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They just don’t make homes like they used to! The charm and craftsmanship of older homes are often difficult to replicate in modern construction.

Though those homes’ looks may feel timeless, some of the building materials used to make them are downright dangerous by today’s health standards.

Two of the most common toxic substances you can find in older homes are asbestos and lead. Prolonged or repeated exposure to either of these substances can cause environmental illness and create long-term health complications. Environmental illness can occur because of exposure to toxins or substances that make you sick in the places where you spend most of your time.

Learn more about asbestos and lead in older homes and how you can reduce your risk of exposure.

Health Risks of Asbestos

Asbestos is an insulating and fireproofing material that was common in home construction from the 1930s to the 1970s. Asbestos soundproofed walls and covered floors, ceilings, water pipes, and heating ducts.

The health risks don’t come from the asbestos when it’s intact. But when the material crumbles or frays with age, it releases fibers into the air. These can enter the body through breathing or swallowing.

Inside the body, these fibers attach to the lining of your respiratory and digestive tracts.

Asbestos exposure can cause tumors, lung cancer, and other illnesses, such as:

• Asbestosis — Scarring of the lung tissue.
• Mesothelioma — A type of cancer that affects the lining of your organs.

The severity of illness depends on the quantity of fibers inhaled and the length of exposure. Symptoms are slow to appear — it usually takes about 20 to 30 years. Smoking increases your chance of developing lung cancer as a result of asbestos exposure.

Health Risks of Lead

Lead poisoning occurs when you come into contact with large amounts of lead by breathing or swallowing a substance with lead in it. Lead toxicity can damage almost every organ in your body.

Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning, which can disrupt their growth, development, and behavior. Lead exposure increases a child’s risk of developing learning disabilities, behavior disorders, slowed growth, and impaired hearing.

Adults aren’t immune to the damaging effects of lead poisoning, either. It can damage the brain, nervous system, stomach, kidneys, and blood. It can also lead to high blood pressure.

Lead poisoning is typically a result of prolonged exposure to small amounts of lead over months or years. However, it can also occur quickly with exposure to a substantial amount of lead. The higher the amount of lead in a person’s body, the more severe the symptoms are.

Where Are Asbestos and Lead Found in Older Homes?

Asbestos helped strengthen, insulate, and fireproof building materials.

You can find asbestos in:

• Fireproofed walls and floors around wood-burning stoves.
• Furnaces.
• Insulation.
• Roofing and shingles.
• Soundproofing.
• Steam pipes and hot water boilers.
• Textured paints.
• Vinyl flooring.

The most common source of lead is lead-based paint. You could frequently find this in homes built before it was banned in 1978, especially those built before 1950.

Not only does the paint itself contain toxic amounts of lead, but the dust the paint creates when it flakes apart can get into the air and soil. Children absorb lead at a higher rate and are more likely to ingest or inhale lead because they frequently put their hands in their mouths or chew/swallow nonfood items.

You can also find lead in:

• Industrial pollution.
• Metal smelters.
• Pottery or stained glass.
• Toys, candy, or ceramic cookware from countries that don’t regulate lead levels.
• Water that flows through pipes that someone soldered with lead.

How Do I Know if My Home Has Asbestos or Lead?

If you suspect that your home may contain asbestos, you should hire a contractor or specialist in asbestos removal to conduct a thorough inspection.

During this inspection, they’ll take samples of the material to confirm under a microscope that it contains asbestos fibers. The professional will help you develop a plan for removal. They may use a special high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum to safely remove asbestos fibers.

The best way to avoid lead poisoning is to prevent and reduce exposure to lead. If your house was built before 1978, you can test for lead yourself by purchasing a DIY lead test kit from the hardware store. You can also contact your local health department to see what home inspection services are available in your area.

What Should I Do if My Home Has Asbestos or Lead?

If your home has asbestos, refer to government environmental offices for information on its safe removal. Don’t disturb the suspected material by dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming, which can release the asbestos fibers into the air.

If the asbestos material is intact, in good condition, and doesn’t pose a risk of damage (such as through remodeling), leaving it alone may prove the safest approach. Regularly inspect the material for any signs of damage. Asbestos isn’t dangerous when it’s intact.

If the asbestos isn’t in good condition, you should hire a professional to treat the material by either repairing or removing it as follows:

• Repairing asbestos — You can repair asbestos by sealing the material to bind the asbestos fibers together or covering it in a protective wrap to prevent the asbestos from releasing the fibers. Repair is typically cheaper than removal, but the asbestos material will remain in place.
• Removing asbestos — Removal of asbestos material may prove necessary if you’re remodeling or if the material has become damaged beyond repair. Only trained professionals should repair or remove. Improper treatment of this material may pose even greater health risks.

What to do if you think you’ve been exposed to lead

If your home contains lead or you suspect that you and your family have become exposed to lead, consult your doctor to get a blood test that measures the amount of lead in your blood. You should also talk to your doctor right away if you notice any of the signs of lead poisoning in yourself or your family members.

The signs of lead poisoning in children include:

• Behavioral problems, including anger, moodiness, or hyperactivity.
• Brain or nervous system damage.
• Lack of appetite or energy.
• Learning difficulties.
• Seizures, paralysis, or coma (in severe cases).
• Small stature for their age.
• Vomiting, constipation, or stomach pain.

The signs of lead poisoning in adults include:

• Changes in behavior, mood, personality, or sleep patterns.
• Headaches.
• Memory loss or trouble thinking clearly.
• Seizures, paralysis, or coma (in severe cases).
• Vomiting, constipation, or stomach pain.
• Weakness and muscle problems.

Unfortunately, these symptoms can sometimes seem like they’re because of other diseases, making a lead poisoning diagnosis more difficult. Additionally, many children don’t show symptoms of lead poisoning until the levels in their blood are very high.

If you turn out to have lead poisoning, contact professionals to remove the source of the lead at once.

If you believe you or your family may have become exposed to asbestos or lead in the place where you live, work, or play, your doctor can conduct an exposure assessment to determine the level of risk. This is a set of questions about where you go and what you do regularly to try to pinpoint where you might have been exposed to these substances.

Keeping a journal of your symptoms may also help you notice patterns and better pinpoint the source of your exposure. When you have determined the source of exposure, avoid those areas as much as possible until someone has removed the harmful materials.

After exposure, proper nutrition — especially eating foods that are high in iron and other vitamins and minerals — can help reduce lead levels in the body through absorption.

Sometimes chelation therapy is necessary. Chelation therapy involves taking medications that bind to lead in the body and help remove it through the body’s waste system. However, treatment can’t reverse any damage that lead poisoning has already caused.