M1.5: Environment Health Home Assessment
My first initial thoughts when looking through and answering questions from the Environment Health Home Assessment were, "what does a carbon monoxide detector look like?" and "How do I find out if our pipes are lead free?". As I went through the assessment it opened my eyes to the importance of knowing the answers to these questions to understand what I am exposing myself too on a daily bases. It's important to know what potential hazards are around our homes and ways in which we can decrease our exposures to elements such as carbon monoxide and radon. Knowing the age of our home is important because knowing whether or not lead was used to build the home. As mentioned in the lecture video lead-based paint was banned back in 1978.
Living in the basement is hazardous and the health related risks associated with this type of living environment can increase our risks to asbestos, mold, or increased levels of carbon monoxide exposures. This makes me think of the time when I first moved to San Francisco. I was living in an in-law in the bottom floor of a three story house in the garage that was converted into a small living space. I always felt that it was not safe or environmentally friendly due to water building-up when it rained heavy where water would be dripping from the ceiling in the tiny kitchen. This water leak may have seeped underneath the tiles where mold may have grew leading to a weird smell whenever I would come into the space. This is a perfect example why basement living can be hazardous especially if the space is not built up to code and the possibility of corners being cut when the homeowners developed the space.
In my opinion, the owners who build the building should be held responsible for the initial safety and regulations of home-based environmental health risks, but it also then becomes the individual living in the space who should continue to assess home-based environmental health risks by using products that not hazardous and being aware of changes that occur as time goes on. We all play a part in our living environment and checking in to make sure less chemicals are being used, moisture build-up is being watched and checked for mold, and that we make a disaster plan incase on emergencies are important steps to take to create a safe and healthy environment.
M2.2: Personal Care Products
Two of the personal care products that I looked up in the Safe Cosmetics Database were:
M2.3: Household Products
Two of the household products I searched on the National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database were:
My first initial thoughts when looking through and answering questions from the Environment Health Home Assessment were, "what does a carbon monoxide detector look like?" and "How do I find out if our pipes are lead free?". As I went through the assessment it opened my eyes to the importance of knowing the answers to these questions to understand what I am exposing myself too on a daily bases. It's important to know what potential hazards are around our homes and ways in which we can decrease our exposures to elements such as carbon monoxide and radon. Knowing the age of our home is important because knowing whether or not lead was used to build the home. As mentioned in the lecture video lead-based paint was banned back in 1978.
Living in the basement is hazardous and the health related risks associated with this type of living environment can increase our risks to asbestos, mold, or increased levels of carbon monoxide exposures. This makes me think of the time when I first moved to San Francisco. I was living in an in-law in the bottom floor of a three story house in the garage that was converted into a small living space. I always felt that it was not safe or environmentally friendly due to water building-up when it rained heavy where water would be dripping from the ceiling in the tiny kitchen. This water leak may have seeped underneath the tiles where mold may have grew leading to a weird smell whenever I would come into the space. This is a perfect example why basement living can be hazardous especially if the space is not built up to code and the possibility of corners being cut when the homeowners developed the space.
In my opinion, the owners who build the building should be held responsible for the initial safety and regulations of home-based environmental health risks, but it also then becomes the individual living in the space who should continue to assess home-based environmental health risks by using products that not hazardous and being aware of changes that occur as time goes on. We all play a part in our living environment and checking in to make sure less chemicals are being used, moisture build-up is being watched and checked for mold, and that we make a disaster plan incase on emergencies are important steps to take to create a safe and healthy environment.
M2.2: Personal Care Products
Two of the personal care products that I looked up in the Safe Cosmetics Database were:
- Nivea Shea Daily Moisture
- Tom's natural odor protection long lasting deodorant
When looking at what the database said about Nivea moisturizer was that: it ranked low to moderate in overall hazard, it is non-cancerous, it does not have developmental or reproductive toxicity, and it uses moderate restrictions. A few high concerns that were detailed in the overview pointed to the contamination concerns and organ system toxicity (non-reproductive). The second product, Tom's deodorant, ranked a bit differently: overall low hazard, low levels of cancer, low levels of developmental and reproductivity toxicity, low to moderate levels of allergies and immunotoxicity, and does not use restrictions. The highest concerns related to the use of Tom's deodorant were related to the potential irritation of the skin, eyes, or lungs.
