Practice Healthy Behaviors, Essay Example

Practice Healthy Behaviors to Decrease Exposure to Lead-Based Paint, Mold & Recreational Water Illnesses

The health problems resulting from exposure to peeling lead-based paint and mold is a widely recognized problem in low-income housing communities. Despite the limitations low-income communities are challenged with, practicing healthy behaviors are an effective means of decreasing the health risks associated with peeling lead-based paint, mold and pool water.

Medical studies (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2008) have validated the health risks resulting from indoor exposure to lead-based paint and mold, and that lead is more harmful to children than adults because it can affect children’s developing nerves and brains. Other possible complications include behavior and/or attention problems; failure at school; hearing problems; kidney damage; reduced IQ; and slowed body growth.

Alarmingly, detrimental health conditions, in both children and adults, can be attributed to extended exposure to lead-based paint. Symptoms from extended exposure include abdominal pain and cramping (usually the first sign of a high, toxic dose of lead poison); aggressive behavior; anemia; constipation; difficulty sleeping; headaches; irritability; loss of previous developmental skills (in young children); low appetite and energy and reduced sensations. Most disturbing is the research that validates that high levels of lead exposure can result in seizure, coma and death (Environmental Protection Agency, 2010).

Specific to mold, the National Multi Housing Council (2009) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.

Health problems from lead-based paint and mold exposures is more prevalent in low-income communities. This is likely due to poorly maintained housing units and limited access to funds; for example, the complete abatement of lead-based paint is quite costly, as is repairing water problems that cause mold. Despite these challenges, there are practical alternatives that effectively reduce exposures to both lead and mold. For example, the Department of Housing and Urban Development provides free advice on the safe removal of both lead and mold. Homeowners need only call an 800 number to speak with a representative. Other actions the homeowner or tenant can take to decrease health risks related to lead-paint exposure include disposing of toys painted with lead paint; running tap water for 1-2 minutes before drinking or cooking with it; or switching to bottled water; living a sanitary lifestyle and washing hands often, especially before eating and going to sleep. Finally, maintaining a healthy diet, that is low in fat and high in both iron and calcium (such as dairy products, eggs, beans, spinach, and lean red meat), can also decrease the health risks related to lead-based paint exposure. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (2008) have evidenced that individuals with good diets absorb less lead.

In the area of mold, The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (2009) suggests keeping humidity levels in the home between 40% and 60%, and ventilating showers and cooking areas, as a means of decreasing lead exposure. Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution.

Ozonation and chlorination are two chemical processes that are effective in promoting healthy pool water conditions (Poolcenter, n.d.). The ozone molecule is a very effective and potent oxidizer that destroys bacterial microorganisms upon immediate contact. When the ozone molecule makes contact with a bacterial cell, an oxidative burst is produced and burns a miniscule hole through the cell wall. The ozone molecule will continue to bombard the bacterial cell with these bursts until it can no longer hold its shape and dies. The ozone molecule returns to an oxygenated state when it can find nothing to oxidize. Chlorination, on the other hand, attacks and destroys organic impurities by destroying the lipids—that is, the enzymes, structures and processes—within the bacterial cell. Adding chlorine to water produces hypochlorous acid (HOCI) and the hypochlorite ion (OCI); the difference between the two molecules is the rate at which they oxidize. Similar to the ozone molecule, the hypochlorous molecule is faster, and destroys organic impurities within a few seconds; the hypochlorite molecule can take up to 30 minutes. Once the HOCl and OCl are done rendering the pool free of bacteria, they either converge with another chemical, such as ammonia, or are broken down into single atoms. Both of these processes neutralize the molecule, rendering chlorine non-toxic to humans. Sunlight accelerates the oxidation process, which is why pH levels in the pool are monitored, and why chlorine is added to pool water on a continuous cycle. While the ozone and chlorine molecules may seem to operate in a similar fashion, they have one distinct difference: ozone is an oxidizer but not a sanitizer. Chlorine will successfully kill and remove bacteria and contaminates; using ozone and chlorine together lowers the level of sanitizers required in pool water to keep it clean.

A combination of methods, including maintaining water quality and practicing behaviors that promote healthy swimming, can prevent Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI). The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) offers practical guidelines for protection against RWI, which include not swimming when plagued with diarrhea, not allowing pool water to enter the mouth, and not allowing children to use the pool as a toilet.

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Get rid of mold. Retrieved from CDC website: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/flyer-get-rid-of-mold.pdf

Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Healthy Swimming/Recreational Water. Retrieved from CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi.html

Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Lead and Lead Poisoning. Retrieved from EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/region02/lead/

Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Lead poisoning and your children. Retrieved from EPA website: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/lpandyce.pdf

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2008). Mold allergy. Retrieved from Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mold-allergy/DS00773/METHOD=print

Mold Patrol Safety Unit. (n.d.). Health risks. Retrieved from Mold Unit website:
http://www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411823

National Multi Housing Council. (2009). IOM/NAS study on the health effects of mold. Retrieved from NMHC website: http://www.nmhc.org/Content/ServeContent.cfm?ContentItemID=3210

PoolCenter. (n.d.). Chlorine chemistry. Retrieved from PoolCenter website: http://www.poolcenter.com/chlor.htm