Technology: The Danger Potential of Building Materials - Risks, Regulations and Ramifications
A frequently asked question is: "Must clients and planners be wary of toxins in modern-day building products?" The European Union and federal agencies have developed regulations, and seals of quality indicate that a product conforms to these regulations. Dangerous materials such as asbestos or the insecticide DDT are a thing of the past: major efforts are under way to purge existing buildings of them. In most cases, risk to humans and the environment is related to the dosage, environmental conditions, the manner in which it is employed, etc. Nevertheless, the answer to the question is, "Yes, it is important to be able to recognize, evaluate, and minimize risks.
