Healthy Home/Office Inspection Checklist

One of the things I do as a consultant is inspect homes and offices for toxic exposures suggest ways to create a more health home environment.

I look at buildings people are living or working in, and buildings people are thinking of renting or buying.

Here is a partial list of what I look for...

General Location

• Do prevailing winds bring industrial chemicals from surrounding locations?
• Is there adequate sun to prevent mold growth?
• Is there continuous pesticide or herbicide drift from nearby agriculture or golf course?
• Is there pesticide or herbicide drift from occasional local spraying?
• Are there low-level ongoing pesticide or herbicide exposures such as DDT in the soil?
• What are the levels of electromagnetic fields?
• Are there neighborhood sources of toxic chemicals such as a gas station or dry cleaning establishment?
• Is the dwelling near a busy street or freeway?
• If the home is in an apartment or office building, what exposures come from common spaces or through walls and vents?

Building Shell

• Does the dwelling contain building materials from remodeling or new construction within the last 5 years? If so, what?
• Is all or part of the living space connected to a garage? Other sources of auto exhaust?
• Has the house ever been exterminated?
• Does the house need to be exterminated?
• Were mothballs used in closets or furniture?
• Is the basement or crawl space damp, or does the house smell of mold?
• Has the foundation been damp-proofed with an asphalt-based sealant?
• Foundation made of treated wood?
• Is there radon in the house?
• Has the house siding been treated for insects (log or wood-sided home)?
• Is there asbestos in the siding, ceiling, or insulation?
• Was urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) used in the house?
• Is there any exposed fiberglass insulation where it could become airborne?
• Was particleboard used in the construction of the house?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation?
• Is there sufficient natural light?
• Was the dwelling recently painted? What kind of paint was used (lead? oilbased?)?
• Is there carpet in the house? What kind?
• What kind of pipe is used for incoming water?

Household Products

• Are there strong electromagnetic fields emanating from household appliances?
• Smoking?
• Combustion by-products from fuel-burning products?
• Plastics?
• Lead?
• Formaldehyde?
• Toxic cleaning and laundry products?
• Toxic household and garden pesticides?
• Quality of tap water? Type of filters used? Drinking water? Shower water?
• Types of drugs or medication?
• Toxic body care products?
• Pesticides and additives in food?
• Toxic clothing?
• Toxic bed and bedding?
• Toxic office and art supplies?
• Toxic furniture?
• Toxic pet products?