5 ways your home may be trying to kill you

1. Lead-based paint: From dust to death.

Are you living in a house or apartment built before 1978?

If you answered yes, there could be lead-based paint in your home. Lead-based paint was banned in 1978 by the Consumer Product Safety Commission for use in homes, children's toys and furniture. However, it still exists in many older homes. Although chipping paint is dangerous, oftentimes lead dust can exist without a homeowner being aware.

"If it's [lead paint] on the wall in good condition, on friction surfaces like windows, that generally would become a problem," said Joel McCullough, medical director of environmental health at the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Older windows moving up and down can create lead dust, he added, which can also cause lead poisoning when ingested.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development suggests that flat surfaces, such as windowsills, in older homes be wiped down often with a damp paper towel to remove lead dust. Smooth floors should be damp-mopped weekly, and carpets and upholstery should be vacuumed to control dust.

Lead poisoning is particularly dangerous for children younger than six and pregnant women; lead can build up inside a young child's body and harm their developing brains. While symptoms are usually subtle, according to Dr. Helen Binns, director of the Lead Evaluation Clinic at Children's Memorial Hospital, in high levels, lead poisoning can cause brain damage or even death.

"The risk is definitely there," Binns said. "We thought by making our home safe we would have taken care of this, but we have this insidious problem that's coming back and we don't know about it."

2. Mold: Scourge of household pets.

Does your roof leak?

Do your pipes leak?

Do you or anyone in your household suffer from allergies or asthma?

Do you smell musty odors or see strangely-colored areas on ceilings or walls?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions - or even if you answered "no" - your house could have a fuzzy new pet: mold. Mold is a living organism that releases spores, tiny particles that float through the air. It grows on dank, moist areas, and besides causing unsightly areas on your home's walls and ceilings, it can be toxic.

Even those who don't have leaks or musty odors could still have mold. "A lot of mold is hidden, and people don't realize they have it," said Scott Santner, owner of Cobak Environmental in Waukesha, Wis. Santner's mold-detection business has seen mold growing from foundation leaks, humidity, flooding toilets and even due to pets urinating under the carpet. Mold needs moisture to grow, but it doesn't necessarily need direct moisture, Santner said.

Mold also can grow in areas with high humidity.

"I always say this: As soon a can or bottle of soda condensates in your house, you have too much humidity," he said. "That's when you should turn on your dehumidifier."

Although some molds are more dangerous than others, all can cause health problems. The Environmental Protection Agency describes symptoms as ranging from nasal stuffiness to headaches to fever and shortness of breath.

However, in large quantities, mold exposure can be much more serious. At the end of 2005, 19 varieties of cat and dog food were re-called because they were causing liver failure in the pets. The cause? Aflatoxin, a poisonous byproduct of aspergillus mold. Santner had a client in Schaumberg who almost died of liver failure after ripping moldy siding off his house.

If homeowners try to remove mold themselves, Santner advises using protection. "It's best to always wear personal protective equipment," he said. "If it's a real bad job, we use Tyvek suits."

At the very least, use a respirator, nitrate gloves, eye protection and heavy clothing.

3. Carbon Monoxide: Odorless. Relentless.

Do you use a kerosene or gas space heater?

Do you have a garage attached or next to your home?

Do you have a chimney and fireplace in your house or apartment?

Do you use an oil, wood, gas or coal furnace?

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector in your home?

If you answered "yes" to any of the first four questions but "no" to the last, you might be in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless, invisible gas that can cause death if inhaled in large quantities. HUD estimates that over 500 people in the United States die of carbon monoxide poisoning each year. This is completely preventable.

Carbon monoxide can be created whenever fuel is burning, and not only prevents oxygen from reaching your lungs but causes damage to the central nervous system. Any area without proper ventilation, such as a small apartment or a garage, could become laced with carbon monoxide.

Regardless of your home's size, HUD recommends that every home install a carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms. Heating systems and chimneys should also be inspected frequently.

The University of Chicago describes common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning as a headache, dizziness, weakness or nausea, as well as more serious symptoms such as loss of consciousness or respiratory failure. If you're experiencing these symptoms, you should get out of the area and see a doctor immediately.

4. Asbestos: Your lawyer's best friend, not yours.

Are you living in a house or apartment that was built before 1977?

This applies to approximately 87 percent of Chicago residents, so don't panic. Your home could contain asbestos, a mineral fiber that was used in some housing products (such as floor and ceiling tiles, joint compound, shingles, siding and furnace insulation) until the late 1970s. However, this doesn't mean that you and your family are in danger.

"Just because there are asbestos-containing products in your home doesn't necessarily mean you're being exposed to asbestos," said Mike Angelides, a partner at Simmons Cooper LLC, a law firm in St. Louis that specializes in representing those who have fallen ill due to asbestos. "It depends on the type of products and how you're coming into contact with them."

Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, and even one fiber can cause mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs. Although most with mesothelioma became infected by working in industries that use asbestos or by coming into contact with those industry workers, asbestos in the home can cause the same health problems.

If your home's potentially asbestos-laced products are intact and inaccessible, they don't pose a problem. However, if the products are in a state of disrepair or about to be removed, precautions should be taken.

"It's hard to recognize an asbestos product unless they're tested," Angelides said. "If you can identify the products in your house, you need to stay away from them and make sure they aren't a hazard to anybody. Little paper masks don't do anything. You really need to call the professionals to come remove them."

If you're renting: know your rights

If you're renting a house or apartment, you aren't necessarily responsible for all of its potential health hazards. As executive director of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization in Chicago, John Bartlett helps tenants learn about and advocate for their rights. Bartlett said he deals with these issues:

All landlords are required to give tenants notice if there are or ever have been any known lead hazards in the building. If there are, the landlords are required to mitigate those hazards to make the building lead-safe.

Landlords are required to have carbon monoxide detectors on every floor level in buildings that have more than one residential unit and use gas heat.

Every apartment is required to have a smoke detector, but tenants are responsible for testing the smoke detector and reporting malfunctions to the landlord.

If mold is growing, there is a leak or the ventilation isn't up to code. The landlord has to first deal with the cause of the problem so the mold doesn't continue to grow.

If the apartment building has a foyer, one of the doors has to be self-closing and self-locking.
All windows below the third floor are required to have screens.

Ultimately, Bartlett said, buildings that aren't maintained well tend to have problems that could cause health issues. If you're a renter and believe that your landlord is putting you and your family's health at risk, call the Metropolitan Tenants Organization at (773) 292-4988.