In the wake of the Tropical Storm Fay, homeowners are often faced with another potential disaster: Unscrupulous storm-chasing contractors with promises to help consumers quickly repair the damage for cash up-front. More often than not, these contractors pocket the money, perform shoddy, little, or no work and disappear.
Angie’s List (http://www.angieslist.com), an online provider of local service company rating has tips to help homeowners find the reliable, quality help they need.
“The last thing consumers affected by a tropical storm need is another thing to worry about,” said Angie’s List founder Angie Hicks. “If a person you don’t know comes to your door promising to help if you’ll just pay in cash, just say ‘no.’ With just a little research, you can find a reliable person who will get you back on the feet and keep you there.”
To avoid shady storm chasers:
• What not to do: If a stranger comes to your storm-ravaged yard offering to repair your roof, remove trees or do other major repair work for cash upfront, just say no. Chances are, he or she will take your money and disappear, leaving you with little or no recourse.
• Do your research: Check the status of the contractor’s bonding and liability insurance coverage. Remember that you have few options if the job goes awry or the provider disappears.
• Quality is worth the wait: When massive storms hit, tree services, plumbers, roofers and hauling companies are in high demand and the best performers are generally the busiest. Beware the company with time on its hands when every other similar company can’t even answer the phones.
• Get estimates: Though your situation might seem to be one of desperation, avoid settling on the first contractor who comes along and offers to do the job. Take enough time to get at least a few different estimates on the job.
• Document important information: The same holds true for the old adage to “get it in writing,” including the price, materials to be used and the timeline for completing the job. This is often the best ammunition you have if things go wrong.
For homeowners with water damage, cleaning up the mud and water-soaked belongings can seem like the biggest task at hand. But drying out that area is equally important because if left damp too long, dangerous mold can grow.
If the mold growth is small, you can clean and kill it with these steps.
Damp wipe: Mold can generally be removed from hard surfaces by scrubbing with water and detergent. It is important to dry the surface quickly.
Wear protective gear: Protect your hands with gloves and your eyes with goggles.
Discard: Remove damaged materials and seal in plastic bags.
Follow up: Revisit the site. It should show no signs of water damage or mold growth.
Wide spread mold growth may require professional assistance. Angie advises following these tips when choosing a professional for remediation projects:
Testing for mold: To ensure you’ve taken care of any mold issue or to determine if you have unseen mold, hire a professional remediator. If you’re hiring out the cleanup, test the area both before and after clean up.
Understand the process: Know what the company plans for the remediation. Ask what is going to happen, when it will happen and how it may affect you. Ask about containment. How will they prevent the movement of mold spores from one area of the home to another? How long will it take?
Check references & get estimates: Ask your provider for references and call those people.
Certification: Mold remediators should follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mold remediation guidelines. You can also check the National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP).
Check your insurance: Not all mold damage is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Check your policy because coverage and limitations vary.
Copyright © 2008 Beaches Leader and Ponte Vedra Leader
For a free report on Mold Remediation by the EPA: www.safe-homes.com
Friday, August 22, 2008
Granite Countertops a Recipe for Danger?
Granite Countertops a Recipe for Danger?
Debate Heats Up About Radon Risks
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
July 30, 2008 — They are beautiful and durable, but do those pricey granite kitchen countertops so popular with home builders and renovators also pose a health risk?
Some researchers say they might, but a group representing the granite industry counters that those claims are “alarmist” and that their studies are little more than “junk science.”
At issue is whether some granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radiation, especially the gas radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Experts agree that most granite countertops emit some radon and even other types of radiation. The question is whether they do so at levels that can impact cancer risk.
New York State Health Department research scientist Michael Kitto, PhD, says only a small fraction of the granite samples he has tested have emitted radon at levels that were over those considered safe.
But he added that a few of his samples showed levels that were high enough to alarm him.
“I wouldn't have them in my house,” Kitto tells WebMD.
Countertop Concerns Not New
Concerns about the safety of granite kitchen countertops are not new.
