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If you live in the Coachella Valley you are located in the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). Within this district a survey for the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) must be conducted prior to any renovation (except for single-unit residential structures, where less than 100 square feet of ACMs are disturbed) or any demolition (no exceptions). Surveys must be conducted by a CAC. See SCAQMD Rule 1403.

www.aqmd.gov

If you live in Blyth, you are located in the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD). Within this district asbestos surveys are required prior to renovation and demolition .

www.mdaqmd.gov

Asbestos is a group of six naturally-occurring silicate minerals, including serpentine (or chrysotile), riebeckite (crocidolite), cummingtonite-gunerite (amosite), anthophyllite, actinolite or tremolite. These minerals have been actively mined for their physical properties such as their resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, sound absorption and tensile strength; thereby making their applicability widespread throughout various industries such as manufacturing and primarily in building construction for its flame retardant and insulating properties. 

www.aqmd.gov

Asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural plaques and lung cancer are the recognized diseases caused by asbestos that can occur due to the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers. For asbestos containing materials (ACMs) to pose a health risk, air born asbestos fibers need to be present and/or released from ACMs to the air from degradation or mechanical action on the ACM. Therefore, asbestos inhalation exposure risk from ACMs is in part dependent upon the material matrix that is binding the asbestos, the condition of the ACM and the product type.

www.epa.gov

Asbestos is not fully banned in the United States, which is why there are no building age exclusions from asbestos regulations. Below is a list of partial bans of asbestos usage:

• In 1973, EPA banned spray-applied surfacing asbestos-containing material for fireproofing/insulating purposes. See National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) at 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M.
• In 1975, EPA banned installation of asbestos pipe insulation and asbestos block insulation on facility components, such as boilers and hot water tanks, if the materials are either pre-formed (molded) and friable or wet-applied and friable after drying. See National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) at 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M.
• In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in artificial fireplace embers and wall patching compounds. (See 16 CFR Part 1305 and 16 CFR 1304).
• In 1978, EPA banned spray-applied surfacing materials for purposes not already banned. See National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) at 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart M.
• In 1989, EPA attempted to ban most asbestos-containing products by issuing a final rule under Section 6 of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). However, most of the original ban on the manufacture, importation, processing, or distribution in commerce for the majority of the asbestos-containing products originally covered in the 1989 final rule was overturned in 1991 by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. As a result, the 1989 asbestos regulation only bans new uses of asbestos in products that would be initiated for the first time after 1989 and bans 5 other specific product types. See 40 CFR 763 Subpart I.
• In 1990, EPA prohibited spray-on application of materials containing more than 1% asbestos to buildings, structures, pipes, and conduits unless certain conditions specified. See National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) at 40 CFR 61, Subpart M.
• In 2019, EPA issued a final rule to ensure that discontinued asbestos products cannot be reintroduced into commerce without the Agency evaluating them and putting in place any necessary restrictions or prohibiting use. 

www.epa.gov

Asbestos fibers have been widely used in industrial and commercial applications because of its strength, flexibility and electrical and heat resistant properties.  Below is a list of common building materials that may contain asbestos:

• Acoustical panels
• Acoustical plaster
• Asbestos felt
• Asbestos paper
• Asphalt
• Boilers
• Cables and wires
• Ceiling tiles
• Corrugated paper
• Drywall
• Duct adhesive
• Duct insulation
• Dust masks
• Electric boards
• Filler
• Flashing
• Flexboard
• Flooring
• Floor tile
• Furnaces
• Gaskets
• Generators
• Heating ducts
• Panels
• Permaboard
• Plaster
• Popcorn ceiling covering
• Preformed pipe wrap
• Roof coating
• Roofing
• Roofing felt
• Sheetrock
• Shingles
• Siding
• Sleeves
• Stucco
• Tank jackets
• Tar paper
• Textured coating
• Tiles
• Turbines
• Valves
• Vinyl floors
• Vinyl wallpaper
• Wall tile
• Wiring insulation

This list is not comprehensive, there may be additional building materials that may contain asbestos.

