If you have children in a home with peeling and chipping paint, or painted surfaces such as window sashes that wear down, it is important to know if lead is present in the paint to prevent ingestion and inhalation of lead dust. Please refer to our Education Center section on Lead for more details. It is recommended that you test for lead paint and contact your local Health Department for a professional evaluation should you have questions or concerns about your test results. This is especially important before undertaking any remodeling project as the demolition and construction process can create airborne lead dust and particles. One report by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Special Legislative Commission on Indoor Air Quality has determined the air quality in our homes can be detrimental to our health and may contain concentrations of toxins 10-100 times greater than what is outdoors.
Most homes contain more than one contributor to poor indoor air quality.
Building materials can outgas volatile organic compounds, humidity levels can encourage mold growth and biological contaminants, lack of ventilation can concentrate pollutants and poorly functioning heating systems can produce toxic gasses. Please review health effects in the Indoor Air Quality Education Center. Radon Testing Information Radon is a naturally occurring colorless and odorless radioactive gas that comes from uranium and radium in soil or rock. Radon concentrations in the outside air are low but can build up to high concentrations in enclosed spaces such as your home. Please refer to our Radon Education Center section for more details.