Hidden Health Hazards That Could Be Lurking In Your Home

 

 

You expect your home to protect you from the hazards of the outside world. Unfortunately, where you live could also be home to a number of other health hazards that you may not be aware of immediately. These dangers may be microscopic, but it’s possible that they could be much larger.

 

 

Animal Pests

Sometimes you will see your mouse or raccoon problem early on, but often, they do not make themselves known until they have already settled in and made your home their home. And though some of these home invaders might seem fluffy or cute, they can carry disease and track germs through your home. Be wary of signs like droppings, eaten food or unusual gnaw or scratch marks around your home. Be sure to call a professional to get rid of the problem for good to protect your health and prevent damage to your home.

 

 

Household Cleaners

Many homeowners put themselves at risk for this hidden hazard, as they attempt to clean their home with the strongest chemicals. While some cleaners may get rid of bacteria or mold, they can cause even more damage to your health. Mixing certain cleaners can also make for dangerous fumes that aren’t safe to breathe. Try going with mild soap and vinegar, which is less costly and hazardous, but just as effective.

 

 

Bacteria

Salmonella and E.Coli are not unfamiliar bacterial types, as they tend to pop up in the news whenever there has been a large-scale food poisoning. However, this troublesome duo is not limited to unsanitary restaurants. If you fail to properly clean surfaces in your kitchen, you run the risk of these bacteria entering your system through the food you prepare in your home.

 

 

Insects

Though some insects are more nuisance than hazard, those insects that are drawn to garbage and feces can spread germs throughout your home. Some, like bed bugs and fleas, may also turn to you, your family, or your pets as a source of food. These bug bites aren’t pleasant in the best of situations, but some people and animals have allergic reactions that can range from mild to severe.

 

 

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide has no scent or taste and it does not appear as smoke. This makes it almost impossible to detect without a monitor and alarm system. Often, homes will be faced with carbon monoxide contamination when certain fuels, such as gas heaters or wood stoves, are burned with improper ventilation. Each year, about 500 people die due to carbon monoxide, according to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

 

Mold

Mold can easily appear in your house, as it is an opportunistic invader, taking advantage of any damp surface. It is also a hazard for anyone in your home, but especially those with any form of breathing difficulty or lung issues. Mold commonly makes itself known on surfaces in the bathroom, which can be easily cleaned away, but a leaking pipe or roof can invite mold in to walls or ventilation systems, which can make it much more difficult to eliminate. Take care of leaks immediately and keep your bathroom well ventilated to prevent mold problems.

 

 

These hazards can be avoided. If you are proactive, you can spot early signs and fix a problem before it affects you or your family’s health. When you are uncertain or if the problem is too big for you to handle on your own, hire a professional.

Informational credit to ICE Pest Control and Wildlife Removal.

Categories: health hazards, hidden, Home, lurking

Rainy Season Health Hazards: Five Things to Protect Yourself Against

 

By Emma Sturgis 

 

During the rainy season, there are a number of common health hazards one can face, like cholera, mosquito infestation and food poisoning. While illness and injury can be common in the rainy season, there are a number of highly effective things you can do to protect yourself from these health hazards. The following are a few of the most common rainy season dangers and how to prevent illness from them:

 

 

Flooding

The major risk associated with flooding is contamination of the water supply. The risk of water contamination can be extremely high if sewage if the spill from treatment plants finds its way into nearby rivers or reservoirs. In flooding scenarios, people are often forced to drink water from local, underground water sources. The water supply becomes contaminated with sources that cause outbreaks of diseases like typhoid or cholera. Other water-borne diseases can include dermatitis, conjunctivitis and nose, ear and throat infections. While these diseases may not cause infection on a mass scale, they are accompanied by painful symptoms and can have dangerous complications.