The best way to avoid mold and moisture problems is to watch for common sources of moisture inside and outside your home and then to get rid of any moisture as soon as possible. • Make sure you have good air flow whenever moisture is being produced, for example:– vent clothes driers to the outside,– when showering or bathing, use an exhaust fan or open a window (and keep it running for 20-30 minutes after), and– when cooking, use an exhaust fan vented to the outside or open a window. 

• Don’t hang wet clothes indoors unless you can open windows to let moisture out. • Check crawlspaces and basements for dampness and seal any leaks or cracks. 

• Run dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture from damp indoor places, like basements. 

• Make sure your roof is in good condition and fix leaks as soon as possible. • Aim garden sprinkler sprays away from the house. 

• Be sure gutters and downspouts are clear, and drain water away from your home. 

• Be sure the ground outside, all around the house, slopes away from your house. 

• If you have a leak or flooding, take care of moisture immediately:

– Stop the source of the leak or flooding.

– Remove excess water with mops or a wet vacuum or a pump.

– Move wet items to a dry, well-ventilated area or place them outdoors to speed drying.

– Move rugs and pull up wet carpet as soon as possible.

– Open closet and cabinet doors and move furniture away from walls to increase airflow.

– Where walls have gotten wet, remove drywall and baseboards, or pry open wall paneling, if necessary, to allow the area to dry thoroughly. (For more specific information, see additional resources listed under Flood Cleanup).

– Run portable fans to increase air flow (but not if mold has already started to grow, as this could spread mold).

– Do NOT use your home’s central furnace or air-conditioning system if it or any of the ducts were f looded because this could blow mold all around your home. 

If you have a moisture problem in your home that you cannot fix yourself, consider hiring a contractor or building expert to help.

www.cdph.ca.gov

Molds can cause health problems through allergy, inflammation, or, less often, infection. 

You can get exposed to mold by breathing in mold spores or tiny pieces of mold. Mold spores are like seeds. Spores can be on materials like walls, floors, or furniture, or float in the air. It is common to find spores in the air inside homes. Everyone breathes in some mold every day. Most mold spores found in indoor air come from outside, but when there is moisture inside buildings, mold can grow quickly and release many spores into the air inside.

www.cdph.ca.gov

Mold growth may be visible, or it may be hidden underneath water-damaged surfaces (for example, wallpaper), behind furniture, along and behind baseboards, or inside walls, floors, or ceilings. Signs of a mold or moisture problem in your home are: 

• areas on floors ceilings, walls, woodwork or furniture that look stained or discolored, or have mold on them 

• an earthy or musty smell 

• damp areas or surfaces 

• water stains on walls or ceilings 

• water damage, such as warped floors, peeling or bubbling paint, or soft, rotting wood 

You might also have a mold problem if people who are sensitive or allergic to mold have symptoms when they are in your home. Condensation on windows or walls also is an important sign of a moisture problem. Because condensation also can be caused by a problem with a gas stove, heater, or dryer, inspect fuel-burning appliances every year, and contact your local utility or a professional heating contractor if you have questions.

www.cdph.ca.gov

Molds can cause health problems through allergy, inflammation, or, less often, infection. 

• Allergic reactions (often called hay fever), such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash, can happen if a person who is allergic to mold breathes in mold. 

• Moisture and mold can cause asthma, trigger asthma attacks, and make asthma symptoms, like wheezing and coughing, worse. 

• If you have a mold or moisture problem in your home, you may be more likely to get respiratory infections, like colds or flu. In a very small number of people with weakened immune systems, mold can cause fungal infections. Larger problems with indoor mold and moisture are more likely to cause health problems than smaller problems. 

Even if you don’t think mold is affecting you, indoor mold and moisture are bad for your health. If you can see or smell mold or have moisture or moisture damage, you should find where the moisture is coming from, fix any problems as soon as possible, and cleanup and remove the mold

Some people are more sensitive and more likely to have health problems from mold or moisture. Sensitive people might have health problems even with exposure to small amounts of mold or moisture. Other people might only have health problems if they are exposed to more, or are exposed for a longer time. People who are especially likely to have problems from smaller exposures to mold or moisture are: 

• People who already have respiratory conditions, such as allergies or asthma, or are sensitive to other things in the air. 

