Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that has no color, scent, or taste. Because it's unnoticeable, carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous. Having a carbon monoxide detector located in the home is an extremely good idea. They are affordable, easy to use, and will let you know when your health is at risk.
The housing boom in the early-mid part of the decade has been noted as the beginning of this problem. Normally, drywall is bought from domestic producers, but the boom caused shortages, so some home builders, particularly in Florida, purchased drywall shipped in from China. Only a few years later, in 2009, there appears to be something rotten in the State of Florida.
Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are gases given off by a variety of things both inside and outdoors. Not all VOCs are produced by man made means; trees, cows, and wetlands all produce VOCs. Most VOCs encountered outdoors are less of a health hazard than those that collect inside your house however because of the reduced concentrations.
Many of the construction companies who installed the toxic drywall have since gone out of business and many companies deny that they used or sold Chinese drywall at all. Home building supplier Lowe's has gone so far as to offer customers damages up to $100,000 for damages caused by contaminated drywall, all the while stating that none of the drywall sold at their stores was in anyway defective.
Many types of cleaners also give off VOCs, so take time to check them out before you spray them around your home. The old standbys—vinegar and baking soda—work best in most situations and won’t make you sick. Also, stay away from indoor air fresheners as they can also be a source of VOCs in your indoor environment.
Some studies have shown that carpets can help homes trap pollutants that have been out of common use for decades, in fact. Common allergens found in carpets include: dust mite droppings, animal fur and dander, lint, smoke particles, and sometimes pollen.
One of the problems that comes with living in an area where the air is humid at certain times of year, is toxic household mold. This seemingly innocuous issue can cause not only serious damage to property, but more importantly, it can be extremely hazardous to residents' health.
Sometime after Chinese drywall started showing up en masse in American homes, home owners started noticing acrid smells, corroded pipes and wiring, and health—particularly respiratory—problems. According to real estate experts, one of the reasons that the contaminated dry wall installation was so extensive—especially in certain areas of the nation—is due to the recovery and rebuilding after natural disasters in those areas that damaged homes.
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