Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/650064
41 priority Health concerns Recommended Occupant Health Messages Safety – Trips and falls, poisoning and burns are significant injury risks in homes. Poor lighting, lack of handrails, unstable stairs and other housing hazards increase the risk of falls. Improperly stored chemicals increase the risk of poisoning. • Smoke alarms and CO alarms should be installed in all homes and tested regularly. Replace batteries annually. Replace smoke alarms every 10 years and CO alarms every five to seven years. • Set hot water heater thermostats to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to reduce burns and scalds. • In homes where elderly persons live, reduce trip hazards, provide sufficient lighting on stairs, ensure handrails and grab bars are in key locations, and follow CDC's guide Check for Safety: A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. • In homes with young children, install gates at the tops of stairs and securely store chemicals and pesticides. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Household Products and Materials – VOCs are found in many household products and materials including paints, carpets and pads, pressed wood, composite wood, cleaning supplies, air fresheners and furniture. Exposures can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, liver damage and cancer. • Select low-VOC products when possible (e.g., paint, carpet, furniture, cabinets, adhesives and cleaning products). Green testing and rating programs that assess products for VOCs and other health hazards include: o California Department of Public Health, Emission Testing Method for California Specification 01350. o Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label or Green Label Plus program criteria or equivalent standards for carpet. o Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) High Performance Products Database. o Green Seal Standard GS-11. o Greenguard Children and Schools Certification Program. o Master Painters Institute (MPI) Green Performance Standards GPS-1 or GPS- 2. o Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Standard EC-10.2-2007 (Indoor Advantage Gold). • If using pressed or composite wood products, avoid products containing urea formaldehyde. Select products compliant with California Title 17. • Local ventilation can be used when strong sources of VOCs or other airborne contaminants are isolated to a specific room or area. Whole-house ventilation will also help reduce VOCs and other airborne contaminants in most homes. • Safely store chemicals out of reach of children. Wood Smoke and Solid Fuel Emissions – Wood stoves and fireplaces can create emissions, and exposures can cause breathing problems. • Ensure fireplace chimney or wood stove flue is working properly (i.e., there is no wood smoke in the home). • Clean chimney once a year. • Follow EPA's Guide for Best Burn Practices for Wood Stoves. • If purchasing a new stove, ensure it is EPA-certified. client education Resources: Asbestos EPA Asbestos: Asbestos in Your Home. 1990. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/ashome.html http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/ Asthma triggers EPA Asthma: Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers. 2011. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/asthma/triggers.html carbon Monoxide AHRI: Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. http://www.ahrinet.org/default.aspx CPSC Document #466: Carbon Monoxide Questions and Answers. 2008. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/466.html EPA IAQ: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Carbon Monoxide. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2011. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/co.html