Sometimes, you cannot avoid having your home renovated. There could be a wall that’s rotting or maybe you’d like to build an extension for a new family member. You might also want to do some remodeling if you want to improve the look of your residence. While doing some improvements to your home, you should be aware of health problems that could possibly affect your family if you do not take the proper precautions.
— Respiratory Problems
Construction activities produce dust and other debris that can easily become suspended in the air. If no containment techniques are employed, dust can spread all throughout your home. When inhaled, minute elements in the air can trigger asthma attacks or make current lung problems, like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, worse. Because of this, it’s very important to protect areas in the home from airborne particles. One way to do this is by putting plastic curtains around an area that’s being remodeled in order to keep dust-laden air inside a certain space. In addition, you can ask your contractor if there is a mechanical ventilator that they can utilize in order to keep indoor air free from dust. It also helps for you to be aware of signs of improper ventilation, like stuffy air or even mold or mildew formation on certain places.
— Mold-induced Concerns
In case you observe molds inside your home, it’s important to contact your local health agency or any district office of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Some types of molds are pretty aggressive, and these have serious effects on health. Molds produce spores and mycotoxins that can gravely affect health. These could cause lung problems, certain types of cancers, neurological problems, and other serious conditions. Remodeling a mold-infested home is dangerous to health because any activity can disturb the spores and spread them everywhere. Therefore, before beginning with construction or remodeling, talk to your contractor about what precautionary measures need to be taken. Your builder will probably suggest for you to have your home treated first before any work can be done to your home. You might also be asked to move your family to a temporary residence so that you won’t be exposed to the fungus or toxins.
— Cancer
Houses, especially very old structures, sometimes contain materials that are classified as carcinogenic. Two examples of such are radon and asbestos. Radon is an odorless and tasteless gas. Because of these characteristics, it is very difficult to detect. But it is a dangerous element because it can cause cancer, particularly lung cancer. Radon can seep through cracks, and you could be exposed even without you knowing about it. To avoid exposure, make sure that an area is well-ventilated. Asbestos, which was widely used in the past as insulation, is another hazardous element because it can cause respiratory illnesses, and, like radon, it also increases a person’s chances of developing lung cancer. The US EPA suggests for people to leave alone asbestos that is in good condition. However, if it’s worn out or frayed, it should be removed using proper methods as this is a health risk.
Citations:
Featured images:
- License: Creative Commons image source
Claire Flint is a full-time freelancer who has done a lot of research about home improvement, construction, as well as health problems related to building activities. For more info about building customization and other related issues, she recommends for people to check out CNRConstruction.com.