Entering the Conversation

A couple of weeks ago I left a comment on the "Healthy Child Healthy World" blog. The article I responded to makes interesting reading. You can view the article and my response here.

Currently in the News

There are many chemicals that can be found within homes. Some of these chemicals we have knowingly brought in to our homes, others have entered our homes unnoticed. PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are one group of chemicals that may exist in our homes without us being aware. PBDEs are chemicals that are often used in products such as

• Curtins
• Carpet
• Mattresses
• Upholsted furniture eg: lounge suites
• Electronic equipment eg: televisions, computers and cell phones

PBDEs are used in an attempt to decrease the risk of these products catching fire, however in the article, "Unwelcome Guest: PBDE in Indoor Dust", Kellyn Betts discussed suspected links between these chemicals and various health problems.

On January 20, 2010 Sciencedaily reported that, researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at Columbia University have been looking at the effects of PBDEs on children who were exposed to these chemicals before they were born. These chemicals can enter our bodies by being swallowed or by breathing in dust particles that contain PBDEs. These chemicals can then enter an unborn baby via the umbilical cord. Researchers found that children between the ages of one and six, who's umbilical cord contained high levels of PBDEs, achieved lower results in tests that assessed both their mental and physical progress. The report indicates that IQ scores were noticeably lower in children aged four, who's unbilical cord contained high levels of PBDEs. Sciencedaily's report quotes Julie Herbstman, PhD, stating that,"The findings are consistent with effects observed in animal studies".

Clearly further studies need to be performed to establish the extent of the effects of PBDEs on our health. In the meantime for anyone who wishes to limit their exposure, Kellyn Betts suggests that washing our hands is a good place to start. Washing our hands will decrease the amount of dust particles that may contain PBDEs on our fingers, and reduce the amount that then enters our mouths when we eat or place our fingers in our mouths.

Betts, K. (2008) Unwelcome Guest: PBDEs in Indoor Dust. Environmental Health Pervspectives. 116(5). Retrieved 21 January, 2010, from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2008/116-5/focus.html

Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. (2010). Prenatal exposure to flame-retardant compounds affects neurodevelopment of young children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved 21 January, 2010, from http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2008/116-5/focus.html

Introducing this topic

Our homes are our sanctuary. Home is the place we return to after a busy day, and where our children sleep and play. However within many of our homes there are certain products that may pose a potential risk to our health and the health of those that we love.

There are numerous pollutants within products commonly found in our homes. Some of these pollutants have been identified by Tox Town (an initiative of the United States National Library of Medicine), as posing a possible risk to human health. These pollutants include

• Lead
• Asbestos
• Carbon Monoxide
• and Toxic Chemicals including Pesticides and Formaldehyde

The United States Environmental Protection Agency suggests that there are measures we can adopt in an attempt to minimise exposure to environmental dangers within our homes.

But how much of a risk do these pollutants actually pose to our health?

And

Is it appropriate for us to take steps to reduce any possible risk?

The debate surrounding the extent of any risks associated with the use of some of these pollutants continues. In her book Haunted Housing: How toxic Scare Stories are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home, Cassandra Moore suggests that the fear surrounding some of these pollutants may be unwarranted. Moore questions the validity of some of the studies used to justify this fear and implies that results may have been distorted due to bias and the small amount of participants taking part in the studies.

Despite these suggestions, there is evidence that exposure to some household products increases the chances of developing some cancers as well as other health problems. The Collaborative on Health and the Environment's, Toxicant and Disease Database contains a list of health conditions that have been associated with exposure to toxic products. Some of these products are found within many homes.

The most appropriate way to manage any potential risks that exist as a result of toxic products within a home, will be different for different people. Economic factors and lifestyle differences will have an effect on people's desire and ability to alter their habits. Reading this blog does not guarantee health problems will not occur, however it is intended to assist people in making informed decisions regarding the management of possible potential risks.

References

Moore, C. (1997) Haunted Housing: How Toxic Scare Stories Are Spooking the Public Out of House and Home. Washington: Cato Institute. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from Google Books: http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3bZFITYHM5M&printsec=frontcover&dq=haunted=housing&lr=lang_en&num=30&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false

National Library of Medicine(2009). Tox Town - Homes. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/lovations.php?id=31

The Collaborative on Health and the Environment. (2010). Toxicant and Disease Database. Retrieved 13 January, 2010 from http://healthandenvironment.org/tddb

United States Environmental Protection Agency, (2009). The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

United States National Library of Medicine. (2010). Retrieved 11 January, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

Personal Narrative

When I was young my parents often moved house.  As children we loved the experience of walking in to someone’s house and seeing how they lived.  At one stage my parents decided they would investigate the possibility of moving an existing house to a vacant block of land.

I distinctly remember one particular home. The owner of the house was busy but we were able to obtain a key from him and let ourselves in. It was beautiful. There were heavy cedar doors with bevelled glass inserts and chandeliers that hung from the lounge room ceiling. The bathroom walls were covered in miniature tiles and ceramic lion’s heads protruded from the tiles, with spouts emerging from their mouths. As Mum and Dad discussed the logistics of moving such a large house without damaging its unique qualities, my brother, sister and I explored.

I remember finding a stair case leading down to what looked like more rooms, so I called everyone over.  As I started to descend the narrow staircase, I noticed how dark and cold it was; not at all like upstairs. The walls were cracked and some of the pieces had fallen down, littering the hallway.  I heard Dad say to Mum, "It's asbestos, we had better go". As fast as they could Mum and Dad hurried us children up the stairs and back into the opulence of the upstairs area. I was confused and scared. I could not understand the urgency with which we had to evacuate the downstairs area. Then Dad explained, the cracked walls were made of asbestos and as a result, the air downstairs may not be safe to breath.

This was the first time I had ever heard of asbestos. Since then I have had several incidents where I have had concerns over the handling of asbestos. From the instillation of air-conditioning at our local school, where holes needed to be cut into the asbestos ceiling, to the insulation that existed around the hot water pipes in my parent's home, asbestos continues to be a concern of mine.

Asbestos is one product within many homes that could pose a risk to human health, however it is not alone. This blog will examine a variety of products which exist within many of our homes, in an attempt to inform people about the possible risks associated with the use of these products.