|
|
 Environmental
Hazards
How
can I protect my child from environmental hazards in our home?
There can be things inside
your home that can harm your child. There can also be hazards found in the
dust and dirt in or around your home and yard. The following are examples
of hazards found where children live and what you can do about them.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural
fiber that was often used for fireproofing, insulating, and soundproofing
between the 1940s and 1970s. Asbestos is only dangerous when it becomes crumbly.
If that happens, asbestos fibers get into the air and are breathed into the
lungs. Breathing in these fibers can cause chronic health problems, including
a rare form of lung cancer. Asbestos can still be found in some older homes,
often as insulation around pipes. Schools are required by law to remove asbestos
or make sure that children are not exposed to it.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
-
Don't
allow children to play near exposed or crumbling materials that may contain
asbestos.
-
If you
think there is asbestos in your home, have an expert look at it.
-
If your
home has asbestos, use a certified contractor to help solve the problem.
You could have more problems if the asbestos isn't contained or removed
safely.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is
a toxic gas that has no taste, no color, and no odor. It comes from appliances
or heaters that burn gas, oil, wood, propane, or kerosene. Carbon monoxide
poisoning is very dangerous. If left unchecked, exposure to CO can lead to
memory loss, personality changes, brain damage, and death.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
-
See your
doctor right away if everyone in your house has flu-like symptoms (headache,
fatigue, nausea) at the same time, especially if the symptoms go away when
you leave the house.
-
Put CO
detectors on each floor in your home.
-
Never
leave a car running in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.
-
Never
use a charcoal grill inside the home or in a closed space.
-
Have
furnaces; wood stoves; fireplaces; and gas-fired water heaters, ovens, ranges,
and clothes dryers checked and serviced each year.
-
Never
use a gas oven to heat your home.
Household products
Many cleaning products
give off dangerous fumes or leave residues. These products can be harmful
if they are not thrown out properly (for example, if they are left in the
garage).
WHAT YOU CAN DO
-
Only
use these products when needed.
-
Always
have enough ventilation when using these products.
-
Store
them in a safe place.
-
Bring
empty containers to your local hazardous waste disposal center.
Lead
Lead is one of the most
serious environmental problems to children. Your child can get lead in her
body if she swallows lead dust, breathes lead vapors, or eats soil or paint
chips that have lead in them. Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities,
behavioral problems, anemia, or damage to the brain and kidneys.
Lead is most often found
in
-
Paint
that is on the inside and outside of homes built before 1978
-
Dust
and paint chips from old paint
-
Soil
that has lead in it (particularly around older homes or by businesses that
used lead)
-
Hobby
materials such as paints, solders, fishing weights, and buckshot
-
Food
stored in certain ceramic dishes (especially if dishes were made in another
country)
-
Older
painted toys and furniture such as cribs
-
Tap water,
especially in homes that have lead solder on pipes
-
Mini-blinds
manufactured outside the United States before July 1997
A child who has high lead
levels may not look or act sick. The only way to know if your child has lead
in her body is with a blood test.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
If your home was built
before 1978, test the paint for lead. If lead paint is found, get expert advice
on how to repair it safely. (Remember, unsafe repairs can increase your child's
risk for exposure to lead.)
-
Don't
scrape or sand paint that may have lead in it.
-
Clean
painted areas with soap and water and cover peeling, flaking, or chipping
paint with new paint, duct tape, or contact paper.
-
Make
sure painted areas are repaired before putting cribs, playpens, beds, or
highchairs next to them.
-
Check
with your health department to see if the water in your area contains lead.
-
Always
use cold water for mixing formula, cooking, and drinking. Run the water
for 1 to 2 minutes before each use.
-
Ask your
pediatrician if your child needs a lead test. A blood test is the only accurate
way to test for lead poisoning.
-
Encourage
your child to wash his hands often, especially before eating.
-
Give
your child a healthy diet with the right amounts of iron and calcium.
-
Before
moving into a home or apartment, check for possible lead problems.
-
Never
live in an old house while it's being renovated.
Molds
Molds grow almost anywhere
and can be found in any part of a home. Common places where molds grow include
the following:
Children who live in moldy
places are more likely to develop allergies, asthma, and other health problems.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
-
Keep
the surfaces in your home dry.
-
Throw
away wet carpets that can't be dried.
-
Keep
air conditioners and humidifiers clean and in good working order.
-
Use exhaust
fans in the kitchen and the bathroom to help keep the air dry.
-
Avoid
using items that are likely to get moldy, like foam rubber pillows and mattresses.
Published online: 3/07
Source: Your Child and the Environment (Copyright © 2005 American
Academy of Pediatrics, Updated 4/05)
Healthcare professionals
may order
this publication in multi-copy packs.
Parents can find more information on this topic in Caring for Your Baby and
Young Child: Birth to Age 5. To order a copy of this book visit the AAP
Bookstore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained
in this publication should not be used as a substitute for the medical care
and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your
pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
|
|
|
