Building Strong Families--Healthy House


Developed by Rebecca Blocker, Environmental Design Specialist, University of Missouri Extension

Relationship to building strong families
Have you ever stopped to think about whether or not the air you breathe at home is healthy? Many people are aware that outdoor air pollution can be hazardous to their health, but do not know indoor air pollution can also have serious health effects. Our everyday decisions and practices influence the quality of our indoor air. Research has found that the quality of indoor air in our homes can be worse than outdoor air.

People who are most susceptible to indoor air pollution are the ones who are home the most: infants, children, pregnant women, elderly and those with chronic illnesses. You may have family members with health conditions that are affected by indoor air quality. While pollutant levels from a single source may not be a serious health risk, most homes have many sources that contribute to indoor air quality problems.

For most indoor air quality problems in the home, control at the source is the most effective solution. The first step to protect your family is to become aware of the common types of indoor air pollutants, how they can affect your family’s health, and how they get into your air. Many of the products you bring into your home can create air quality problems.

Fortunately, there are many easy, inexpensive ways to control or eliminate most air pollutants. Once you’re aware of the sources, you can take steps to reduce and control them. General guidelines for maintaining healthy air include: cleanliness, adequate ventilation, following manufacturers’ product instructions and making fewer toxic substitutions.

Using these simple guidelines can help a family enjoy a healthier, safer environment.

Brief program description
This module provides information, handouts, overheads and a video dealing with common residential, indoor air quality problems and ways to protect your family. The program identifies common sources of pollution, their associated health effects, and steps to reduce indoor air pollution. Participants will evaluate the potential sources of pollutants in their homes and learn ways to reduce their risk of exposure and improve the quality of the air they breathe.

Four major key points that relate to indoor air pollution:

Indoor air pollution is a national health concern;
Many serious health conditions are affected by indoor air quality.
Most air pollutants cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
Families can reduce indoor air contamination in the home.

Research findings
Indoor air pollution has become a national health concern. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies indicate that indoor levels of many dangerous toxins and air pollutants may be two to five times higher, and occasionally more than 100 times higher, than outdoor levels. Research studies conclude that the air people breathe inside their homes can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.

One EPA study found over 350 household chemicals (volatile organic compounds) in the air of a single house. Many homes are built and remodeled tighter to reduce energy consumption. Some homes add improved ventilation systems to provide fresh air exchange, but many homes do not provide adequate ventilation. We should be concerned with indoor air quality because of the amount of time spent indoors, and our increased exposure to a variety of household chemicals.

Indoor air pollutants enter the body through the mouth, lungs, and skin, causing both acute and chronic health effects. Acute effects include coughing, sneezing, and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Chronic health effects include lung cancer, asthma, allergies, and more subtle chronic effects such as headaches and fatigue. Contaminants such as carbon monoxide and radon gas cause thousands of deaths each year.

Goals and objectives

To identify sources of common indoor air pollutants at home;
To understand potential health effects of common residential air pollutants;
To identify ways to reduce indoor air contamination in the home;
To identify potentially hazardous household products and learn safe use practices;
To adopt practices to improve air quality in the home.

Target Audience
Working families with children

If you have any questions or need information contact:

Lucy Schrader
Building Strong Families Program Coordinator
University of Missouri Extension
162 Stanley Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
573-882-4071
SchraderL@missouri.edu