As a Home Inspector, I see plenty of
safety concerns in many of the homes and properties I inspect that have a
potential to be life threatening. However, the safety concern I was recently
made aware of is sometimes so subtle that it can go undetected for years before
it is revealed, often after it has already left a trail of damages to the physical
and mental health of the homeowners.
So exactly what is this safety concern? Toxic
waste is the culprit, and it can take years to rear its ugly head, and
sometimes many years to solve the issues.
Being a Home Inspector in HiltonHead, SC, I have not encountered any
serious issues with toxic waste in our locale. However I recently had a
conversation with a homeowner who has lived in a home for 6 years (bought new)
and has battled with strong chemical odors that were emitted from the
foundation concrete slab. The homeowners have tried replacing flooring, sealing
the concrete slab and all to no effect. Well I have certainly joked about the
interiors of some foreclosed homes I have inspected as being toxic waste dumps,
however this homeowner’s story was a wakeup call for me. I was not involved in
an inspection on their home, but felt compelled to offer some help. I
recommended they start with a call to a local environmental testing lab. I am hoping they called and are pursuing the
problem further. I had asked about any
health concerns in the family and it was revealed that the family members had
frequent headaches. The homeowner had mentioned someone familiar with some of
the history of the land in their development seemed to recall some illegal
dumping that had occurred in the area where their home was built.
Understanding that each locale is
different, I wondered what Hilton Head, SC had for environmental protection. I
was encouraged to find out that in 2013, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office,
Police Department, DHEC and the DNR joined efforts to help control environmental
issues. Note that for locals in Beaufort County, SC, you may call Crime
Stoppers at 888-274-6372 to report suspected problems (illegal dumping). For
additional information, the EPA has a website that will help determine if there
are environmental concerns (such as toxic landfills, chemical spills etc,) in
your area. The website is: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/commsearch.htm
Another information resource may be
found at Toxics Action Center. The website is: http://www.toxicsaction.org/problems-and-solutions/hazardous-waste-sites
With land becoming scarcer, builders
and developers may often build homes on “Brownfields”, which is another name
for a toxic waste site that someone wants to develop.
The most common threat to public
health from toxic waste is the contamination of water supplies. Toxins in the
soil can also seep into structures above, resulting in indoor air quality
concerns. Living in a polluted home can result in short term and long term
mental and physical problems. The problems can also extend into generations
(genetic birth defects).
I would urge any homeowner or home buyer who
suspects a home or property may be near (or built over) a toxic landfill, (or other
environmental concerns), to research local information resources as well as
those mentioned above. It is all too easy to be swayed by a beautiful home and
not pay attention to the unseen things that may leave you wanting to flee your
home. Determining such concerns is generally beyond the scope of a normal Home Inspection,
although some red flags may lead to discoveries. 
