A Healthy Homes Coalition in his city stepped in to help the family. - - PDF document

Introduce myself I invite you to be part of helping create a healthier community in La Plata County. I became interested in Healthy Homes after attending a Healthy Homes conference in San Diego in 2011. I was shocked to hear about increased asthma rates due to hazards in the home. One boy had to go to the emergency room nearly every month from asthma attacks. Like many of us his family didn’t have health insurance, so had to use the emergency room instead of preventative medicine. A Healthy Homes Coalition in his city stepped in to help the family. They removed all

• f the asthma triggers in his home including dirty carpets, mold, high carbon

monoxide and more. The boy’s asthma attacks dropped significantly. I was struck by the power of this information. Even if our Healthy Homes program can’t go into every home in La Plata County at least we can supply you with the information and resources to make your home healthier and safer. Ask people to introduce themselves and why they are here today. 1

Program funded by a grant from the EPA. Advertising provided in partnership with Durango Transit. Smoke Free materials provided by SJBHD Radon test kits provided by CSU Extension Partnering with RHA on Homebuyer Education class. Workshop Layout Total presentation time: 1.5 hours Introduction to the program Exploring a Healthy Home & Indoor Air Quality room by room Low & No cost steps for improving the air quality in your home Opportunities to sign the Healthy Homes pledge and Smoke Free Car & Home pledge for 4 week period Free carbon monoxide detector & radon kit Survey on the current level of healthiness in your home Follow up survey after 4 week pledge period 2

4CORE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit 4CORE serves Southwest Colorado as the leading resource for the effective and efficient use of energy to promote and sustain vibrant local communities.

Energy Efficiency – for Homes & Businesses Resource Smart Business Program Home Performance Prescription (HomeRx) Program Innovative Solutions - Solarize campaign Resource Efficiency Education – for Families & Businesses Healthy Homes, Healthy Families Program Alternative Fuel Vehicles Program Sustainable Business Education Program Energy Information Hub – for Southwest Colorado Website, newsletter, blog, social media 3

• Ensures that all communities & people, regardless of race, color, national origin or

income receive the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards

• The EJ movement grew out of a grassroots protest in 1982, which found that there

was a link between the placement of a hazardous waste landfill and the race of the communities where the landfills were to be located.

• Environmental Justice is now required of all federal agencies
• 40 communities across the country have received EJ Small Grants for 2013-14 from

the EPA. I attended a conference in DC in October where I was able to meet all of the

• ther grant recipients and realize that our project is part of a larger movement to

improve the health of our communities. Some of the projects include:

• Fixing the contamination of traditional tribal fisheries in Alaska
• Transforming contaminated industrial land in New Jersey into community

gardens

• Providing education and empowerment to improve indoor air quality and

creating healthy homes in La Plata County 4

• Air pollution indoors can be 2 to 5 times more concentrated

than outdoor levels.

• People typically spend 50% of their time inside their homes.

We want to make sure that the air you’re breathing is safe and that your home is healthy. Hopefully by the end of the workshop you won’t feel the need to wear gas masks at home.

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Ask participants to get in small groups of 3-4. Introductions in your group Come up with 2-3 things that make up a healthy home. Can also list things that would not be included in a healthy home. Responses may include: Safety & structurally sound Doesn’t make us sick Has good air quality Clean Free of mold and pests Ask groups to volunteer one idea Ask participants to raise hands if they had similar ideas Move on to different idea Review suggestions

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Sick Home Syndrome is used to describe situations in which people experience health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in their homes, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. Some symptoms of Sick Home Syndrome include: ASTHMA

Currently 7 million children worldwide have asthma

I grew up in a 100 year old farmhouse in Southern California. Our property was surrounded by modern suburbs, but this old farmhouse was preserved. My younger brother has asthma and strongly believes that it developed from the black mold that grew inside the walls of his bedroom. When he comes back to the family house during the holidays he always sleeps in the living room. Does anyone in your home have asthma? 7

Call out the different asthma and allergy triggers that could be making us sick. 8

Hand out Room-by-room Checklist & Hand out 3 Issues

• Worksheet. I’m not going to go over every potential

problem in the exact same order as the checklist, but we’ll jump around a little. You may find out that you have some of the same issues in your home. Here’s a worksheet to be able to keep track of areas of concern.

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What could be some sources of indoor air pollution?

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• Millions of dust mites live in our homes
• Dust mites feed on discarded human skin flakes and live in sheets,

blankets, pillows, mattresses, soft furniture, carpets, and your child’s stuffed toys.

• Dust mite feces are a major cause of allergic reactions & asthma

attacks

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50% of children (age 3-11) had recent exposure to cigarette smoke between 1999- 2008 Primary Source of Exposure: The Home (school and other places took second) That exposure increases the chances that children will suffer from: (List) We all know that:

• Secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer and heart disease.

