All abandoned buildings have a distinct smell, a mix of mold, stagnant air and other healthy particles that fill your lungs everytime you go exploring. True, you can wear a respirator to protect yourself,  and you can wear a harness when you climb cranes.  But the truth of the matter is, this is not a safe hobby, some people explore just for the sole reason that it IS dangerous and risky. If  being safe and secure is your thing, you picked the wrong hobby and should probably stay at home in the comfort of your own home.

Derelict industrial sites are notorious for nasty leftover hazards. Although the massive complex at the foot of the Don River in Toronto is industrial, they made soap, detergents and other cleaning products so instead of the standard abandonment smell, the air is filled with the smell of cleaning agents. Although many cleaning products are designed to smell pleasant, the constant cleanliness was nauseating.