M1.5 Blog Assignment: Environmental Health
Home Assessment
After completing the Home Environmental Health and Safety Assessment Tool I was surprised to learn about the importance of when an individual's home was built, and that it has to do with the potential presence of lead in household paint. 1This is due to the fact that lead-based paint was used on homes built before 1978, and in 1978 the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint. 1978 is not that long ago, and if someone is buying or renting a house it is important to know the age of the home that they are occupying due to the potential risk of being exposed to lead.
Did you understand why all of the questions on the Assessment tool pointed to an environmental health risks?
I was able to understand why all of the questions on the Assessment tool pointed to an environmental health risk. The questions look into common areas of the home that have the potential of exposing those that inhabit the home to environmental stressors that have harmful effects on our health. Areas include the potential presence of lead-based paint, the need for proper ventilation and testing of combustion heating sources, potential contamination of the water supply being used, and the need for disaster prevention and emergency preparation to minimize the effects.
Did you discover any environmental risks in your home by completing the home assessment?
After completing the home assessment (see below), I discovered the following:
o That our home has not been tested for radon.
o We currently do not have a fire evacuation route, disaster plan, or a separate shelter with in-place supplies.
In the home assessment, why did we want to know about the age of your home?
The age of a home was asked due to the fact that lead-based paint was used on homes built before 1978. 1In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint. Lead from paint, including lead-contaminated dust, is one of the most common causes of lead poisoning. Therefore, if a person's home was built before this year there is much higher risk of lead being present, and a greater need to have it tested.
Why would we want to know if someone lives in the basement?
The answer to this question is important because 2basements have features that expose individuals to certain environmental health risk factors such as mold, carbon monoxide, and radon. 2This is due to the fact that basements are located in the lowest part of a building, and are typically the location where various systems in a building are normally controlled (water, sewer, electrical, gas, security/alarm system, etc.). These conditions place those living in a basement in the proximity of potentially hazardous devices and substances. By being aware of the potential risks that can take place, individuals are better able to mitigate the potential harm that they come into contact with.
Who is responsible for home-based environmental health risks?
The answer to this question is that it depends. Legally speaking, responsibility would potentially fall to the owner(s) of the home or the owner(s) of the land. Ethically speaking, it could be the owners, the manufacturers that make the products that are harmful, or the government to ensure harmful products are appropriately regulated.
Did you understand why all of the questions on the Assessment tool pointed to an environmental health risks?
I was able to understand why all of the questions on the Assessment tool pointed to an environmental health risk. The questions look into common areas of the home that have the potential of exposing those that inhabit the home to environmental stressors that have harmful effects on our health. Areas include the potential presence of lead-based paint, the need for proper ventilation and testing of combustion heating sources, potential contamination of the water supply being used, and the need for disaster prevention and emergency preparation to minimize the effects.
Did you discover any environmental risks in your home by completing the home assessment?
After completing the home assessment (see below), I discovered the following:
o That our home has not been tested for radon.
o We currently do not have a fire evacuation route, disaster plan, or a separate shelter with in-place supplies.
In the home assessment, why did we want to know about the age of your home?
The age of a home was asked due to the fact that lead-based paint was used on homes built before 1978. 1In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint. Lead from paint, including lead-contaminated dust, is one of the most common causes of lead poisoning. Therefore, if a person's home was built before this year there is much higher risk of lead being present, and a greater need to have it tested.
Why would we want to know if someone lives in the basement?
The answer to this question is important because 2basements have features that expose individuals to certain environmental health risk factors such as mold, carbon monoxide, and radon. 2This is due to the fact that basements are located in the lowest part of a building, and are typically the location where various systems in a building are normally controlled (water, sewer, electrical, gas, security/alarm system, etc.). These conditions place those living in a basement in the proximity of potentially hazardous devices and substances. By being aware of the potential risks that can take place, individuals are better able to mitigate the potential harm that they come into contact with.
Who is responsible for home-based environmental health risks?
The answer to this question is that it depends. Legally speaking, responsibility would potentially fall to the owner(s) of the home or the owner(s) of the land. Ethically speaking, it could be the owners, the manufacturers that make the products that are harmful, or the government to ensure harmful products are appropriately regulated.
References:
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Protect Your Family from Exposures to Lead. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/lead/protect-your-family-exposures-lead
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