby children's play areas can cause an increase in blood lead level.

# Encourage children not to put their hands in their mouths and wash their hands frequently.

# Use a wet mop to dust.

# Wash toys frequently.

# Do not allow children to put anything in their mouth covered with lead paint.

# Don’t burn painted wood, as it may contain lead.

# Lead that has contaminated soil from the past use of lead paint and gasoline does not degrade or break down with time.

# Ask your local or state health department to test your house for lead paint.

# Hire a person with special training to remove the lead paint. The family should leave the house during the process.

# If you work with lead, try to shower and change your clothes before going home.

# Encourage children to play in sand or grass instead of dirt, which sticks to fingers easier. Recommend that children wash their hands when coming into the house.

# Avoid using home remedies and cosmetics that contain lead.

# Have your water tested by a local health department for lead.

# Run your faucet 15 to 30 seconds before drinking it, especially if it hasn’t run in a few hours.

# Try to use only cold water from the tap for drinking and cooking. Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead, and most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.

# Don’t store food in lead crystal glassware or old pottery.

# If you reuse plastic bags, keep the printing on the outside of the bag.

# About 1 in 22 children in America have high lead in their blood.

# Recommended levels of lead are 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control

# Lead-based paints were banned for use in housing in 1978. However, approximately 24 million housing units in the U.S. have deteriorated leaded paint and elevated levels of lead-contaminated house dust. More than 4 million of these dwellings are homes to one or more young children.

# 22 percent of black children and 13 percent of Hispanic children living in housing built before 1946 have elevated blood lead levels compared with 6 percent of white children living in comparable types of housing.

# Lead is a metal that is poisonous and toxic, especially when it is ingested. After being ingested, lead enters the bloodstream and is absorbed and stored in many tissues and organs in the body, including the liver, kidneys, brain, teeth and bones. You can’t see, taste or smell lead.

# Elevated blood levels are treated with metal-removing therapy. These medications are chelating agents, which decrease blood lead levels (BLL) by binding to them, so they will leave the body in the urine. Medications include DMSA, an oral drug that binds to lead and mercury and is given every eight hours for five days, and then every twelve hours for two more weeks. It is usually used for BLLs between 45 and 69.

# Other metal-removing agents that are used for treatment of symptomatic lead poisoning and for BLLs greater than 69 is EDTA, which is given as a continuous infusion or an injection within a muscle for 3-5 days, and BAL which is given as an injection.