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Healthy Home

Other Environmental Health Initiatives

Healthy Homes

Description

Since most of us spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors, that’s where the air could have the biggest impact on our health. The good news is that indoors, and in our homes especially, is where we can do the most to improve the quality of the air we breathe.

We all know how invigorating a breath of clean, fresh air can be. That’s because clean air can have a very positive effect on your health and well-being. If you often feel sluggish, dragged out or headachy - or just plain run down - chances are a lack of clean air is at least partly to blame.

Poor air quality can contribute to a number of serious health problems, including lung disease and chronic infections. It can also impair your body’s immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to other illnesses, such as colds. And that stands to reason: clean air is an absolute basic of good health. Breathing clean air reduces the risk, severity and frequency of illnesses. Breathing clean air will make you feel better - more productive and more energetic.

Background

The science of clean air may be very complex, but the common sense is really simple: whatever is in the air can end up in your lungs. And healthy lungs need clean air. Basically, clean air means keeping two types of things out of your air and out of your lungs: chemical and biological contaminants.

Chemical contaminants can be either gases, such as carbon monoxide, or particulates (substances small enough to remain suspended in the air). Sources include: tobacco smoke, cleaning products, paints, solvents, pesticides, personal care products, and carpets.

Biological contaminants originate from living things or are themselves living things. These contaminants can also be either gases or particulates, such as spores. Sources include: high humidity areas, such as bathrooms, basements and kitchens; humidifiers and dehumidifiers; pollen; bacteria, viruses and fungi (moulds, spores); and pets (fur and dander).

There are six basic principals for every home:
1. Reduce the use of chemical air pollutants
2. Maintain your home systems and appliances
3. Ventilate
4. Control moisture
5. Keep your home clean and in good shape

What You Can Do

Reduce the Use of Chemical Pollutants

Many products we commonly use (e.g., cleaning products, paint, solvents/thinners and aerosol spray pesticides) contain dangerous chemicals that may end up in your lungs. When it comes to preventing chemicals from getting into your air, the single most effective thing you can do is to avoid using them altogether. Since this is not always possible, the following tips are a good start toward achieving better breathing space.

• Get rid of any chemical products you don’t need.
• Keep the products you do need as far away as possible from your living space.
• Take air polluting jobs outside.
• Choose what you use – Consider buying non-toxic alternatives.

Maintain your home systems and appliances

Systems designed to improve air quality and home comfort (e.g., furnaces, air conditioners, humidifiers and air filters) can be doing more damage than good if they are circulating air contaminated with dust, dirt, mould and mildew. If poorly maintained, your systems will just keep recirculating these contaminants through your home. A little regular attention to your home systems can go a long way toward keeping your air clean.

• Be good to humidifiers and dehumidifiers, clean them regularly.
• Keep dust out of your systems.
• Watch out for gas. High levels of combustion pollutants (when oil, gas or wood are burned) can seriously affect your health.

Ventilate

Ventilation is an excellent way of reducing the amounts of contaminants in your home. Circulating enough fresh air to get rid of stale air also helps control moisture and humidity levels.

• Let fresh air into your home to help dilute pollutants in your air.
• As often as possible, leave doors between rooms open to let air circulate through your home.
• Check for clogged ducts and blocked vents that prevent air from flowing properly.
• If you have them, use the built-in exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom to get rid of odours and excess moisture (otherwise open a window).

Control moisture

Excess moisture is a problem that can lead to the growth of biological contaminants, such as mould and bacteria. These contaminants can aggravate allergies and asthma, and irritate your eyes, nose and throat. But drying up is a quick and effective way to reduce moisture’s harmful impacts.

• Beware of still waters – mould loves to grow on surfaces that get wet and stay wet.
• Vent your steam. Use your exhaust fans in the three big humidity areas in your home - the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room.

Keep your home clean and in good shape

Dust and dirt are a problem, because they don’t sit still. Every day, by moving around, we stir them up and then breathe them in. Think of dust particles, in particular, as tiny carriers of toxic cargo, because biological and chemical contaminants cling to them. By getting rid of the major offenders with your regular cleaning, you’ll breathe much easier.

• Regularly cleaning items that trap a lot of dust will dramatically reduce the circulation of dust and dirt in your air.
• Think about clutter. It provides prime spots for dust and dirt build-up.
• Keep a lid on trash. Open trash is an invitation to unwelcome guests like mice, roaches and ants.
• Keep your home in good shape. Leaky roofs and pipes, and chipping paint are other potential sources of dust, dirt and biological contaminants.

Resources and Links

For more information on indoor air quality in your home, contact the Lung Association for their home audit and series of fact sheets. The home audit is a room-by-room guide that will help you identify and address common indoor environmental problems that may be affecting your home and your health. Call toll free at 1-888-566-LUNG, email nblung@nbnet.nb.ca or visit the website at www.nb.lung.ca.