Radon is second cause of lung cancer

A Wisconsin community is the news recently. And not for reasons that make Town officials happy. Its in the news because many homes are reporting unacceptably high radon levels.

Radon needs to be taken seriously. After cigarette smoking it is the leading cause of lung cancer. And smokers in high radon environments have even higher chances of becoming sick.

What makes radon so menacing is that you can’t see it or smell it. It is completely invisible. And yet it can kill.

Some areas are more prone to radon than others. Radon comes from the ground and certain ground formations are more likely to produce radon.

Radon can also enter through drinking water. Hot showers are particularly dangerous.

Here in New Jersey certain communities are considered to be Tier I Communities. In these areas new home much have radon mitigation systems.

Radon is tested by leaving a canister in a room for a day. Doors and windows must be closed.

Here is a real problem without an easy solution. If a buyer leavers a canister in a sellers home – the buyer has no real way to know whether closed conditions were in place. And a seller who wants to cheat can do so easily by just airing out a house during testing. Be aware of this problem.

Radon can be addressed through a mitigation system. Use an experience company with a good reputation. And it might be better to have an independent company do the radon confirmatory test after the system is installed to avoid any possible conflicts.

When purchasing a home make sure that radon testing is done before title is transferred . If a problem exists use a very good mitigation company to fix it before you close on your new castle.

Lieberman & Blecher practices environmental law in New York and New Jersey.  We have represented many people in toxic tort cases -- cases where people are injured by toxic substances such as radon, benzene, MTBE, lead, air pollutants, and pesticides.  http://www.liebermanblecher.com/

New Septic Regulations proposed in NJ

A year ago DEP here in NJ proposed an overhaul of the septic system rules.  You can see the rule proposal by visiting the DEP's web site -- then go to proposed regulations.

The changes, if approved (and I think they will be) are sweeping.   Outdated technologies such as cesspools will now have to be replaced.  No more grandfathering.

Greater review by the health department will also be required.   Which means homeowners with septics may see delays when they try to sell their homes.  Plan for these delays.

The current regulations are decades old.   These proposals may cost money.

 But no doubt --they are needed.  I hope they are approved.

Apartment Buildings and Contaminated Water

Recently  our law firm became involved in a case in which tenants in an apartment complex have been drinking dirty water for years.   And it appears the government knew about this.

 We have filed a lawsuit for these victims.

Don't think that just because you live in an apartment building and not a single family home that you do not have to worry about drinking water from a contaminated well.

  Here is the truth:   many apartment buildings obtain drinking water from on site wells.   And those wells are usually safe.   But not always.

Wells can be dirty for many reasons.   Often they are simply not deep enough.  Shallow wells are more likely to have problems than deeper ones.  People who live in these complexes do not know how deep their community well happens to be.

Also  community wells may be located near toxic sources such as leaking gas stations or local polluting industries.  In these cases, the pollution can be drawn into the wells and consumed by the tenants.

And not all wells are created equally.  Some are not properly constructed and more likely to be polluted.

In every case, tenants have an absolute right to clean water.    If they have consumed dangerous chemicals the  first stop is at a local Doctors office.  Make sure you have not become ill and are not likely to become ill.

If some one has  poisoned you with dirty drinking water that has or may make you sick, you may also have certain legal rights.   If you wish to explore  available legal rights you need to do so quickly. Your legal rights will be lost by waiting too long because strict statutes of limitations can bar claims if they are not presented in time.

Lieberman & Blecher practices environmental law in New York and New Jersey.   http://www.liebermanblecher.com/

Power plant politics

The huge multi billion dollar power industry is running ads right now trying to stop EPA's plan to adopt rules that will make the air much cleaner.  Power plants have historically been the focus of enviro regulation.   You may have even heard claims regarding the "new" cleaner coal.  Whatever that means.

Coal will be cleaner when the government is allowed to force industry to make it cleaner.   Not even a day before then.  But the predictable guys and state and companies wearing black hats will not be deterred.  Shamelessly they now make economic claims as to why they should not have to cleaner. 

But seriously, they have known about these problems and deadlines for years.  Like the Uncle who drinks too much, they are still in denial.  But they can very well afford rehab.  

How many more babies need to develop breathing illnesses.   How many more teens need to become sick.  How many more adults need to die too early so that they can make more profit.

These rules are not designed to punish big business or even coal.   They are designed to make the air safer and all of us healthier.

EPA needs to be left alone so it can do its job and make us healthy.

Lieberman and Blecher practices environmental law in New York and New Jersey.  www.liebermanblecher.com