Children with asthma may have more severe or more frequent attacks if they are around secondhand smoke. CO Quit Hotline receive 5 coaching calls, guidebook, nicotine patches for 8 weeks, & text message reminders CO Quit Mobile for more text message instant support, since she hears how effective these programs can be to really help people quit for good. Ask others not to smoke around kids or smoke outside 13

Pet dander, urine, and saliva can be asthma triggers and cause poor air quality

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Allergies to cats are the most common asthma trigger, with 30% of asthmatics reporting cat allergies. We aren’t actually allergic to their fur – it’s the pet dander (skin cells, salivia) that actually make us allergic. After I got my long-haired cat Fuzzer from the Humane Society I noticed that our house became much dirtier from fur and tracking in dirt &

• leaves. Our cat likes to sleep on our pillows at night – which is not very

hygienic. Who has a pet that comes inside? Does anyone in your home have allergies or asthma triggers from your pet? What to Do?

• Keep animals outside as much as possible
• Keep animals out of bedrooms of people with asthma
• stay off the furniture.
• vacuum the carpets and furniture when asthmatics are not around
• If all of this doesn’t work, give pet to another family and get a pet fish

instead.

• Hypoallergenic pets – certain breeds of cats and dogs have NOT been

proven to reduce allergies. Only reptiles, fish & amphibians will do.

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Combustion appliances

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• What is an odorless, colorless gas that can poison us?
• Combustion appliances burn fuel such as natural gas, propane or wood to generate energy. Their bi-products include carbon monoxide and

nitrogen dioxide, which are colorless, odorless gases.

• Combustion gases impede the flow of oxygen through your body.
• Lower levels create headaches, dizziness, weakness, confusion and fatigue. High levels can cause unconsciousness and death.

If appliances are not vented properly to the outdoors properly, they can be releasing carbon monoxide into the home. In early 2013, 3 people who stayed at a Best Western hotel in Boone, NC were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. The first was an elderly couple who were found dead in their room after spending the night. A month later a mother and her 11 yr old son stayed in the same room. The mother was knocked unconscious and her son was killed. It turns out, water heater from the swimming pool had an exhaust pipe that was severely corroded and was spilling lethal levels of carbon monoxide into the room on both occasions. There wasn’t a CO detector in the room. Unvented space heaters: Remove the heater completely from your home Or: Open a window slightly or use an exhaust fan when you are using the heater. Wood stoves: Make sure the stove doors are tight fitting. Follow the maker’s instructions for starting, burning, and putting out the fire. Check for red hot cracks and holes in the stove New EPA rated woodstoves are 50% more efficient than older stoves. Decrease pollution (indoor & outdoor ) by 70%. Fireplaces: Always open the chimney flue before you build a fire. Have your chimney cleaned once a year to avoid creosote build-up Furnaces: Change furnace filter several times during the winter Corrosion shows incomplete combustion and presence of combustion gases – could mean a cracked heat exchanger in the furnace Have a professional inspect if you think their might be a problem Water Heaters: Direct vented appliances like furnaces, water heaters, dryers – have their own combustion air from the outside – meaning they’re not using up

• xygen from inside the house which we also need to breathe. Make sure these appliances are getting enough air.

Back drafting – combustion gases spilling into home – caused by a venting issue or depressurization by other appliances Flame rollout – caused by appliance not getting proper oxygen levels for combustion or a venting issue Kitchen Stoves:

• Make sure your exhaust fan is vented to the outdoors.
• If you have an exhaust fan in the kitchen, use it when you cook.
• Never use the stove to keep you warm or heat your house.

Cars & Trucks: Never warm up a vehicle inside the garage. Warming up your car or truck in the garage on a cold day for just a couple minutes (even with the garage door open) can make enough CO to make you sick, and can leak into the home.

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Make sure the kitchen fan is vented outside to remove carbon monoxide and moisture. This is something I need to do in my own house. There’s a kitchen fan, but it isn’t vented outside. In winter when I’m cooking or baking a lot and the house is all closed up I sometimes worry about the carbon monoxide. Leaving food out on the counters can attract what? Pests 18

Pests can: Carry disease & transmit illnesses Get into food and make us sick Their feces can make allergies and asthma worse What to do: Keep counters, sinks, tables, and floors clean and free of clutter. Clean dishes, crumbs, and spills right away. Store food in airtight containers. Seal cracks or openings to the outside and around or inside cabinets. Cover trash cans Keep a clean home so that you don’t attract pests and have to use pesticides Place all pesticides out of reach of children Pesticides

• Bug spray, rat poison, garden weed killer, pet flea collars
• Pesticides can pose a real danger if they are not used or stored properly.
• Some can cause birth defects, nerve damage, and even cancer.
• Children can accidentally poison themselves if they play with, eat, or drink pesticides

that are not store safely. 19

Look under the sink 20

VOCs:

• Chemicals found in paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, air fresheners,

cosmetics, candles – anything scented.

