What is home health? |

Natural Pollutants

Every home contains natural pollutants that require regular removal to reduce health risks, prevent offensive odors, and eliminate stains and structural damage that devalue the structure. Most of these pollutants become airborne and are inhaled, creating subsequent health problems that range in severity from sneezing to difficulty breathing. Other pollutants may be unintentionally ingested, causing illness.

Airborne pollutants are collectively called dust. The most common component of
dust in a home is dead skin particles shed by the home’s residents. Dust also
contains hair, ash, pollen, fibers, and minerals from outdoor soil. Overexposure
to dust can lead to allergies, respiratory diseases, and
asthma. Dust mites feed on the organic matter in dust. They
most commonly live on mattresses, sheets, and pillows. Their excrement contains
substances that can cause severe allergic reactions. Companies are now making
tightly woven anti-allergy encasings for mattresses and pillows. The use of air
filters in the furnace, air conditioner, and vacuum cleaner reduces airborne
contaminants.

The inhabitants of a house, such as humans, pets, and occasionally rodents, naturally shed hair, dander, saliva, urine, and feces. Such substances may trigger an allergic reaction in people or may carry bacteria, viruses, or parasites that infect humans. Hair and dander may be removed by frequent vacuuming and dusting; excretions should be cleaned up with soap and water. Toilets should be disinfected regularly; closing the lid before flushing prevents the contents from being dispersed into the room as an aerosol.

Also living in homes may be insects such as flies, termites, ants, spiders,
fleas, lice, cockroaches, and bedbugs. Many of these insects feed on garbage, food
spills and crumbs that are not cleaned up, and food supplies that are not
adequately packaged. Insects can transmit diseases to
humans either directly by biting or indirectly by contaminating food with eggs or
droppings. Insects may be eliminated from the home by natural or chemical
pesticides or by swatting or vacuuming, or with flypaper. Adequate containment of
garbage, keeping kitchen floors swept and counters wiped clean, and storing food
in airtight containers will discourage their return.

Pollen from houseplants and cut flower arrangements may
diminish indoor air quality. Pollen may also drift inside through open windows and
doors and be brought in on shoes and clothing, especially from plants next to the
house. Indoor pollen may be reduced by keeping houseplants and floral arrangements
well hydrated. Outdoor plants near windows and doors should be trimmed away from
openings. Although silk floral arrangements do not contain pollen, their complex
surfaces trap dust, so they should be cleaned regularly by spraying with
compressed air.

Mold, which is a fungus, grows in warm, damp areas such as inadequately
ventilated bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Mold releases spores into the air,
which, when inhaled, may cause symptoms such as a dry cough, nasal congestion, eye
irritation, and wheezing. Mold may be visible, but it is usually detected
initially by its musty odor. It may be destroyed by scrubbing first with a
detergent without ammonia in hot water and then with a 10 percent bleach solution.
Porous materials such as carpeting and insulation that remain damp should be
discarded.

Bacteria and viruses may make a person ill when ingested or inhaled. They may be found on unwashed, uncooked fruits and vegetables and on uncooked meats. Raw foods should be thoroughly washed before they are eaten. Handling raw meat and neglecting to wash one’s hands and the food preparation surface afterward may result in the contamination of other foods and subsequent pathogen ingestion. Surfaces that come in contact with raw meat juices should be thoroughly disinfected.

Bacteria and viruses may also be transmitted on surfaces that are commonly used by many people, surfaces such as doorknobs and telephones. Such surfaces should be wiped with a disposable disinfectant cloth regularly and more frequently during cold and flu season.

Chemical Pollutants

Among other causes, the degassing of synthetic materials in newer homes, and
poor ventilation that keeps the house airtight, may lead to sick building
syndrome. Symptoms of sick building syndrome include eye
irritation, scratchy or sore throat, nasal congestion, skin rash, and difficulty
concentrating. The symptoms typically begin within one hour of entering a polluted
structure and disappear within one hour of leaving the structure.

Another chemical pollutant is tobacco smoke. The ash becomes a component of dust; the odor lingers in soft surfaces such as curtains, upholstery, and clothing; and the secondhand smoke is inhaled by the other residents of the home, causing increased respiratory problems.

Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that may be given off
by faulty furnaces or space heaters. Exposure may cause flulike symptoms, severe
headache, dizziness, trouble breathing, and even death. Carbon monoxide detectors
in the home are recommended and may be found in combination with smoke
detectors.

Radon is another invisible, odorless gas that is also
radioactive. It results from the decay of uranium in the soil and seeps into a
home through the foundation, where it can build up to dangerous levels. Radon
increases the risk of lung cancer for those who breathe it. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency recommends that all homes be tested for radon below
the third floor. Commercial radon reduction systems are available too.

Asbestos, used as pipe insulation, may be a pollutant in
homes that were built between 1920 and 1978. Breathing high levels of exposed
asbestos may result in an increased risk of cancer and lung disease. Homes built
before 1978 may also contain lead paint. Flakes of this paint have a sweet taste,
making the paint tempting to children. If they ingest the paint flakes, they can
become ill with lead poisoning.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Dealing with Mold and Mildew in Your Flood Damaged Home.” Available at http://www.fema.gov/pdf/rebuild/recover/fema_mold_brochure_english.pdf. A clear, authoritative explanation of how to improve home health by finding and removing mold and mildew.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “A Citizen’s Guide to Radon.” Available at http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html. Information on what homeowners can do to protect themselves from radon.

_______, Office of Air and Radiation. “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.” Available at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#iaqhome1. A complete discussion of home air quality, common pollutants, and improvement measures.