• People with weakened immune systems (such as HIV-infected persons or cancer patients who are getting chemotherapy). 

• Infants and young children, and seniors.

www.cdph.ca.gov

 Mold growth is not always visible to the eye and can be hidden in many areas of your home. Anytime you have a water leak in your home, such as a roof leak or pipe burst, mold will begin to grow on the building material inside your walls often leading to a musty smell in the air. Breathing in the air in places that are moldy or damp can harm your health. This includes places with: • Visible mold • Moldy or musty smells • Materials or surfaces that stay damp or get damp often • Water damage Damp, moldy places allow mold spores and other tiny pieces of mold to get into the air, which can cause breathing problems and other health problems. Moist materials allow mold and bacteria to grow and may also allow chemicals from building materials to get into the air. Unless mold is controlled, it can damage floors, walls, ceilings, and other structures in your home. Mold can damage your furnishings, such as carpets, chairs and sofas. Clothes and shoes in damp closets can become stained and start to fall apart. The longer that mold grows, the more damage it can cause. The best way to fix a mold problem is to: • find where the damp areas and mold are • fix any leaks or other moisture problems (such as condensation on windows or walls, garden sprinklers too close to your home, or blocked gutters) • quickly dry out any damp areas or replace any damp materials • quickly and safely clean up mold and remove any materials that are moldy  www.cdph.ca.gov

We do not recommend using bleach, or products that contain bleach, to disinfect for mold. They are too hazardous, and not any more effective than safer methods. Using bleach can harm your health. Bleach can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and cause breathing problems (like asthma) and injuries. Bleach can also damage clothing, shoes, and other materials. Bleach will not kill mold unless you have cleaned the area first and removed the mold, and then bleach is not necessary. Bleach does not keep mold from growing back. You cannot completely disinfect porous materials that are moldy, such as carpets, fabric, or drywall (gypsum board). You must remove them. (However, you can reuse washable items like clothing if all mold and staining can be removed.) For smooth nonporous surfaces, scrubbing with detergents and other recommended cleaners will remove mold, without the need to disinfect. (Using bleach to disinfect is only recommended when there is a concern about infection, such as when there is a sewage spill.) If you are thinking of using bleach despite these warnings: 

•Only use bleach or disinfectants on nonporous materials and only AFTER cleaning with soap or detergent. 

•Never mix bleach with ammonia or anything other than water (unless product label allows for mixing) because this may produce toxic fumes. 

•It is very difficult to completely protect yourself from fumes and skin contact. Handle bleach with caution. Wear eye protection and gloves made to protect your skin from harsh chemicals. Make sure there is very good air circulation or outdoor air ventilation to reduce the fumes.

Mold is a kind of microscopic organism. Molds, like mushrooms and yeasts, are fungi and are important because they help break down dead plant and animal material and recycle nutrients in the environment. There are many kinds of mold and they can be found almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold growing on surfaces can look like a stain, or can be fuzzy or slimy. It is usually white, gray, brown, or black, but can also be green or red or other colors.  www.cdph.ca.gov

 Yes! 

If you rent your home, tell your landlord that the moisture or mold problem needs to be fixed. (Mold or moisture problems that are bad enough to cause health problems for tenants are both listed in the California Housing Code as conditions that make a home “substandard.” Painting over mold is not good enough—the moisture problem must be fixed, and any moldy materials cleaned or removed. If your landlord does not fix the problem, you can contact your county or city health inspector. The California Department of Consumer Affairs offers A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities at www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Tenant Rights, Laws and Protections: California www.hud.gov/states/california/renting/tenantrights

California Department of Consumer Affairs California Tenants: A Guide to Residential Tenants’ and Landlords’ Rights and Responsibilities, Pages 36-47. Revised July, 2012. www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/catenant.pdf

 Yes! Methamphetamine (Meth) laboratories have been found in everything from hotel rooms, recreational vehicles, apartments, and luxury suburban homes. During the illegal production of meth these properties can easily become contaminated with a number of hazardous chemicals.