 

 

Mosquito Infestation

In the aftermath of flooding and intense storms and rain, mosquitoes can quickly breed. Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos, as moist soil can host dormant mosquito eggs for days, months, or years before they hatch. Additional rainfall can complete the hatching process, which usually takes place within a week of the fresh rainfall. If you experience a mosquito infestation, a few do it yourself pest control methods can protect you from the discomfort and illness associated with mosquito bites. A pest control expert from Solutions Self Chem recommends not only spraying for mosquitos, but preventing their breeding by removing any sources of standing water in your surrounding area. These include, but are not limited to, garbage cans, buckets, spare tires and flooded garden beds.

 

 

Food Poisoning

Flooding during the rainy season can contaminate food, which can develop harmful bacteria like salmonella or E-coli. Illness symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, chills, fevers and diarrhea. Recovery under medical care can take from 12 to 48 hours. The risk of food poisoning can be reduced by thoroughly cleaning dishes and hands before handling food and cooking all animal products thoroughly before consumption.

 

 

Spread of Disease

Floods can bring about disaster, especially in warm and humid climates. Damaged areas can be quickly infected as a result of contaminated water. The incubation period between exposure to contaminants and symptom manifestation can be a few days or several weeks. Symptoms can include fevers, cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. In developing countries, many of the affected are children who die from dehydration, malnutrition and lack of proper medical care.

 

 

An Unclean Environment

A flood can quickly pollute an entire region by killing crops and becoming a breeding grown for life-threatening bacteria and diseases. The best defense is knowing what to expect and do before, during and after a rainy season.

 

It is wise to prepare for flooding, especially if living in a disaster-prone area. For help with this, FEMA provides comprehensive information on how to prepare and cleanup, rebuild and occupy a home or area after a flooding disaster.

 

 

Categories: health hazards, protect yourself, rainy season

Home Sweet Home? 5 Potential Health Hazards of Old Homes

Some individuals choose to purchase older homes for a variety of reasons such as their size, aesthetic appeal, and more. However, there are plenty of problems that go along with older homes that many are not aware from, such as radon in the basement, cracked foundation, and others. Before making the final decision to purchase an older home, homeowners should consider five potential health hazards of older homes.

 

Radon

Known as the second leading cause of lung cancer, this is a naturally occurring gas in our environment. Cracks in the foundation are usually the way radon enters the home, and 1 in 15 houses in the country have a high level of this gas, according to the EPA. Unlike new construction homes, where Radon detectors often come standard, older homes need to be tested. If there is a dangerous level of Radon found, you may spend a significant sum of money installing ventilation and sealing the basement floor.

 

Cracked Foundation

A lot of materials and processes were used in older homes that leave them open to cracked foundations. Many homes were not sealed on the exterior side of the home, leaving them susceptible to cracking. Moreover, materials such as cinder blocks and cement tend to crack and leave over a period of time. All of this can lead to mildew, mold, and even termites and rot.

 

Lead Pipes

Replaced in the 1940s, lead remained present in the mid-1980s in the solder that was used to join copper pipes. So even if the pipes themselves are not made of lead, there can still be traces of the substance within the home. Exposure to lead over time can cause a number of health issues including lead poisoning and chronic headaches.

 

Lead-Based Paint

Typically, even if lead-based paint was used on the exterior of the home, it was painted over several times, encapsulating it in a Latex-based product. However, over time, the paint can crack and chip and become airborne which can then be inhaled or ingested by child and adult alike. This is a caution to be aware of in older homes.

 

Asbestos

This sturdy but hazardous material was commonly used in composite roofing material, cement-and-fiber siding, in vinyl floor coverings, water pipes, and to insulate boilers and furnaces. When asbestos is cracked it becomes friable and thus easily inhaled or ingested. Older homes built prior to the 1980s may have trace amounts.

 

Potential homeowners should be aware of these potential health hazards of older homes. Finding out about the home, when it was built, and any remodeling can help you avoid or fix the hazards.

Categories: based paint, cracked foundation, hazards, health, health hazards, homes, homes nbsp, lead based, nbsp lead, old homes, older homes, potential, potential health