Humans may become infected with Hantaviruses through contact with vermin urine, saliva, or droppings. Some strains of Hantaviruses cause potentially fatal diseases in humans, while others have not been associated with known human disease. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a rare respiratory illness associated with the inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta (urine, saliva and feces) contaminated by Hantavirus particles. Symptoms include illness with fever, headache, myalgia’s, and often-prominent GI symptoms.

A type of insulation that was widely used in the 1970’s for insulating and retrofitting industrial, commercial and older residential buildings. Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI) is a low-density foam that has the appearance and consistency of shaving cream, and becomes stiff and self supporting when it dries or cures/hardens.

The insulation is typically made on-site where the urea formaldehyde-based resin is mixed with a catalyst and water and foamed in place in walls or used for block fill. The foam can be forced through small openings and delivered to the entire area of any cavity before it cures.

UFFI has been prohibited from advertising, sale or importation into Canada under item 34, Part I of Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act since December 1980. The prohibition includes all urea formaldehyde-based thermal insulation, foamed in place, used to insulate buildings. This includes melamine urea and other urea formaldehyde resins.

Primarily used arsenic in insecticides such as ant killers and animal dips, there has been no domestic production of arsenic since 1985. Prior to that, arsenic was commonly used in algaecides, desiccants used in mechanical cotton harvesting, glass manufacturing, herbicides (such as weed killers for telephone and railroad posts), and nonferrous alloys.

Compounds that contain only chlorine, fluorine and carbon are called chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) and form materials that are used in refrigeration systems and in fire suppression systems. While the regulations allow the continued use of halocarbon refrigerants, they strictly prohibit any person from releasing into the environment any halocarbon. In the case of demolition, these materials will require proper recovery and disposal by a licensed professional.

Above ground tanks are commonly used for storing heating fuel such as propane. As the tanks age, they possess an increased risk of failure and contamination to the ground below. This contamination may find its way into water supply or other organic substances in the area.