Transcript Home Environments and Health

Welcome to...
Companion PowerPoint
Presentation for the
Introduction to
Housing textbook
Home Environments
and Health
Home Environment-Health Interaction
Home Environment Health Risk Factors:
Climate
Building site
Building materials & practices
Furnishings, finishes & household products
Resident lifestyle
Of greatest concern for children, elderly & others
with weakened immune systems
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Basic principle of a healthy home is that all
things are connected
Systems approach requiring a holistic
understanding of how home design,
construction & operational elements interact to
create a dynamic system
Climate Variables
Climates in the U.S. are designated in terms of
four zones:
 Cold—heating predominant climate
 Temperate—heating and cooling climate
 Hot-arid—cooling predominant climate
 Hot-humid—cooling and dehumidification
predominant climate
Protect from outdoor elements & have adequate
& managed air exchange
In all climates home design, material selection &
home maintenance are a balancing act of sitespecific climate factors:
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Solar quantity and quality
Air temperature
Air movements around the home
Precipitation amounts
Building Site
Constructing a healthy home begins with proper
siting of a building:
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The micro-climate—site specific prevailing
climate conditions
Natural site—topographic factors that affect
the micro-climate
Human-caused factors
Research the site’s history
Storm Water Run-Off
Water that washes across land into nearby storm
drains or directly into bodies of water
Common concerns:
 Automotive waste
 Fertilizers & pesticides
 Yard & garden waste
 Improper landscaping
 Roof drainage
Building Materials & Practices
Whether the house is old or newly constructed,
the impact of a home on the health of its
occupants has much to do with the materials
and building practices used during the
construction as well as the materials and
furnishings added since the original
construction
Construction age is a major factor
Possible hazards of older homes:
 Asbestos-containing materials
 Lead-based paint
 Pressure-treated lumber
 Combustion gases such as carbon monoxide
 Lead in water
 Radon
 Molds---------------
 Formaldehyde
 Underground fuel-oil storage tank
 Drinking water contaminants
Ventilation
Good ventilation is necessary for moisture control as
well as to remove airborne chemicals, particles,
combustion by-products & odors
 Windows
 Kitchen ventilation fans
 Bathroom ventilation fans
 Whole-house fans
 Fan size
 Replacement air
 Back drafting
 Whole-house ventilation systems
Moisture Control
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Excess moisture is a potential problem for both
a building and the people who live in it
Excess moisture in building materials leads to
structural problems such as peeling paint &
rusting metal
Damp building materials tend to attract dirt &
therefore require more cleaning &
maintenance
Damp spaces make good environments for the
growth of many biological pollutants
Preventing problems:
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Good ventilation, especially using exhausts
Limit interior moisture sources
Keep materials clean
Hard surface or nonabsorbent material
Sealers
Vapor retarder material
Antimicrobial finishes or additives
Indoor Air Quality
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Source control
Ventilation
Air cleaning
Visit Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes:
www.healthyindoorair.org
Water Systems
Public/municipal water system or private water
source
Differences are in testing & treating the water
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Water testing
Wells
Water treatment
Furnishings, Finishes & Household
Products
Potentially harmful materials:
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Formaldehyde & other volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) such as particle board
Petroleum-based products such as wood
finishes
Aerosol containers
Pesticides
Help to control home indoor air quality by the choices
you make in using household chemicals and products:
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Use the least amount of a product possible
Read labels & follow safety precautions
Do not use a potentially hazardous chemical unless
necessary
Use household chemicals & products only for their
intended purpose
Choose product packaging that reduces the chance of
spills and leaks (child-proof if needed)
Keep household products in original containers
Always use household products in well-ventilated
areas
It is also a good idea to reduce the need for
potentially hazardous household chemicals in
the first place by practicing preventative
maintenance:
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Clean spills & stains quickly
Remove food wastes promptly
Control excess moisture to reduce the
likelihood of problems with mold or household
pests
Resident Lifestyle
The choices that people make affect the quality
of the air & environment in their homes
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or
secondhand smoke from cigarettes, pipes, or
cigars, can have devastating effects on a home
and its residents
Do not allow smoking in your home
Household Pests
Any bug that is living in the house rather than
accidentally getting in from the outside,
represents a potential health & safety problem
that should be addressed
 Roaches can get into food and spoil it; roach
feces cause pollution of the indoor air & can
be a major trigger for asthma attacks,
especially in children
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Dust mites live all over people’s homes—in
carpets, upholstered furniture, bedding &
stuffed animals
Dust mites thrive in moist places & wherever
they can feed on dead human skin cells
Many people are allergic to the feces of dust
mites & for some people they serve as a trigger
for asthma attacks
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Pets that live indoors can result in potential
health risks to household members
Dander is the major problem
Keep pets out of carpeted areas & bedrooms