Transcript Some household members may experience

Discussion #2: Healthy Homes
Review Of Epidemiologic
Triangle of Disease
Factors Effecting The Host
• It is know that personal factors
impact health.
• Low socio-economic populations
are disproportionately exposed to:
– Air pollution & related illness
– Lead (paint or pipes)
– Household pests & pesticides
Host: Varied Exposures
• Residents of the same household
will experience varied exposures
due to individual behaviors:
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Time and activity patterns
Smoking
Diet/exercise
Personal hygiene
Personal sanitation practices
Host Susceptibility
• Some household members may
experience greater susceptibility to
health hazards: ie.
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Age (children & elderly)
Pregnant or nursing women
Pre-existing health conditions
Poorly nourished individuals
Medically under-served people
Agents: Exposure Inside
the Home
We will discuss three major exposures:
1. Biologic
2. Chemical
3. Physical
Biologic Agents: Infectious Disease
• Infections often spread due to:
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Overcrowding
inadequate water supplies
Inadequate waste disposal
Inadequate ventilation
• Examples:
– Tuberculosis,
– rhinovirus, strep, E. coli,
– salmonella, influenza
Biologic Agents: Allergens
Respiratory Illness & Asthma are often
precipitated by exposure to:
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Dust mites
Pet dander
Mouse droppings
Mold & plants
Biologic Agents: Mold
• Damp/wet houses
provide an
environment for
mold growth
Chemical Agents
• Many materials used in
homes contain chemicals
that have known/suspected
health effects.
• Sources of chemical exposure
include building materials,
consumer products, and
combustion processes.
Chemical Agents
• Indoor combustion appliances release a wide range of
compounds that affect health, including:
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nitrogen dioxide
sulfur dioxide
carbon monoxide
fine particulate matter (PM).
• Appliances include:
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Water Heaters (Gas)
Clothes Dryers (Gas)
Ventless Heaters
Gas stoves/ovens
Furnaces/room heaters
Fireplaces
Chemical Agents
Second Hand Smoke
• (ETS=Env. Tobacco Smoke)
• Contains 4000 substances
• 40 of them cause cancer,
ie:
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Acetone
Ammonia
Benzene
Carbon Monoxide
Formaldehyde
Lead
Nicotine
Tar
Cyanide
Chemical Agents
• Pesticides: Greater than 75% of
households report use of
pesticides.
• Many are know to affect human
health:
– Respiratory systems
– Nervous system
– Immune & reproductive systems
VOC’s
• Volatile organic compounds
– Emitted as gasses from solids or liquids
– Have adverse health effects
• Emitted by:
– Paints, lacquers, paint strippers
– Cleaning supplies, pesticides
– Building materials, adhesives
Generally, any Organic Solvent will emit VOC
VOCs Are A Group of Chemicals
• Benzene, formaldehyde, toluene,
choloride, xylene
• Indoors, VOCs are often
emitted by:
– new carpeting & furniture
– Fresh paint jobs
– New plastics & electronic devices
Health Effects of VOCs
• Symptoms:
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Eye/nose irritation
Headache
Vomiting
Dizziness
• Can lead to chronic problems:
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Cancer
Asthma
Liver damage
Central nervous system damage
Chemical Agents: Lead
– Lead-based paint is the most
significant source of lead exposure in
the U.S. today
– Exposures: Air, drinking water, food,
contaminated soil, deteriorating
paint, and dust
Symptoms of Lead Poisoning
• High levels can cause convulsions,
coma & death.
• Lower levels can cause adverse health
effects:
– Central nervous system
– Kidneys
– Blood cells
• Blood lead levels as low as 10
micrograms per deciliter can impair
mental and physical development.
Peeling lead-based paint on exterior
Chemical Agents: Radon
• What is Radon?
– Naturally occurring odorless cancercausing, radio-active gas
– Derived from the breakdown of uranium
(radio-active) in soil, rock and water
• Permeates air we breath
• Can be found in any type of building
Chemical Agents:
Radon (2006 Statistics)
How Radon Gets In
Chemical Agents: Asbestos
• Asbestos is a mineral that was frequently used in homes
built between 1920 and 1972
• Many building products contained asbestos:
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furnace ducts
steam pipes
floor tiles
Shingles
Insulation
textured ceilings and siding
• Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lodge in the lungs and
cause disease including lung cancer and asbestosis.
Agents: Physical
• Electrical Shock
– Improperly installed wiring
– Improper childproofing.
• Burns:
– hazards include stoves, ranges, exposed
steam pipes & portable heaters
• Slip/Fall Hazards
• Fire & Explosion
Electrical Shock Hazard