Transcript 2012 District Lesson

CECP CORE COMPETENCIES: Housing and Environment
Cooperative Extension Curriculum Project:
“The initial focus is curriculum for professional development competencies. The intent of the
project is to increase the breadth and quality of training while using human and financial
resources more efficiently.”
These are just some essential concepts that apply to Keep it Contaminant-Free.
Household Cleaning
• The importance of routine household cleaning.
• The basic properties of common household cleaners (e.g., bleaches, detergents,
disinfectants).
• Ways to maintain and care for household surfaces and materials (e.g., flooring,
cabinetry, counters).
• The safety guidelines and caution labels associated with household cleaning products.
Indoor Air Quality - General
• The most common indoor environmental contaminants.
• Sources of indoor environmental contaminants.
•
How indoor air quality relates to human health and safety.
http://srpln.msstate.edu/cecp/resources/core_fcs.htm
SEVEN STEPS TO A HEALTHY HOME
1. Keep it Dry
2. Keep it Clean
3. Keep it Safe
4. Keep it Well-Ventilated
5. Keep it Pest-free
6. Keep it Contaminant-free
7. Keep it Well-Maintained
Why do we care?
Keeping a home contaminant-free can reduce
allergens and irritants, help prevent harm, and
make you happy!
Just some contaminants include lead, radon,
environmental tobacco smoke, pesticides,
volatile organic compounds, pests, etc.
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE: LEAD
•
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed the blood
lead level from 10 micrograms per deciliter to 5.
Why should we care about CDC changing lead levels?
• This is the first time in 20 years that CDC has changed the definition of lead
poisoning.
• 5 micrograms per liter = very small amount. Very small amounts can do
great harm.
• Lead is a neurotoxin, and can affect everything from the ability to pay
attention to death.
• Lead poisoning is preventable.
• The only way to know if someone has elevated blood lead levels is to test.
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE
Reduce lead-related
hazards in pre-1978
homes by fixing
deteriorated paint
and keeping floors
and window areas
clean using a wetcleaning approach
Photo: Oklahoma State Department of Health
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE: LEAD
• What else contains
lead?
• Lots and lots of
consumer goods
• http://www.cpsc.gov/cgi
-bin/haz.aspx
• Watch for stuff in resale
shops …
VOCS
• Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs)
are emitted as gases
from certain solids or
liquids.
• VOCs include a
variety of chemicals,
some of which may
have short- and longterm adverse health
effects.
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE: VOCs
• Control the source
• Ventilate
• Make thoughtful
purchases
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE: RADON
•
Test your home for radon, a
naturally occurring dangerous
gas that enters homes
through soil, crawlspaces,
and foundation cracks.
•
Install a radon removal
system if levels above the EPA
action-level are detected.
KEEP IT CONTAMINANT-FREE
radon map of Oklahoma
• ORANGE =
a predicted average
indoor radon screening
level between 2 and 4
picocuries per liter
(moderate potential )
• YELLOW =
a predicted average
indoor radon screening
level less than 2
picocuries per liter (low
potential)
Map: US Environmental Protection Agency
ACTIVITY
• Many common
household
cleaning products
release volatile
organic
compounds
(VOCs).
• Reduce VOCs by
making your own
fragrant kitchen
cleaner.
TOOL
FRAGRANT KITCHEN CLEANSER
2 tbsp. white vinegar
2 pints water
4 drops essential oil (lavender, tea tree oil, lemon,
lemongrass, or rosemary)
Combine ingredients in spray bottle and use as a final rinse
after cleaning kitchen surfaces. Store in a cool, dark place.
Recipe taken from the University of Georgia
Green Cleaning curriculum
THANK YOU!
Keep it contaminant-free
This is a photo of Gina Peek using an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine to test the lead
content of the necklace she was wearing. The necklace’s lead content = 50%!