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National curriculum lesson 99 · Disclosures

Environmental Hazards and Disclosure

Common exam hazards include lead-based paint, radon, asbestos, mold and moisture, underground storage tanks, contaminated soil or groundwater, hazardous materials, flood hazards, and wetlands. The correct response is usually to identify the issue, avoid unsupported conclusions, provide required federal or state information, disclose known material facts, and recommend testing or specialist review.

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Last reviewed August 2, 2026. Editorial standards.

What is the exam-ready answer?

Common exam hazards include lead-based paint, radon, asbestos, mold and moisture, underground storage tanks, contaminated soil or groundwater, hazardous materials, flood hazards, and wetlands. The correct response is usually to identify the issue, avoid unsupported conclusions, provide required federal or state information, disclose known material facts, and recommend testing or specialist review.
Official syllabus mapping for Environmental Hazards and Disclosure
Roadmap lesson99 of 500
Official syllabus topicEnvironmental Hazards and Disclosure
Official PSI areaProperty Disclosures
Published area weight7% of the 100-question national portion
Exam portionNational salesperson portion
Source editionPSI Georgia Candidate Information Bulletin dated July 1, 2026
Last verifiedAugust 2, 2026

The Rule

PSI publishes the weight for the complete content area, not a fixed question count for this lesson. Learn the rule well enough to apply it when PSI changes names, numbers, or parties in a new scenario.

Complete lesson

Read each concept as part of one decision system. The exam often gives one accurate statement and three statements that belong to a nearby concept.

Lead-based paint

For most housing built before 1978, federal rules require the seller or lessor to provide the EPA pamphlet, disclose known lead information and available records, include contract language, and give purchasers the required evaluation opportunity unless waived as permitted.

Radon and asbestos

Radon is an invisible radioactive gas assessed through testing. Asbestos-containing material is not identified reliably by sight; disturbing damaged or friable material can increase exposure and requires qualified guidance.

Moisture, mold, and tanks

Moisture source control is central to mold concerns. Current or former underground tanks can create leak, cleanup, and regulatory issues that require records and environmental assessment.

Flood and wetland issues

A FEMA flood designation informs insurance and risk but is not the only source of flooding. Wetlands and protected areas can affect permits and development even when a site remains privately owned.

Decision rule

Match the hazard to the official disclosure, testing, records, and specialist pathway instead of guessing from appearance.

Georgia-specific distinction

Federal lead requirements apply in Georgia to covered housing. Georgia transactions also require attention to known material adverse facts, actual flood history, private reports, and local or agency controls beyond a map label.

Worked example

Scenario. A 1965 home has peeling paint and no lead inspection records.

Reason it through. Age triggers federal lead-disclosure analysis, while appearance alone cannot establish whether paint contains lead.

Answer. Provide the required federal information and opportunity, disclose known records or hazards, and recommend qualified risk assessment or inspection.

Common exam traps

  • Diagnosing asbestos by sight
  • Treating no records as no hazard
  • Confusing flood map status with flood history
  • Remediating without qualified advice

Original practice questions with detailed explanations

These questions were written for instruction and mapped to the current outline. They are not copied from PSI or any live examination. Choose an answer before opening the explanation.

Question 1

Which hazard is tested as an invisible radioactive gas?

  1. A. Radon
  2. B. Asbestos
  3. C. Lead paint
  4. D. Mold
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: A. Radon

Radon cannot be seen or smelled and is evaluated by testing.

Question 2

Most federal lead disclosure duties focus on housing built before what year?

  1. A. 1960
  2. B. 1978
  3. C. 1988
  4. D. 2000
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: B. 1978

The federal residential lead-based-paint disclosure program generally uses pre-1978 housing as its threshold.

Question 3

Can FEMA map status replace disclosure of known past flooding?

  1. A. Yes
  2. B. No
  3. C. Only with flood insurance
  4. D. Only for vacant land
Show answer and explanation →

Answer: B. No

Map designation and known property history are different material facts.

Mastery tracking

Mark this lesson mastered only when every statement is true.

  • State the direct answer and decision rule without notes.
  • Explain every core concept in plain English.
  • Solve the worked example after changing one important fact.
  • Identify the Georgia distinction before reading answer choices.
  • Answer all three questions correctly and reject every distractor.
  • Repeat the topic in mixed practice on a later day.

Recommended next lesson

Continue with Material Facts, Defects, Misrepresentation, and Fraud. Continue to roadmap lesson 100 and build on this decision rule.

Return to the Property Disclosures hub to see every official branch and the complete lesson sequence for this content area.

Environmental Hazards and Disclosure questions

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Last reviewed August 2, 2026. Editorial standards.

Is Environmental Hazards and Disclosure on the Georgia real estate exam?

Yes. It belongs to PSI's Property Disclosures content area, which is 7% of the 100-question national portion. PSI publishes content-area weights, not a guaranteed question count for this individual lesson.

What is the main rule for Environmental Hazards and Disclosure?

Match the hazard to the official disclosure, testing, records, and specialist pathway instead of guessing from appearance.

What Georgia-specific distinction should I remember?

Federal lead requirements apply in Georgia to covered housing. Georgia transactions also require attention to known material adverse facts, actual flood history, private reports, and local or agency controls beyond a map label.

How do I know I have mastered this lesson?

Explain the rule without notes, solve the worked example again with changed facts, answer all original questions correctly, explain every distractor, and repeat mixed practice on a later day.