“The countertop story emerges every 10 years or so,” Columbia University Center for Radiological Research Director David J. Brenner, PhD, tells WebMD. “This is about the third time I remember it coming around.”
The concerns were fueled by a New York Times story last Thursday examining the issue.
The story mentioned the research of Rice University physics professor William Llope, PhD, which found potentially dangerous levels of radiation in some tested samples of granite used in countertops.
In response to the Times article, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) issued a statement on its web site asserting that the Environmental Protection Agency agreed with the industry claim that studies like Llope's represented “junk science.”
Under the headline “EPA Confirms that Granite Countertops Pose No Significant Health Risk, Undercutting ‘Junk Science' Fear Mongering,” the article claims that the EPA issued a statement on Friday saying as much.
While confirming that a Q&A on the EPA web site addressing the radon and countertop issue was changed late last week, EPA spokesman Dave Ryan refused to discuss the institute's claim in an interview with WebMD.
“I will not comment on anything that they are saying,” he said. “All I will say is that our position is on the web site.”
That position, as of early this week, was much more nuanced than the institute claims, noting that “some granite used for countertops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels.”
“At this time, however, EPA does not believe sufficient data exist to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels,” the statement reads.
In response to the question, “Are the levels of radon in granite dangerous to humans or animals?” the EPA states, “While radon levels attributable to granite are not typically high, there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops.”
Little Cause for Alarm, Expert Says
Columbia's Brenner believes it is highly unlikely that granite countertops emit enough radon to pose a health risk because they cover such a small area.
“The biggest source of radiation within the home is indeed radon,” he says. “But it is not radon from countertops, it's radon from the ground.”
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless radioactive gas that results from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. All agree that the biggest risk to homeowners is radon seeping into homes from the ground.
Most people living in areas with high radon concentrations, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York, are very aware of the potential risk, Brenner says.
“You can't get a mortgage in New Jersey without having a radon test,” he says. “If radon is above a certain level, you have to take action.”
The risk from radon comes from breathing it into your lungs, and Brenner says any radon coming from granite countertops would quickly diffuse into the air.
“Even a countertop that is ten or a hundred times higher than average is going to constitute a minimal contribution of radon.”
Others Believe Fears Are Justified
But Rice University's Llope is not so sure.
Llope tells WebMD that he began testing granite samples “on his own time” after seeing a story about granite countertops and radon on a Houston news program.
He tests for gamma radiation emission using a special spectrometer.
In a recently published review of radon tests conducted by others, Llope reported that 92 of 95 granite samples tested emitted no radon or very little radon. Two samples emitted levels that were elevated but still considered safe, and one emitted levels slightly above what is considered cause for concern by EPA.
Like Kitto, Llope has found elevated levels in a very small number of the granite samples he has personally tested.
But he tells WebMD that if even a tiny percentage of the granite used to make countertops emits unsafe levels of radon or other radiation, that could represent a danger in thousands of homes.
“Granite has gotten so popular so quickly that it is now coming from all over the world,” he says. “It would come as no surprise that granite that comes from areas with uranium mines close by might pose a problem. But the testing hasn't been done.”
More Granite Testing Needed
According to Marble Institute of America spokesman Jim Martinez, 2,000 different stones from quarries around the world are sold as granite in the United States.
At most, only a tiny percentage of them have been tested for radon or radiation levels, but a recent test of 13 types of granite typically used for countertops found no radon or very low levels of radon.
The test was paid for by the MIA, and the samples represented 85% of the granite used for kitchen countertops in the United States, Martinez says.
He says that the MIA-funded research represents the only “real” science examining the issue, because no one else has been willing to pay for quality studies.
“(Our) studies have consistently shown that granite poses no heath risk,” he says.
But Kitto says there is no way to know if all granite countertops are safe because so few samples have been tested.
“Right now, it is impossible to understand the scope of the problem or even if there is a problem,” he says.
Llope agrees that more samples need to be tested.
