I recently did a moisture inspection for a lady who has two suites in her basement and one up. Apparently a recently vacated tenant spilled something on the carpet or left a window open. Afterwards her daughter, who lives in the upstairs suite noticed a cat pee like odor.
When I did the inspection, the carpet in the suite was detached and rolled back, I could not smell anything, but that don’t mean much, I found some moisture in the carpet and on the floor corresponding to the wet patch on the carpet. The suite was clean but there were many contributors to moisture such as a loose (but not leaking) toilet, no bathroom vent, possible plumbing leaks in a wall, high humidity, all of which I recommended she fix.
Now she is asking me about whether the tenant may have been smoking meth in the suite, and she is afraid it might have left toxic residue on the walls and in the carpet. (???) I am pretty sure it was never used as a meth lab for many reasons, including that there were two other tenants in other suites. Smoking maybe, there was a large window that could be opened fully to get rid of the smoke without stinking up the rest of the house.
I told her I would look into AQ testing available in Edmonton, and possible remediation. One that seems to have potential is an ozone generator. They can be bought or rented locally.
Anything else I can tell her? IMO she is over reacting, but what do you guys have to say?
Ozone generators can be hazardous to those without experience.
Due to its instability, ozone is highly reactive; it will seek chemical reactions that return its oxygen atoms to a more stable state of lower energy.
Ozone has a destructive effect not only on biological contaminants, but on all living organisms. The chemical reactions of ozone generally involve the “stealing” of electrons from other substances, including living tissue, which as a result become “oxidized.” It is this powerful oxidizing potential that makes ozone dangerous to health.
The available scientific evidence indicates that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is ineffective in removing indoor air contaminants. Therefore the use of ozone generators in occupied spaces for air purification can only endanger health, without compensating benefits.
In sufficient concentration, ozone causes damage to lung tissue and respiratory airways. Even low concentrations can cause chest pain, shortness of breath resulting from a decrease in lung function, coughing and [eye
