UC helps Californians keep their homes healthy Home is a place of refuge and safety, but dangers can be hidden from view. A large number of invisible mold spores may be causing respiratory problems, lead in paint applied long ago could impede children’s learning and growth, and tap water that looks perfectly safe may contain chemicals or pollutants that can make your family sick. University of California Cooperative Extension is part of a national program to make Americans aware of the hazards in homes and what can be done to minimize the danger. The U.S. Department of Agriculture; Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service; Housing and Urban Development; and Cooperative Extension are working together to get the information to the nation’s low-income families with children. The California Healthy Homes coordinator is Gloria Barrett, director of UC Cooperative Extension in Sacramento County and a community development advisor. Mold is a common concern Barrett said the most common healthy home questions she fields are about mold. There are many species of molds that can grow in the home and scientists have not confirmed any that is particularly deadly. What they do know is that when molds grow indoors, spores become concentrated in the indoor air and can cause health problems, especially in people who are sensitive to allergens or who have asthma. According to the California Air Resources Board, most people spend at least 80 percent of their lives indoors. Controlling mold is one way to maintain the quality of the indoor air. Barrett enlisted the expertise and support of UCCE wood durability advisor Stephen Quarles on the issue of molds. Miniscule mold spores are everywhere in the environment, indoors and out. In order to grow, the spores need four things: adequate temperature, sufficient oxygen, food and moisture. Since temperature, oxygen and food – the very materials that homes are made of, like wood and gypsum wallboard – are impossible to exclude, residents looking to reduce mold should focus on moisture, Quarles said. Moisture can come from a variety of sources, such as shower steam, cooking, spills or even wet clothes dried indoors. However, most moisture related problems in homes in California result from leaks, he said. The first sign of a mold problem may be a visible growth in the bathroom or kitchen, near a window or on the ceiling, but cleaning it up is only the beginning. “There is no point in getting rid of mold if you’re not addressing the excessive water condition that allowed it to grow. You can kill mold spores a few different ways,” Quarles said. “But because mold spores are prevalent, if you don’t get rid of the moisture problem, spores will come back and you’ll soon have mold growing again.” Other issues that impact indoor air quality Many details about the possible health affects of mold in the home and ways to prevent the problem are in a 56-page booklet produced for the Healthy Homes Initiative, “Help Yourself to a Healthy Home.” The easy-to-read publication also describes how to control many other sources of indoor air pollution. Household cleaners. Common products that many people keep in their homes can be dangerous for children. Bleach, lighter fluid, oven cleaner, wood polish, drain cleaners and shoe polish must be carefully stored. Even the fumes are harmful. Be especially careful not to mix products that contain ammonia with products that contain bleach. The combination creates a toxic gas. Vinegar and baking soda are safe, effective and inexpensive cleaning products, the publication says. Pesticides. Pesticides include bug spray, flea collars, rat poison and weed killer. They pose a real danger if they get into children’s hands or are used in the wrong way. Paint. Before doing remodeling that involves removing old paint, find out if there is lead in it. Never dry-scrape, dry-sand, burn or torch lead-based paint. The lead becomes airborne and can be breathed in or settle on items that subsequently end up in children’s mouths. Some new paints and glues release harmful vapors when they are applied. Use them outdoors or with plenty of ventilation. Cigarette smoke. Tobacco smoke causes cancer and other major health problems. Second-hand smoke can raise children’s risk of ear infections and breathing problems. Gas from the oven or stove. Don’t turn on a gas burner or gas oven to warm up a chilly kitchen. If your stove has pilot lights, be sure they are always lit. Have the appliances inspected regularly. Water quality is also important to maintaining a healthy home Recent media reports have asserted the safety of household tap water and movements are afoot to reduce plastic waste by cutting back on bottled water. In fact, government regulations ensure that the water delivered by municipal systems is safe to drink, however, older homes’ lead or copper pipes can allow these harmful metals to leach into tap water. Also, rural residents with their own wells should have water checked for nitrates. Many more details are in “Help Yourself to a Healthy Home.” The publication includes a chapter on general home safety. It says the leading causes of death in the home are falls, drowning, fires, poisoning, suffocation, choking and guns. The publication outlines myriad “action steps” that can be taken to prevent these types of tragic accidents. For a free copy of “Help Yourself to a Healthy Home,” contact Barrett at (916) 875-6913 or gjbarrett@ucdavis.edu. (September 2007) |
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Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California. All contents November 20, 2009 Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved. |
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