“The industry says there is no danger, but how can they make that leap of faith when granite is coming from all over the world and only a small percentage has been tested?” he says. “How can they possibly know?”
Test for Radon, Experts Say
The EPA recommends that all homes be tested for radon in indoor air, and the researchers contacted by WebMD agreed that testing could provide peace of mind to homeowners worried about the safety of their granite countertops.
Recommendations for using do-it-yourself radon testing kits, which can be purchased at hardware stores and online, include:
Place one test in the basement or lowest area in the home to determine if radon is coming from the ground.
Place another test in a bedroom to establish a background radon level.
Place one or two tests in the kitchen, with one nearby the granite surface and the other farther away.
“The home kits test for radon, not (other) radiation; but if the findings are negative you can assume you don't have a radiation problem,” Llope says. “If the results come back positive, you should probably have the house tested professionally.”
The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists lists the names of qualified professionals who conduct radon and radiation testing on its web site, www.aarst.org.
SOURCES: EPA: “What about Granite Countertops?” revised July 29, 2008. David J. Brenner, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and public health; director, Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York. Michael Kitto, PhD, research scientist, New York State Department of Health. William J. Llope, PhD, research associate professor of physics, senior faculty fellow, T.W. Bonner Nuclear Laboratory, Rice University, Houston. David Ryan, spokesman, Environmental Protection Agency. Jim Martinez, spokesman, Marble Institute of America. “What's Lurking in Your Countertops,” New York Times, July 24, 2008. EPA web site: "A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon."
©2008 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on Radon: www.safe-homes.com
Debate Heats Up About Radon Risks
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
July 30, 2008 — They are beautiful and durable, but do those pricey granite kitchen countertops so popular with home builders and renovators also pose a health risk?
Some researchers say they might, but a group representing the granite industry counters that those claims are “alarmist” and that their studies are little more than “junk science.”
At issue is whether some granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radiation, especially the gas radon, which is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.
Experts agree that most granite countertops emit some radon and even other types of radiation. The question is whether they do so at levels that can impact cancer risk.
New York State Health Department research scientist Michael Kitto, PhD, says only a small fraction of the granite samples he has tested have emitted radon at levels that were over those considered safe.
But he added that a few of his samples showed levels that were high enough to alarm him.
“I wouldn't have them in my house,” Kitto tells WebMD.
Countertop Concerns Not New
Concerns about the safety of granite kitchen countertops are not new.
“The countertop story emerges every 10 years or so,” Columbia University Center for Radiological Research Director David J. Brenner, PhD, tells WebMD. “This is about the third time I remember it coming around.”
The concerns were fueled by a New York Times story last Thursday examining the issue.
The story mentioned the research of Rice University physics professor William Llope, PhD, which found potentially dangerous levels of radiation in some tested samples of granite used in countertops.
In response to the Times article, the Marble Institute of America (MIA) issued a statement on its web site asserting that the Environmental Protection Agency agreed with the industry claim that studies like Llope's represented “junk science.”
Under the headline “EPA Confirms that Granite Countertops Pose No Significant Health Risk, Undercutting ‘Junk Science' Fear Mongering,” the article claims that the EPA issued a statement on Friday saying as much.
While confirming that a Q&A on the EPA web site addressing the radon and countertop issue was changed late last week, EPA spokesman Dave Ryan refused to discuss the institute's claim in an interview with WebMD.
“I will not comment on anything that they are saying,” he said. “All I will say is that our position is on the web site.”
That position, as of early this week, was much more nuanced than the institute claims, noting that “some granite used for countertops may contribute variably to indoor radon levels.”
“At this time, however, EPA does not believe sufficient data exist to conclude that the types of granite commonly used in countertops are significantly increasing indoor radon levels,” the statement reads.
In response to the question, “Are the levels of radon in granite dangerous to humans or animals?” the EPA states, “While radon levels attributable to granite are not typically high, there are simply too many variables to generalize about the potential health risks inside a particular home that has granite countertops.”
