I know that Asthma is a chronic childhood illness increasing at an alarming rate. I also know that with the proper education on triggers and medication, Asthma can be proactively managed. It has yet to be determined if little Anna has Asthma.

Knowledge truly is power. Whether your child has been diagnosed, is pending a diagnosis or you just have concerns, I invite you to read on and learn from this informative article on improving indoor air quality (IAQ).

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please send comments and questions to info@babyblossoms.com

--Stacie Jacobs, Founder of Baby Blossoms

Chemical Exposure: The Air Your Family Breaths Matters

Coleen LeDrew-Elgin

Every day our children are being exposed to hazardous chemicals. Our homes, playgrounds, schools and workplaces all have chemicals in the air, soil, and water. According to the Washington based Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN), we are just beginning to understand these chemicals effects on human health, but what they show is that children are paying a high price. A recent study by the University of Southern California showed that early chemical exposure in children to things like pesticides, herbicides, and wood smoke is associated with increased risk of asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood and since 1980 the biggest growth in asthma cases has been in children under age five.

Chemical exposure is a big topic and with some 300 new chemicals coming on the market each year it can feel overwhelming. To begin, we need to understand how these chemicals get into the body. The main ways are through our lungs (the air), through our skin (soil, paints, cleaning products, etc.), our eyes, and our mouths (what we eat and put in our mouth). This article will focus is on what we are breathing in indoor air environments and how that effects our health.

Did you know that the air pollution in your home could be 2-5 times, and sometimes as much as 100 times higher than outdoor levels of air pollution? When you consider that most people spend about 90% of their time indoors you begin to understand how our homes can make us sick. Indoor air pollution is estimated to cause thousands of cancer deaths and hundreds of thousands of respiratory health problems each year. Children are especially at risk for health problems from indoor air pollution due to their smaller, developing airways and their faster respiration rate. According to the CEHN, young children take in more air in proportion to their body weight than do adults. In most cases, young children are closer to the source of irritants such as chemical off-gasing in carpets and chemicals hazards such as pesticides that are tracked inside onto floors where children play.

The main causes of indoor air pollution in homes are from gases or particles that are released into the air, poor ventilation, and high temperature and humidity that can increase concentrations of some pollutants. According to the EPA, sources of pollution include combustion sources (such as oil, gas, wood and tobacco products); volatile organic compounds (formaldehyde, fragrance products, pesticides, solvents, cleaning agents) biological pollutants (animal dander, molds, dust mites, bacteria); and heavy metals (airborne lead, mercury vapor); and Radon. Central heating and cooling systems can also be sources of both particulate matter and gases.

The road to good indoor air quality begins with knowledge and awareness. Start by learning what is harmful to your lungs and then become more conscious of what you and other people in your home are putting into the air. Don’t assume others know what is safe to breathe. You may need to teach family members about harmful chemicals, pesticides, fragrances, gases, molds, and other sources of indoor air pollution.

What can you do

Begin by keeping potential air pollution sources out of your home

• Don’t allow tobacco smoke inside your home; limit or avoid burning wood in a fireplace or wood stove (smoke from this source pollutes the indoor air)
• Avoid products and furnishings made with formaldehyde such as particleboard, paneling, permanent press fabrics, and veneered or laminated cabinets and furniture
• Use nontoxic cleaning products and avoid chemicals and pesticides
• Avoid products that have strong smells such as perfume, cleaners, air fresheners
• Try hair gel instead of hair spray, stick deodorant instead of spray
• Use a nylon or cloth shower curtain instead of a plastic or vinyl one containing PVC
• Learn more about other sources of indoor air pollution before remodeling or building

Remove sources of indoor pollution

• Use exhaust fan when cooking with gas stove top or oven or open the window
• Vent showers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside
• Remove mold and moisture damage, keep indoor humidity levels between 30-60%
• Find safer alternatives to pesticides and herbicides
• When possible remove carpet and wet mop floors weekly
• If you cannot remove carpet, vacuum regularly and wipe up spills immediately
• Change your furnace intake filter regularly in the winter, or if you have the type that can be cleaned – clean it at least every 2 months in winter

Increase ventilation

Adequate ventilation is key to healthy air quality. When there is not enough air entering a home, pollutants can build up to levels that can pose health problems.

• Open windows daily during mild weather to allow air to circulate. In the winter, turn down the heat at night and open or at least crack bedroom windows
• Try a HEPA air purifier to remove dust and animal dander and to circulate air
• Be particularly careful to increase ventilation when using any type of chemical or product with an odor, when painting or installing new carpet, or after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the home

Keep in mind that any product that evaporates into the air has the potential to be an indoor air pollutant, depending on the quantity used, the method of use, the product's toxicity and the sensitivity of the user.

To create healthy environments for children and adults, we have to go beyond protecting our own homes and work for change in the larger system by sharing our concerns with our schools, workplaces, and community leaders, and by supporting safer, non-toxic products that don’t harm our health or the ecosystems we live in.
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Resources

Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes
www.montana.edu/wwwcxair
Information on indoor air quality (IAQ) and includes sources, health risks, and control measures related to common residential indoor air problems.

Children’s Environmental Health Network
www.cehn.org
Excellent source of information on children’s environmental health including educational materials and other resources.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Indoor Air Quality
www.epa.gov/iaq
This site provides information on indoor air quality topics, asthma, and healthy buildings.

American Lung Association
www.lungusa.org
Information on IAQ issues related to respiratory problems.

Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/iaq.html
Information and articles on several IAQ issues.

Early Life Environmental Risk Factors for Asthma:
Findings from the Children’s Health Study. For a copy of the abstract visit:
ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2003/6662/abstract.pdf

Sources for information for this article include “Healthy Buildings, Healthy People: A Vision for the 21st Century,” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Air and Radiation, 402-K-01-003, October 2001.

About the Author
Coleen LeDrew-Elgin, MA, is the Program Director for the Asthma Education Center. She can be reached at coleen@asthmacouncil.org