Follow these principles for a healthy home
By Nora Firestone, The Virginian-Pilot – 4/5/2010
ABOUT 67 PERCENT of Americans live in a home with at least one major health risk, according to a recent survey by the National Center for Healthy Housing.
The Maryland-based nonprofit promotes safe and healthy home environments for children through education, outreach and technical assistance to parents, caregivers, industry professionals and public agencies.
“Some of the survey findings were a little surprising,” said Rebecca Morley, the center’s executive director.
Only 18 percent of families with young children reported having installed safety devices like stair gates, window guards and cabinet locks, she said, and a mere 10 percent had tested for lead-based paint or radon, “which is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.”
These results prompted the national center to develop the “Seven Principles of Healthy Homes” and a campaign to spread the word about common hidden hazards.
Once identified, most can be easily fixed to create a home that reflects the principles: dry, clean, pest-free, safe, contaminant-free, ventilated and maintained. Some cases may require professional assistance.
Here’s the lowdown:
Dry
Damp structures provide a nurturing environment for rodents, insects, molds and mites, many of which are associated with illness and asthma. Water trouble outside "almost guarantees a problem inside," Morley said.
Clean and repair gutters as necessary and keep water away from the home's foundation.
No part of a home should smell like mold. Check for mold in bathrooms, kitchens, plumbing and windows. If found, scrub it with detergent and water, a less toxic solution than bleach; re-grout if necessary.
Exhaust fans, non-carpeted flooring, water-proof grout and water-resistant wall board around tubs and showers help keep bathrooms free of molds and spores.
Clean
"I think most homeowners would agree that their parents and grandparents cleaned better than they do," said Ray Walsh of Virginia Beach-based Virginia Home Performance, who has been trained in the seven principles. "They learned from hard knocks to be clean to stay healthy."
Clean homes help reduce pest infestations and contaminants. Cleansers like vinegar, detergent and borax are safer alternatives to their highly toxic counterparts.
Maintained
Poorly maintained homes are at risk for all of these issues, Morley concluded.
Pest-free
Studies show a relationship between asthma attacks in children and exposure to mice and cockroaches, yet pesticides can pose health risks to humans.
Follow an integrated pest-management program, removing sources of food, water, entry and harbor for insects and rodents inside and out, Walsh said.
Seal gaps in floors, walls, ceilings, doors and windows. De-clutter. Remove debris, and trim bushes from around the home.
"You hate to say this," Walsh said, "but you want your house to be less inviting than your neighbor's."
If a problem persists, call a reputable pest control company.
Safe
The majority of injuries to children occur in the home, Morley said, with falls, objects, burns and poisons proving the main culprits. Use gates and cabinet locks to prevent access to dangerous situations, and try not to keep poisons in the home at all.
Remember garage safety, Walsh added. "Can the kids open the door" and access tools, equipment and chemicals?
For local child-proofing assistance, visit www.ChildSafetyHouseCalls.com, founded by two pediatric emergency-room physicians from Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.
Ventilated
Infiltration of crawl space and attic air isn't healthy, and sealing a house well can trap pollutants indoors. Studies show that increasing fresh air improves respiratory health, Morley said.
Balance the tightness of the home with adequate fresh air to exchange out the pollutants.
Walsh recommends sealing a home well and adding a whole-house ventilation system, which can average about $2,000 installed, but saves on the costs of heating, cooling and health impacts, he said.
Contaminant-free
Chemical exposures include lead, radon, pesticides, asbestos particles, carbon monoxide and environmental tobacco smoke. These are typically more highly-concentrated indoors than out, Morley said, but pesticides and lead can also be tracked in on shoes.
About 64 million American homes contain lead-based paint, which was banned for residential use in 1978, Morley said. Deterioration, sanding and improper removal during renovations can “stir up the fine dust,” exposing people to lead hazards, she explained.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 2.2 percent of Hampton Roads children younger than 6 who were tested in 2006 had elevated blood-lead levels.
Lead paint requires handling by a professional certified in lead-safe renovation – a soon-to-be requirement of certain contractors by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Folks can test their homes for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas. It seeps up through cement slabs and may be present in the lowest parts of a home. Tests cost about $10 at hardware stores.
If present in dangerous levels, radon can be mitigated with the professional installation of a pipe from the slab through the roof at a cost of about $800 for existing homes and about $300 during new construction, Morley said.
Sources of deadly carbon monoxide include unvented appliances, stand-alone heaters and ventless fireplaces, according to Walsh. Every house with an attached garage or any appliance fueled by oil, gas or propane should have carbon monoxide detectors.
About Child Safety House Calls
Child Safety House Calls is led by two emergency room pediatricians and specializes in evaluating and selling through their online child safety store childproofing and child safety devices such as stair gates, window guards, cabinet locks, and other safe home products. They provide information to parents nationwide. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, their team conducts child safety house calls to parents in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, and Williamsburg.
