Chapter 34 Further Reading: Hazardous Materials — Lead, Asbestos, Radon, and Mold

Official Resources

1. EPA Lead-Based Paint Resources — epa.gov/lead The EPA's primary resource hub for lead-based paint regulation and guidance. Includes the current text of the RRP Rule, the EPA's "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home" pamphlet (which sellers must provide to buyers), links to the certified firm locator, and guidance for homeowners. If you're planning any renovation in a pre-1978 home, bookmark this page.

2. EPA Radon Resources — epa.gov/radon The EPA's radon resource center includes: the county-level radon zone map (downloadable PDF), the "Consumer's Guide to Radon Reduction," the "Home Buyer's and Seller's Guide to Radon," and links to state radon contacts for free or low-cost testing programs. The homeowner's guide to radon mitigation is particularly practical — it walks through sub-slab depressurization system design for homeowners considering DIY installation.

3. EPA Mold Resources — epa.gov/mold The EPA's mold guidance includes their residential mold guide, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home," as well as more technical documents for professionals. The residential guide is genuinely accessible and covers testing, cleanup approaches, and when to call a professional.

4. ATSDR Toxic Substances Portal — atsdr.cdc.gov The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (a division of the CDC) publishes detailed toxicological profiles for lead, asbestos, and radon. These are technical documents aimed at clinicians and researchers, but the public health summaries at the beginning of each profile provide accessible overviews of exposure routes, health effects, and safe exposure limits.

Testing and Certification Resources

5. National Radon Program Services (SOS Radon) — sosradon.org Operates through Kansas State University and provides discounted long-term and short-term radon test kits by mail, as well as state radon programs by state. This is the easiest entry point for purchasing a test kit if you can't find one locally.

6. National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) — nrpp.info The professional certification body for radon testers and mitigators. Their contractor database allows you to search for NRPP-certified radon professionals by zip code and verify current certification status. Always verify your contractor's certification independently.

7. IICRC S520: Standard for Professional Mold Remediation The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification's standard for mold remediation. Not freely available online, but your contractor should be familiar with it, and the IICRC (iicrc.org) offers a list of certified mold remediation firms by location. Asking whether a contractor follows S520 is a meaningful screening question.

Books and Reference Guides

8. Home Safe Home by Debra Lynn Dadd A comprehensive guide to identifying and reducing toxic materials in the home environment, including lead, asbestos, and other hazards. Written for a general audience. Dadd takes a thorough approach to identifying products and materials that may contain toxins and provides practical guidance for reduction. More comprehensive than any single chapter can be.

9. Your Home's Inspection: What You Need to Know about the Hazardous Materials in Your Home — American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) AIHA publishes consumer guidance on hazardous materials in residential environments. The organization's public resources section (aiha.org) includes fact sheets on residential asbestos, lead, and other hazards that translate technical industrial hygiene concepts into homeowner-accessible language.

Scientific and Medical Resources

10. CDC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention — cdc.gov/nceh/lead The CDC's program for childhood lead poisoning prevention includes the current blood lead reference value, guidance for healthcare providers, and public health data on lead exposure trends. If you have concerns about a child's lead exposure, the CDC's resources and your state health department's lead poisoning prevention program are the appropriate first contacts.

11. EPA/NIEHS Environmental Health Sciences — niehs.nih.gov The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences publishes research summaries on environmental health topics including radon, asbestos, and mold exposure. The "Environmental Health Topics" section provides evidence-based overviews of health effects from residential exposures.

12. National Center for Healthy Housing — nchh.org A nonprofit focused on the relationship between housing conditions and public health. Their publications include practical guidance on lead, mold, and other housing hazards, as well as policy resources. The "Housing and Health" resource library is particularly useful for understanding the cumulative effects of multiple housing hazards.