Unit 3 Environmental Issues in Real Estate

Question 1

Arsenic

Answer 1

A natural element found in water, soil, air, and has been linked to several types of cancer.

Question 2

Formaldehyde

Answer 2

A colorless chemical air pollutant used to manufacture building materials and many household products, such as particleboard, hardwood plywood paneling, and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation.

Question 3

Radon

Answer 3

A naturally occurring gas that is suspected of posing a health hazard, especially causing lung cancer.

Question 4

Lead

Answer 4

An element found in oil-based paint and plumbing systems that when ingested in sufficient quantities over time can pose significant health problems. Real estate licensees and certain others are required to comply with the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act when dealing with housing constructed before 1978.

Question 5

mold

Answer 5

A form of fungus that can be found almost anywhere and can grow on almost any organic substance, so long as moisture, oxygen, and an organic food source are present. Mold growth can gradually destroy what it is growing on as well as cause serious health problems.

Question 6

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Answer 6

A colorless, odorless gas that occurs as a natural by-product of combustion that in high concentrations can cause serious health problems and even death. Malfunctioning or improperly ventilated fuel-burning equipment (furnaces, stoves, and fireplaces) are often the culprits.