The environment
is
surrounded by health
hazards.
Asbestos,
bacteria,
carbon monoxide, lead in paint, lead in water, mold, pesticides, radon
gas, water quality are frequently at the source of health problems. Hazard
detection tests are available.
Asbestos
is a health
hazard
in many homes, offices and schools. Asbestos exposure
can cause lung cancer.
An estimated 20,000 people will
die each year for the next 30 years from asbestos
exposure.
Asbestos is made up of
microscopic bundles of fibers
that may become airborne
when
distributed.
These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs,
where they may cause
significant
health problems.
Researchers still have not determined a "safe level" of exposure but
we know the greater and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk
of contracting an asbestos
related disease
Bacterial
contamination causes severe
digestive problems, fever, nausea, diarrhea
and sometimes
even death.
According to the EPA, total coliform and
E. coli bacteria testing is
recommended twice a year.
Carbon
monoxide is an odorless,
tasteless, and colorless gas which is
caused by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels from gasoline,
kerosene, natural gas, butane, propane,
fuel oil, wood or coal
and any other type of fuel.
It
is estimated that carbon monoxide causes
as many as 1,000 deaths per year in the United States.
More than
200,000 children in the United States contract lead
poisoning
every year.
Lead
poisoning
limits a
child’s ability to learn, even after a short term exposure.
It is
estimated that a child’s I.Q. drops 3 points for every 10
micrograms per deciliter of lead in their blood. If the child receives
prompt medical attention, chances for recovery are very good. However,
if the exposure goes undetected, it can bring about permanent damage,
causing anything from learning disabilities to severe mental
retardation and even death. Children under the age of 7 are much more
susceptible to lead
poisoning
because their developing bodies absorb the lead at 4 times the rate of
an adult.
Compounding
this medical danger is the fact that one of the most common places for
children to become exposed to lead
is in the home. The major sources of in-home contamination are lead-based
paints, tap water, colorful ceramic dishes, soil and airborne lead
particles. Because you
can’t see, taste or smell
lead,
everyone is potentially at risk
Pesticide
ingestion and inhalation can
damage internal
organs, cause cancer, and eventually death.
The World Health Organization estimates that one-half of the ground and
well water in the U.S. is contaminated with pesticides, resulting in
20,000 deaths per year.
Medical
studies have
found
that mold is
the #1 cause of allergic
symptoms. The black mold
Stachybotrys found
in home, office and school environments has been
linked to fatal pulmonary disorders.
Molds
are microscopic organisms,
found virtually everywhere, indoors
and outdoors. Molds
can be found on plants, foods,
dry
leaves, and other organic material.
Also susceptible to mold
growth are cellulose
materials, such as, cardboard, paper, ceiling
tiles, and sheet rock. Mold
spores are easily detached and made airborne by vacuuming, walking on a
carpet or sitting on a couch. In indoor environments, mold can
grow in air conditioning
ducts, carpets, pots of houseplants, etc.
Exposure
to mold
is not healthy for anyone but the
following individuals are at a higher
risk for adverse health
effects: infants, children,
elderly, immune compromised patients,
pregnant women, and individuals with existing respiratory conditions.
When inhaled, even in small amounts, mold
can cause a wide range of health problems including respiratory
problems (wheezing), nasal and sinus congestion, watery and red eyes,
nose and throat irritation, skin irritation, aches and pains, fevers,
asthma, emphysema and in some cases even death.
Pesticides
can have an array of adverse health impacts
on adults and children, ranging from acute
poisonings to cancer, brain damage, and reproductive harm.
Radon
is an invisible
and odorless radioactive gas which occurs
naturally from decaying uranium underneath the earth's surface. Though
you cannot see, smell, or taste radon, it is there and may be a problem
in your home or office. Radon
gas
rises through the soil and seeps through cracks, holes, and drain
pipes in the foundation or basements of buildings.
Radon
gas can be found all over the United States, and according to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
1 out of every 15 homes in
the United States has high levels of radon
gas.
Radon
gas
contains radioactive particles
which get trapped in your
lungs every time you take a
breath. As these particles break down,
they release bursts of radiation
that damage or destroy lung tissue
and cause lung cancer, and long-term exposure may even cause death.
Some experts
believe the toxins
in our drinking water
are the number one health
threat causing cancer, heart disease and
lead poisoning. Such chronic
illnesses are brought on by the
body's absorption. Water
contaminants not only affect our health, but they can also corrode
fixtures, stain and deteriorate clothing and household surfaces, alter
the taste of food and drinking water.
- Chlorine: Chlorinating
water is
necessary for disinfecting; however, over-chlorination produces
by-products known as trihalomethanes.
One trihalomethane, chloroform, is a known carcinogen.
- Nitrate/Nitrite:
is a chemical that seeps our drinking
water
from fertilizer, sewage, feed
lots and other geological elements.
Nitrate over 10 ppm reduces the amount of oxygen available to the fetus
in pregnant women causing "Blue Baby Syndrome" (methemoglobulinemia).
It is also considered an immediate threat to children 6 months to 1
year old, and is a major health threat to adults.
- Iron:
is a mineral found in the ground that leaches into drinking
water.
Although a certain
amount of iron is essential to good health, iron levels above .3 ppm
cause water to
taste bitter,
stain and discolor our laundry, fixtures and hair. It is listed under
the secondary standards for water.
- Water hardness: is a measure of calcium
and magnesium
in water,
neither of
which are potential
health risks in and of themselves
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