Mansel Nelson ITEP 1

TVs & Computers Personal Care/Cosmetics Furniture

An Ordinary House

A Chemical House

Carpeting Automobile Furniture Flooring Cleaning Products & Pesticides 2

Levels in Homes

 Pollution inside typical home 2–5 times worse than air outdoors  Levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor after activities like stripping paint  Indoor air pollution one of top 5 most-serious environmental risks to public health  50% of all illnesses traced back to the home 3

Sources of Pollutants

 Average US household uses 40 lbs of chemicals each year  Average household stores more than 60 hazardous products  Loaded with fragrances and petroleum distilled chemicals  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) 4

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

         Paints, paint strippers, and other solvents Wood preservatives Aerosol sprays Cleansers and disinfectants Moth repellents Air fresheners Stored fuels and automotive products Hobby supplies Dry-cleaned clothing 5

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

 Laundry detergents and fabric softeners  Phthalates  Chemicals harmed hormonal systems  Harmed reproductive organs in animal tests  Make the scent last longer 6

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

 Chlorine bleach  Also called sodium hypochlorite  Caustic fumes  Toxicity if swallowed  Scented products  Perfumes and deodorants 7

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)



Pesticides

 Used inside and outside home  Can be tracked into home from outside 8

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

 Dry cleaning  CA Air Resources Board designated perchloroethylene (PERC) as a toxic air contaminant

Alternative Choice

-Hydrocarbon solvent -Wet cleaning 

If you dry clean traditional way

–Air your clothes before wearing or placing in closet 9

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

    Pungent, colorless, toxic, water-soluble gas Disinfectant Preservative Ingredient of synthetic resins, dyes, plastics 10

   

Sources of Formaldehyde

Building materials  Pressed wood products   Particleboard Hardwood plywood paneling  Manufactured products  Permanent press qualities to clothing and drapery  Medium density fiberboard  Component of glues and adhesives Smoking  Preservative in paints Household products Un-vented, fuel-burning appliances 11

Mercury Sources

 Lighting    Fluorescent HID Mercury Vapor  Other   Thermostat Kids shoes 12

Sources of Pollutants (cont.)

How Air Fresheners Work  Interfere with ability to smell by way of nerve deadening agent  Coat nasal passages with undetectable oil film  Cover up one smell with another  (Rarely) break down offensive odor 

Air fresheners do little to freshen the air

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Health Effects Depend on…

 Toxicity of chemical  Level of exposure  Length of time exposed  Pathway of exposure 14

Health Effects

        Eye, nose, and throat irritation Headaches Loss of coordination / dizziness Nausea Damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system Suspected or known to cause cancer in humans Allergic skin reaction Fatigue 15

Health Effects

 Children born into households using toxic cleaning products twice as likely to have wheezing  Over last 20-30 years, level of toxins stored in body ’ s adipose tissue (fat cells) have risen 16

Health Concerns of Pesticides

 Child in household using home and garden pesticides has 6.5 x higher risk of developing leukemia      Health Effects of Pesticides Neurotoxins Irritants Carcinogens Mutagens Endocrine disruptors 17

Formaldehyde

     Watery eyes Burning sensation in the eyes and throat Nausea Difficulty breathing Shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans

Health Concerns

 Eyes, nose, and throat irritation  Wheezing and coughing  Fatigue  Skin rash  Allergic reactions 18

Steps to Reduce Exposure

      Increase ventilation Meet or exceed any label precautions Do not store opened containers of unused paints and similar materials Throw away unused or little-used containers safely; buy in quantities that you will use soon Never mix household care products unless directed on label

Follow label instructions carefully

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Steps to Reduce Exposure

 Use least toxic product that works for your project  Make homemade alternative cleaning products using baking soda, vinegar, soap  Provide adequate ventilation  Keep out of reach of children and pets 20

Reduce Pesticide Exposure

  When you apply pesticides, you are treating the symptom, rather than the cause of pest problems Control pests without chemicals by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques     Physical controls Cultural controls Biological controls Least-toxic pest control 21

Reduce Pesticide Exposure

 Best products for environment and your health are less toxic and less persistent  Dispose of unwanted pesticides through the Household Hazardous Waste Program 22

Reduce Formaldehyde Exposure

 Use “ exterior-grade ” pressed wood products  Provide adequate ventilation  Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels  Use materials not containing formaldehyde 23

   How do you make your home healthy?

Educate yourself Investigate and research Make lifestyle change      Be careful what you buy Use natural forms of pest control Use less toxic cleaning products Buy curtains, carpets, furniture or electronics free of PBDEs Choose products free of suspect chemicals 24

Resources

http://www.epa.gov/kidshometour/  Virtual tour of house looking at chemicals http://www.healthychild.com/database/guide_to_safer_clea ners_and_disinfectants.htm

 The cleaner can be more dangerous than the things we are trying to clean up 25

Resources

http://www.acereport.org/cleaners.html

 Overview on cleaning chemicals http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/abstracts/01-336.htm

 Indoor Air Chemistry: Cleaning Agents, Ozone and Toxic Air Contaminants 26

Resources

www.vpirg.org/downloads/toxicschools.doc

 Toxic Chemical Exposure in Schools: Our Children At Risk www.fpinva.org/AWMA2005.htm

 Scented Products as Sources of VOCs: Implications for Susceptible Populations 27