Your dream house may have more to it than meets the eye. 

Anyone who lives in, or plans to move into, an older home could find themselves sitting atop a very unexpected host of highly hazardous building materials. Most of these materials, like asbestos and lead, don’t pose much risk so long as they’re undamaged and in an inaccessible location. However, while having asbestos insulation in your attic probably isn’t going to put you at risk for mesothelioma, it could leave you vulnerable to legal threats. 

Here’s what you need to know about the potential hazards of common home building materials: 

Older Homes Often Contain Toxins

You don’t have to second-guess whether most new homes are built with reasonably safe building materials. But, in the not-so-distant past, materials we now consider dangerous were routinely used in the construction of almost every type of building and facility imaginable, from ordinary homes to urban tenements and factories. 

Some of the most common hazards found in homes across the country include, but are not limited to, the following: 

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that was used to fireproof and reinforce building materials. It is presumed to be present in almost every building in the United States built during or before the early 1980s. Exposure to asbestos is associated with a long-term risk for illnesses including asbestosis, pleural disease, and malignant mesothelioma. 

Lead 

Lead is a soft, malleable, and durable substance that can be integrated into materials such as pipes, plumbing fixtures, and paint. Prolonged exposure to lead poisoning can cause chronic pain and anemia, among other problems. Children are especially vulnerable to lead, as it can impede their brain’s development and increase their risk for certain physical and mental health conditions.

Chemicals, Gases, and Other Sources of Danger 

Older homes with antiquated air-circulation systems, dilapidated building materials, and degraded foundations can present systemic hazards. Old or defective appliances can release harmful carbon monoxide emissions, whereas cracked basement floors raise the risk of radon infiltration. These hazards may be the result of outdated materials or contamination from a nearby natural source.

Mold

Provided that conditions are right, mold can form almost anywhere. 

Mold is a risk in all homes, no matter how old they may or may not be, but homes built during the 19th and 20th centuries may contain degraded components more susceptible to mold. 

Different types of mold exposures can have different effects on different people, with responses varying from one person to another. Black mold, for instance, can grow in dark, moist, and temperate environments. Black mold, like all molds, reproduces by releasing spores into the air. These spores can trigger severe symptoms, including complex rashes, sensitivity to light, and a wide range of respiratory problems. 

Homeowners Are Sometimes Liable for Toxic Exposures 

Disclosure of known dangerous conditions is vital (as is testing for suspected hazards)

Any exposure to home hazards, such as asbestos and lead, could have life-altering repercussions—repercussions that aren’t always immediate or obvious, but which could provide fatal long-term. Oftentimes, illness comes so late in life that it is difficult for people diagnosed with diseases like malignant mesothelioma to identify probable sources and sites of exposure.

However, if somebody realizes that they were exposed to asbestos in their home or dangerous mold in their basement, they may be able to take action against the person, or party, responsible for the contamination. 

Consider the following examples:

  • Individual homeowners. If an individual homeowner knows that their house contains asbestos or another hazardous material, they may have a legal obligation to disclose this information when they are selling their home. Different states have their own rules on disclosure. In states that require disclosure, a homeowner who fails to provide notice of a hazard to a buyer could be liable for any injuries the buyer later sustains as a result of the hazard.
  • Home construction companies.  Home construction companies that are negligent during repairs may inadvertently expose entire families to toxins. This can occur if, during a renovation or expansion, a contractor needs to make alteration to the home’s existing structural features. If the right precautions aren’t taken, even replacing a carpet poses the risk of unsettling residual fibers.  
  • Manufacturers. The asbestos and lead industries knew for decades that their products were inherently dangerous yet never made any effort to warn the public. Some asbestos and lead companies can still be held liable for injuries caused by their products, even if decades have elapsed since they last manufactured an asbestos-containing material. 

Your liability, however, is determined by the rules specific to your city and state. 

Oftentimes, hiring an abatement service or adding a disclosure to a sale agreement isn’t just the right thing to do for yourself and your family—it may well be required by law. Consequently, if you plan to buy, sell, or renovate an older home, it’s usually best to obtain a comprehensive toxins inspection early on, giving you the time you need to minimize your family’s chances of being held accountable for somebody else’s illness.