Little Cause for Alarm, Expert Says
Columbia's Brenner believes it is highly unlikely that granite countertops emit enough radon to pose a health risk because they cover such a small area.
“The biggest source of radiation within the home is indeed radon,” he says. “But it is not radon from countertops, it's radon from the ground.”
Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless radioactive gas that results from the natural decay of uranium in soil, rock, and water. All agree that the biggest risk to homeowners is radon seeping into homes from the ground.
Most people living in areas with high radon concentrations, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and upstate New York, are very aware of the potential risk, Brenner says.
“You can't get a mortgage in New Jersey without having a radon test,” he says. “If radon is above a certain level, you have to take action.”
The risk from radon comes from breathing it into your lungs, and Brenner says any radon coming from granite countertops would quickly diffuse into the air.
“Even a countertop that is ten or a hundred times higher than average is going to constitute a minimal contribution of radon.”
Others Believe Fears Are Justified
But Rice University's Llope is not so sure.
Llope tells WebMD that he began testing granite samples “on his own time” after seeing a story about granite countertops and radon on a Houston news program.
He tests for gamma radiation emission using a special spectrometer.
In a recently published review of radon tests conducted by others, Llope reported that 92 of 95 granite samples tested emitted no radon or very little radon. Two samples emitted levels that were elevated but still considered safe, and one emitted levels slightly above what is considered cause for concern by EPA.
Like Kitto, Llope has found elevated levels in a very small number of the granite samples he has personally tested.
But he tells WebMD that if even a tiny percentage of the granite used to make countertops emits unsafe levels of radon or other radiation, that could represent a danger in thousands of homes.
“Granite has gotten so popular so quickly that it is now coming from all over the world,” he says. “It would come as no surprise that granite that comes from areas with uranium mines close by might pose a problem. But the testing hasn't been done.”
More Granite Testing Needed
According to Marble Institute of America spokesman Jim Martinez, 2,000 different stones from quarries around the world are sold as granite in the United States.
At most, only a tiny percentage of them have been tested for radon or radiation levels, but a recent test of 13 types of granite typically used for countertops found no radon or very low levels of radon.
The test was paid for by the MIA, and the samples represented 85% of the granite used for kitchen countertops in the United States, Martinez says.
He says that the MIA-funded research represents the only “real” science examining the issue, because no one else has been willing to pay for quality studies.
“(Our) studies have consistently shown that granite poses no heath risk,” he says.
But Kitto says there is no way to know if all granite countertops are safe because so few samples have been tested.
“Right now, it is impossible to understand the scope of the problem or even if there is a problem,” he says.
Llope agrees that more samples need to be tested.
“The industry says there is no danger, but how can they make that leap of faith when granite is coming from all over the world and only a small percentage has been tested?” he says. “How can they possibly know?”
Test for Radon, Experts Say
The EPA recommends that all homes be tested for radon in indoor air, and the researchers contacted by WebMD agreed that testing could provide peace of mind to homeowners worried about the safety of their granite countertops.
Recommendations for using do-it-yourself radon testing kits, which can be purchased at hardware stores and online, include:
Place one test in the basement or lowest area in the home to determine if radon is coming from the ground.
Place another test in a bedroom to establish a background radon level.
Place one or two tests in the kitchen, with one nearby the granite surface and the other farther away.
“The home kits test for radon, not (other) radiation; but if the findings are negative you can assume you don't have a radiation problem,” Llope says. “If the results come back positive, you should probably have the house tested professionally.”
The American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists lists the names of qualified professionals who conduct radon and radiation testing on its web site, www.aarst.org.
SOURCES: EPA: “What about Granite Countertops?” revised July 29, 2008. David J. Brenner, PhD, professor of radiation oncology and public health; director, Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University, New York. Michael Kitto, PhD, research scientist, New York State Department of Health. William J. Llope, PhD, research associate professor of physics, senior faculty fellow, T.W. Bonner Nuclear Laboratory, Rice University, Houston. David Ryan, spokesman, Environmental Protection Agency. Jim Martinez, spokesman, Marble Institute of America. “What's Lurking in Your Countertops,” New York Times, July 24, 2008. EPA web site: "A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon."