• Evaporate into the air when these products are used or sometimes even when they are stored.
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, dizzyness; damage to liver,

kidney, and central nervous system.

• Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans

Make your own green cleaning products out of vinegar, lemon juice & baking soda.

• 1. It saves money.
• 2. You can control the ingredients, which allows you to eliminate the toxins found in the majority of store-bought

household cleaners. Some people used to think: It's not really clean unless I can smell the chemicals! Now they’re doing everything in their power to avoid those toxic chemicals If you must use a product, then you should: Make sure your child is not around. Open windows or doors, or use an exhaust fan.

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Formaldehydes is one of the best known VOCs. Commonly known as a preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries, formaldehyde is also found in other products such as chemicals, paints & adhesives, pressed wood products like: particle board, fiberboard and plywood, and household products, permanent press fabrics, paper product coatings, and some types of insulation. Formaldehyde is also a product of combustion. When you burn materials such as natural gas, wood, gasoline or tobacco, formaldehyde gas is released. Pressed wood products and UFFI (Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation) can release formaldehyde at greater rates than other products. Highest average concentrations are reported for mobile homes. The high concentrations of formaldehyde in mobile homes are primarily caused by the large quantity of the decking, decorative hardwood plywood wall covering, particleboard shelving, and cabinetry made form a variety of pressed wood products. Common symptoms: eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Human eyes are especially sensitive to formaldehyde. Many people describe the eye irritation as a burning sensation much like when cutting an onion or when you get soap in your eyes. EPA lists formaldehyde as a “probable human carcinogen” People that work with formaldehyde long term have been shown to develop nose and throat cancers. Formaldehyde can be readily measured. Identify, and if possible, remove the source. 22

Mold 23

Nature’s Recycler: Mold breaks down dead organic materials

• Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce.
• Mold spores waft through the indoor and outdoor air continually.
• When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and

digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive.

• There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor

environment; the way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. Health Effects: Symptoms of Mold Exposure Level 1:Sneezing, Itching Skin & Eyes, Headache Level 2: Chronic Fatigue, Nausea/Vomiting, Respiratory

Problems, Rashes, and lots more Level 3: Blindness, Brain Damage, Long term

Memory Loss, Bleeding Lungs, Cancer, Death

What molds need to grow: Moisture Dead organic substance or food source: Wood, paper, dirt, or leaves 24

• Fix leaky plumbing, drainage issues or other sources of water.
• Wash mold off hard surfaces with the same product you would normally use to clean

the surface

• Don’t use fans or spray bottles to clean up mold – this will disperse the spores

throughout the house

• Green cleaning recipe for mold: peroxide, club soda, vinegar, tea tree oil, and borax
• Absorbent materials (such as ceiling tiles & carpet) that become moldy may have to be

replaced.

• Reduce indoor humidity (to 30-60%) to decrease mold growth by: venting bathrooms,

dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and de-humidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing, and cleaning.

• Prevent condensation: Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e.,

windows, piping, exterior walls, roof, or floors) by adding insulation.

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Ventilation 27

• Keep rain, groundwater and humid air outside.
• Install and run exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom when cooking,

showering, etc.

• Clean your bath fan filter by wiping down with a sponge or washing in a soapy

bucket (If your fan still doesn’t work, check the vent to make sure it’s not clogged with debris or bird’s nest.)

• Clean debris and old water from your swamp cooler and replace the evaporative

pads every year to maintain good indoor air quality. This will prevent the build up of microbes.

• Open windows and use extra exhaust fans when you're working with paints or

chemicals indoors.

• Replace your furnace filter frequently & clean your duct registers

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Furnace filter 29

Change furnace filter once a month during the heating season, or whenever clogged with dust. Can cause furnaces to stop working properly. Can use a fiberglass or paper filter. Vacuum your ducts and registers (return air grill) to keep them clean – these are your home’s airways Check for disconnected ducts in attics and crawlspaces – these are the airways for your home - they can be bringing dirty air straight into the home – and they’re wasting energy 30

Unvented clothes dryer 31

Radon is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. If you smoke and your home has high radon levels, you're at high risk for developing lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas and comes from the natural breakdown (radioactive decay) of uranium. It is usually found in granite and soil, but in some cases, well water may also be a source of radon. LA PLATA COUNTY: 1,950 Homes voluntarily tested since 2005 National average -1.3 pCi/L La Plata County average – 5.9 pCi/L Colorado average - 6.4 pCi/L 25% < 2 pCi/L 26% 2-4 pCi/L 27% 4-20 pCi/L 22% 20-315 pCi/L When to Test Again: If air flow is altered – new furnace or addition to house Every 3-5 years If mitigation system is in place every 2 years to be sure working appropriately Check after mitigation system installed Wendy Rice at CSU Extension gives more in-dept presentations on radon. Our program also has some funding to do continuous radon tests for a few individuals.

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