Creating Healthy Indoor Environments for Healthy Children

Ironbound Community Corporation

Katherine J. SeikelEPA Office of Children’s Health

ProtectionApril 17, 2012

This is what environment looks like

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Children Are Not Little Adults

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Body DifferencesDrink, eat, and breathe more than

adults, as based on body weight

Children are rapidly growing and developing

Less developed natural defenses

More skin per pound and less protective skin

Chemicals in the womb and in breast milk

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• Natural explorers• Spend more time close or on the ground and

floors• Spend more time outdoors than adults

• Mouthing behaviors• Place dirty fingers and objects in their mouth• Ingest dirt and dust, which may be

contaminated

Behavioral Differences

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Toxic Chemicals

A child born in America today will grow up exposed to more

chemicals than a child from any other generation

in our history.

A 2005 study found 287 different chemicals in the cord blood of 10 newborn babies – chemicals from

pesticides, fast food packaging, coal and gasoline

emissions, and trash incineration.

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Environments Shape Outcomes

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Health DisparitiesAll children are susceptible to negative outcomes as a

result of environmental exposures, but they disproportionately effect minorities and children

living below the poverty level

Obesity

CancerBrain Disorders

Asthma

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Asthma: Outcomes and Disparities

7 million kids suffer from asthma

2 million emergency room visits annually

Black children are two times as likely to be hospitalized, four times as likely to die from asthma as white children

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Brain Disorders: Outcomes and Disparities

Exposure to certain chemicals can lead to ADHD, lowered IQ, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disorders and/or developmental delays

12 million U.S. children, or 17%, have learning or behavioral disabilitiesChemical exposures play a role in at least 1 in 4 cases of behavioral or

developmental disordersADHD is more common in children below the poverty level

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Obesity: Outcomes and Disparities

Obesity in children has tripled in the last thirty years

Obesity in children 21.2% of Hispanic children 24.3% of Black non-Hispanic children 14% of White non-Hispanic children

Research shows that some chemicals can lead to obesity

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Cancer: Outcomes and Disparities

Cancer : second cause of death among children (ages 1 -14 years of age)

Approximately 10,400 U.S children under age 15 diagnosed with cancer in 2007

About 1,545 of these will die from the disease

Exposure early in life to cancer-causing chemicals may not result in cancer until many years later

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The Importance of Healthy Housing -- (and what you can do to promote it)

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Housing conditions have an important impact on public health.

Most people spend 80% to 90% of their time indoors.

The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.

Florence Nightingale

There are more than 6 million housing units with severe or moderate deficiencies in the United States.

Residents of substandard housing are at increased risk for exposure to:

LeadCarbon

MonoxideMoldCockroachesDust MitesMiceRats

Pesticide Residues

Tobacco SmokeCombustion

GasesRadonRat BitesFiresFalls

Children in substandard housing are more likely to have elevated blood lead levels and to have ever been diagnosed with asthma.

Critical need to

prevent the public health

problems that stem from these

units. National Healthy Home Strategy for

Action to be released in June

2012.

What is Healthy Housing?Healthy Housing is

Designed,Constructed,Maintained, andRehabilitated

in a manner that isconducive to goodoccupant health.

Dry Moisture

MoldStructural Damage AllergiesAsthma

Pest-Free Pests

PesticidesCockroachesDust Mites

MiceRats

Integrated Pest Management

Contaminant FreeLead-based paint

Chemicals Household products

Pesticides Solvents

Clean Carpets

DustDirt

ClutterFood Storage and

PreparationPets

SafeSmoke detector

Carbon monoxide Radon

Fire Safety FallsHome safety

Space heaters

Ventilated Combustion Appliances

Radon Smoking

Indoor air quality

MaintainedRoof

Foundation Gutters

Access for PestsFurnace & Filters

Healthy Homes

Start with the People

Wanabee-Healthy Family

Likes to garden

Bedroom on the second floor; wood

floors;Uses a space heater

and throw rugs

Mild Respiratory Disease

Noticing a little arthritis – otherwise good health

Healthy

Expecting baby in 6 monthsGood Prenatal CareAvoid exposures to

environmental hazards

Healthy

Works part-time outside the home

Doesn’t Smoke

Exercises

Smokes cigarettes

Works at a Garden Center

Exercises

Healthy

Lives in a pre-1978

HomeLead

Poisoning?

Less active than usual

Asthma attacks are becoming more

frequent

5 years old

Asthma

Tobacco Smoke?

Carpeting?

Dust Mites?

Moisture?

Mold?Mice?

Pesticides?Cleaning Products?

VOCs

Cockroaches?

Triggers?

2 Years Old

Walked early – very

mobile;Inquisitive (Mom and Dad have had to call

Poison Control twice!)

Lives in a pre-1978

Home

Gates

Childproofing

Proper storage of Household Products, Medicine

Adam’s Small Toys

Lead Poisoning?

Tracks dirt into HouseCan track-in pesticide residuePal’s food is attractive to pests

Why a Holistic Approach?

Moisture / Water Intrusion

Mold

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Structural Damage

Moisture / Water Intrusion

Structural

Damage

Pests

Lead Poisoning

Fire

Injuries

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Pests

Pesticide

Pesticide

Moisture

Mold

Structural

Damage

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Structural

Damage

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Mold

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Mold

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

Asthma and Allergy

Exacerbation

For more information:Environmental Protection Agency

http://epa.gov/children

National Healthy Homes Training Center and Networkhttp://www.healthyhomestraining.o

rg/

Soon to come: www.healthyhomes.gov