| Most parents are aware of the more common environmental hazards to their child, such as lead poisoning, sun exposure, and second hand smoke, but many children are also at risk of less common, but equally dangerous toxins. These include radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, mercury and mold.
How do you know if your child is at risk? To find out, it can help to take a basic environmental history and/or home inventory. This can include questions that characterize where your child lives or spends most of his time, including the age and condition of the home, prescense of water damage or mold, use of a wood or gas stove, use of well water, and job or hobby related hazards of other household members.
Radon
Radon is a cancer-causing (second leading cause of lung cancer), radioactive gas that you can not be see, smell or taste. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and it can get into the air you breathe. Since radon has been found in homes all through the United States, including old and new homes and those with or without basements, you should have your house tested for radon. Even homes that are next to each other can have different levels of radon.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is commonly produced by fires, automobile exhausts, or charcoal, kerosene and gas stoves, furnaces or space heaters. With proper ventilation, these sources of carbon monoxide usually don't lead to any problems, but in poorly ventilated areas or with faulty ventilation, carbon monoxide levels can build up and cause symptoms. Carbon monoxide poisoning kills almost 300 people in the United States each year.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be prevented by not exposing your child to sources of carbon monoxide in poorly ventilated areas. Specifically, do not use a charcoal grill indoors, leave a car running in the garage, or use an unvented space heater. Also, have your home heating equipment and chimney inspected each year.
A carbon monoxide detector can alert you to the presence of carbon monoxide in your home, before it has a chance to build up to a level that can cause symptoms.
Asbestos
Although the use of asbestos is now limited, it had previously, especially in the 1920s to 1970s, been used for insulation in the construction of homes, schools and other buildings and it is still present in many of these structures. When the asbestos becomes airborne during remodling, etc, it can pose a health hazard if not dealt with properly.
If you live in an older home, which was built before 1970, then you should determine if it contains asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found as insulation in and around pipes, furnaces, walls, and ceilings. Other sources include older appliances, roofing shingles and siding. Although there is no danger if the asbestos is intact, if you begin remodling or if the asbestos is deteriorating, then it may pose a health hazard, especially if it is removed improperly.
Your child may also be at risk if a household member has an occupational exposure to asbestos, but the risk can be reduced if the worker showers and changes his clothes and shoes before leaving work.
Mercury
The hazards of mercury to children is being increasing recognized. Although the controversy surrounding thimerosal, a mercury containing preservative, and vaccines is well known, there are other sources of mercury that are potentially hazardous to your children.
Certain types of fish are known to pose a health hazard because of mercury contamination. The FDA has advised that young children, nursing mothers, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age who may become pregnant not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish, because they may contain high levels of methyl mercury. Instead, they can safely eat 12 ounces per week of other types of cooked fish, including shellfish, canned fish, smaller ocean fish or farm-raised fish (a typical serving size of fish is from 3 to 6 ounces).
Another way to reduce the hazard of mercury is to no longer use mercury containing thermometers. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that although 'a single thermometer is usually insufficient to produce clinically significant exposure when ingested, if the thermometer breaks, the mercury vaporizes and can be inhaled, causing toxicity.' The AAP recomends that doctors and parents not use mercury containing thermometers anymore. Other sources of mercury can include certain folk medicines.
Mold
The spores of toxigenic molds, including Stachybotrys chartarum, Fusarium and Trichoderma, are potential hazards to children's health. More common indoor molds do not produce mycotoxins and are less hazardous, as long as you are not allergic to them.
To prevent mold from growing in your house, you should clean up water and water damaged items, and fix leaks as soon as possible and within 24 hours.
Environmental Health Internet Resources:
- Radon: EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, including How To Find a Qualified Radon Service Provider
- Asbestos in Your Home:EPA guide to help you understand asbestos: what it is, its health effects, where it is in your home, and what to do about it.
- Children's Health Initiative: Toxic Mold: EPA guide to toxic mold, inlcuding background, new reasearch, treatments, and expected milestones.
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