©2008 WebMD, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on Radon: www.safe-homes.com
Is Your Home Toxic To You or Your Children?
Is Your Home Toxic To You or Your Children?
By Mr. Artemiss
We always think that our homes are a safe place to be--a refuge from the stress of our jobs and everyday living. Yet sometimes, some of us will be exposed to chemicals in our own home that can be hazardous to your health and your family’s health.
I do a lot of environmental inspections and am amazed by what I see during these inspections that people do to themselves without thinking. The good news is, not everyone does naïve things to harm themselves. Example: Mixing Clorox with ammonia.
It is important to understand every product you use in your home. Have you ever read the label of the product you are using? Your first thought is that all products are safe because they are in the grocery store. The answer is a definite no because some people have allergies to certain substances and not to all. They need to know that there are safe alternatives to help us out.
The first thing to do is to realize that all manufacturers are required to have what is called an MSDS Fact Sheet. When I tell people about this sheet, there is this strange look of astonishment. It is the “Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet” and is required to be available to any consumer who buys their product. Go to: www.osha.gov, for more information.
The following are the ten most common products I find in homes that people are allergic to and finding an inexpensive safe alternative is easy.
• Mothballs do not belong in your home. The chemical agent in them is paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. It is a chemical that can cause blood disorders. Children have a habit of finding them and ingesting them. Use an alternative such as cedar chips.
• Ammonia can cause eye and respiratory problems. Mixed with Clorox, you have Mustard Gas from WWI.
• Carbon Monoxide is produced from improperly vented hot water heaters and stoves. I have tested many of these systems and found them to be unsafe especially when the unit is located inside your home. Drafting the exhaust can be a problem in a closed up Air Conditioned house. If you think you might have this problem, contact your local gas company dealer to have it checked. All homes with gas appliances should have a Carbon Monoxide detector available at Home Depot, Lowe’s or your local hardware store.
• Detergent based soaps are a petrochemical derivative. Use natural soaps around the home. These soaps can be found in the Green-Wise Dept. of your local grocery store or Health Food Store. Bronner’s Soap is a good example of a castile soap which has been around for a long time.
• New clothes have a fabric sizing on the cloth materials to make them look good to the consumer. Wash your clothes prior to wearing them. Some individuals have an allergy to this product. This will prevent any respiratory problems people have with this product. Buy as much all natural cotton clothes as feasible, including your sheets.
• Pesticides-never spray pesticides in your home. Remember the bugs are smart and know where the poisons are located. We did an experiment with roaches and watched them go around or jump over a line of sprayed pesticides on the floor. Always bait and you will be safe from pesticide exposure. Remember, there is no such thing as a safe pesticide. If it kills them, it can affect you too.
• Cooking: try to cook as much organic food as possible. Organic vegetables taste better than non-organic. Try the taste test, you will be surprised. They are available in the Green-Wise Dept. of your local grocery store or Health Food Store.
• House Plants-they are beautiful to look at but if you do not take care of them, they will become a breeder of mold. Overwatering is mainly the cause of this. Buy one of the soil moisture indicators to monitor the soil moisture content.
• Chlorine Allergy-Chlorine in municipal water supplies can be removed using a whole house system. Chlorine can be damaging to your hair and skin over long periods of exposure. It can be worse when your municipality super chlorinates the system due to a break in the system. This is common problem in all city municipalities. We have several clients who get ill when this happens due to their allergies to Chlorine.
• Bottled Water-it is better to use glass than plastic due to the water’s ability to absorb the chemicals from the plastic. The substance is called BPA or Bisphenol and is a hormone disrupter. Have you ever left a bottle of water sit in your car and it heats up? Notice the difference in taste, that’s the chemical in the water due to leeching of the plastic into the water. Never drink water that has been heated in a plastic bottle. The same is true about your baby’s bottle; heat the ingredients in a glass baby bottle, not plastic.