Reviewing these two products, I was happily surprised that they did not contain high amounts of hazardous chemicals and were relatively low in cancer causing agents. I know that I have a few other products that may potentially have high toxicity, but knowing that I use these two product everyday, I thought it would be best to learn how toxic they are. Based on these findings, I am not going to change my consumer behaviors with these products specifically because I like them and they didn't have high amounts of toxic chemicals.
People should know about these risks, especially in products they use on a daily bases. The reason many people do not know about this risk or are unaware can be traced back to the way these products are marketed. Referring back at the TEDX with Stacy Malkan, she mentions how these companies have power in the way we believe and perceive the importance of using their products. Even though these companies have power, she points to the important role that we as consumers have and how we can influence these companies to change their use of harmful chemicals through advocating and participating in what she calls, "The Girlcott" of safe products.
People should know about these risks, especially in products they use on a daily bases. The reason many people do not know about this risk or are unaware can be traced back to the way these products are marketed. Referring back at the TEDX with Stacy Malkan, she mentions how these companies have power in the way we believe and perceive the importance of using their products. Even though these companies have power, she points to the important role that we as consumers have and how we can influence these companies to change their use of harmful chemicals through advocating and participating in what she calls, "The Girlcott" of safe products.
Listening to Ken Cook and his talk on "10 Americans" really opened my eyes to the negative health affects that these chemicals have on our health, not only as adults, but for those who are most vulnerable to these exposures.
M2.3: Household Products
Two of the household products I searched on the National Library of Medicine's Household Products Database were:
- Meyer's Multi-purpose cleaning (honeysuckle scent)
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes (citrus blend)
Looking in the database at these two products it is said that Meyer's Multi-purpose cleaning spray does not meet the criteria for classification in any hazard class according to OSHA and also has no classification for acute health effects. The second product, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, it states that this product is not considered hazardous by the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and has minor acute health effects such as skin and eye irritation, respiratory tract irritation from vapor, and ingestion of liquid may cause irritation to gastrointestinal tract.
Reviewing these two products that I use daily to clean around the house and area surfaces makes me feel confident that I've been choosing products that are not as hazardous to my health than I expected. From these findings, I don't think I will be changing these products, but will begin looking at other products I use to see where they fall in hazardous chemicals to decrease my exposures and risk.
Love that we were the same Meyers products! It really does make me feel better that it is less toxic than many of the other counter parts that we could buy in the store. I feel like with the products that you use and looked up already seemed pretty conscious, but it is cool to see that you are still striving to be better with your products. I totally feel like a dumb dumb when it comes to this stuff and am just trying to make smart changes (when able to).
ReplyDeleteI really liked that you brought up the importance that we as consumers have to make market changes, but I do think that in our everyday lives we can not always be help responsible to know what is in every product and responsibility in knowing and understanding what is in products has to be manufacturing companies job.
Really appreciated your blog, thanks for the insight.
Hey Aika!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your opening lines on the importance of understanding these health hazards as listed on the Home Environmental Health and Safety Assessment. I didn't really think of these until I started taking this class. I also think that owners should be held responsible for the environmental health of apartment buildings, as they're the ones in contact with the buildings most often over long periods of time!
I felt similarly when analyzing my personal care/household products; I'm not sure that I'll be changing my consumer behavior anytime soon. However, at least we're more aware than we were before!
Yes! I think the owners should be aware of this and do what they can to eliminate any risks that would be out of the tenants control. I recently have had this conversation with a client of mine who was complaining about headaches and just overall not feeling well any time she had been in her apartment and noticed the feeling would go away when she would stay the night at her parents house. She had brought this up during our session and I had asked her if she had mold possibly (this was before this class). Sure enough she had her place tested and there was mold somewhere in her apartment. She had notified her landlord, but in the end decided to move to a new apartment. Luckily for her she was able to move out of the environment, but for some it is not that easy. I am definitely glad that this class is opening my eyes to the dangers our homes can play in our health and hope in the future I can assess all aspects of my life when I feel ill not only my home, but also the products that I use on a regular basis.
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