A Safe and Healthy Child Care Indoor Environment

“It is the policy of the University of Maryland, Agriculture Experiment Station and Maryland Cooperative Extension, that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on thro grounds of race, color, gender, religion,

national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or disability.”

A Safe and Healthy IndoorChild Care Environment

Jean Austin & Lynn LittleFamily and Consumer Science EducatorsMaryland Cooperative Extension

Compared to adults-

• Kids are more sensitive to pollutants

• Per body weight, kids eat, breathe more

• Toxins can disrupt important developmental steps

Why be concerned?

Today’s goals:

• Discuss pollutants

• Sources

• Easy ways to fix

INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS

What are they?

Biological Contaminants

Radon

Combustion Products

Volatile Organic Compounds

Lead

Household Chemicals

Mold

Dust & Pet Dander

PestsCarbon monoxide

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Is your family breathing bad air?

Combustion productsCarbon Monoxide

Combustion Products

COMBUSTION AIR CONCEPTS

INFILTRATION

INFILTRATION INFILTRATION

COMBUSTION APPLIANCE

VENT AIR

EXHAUST FUMES

COMBUSTION AIR

What Can Be Done to Prevent CO Poisoning?

• Ensure that appliances are properly adjusted and working to manufacturers’ instructions and local building codes.

• Obtain annual inspections for heating system, chimneys, and flues and have them cleaned by a qualified technician.

What Can Be Done to Prevent CO Poisoning?

• Open flues when fireplaces are in use.

• Do not use ovens and gas ranges to heat your home.

What Can Be Done to Prevent CO Poisoning?

• Make sure stoves and heaters are vented to the outside and that exhaust systems do not leak.

• Do not use unvented gas or kerosene space heaters in enclosed spaces.

• Never leave a car or lawn mower engine running in a shed or garage, or in any enclosed space.

What Can Be Done to Prevent CO Poisoning?

• Make sure your furnace has adequate intake of outside air.

• Do not burn charcoal inside a home, cabin, recreational vehicle, or camper.

• Install a CO Detector

What If I Have Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

Don’t ignore symptoms, especially if more than one person is feeling them. If you think you are suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, you should:

– Get fresh air immediately. Open doors and windows. Turn off combustion appliances and leave the house. Call 911.

– Go to an emergency room. Be sure to tell the physician that you suspect CO poisoning.

environmental Tobacco Smoke

• Also called secondhand smoke

• Secondhand smoke is both exhaled mainstream smoke from smokers and sidestream smoke from the end of cigarette, cigar, or pipe

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

• Don’t smoke

• Take it outside

• Never smoke around kids

http://www.epa.gov/smokefre/pledge/

Radon

• The natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water

• Gets into the air you breathe.

• You can’t see, taste or smell radon, but it may be a problem in your home.

Where is radon found?

• It moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.

• Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up.

• Any home may have a radon problem: new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.

How can you check for radon?

• Short-term or long term radon test.

• A long-term test more likely to estimate your home’s year-round average radon level.

• If the level is above 4 pCi/L, information about corrective measures is included with the results.

How do you fix radon problems?

• Seal cracks in basement floors and walls with polyurethane caulk.

• Vent gas through the roof

Keys to a Safe and Healthy Indoor Child Care Environment

Keep It Ventilated

Mold

• Micro-organisms that can grow nearly anywhere there is moisture.

• Needs moisture, food source and warmth to grow

Mold

• Solve and repair home maintenance issues that create moisture.

• Kill mold with dilute bleach.

• Large areas may cause serious health problems. Get professional help.

Where is the moisture?

EXHAUSTING AIR AND MOISTURE FROM KITCHEN, BATHROOM, AND

LAUNDRY

Stove

Exhaust Fan

Bathroom Ventilation

Clothes Dryer

Keys to a Safe and Healthy Indoor Child Care Environment

Keep It Dry

Keep It Clean

Keep It Ventilated

Some Asthma Triggers

Dust Dust Mites

Pests (roaches)

Rodents

Pet Dander

Lead Poisoning

Sources:• Old paint• Contaminated

outdoor soils• Many other sources

Health Effects:

High doses;• Organ damage• Convulsions, death

Low doses;• Delayed development• Learning disorders

Lead, Old Paint Indoors

• Fix peeling paint- Do

not dry scrape or dry sand!

• Use damp method to mop, dust.

• Wash kids’ hands!

 Lead, Old Paint- Outdoors

• Cover bare soil (grass)

• Use doormat

Minimize Exposure to Lead in Your Home

• Thoroughly clean furniture, carpets, and draperies to remove settled dust and dirt: – frequent vacuuming – steam cleaning

Minimize Exposure to Lead

• Hose off sidewalks, porches, and steps often so that lead-containing soil or dust isn’t tracked into the house

•Periodically clean doormats to reducetracking dirt and soil into the home.

Keys to a Safe and Healthy Indoor Child Care Environment

Keep It Dry

Keep It CleanKeep It Pest-Free

Keep It Ventilated

Household Products

• Read labels, follow directions.

• Don’t use more than necessary.

• Clean when kids are not present

• Don’t overuse disinfectantshttp://householdproducts.nim.nih.gov/products.htm

Pesticides

• Read labels, follow directions.

• Don’t use more than necessary.

• Think about other ways to control pests. (Integrated Pest Management- IPM)

benzene

styrene

xylene

Tetrachloro-ethylene

P-dicholoro-benzene

Methylenechloride

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

Common sources of VOCs:• Paints• Strippers and other solvents• Aerosol sprays• Cleansers & disinfectants• Moth repellents• Air fresheners• Stored fuels• Automotive products• Hobby supplies• Dry-cleaned clothing

FORMALDEHYDE

Pressed wood products

Furniture

Combustion sources

Draperies

Glues

REDUCE EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE

• Exterior grade wood products• Control humidity levels• Avoid products with formaldehyde

Keys to a Safe and Healthy Indoor Child Care Environment

Keep It Dry

Keep It CleanKeep It Pest-Free

Keep It Ventilated

Avoid Contaminants

A Safe and Healthy Indoor Child CareEnvironment

“It is the policy of the University of Maryland, Agriculture Experiment Station and Maryland Cooperative Extension, that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on thro grounds of race, color, gender, religion,

national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or disability.”