1. Healthy Homes Overview
4/24/2017
Healthy Homes Overview
Contaminant Free

2. Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this module you will be able to:
Identify some common sources of indoor chemical pollutants
Recall the definition of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and determine who is most affected
Recall the definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and identify where they come from
Determine what you should do if you have to use products with VOCs

3. Indoor Chemical Air Pollutants
Research has shown indoor exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), formaldehyde, certain volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), and some household products (nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides) can cause asthmatic symptoms.

4. Indoor Chemical Pollutants
Common sources include:
Tobacco
Vehicle start-up and idling
Combustion appliances
Particle board
Plywood
Paneling
Carpets

5. Tobacco Smoke Health Effects
Increases the number of episodes and severity of symptoms for children with asthma
Risk factor for new cases of asthma in children
Responsible for 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, in infants and children less than 18 months of age

6. ETS Mitigation
Don’t smoke around children
Smoke outside

7. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Sources of VOCs include:
Air fresheners
Cleaning products
Sprays and coatings
Formaldehyde
Carpets
Vinyl floor
Drywall
Hobby supplies
Home maintenance products, e.g. wood preservatives and paint

8. VOCs Health Effects Eye, nose, throat irritation
Headaches, nausea, loss of coordination
Liver, kidney, and brain damage
Some can cause cancers
Child development

9. VOC Mitigation Don’t use it if you don’t have to
If you have to use something with VOCs, use a product that has low VOCs
If you do use products with VOCs, be sure to open doors and windows to ventilate

10. Summary In this module we have discussed:
Some common sources of indoor chemical pollutants
The definition of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and determine who is most affected
The definition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and identify where they come from
What you should do if you have to use products with VOCs