To learn more about your home, visit our website at www.safe-homes.com.
By Mr. Artemiss
We always think that our homes are a safe place to be--a refuge from the stress of our jobs and everyday living. Yet sometimes, some of us will be exposed to chemicals in our own home that can be hazardous to your health and your family’s health.
I do a lot of environmental inspections and am amazed by what I see during these inspections that people do to themselves without thinking. The good news is, not everyone does naïve things to harm themselves. Example: Mixing Clorox with ammonia.
It is important to understand every product you use in your home. Have you ever read the label of the product you are using? Your first thought is that all products are safe because they are in the grocery store. The answer is a definite no because some people have allergies to certain substances and not to all. They need to know that there are safe alternatives to help us out.
The first thing to do is to realize that all manufacturers are required to have what is called an MSDS Fact Sheet. When I tell people about this sheet, there is this strange look of astonishment. It is the “Manufacturers Safety Data Sheet” and is required to be available to any consumer who buys their product. Go to: www.osha.gov, for more information.
The following are the ten most common products I find in homes that people are allergic to and finding an inexpensive safe alternative is easy.
• Mothballs do not belong in your home. The chemical agent in them is paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. It is a chemical that can cause blood disorders. Children have a habit of finding them and ingesting them. Use an alternative such as cedar chips.
• Ammonia can cause eye and respiratory problems. Mixed with Clorox, you have Mustard Gas from WWI.
• Carbon Monoxide is produced from improperly vented hot water heaters and stoves. I have tested many of these systems and found them to be unsafe especially when the unit is located inside your home. Drafting the exhaust can be a problem in a closed up Air Conditioned house. If you think you might have this problem, contact your local gas company dealer to have it checked. All homes with gas appliances should have a Carbon Monoxide detector available at Home Depot, Lowe’s or your local hardware store.
• Detergent based soaps are a petrochemical derivative. Use natural soaps around the home. These soaps can be found in the Green-Wise Dept. of your local grocery store or Health Food Store. Bronner’s Soap is a good example of a castile soap which has been around for a long time.
• New clothes have a fabric sizing on the cloth materials to make them look good to the consumer. Wash your clothes prior to wearing them. Some individuals have an allergy to this product. This will prevent any respiratory problems people have with this product. Buy as much all natural cotton clothes as feasible, including your sheets.
• Pesticides-never spray pesticides in your home. Remember the bugs are smart and know where the poisons are located. We did an experiment with roaches and watched them go around or jump over a line of sprayed pesticides on the floor. Always bait and you will be safe from pesticide exposure. Remember, there is no such thing as a safe pesticide. If it kills them, it can affect you too.
• Cooking: try to cook as much organic food as possible. Organic vegetables taste better than non-organic. Try the taste test, you will be surprised. They are available in the Green-Wise Dept. of your local grocery store or Health Food Store.
• House Plants-they are beautiful to look at but if you do not take care of them, they will become a breeder of mold. Overwatering is mainly the cause of this. Buy one of the soil moisture indicators to monitor the soil moisture content.
• Chlorine Allergy-Chlorine in municipal water supplies can be removed using a whole house system. Chlorine can be damaging to your hair and skin over long periods of exposure. It can be worse when your municipality super chlorinates the system due to a break in the system. This is common problem in all city municipalities. We have several clients who get ill when this happens due to their allergies to Chlorine.
• Bottled Water-it is better to use glass than plastic due to the water’s ability to absorb the chemicals from the plastic. The substance is called BPA or Bisphenol and is a hormone disrupter. Have you ever left a bottle of water sit in your car and it heats up? Notice the difference in taste, that’s the chemical in the water due to leeching of the plastic into the water. Never drink water that has been heated in a plastic bottle. The same is true about your baby’s bottle; heat the ingredients in a glass baby bottle, not plastic.
To learn more about your home, visit our website at www.safe-homes.com.
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