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In addition to the known hazards of many household products, your home may also contain unknown sources of pollutants-materials releasing harmful gases or particles into the air you breathe or the water you drink. Many common household products and home repair materials contain chemicals that are poisonous if ingested; others that are caustic and can burn the eyes and skin or that emit toxic fumes and can cause dizziness, faintness or even loss of consciousness. As well, the walls and woodwork of a house built before 1960 may contain paint with a high lead content-hazardous if inhaled or ingested. And lead ions can leach into your water supply from lead pipes or lead solder used to join copper pipes. Protecting your family from hazardous materials requires a combination of preventive measures and safe work habits; consult the Troubleshooting Guide for procedures to follow in a household emergency involving hazardous materials; it lists quick-action steps to take. If any family member suffers frequent or recurring illnesses that may be related to the air or water of your house, have your home professionally inspected and tested by a local or federal building authority or a certified house inspector as soon as possible. See below for information on identifying possible sources of indoor pollutants. For example, if you suspect a buildup of radon gas in the house, use a radon gas detection kit (44). To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, install at least one carbon monoxide gas detector in your home (44) and have any gas appliance, water heater and heating system professionally serviced at least once each year; have the gas company or your local fire department measure the level of carbon monoxide in the house. Make sure you and your family members are familiar with the distinctive odor of natural and propane gas; as an added precaution, install a gas detector near each gas appliance as well as any gas water heater and heating system (44). Take special precautions when using, storing and disposing of any household chemical product (45); carefully read the label on its container and follow the manufacturer's instructions, heeding any hazard warning (43). Protect yourself and the environment by obtaining information on the properties of the household chemical products in your home-and the harmful health effects associated with their use. If you are uncertain about the safety of any chemical product, ask your retailer or the manufacturer to provide you with its safety data sheet. The list of Safety Tips reviews basic precautions to follow in helping to prevent a household emergency involving a hazardous material. If you are ever in doubt about the safety of your home or your ability to handle an emergency involving a hazardous material, don’t hesitate to call for help. Post the telephone numbers for your local hospital emergency room, poison control center, physician, and police and fire departments near the telephone; in most regions, dial 911 in the event of any life-threatening emergency. SAFETY TIPS 1. If a member of your household suffers frequent or recurring illnesses that may be air- or water-borne, identify possible sources of indoor pollutants (44) and have your house professionally inspected and tested as soon as possible. 2. Use a radon gas detection kit to measure the level of radon gas in the house and install a carbon monoxide gas detector as well as natural gas and propane gas detectors. 3. If your water has a peculiar taste, odor or color, or if members of your household suffer frequent illnesses that may be water-borne, have your water professionally tested. 4. Carefully read the label on the container of any household product; follow the manufacturers instructions for its use and pay special attention to hazard warnings. 5. Never pour a chemical product down a house drain or into a septic system; it can harm the sewage system and may leach into the water supply. Call your local department of public works, the mayor's office or an environmental protection agency for the disposal regulations in your community. 6. Cloths soaked in paint, solvent, or adhesive or refinishing products can ignite spontaneously; hang them outdoors and allow them to dry thoroughly or store them in airtight metal or glass containers. 7. When using a flammable chemical product, have a fire extinguisher rated ABC or BC on hand and know how to use it. Don’t pour water on a chemical fire. Install smoke detectors throughout your home-including in your work area. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE [SYMPTOM: Exposure to indoor pollutant suspected: family member suffers frequent illnesses; Chemical product ingested Chemical product in eye or on skin; Dizziness, nausea, or blurred vision when using chemical product; Chemical product spilled] [ PROCEDURE: Identify sources of indoor pollutants (44); Use radon gas detection kit (44); Use carbon monoxide gas detector (44); have home tested for carbon monoxide Use natural and propane gas detectors (44); have gas appliances, water heater and heating system professionally serviced Treat ingested-poison victim (39) Use chemical products safely (45); Flush chemical from eye (35); treat chemical-burn victim (36); Use chemical products safely (45); Leave room immediately to get fresh air; Read instructions on container label and seek medical help if necessary Use chemical products safely (45) Clean up chemical spill (45) Use chemical products safely (45)] Safety goggles: Protect eyes from chemical splashes and foreign particles; should fit snugly. Passive carbon monoxide gas detector -- Sensor darkens in color in response to rising levels of carbon monoxide gas; replace detector annually or when it reaches its expiry date. Dust mask--Disposable filter prevents inhalation of fine dust and fibers; works effectively up to 6 hours. Chemical cartridge respirator --Interchangeable cartridges filter out toxic vapors; works effectively up to 8 hours. Follow manufacturers instructions for use and store in sealed plastic bag. Radon gas detection kit--Activated-charcoal detector used for short-term testing of radon concentration levels in house; send detection kit to certified laboratory for analysis. Carbon monoxide gas detector--Battery-operated detector sounds alarm when dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas present. Test batteries each month. Rubber gloves--Heavy rubber gloves protect hands from caustic chemicals; can be made of rubber, neoprene or vinyl-recommended type usually specified on container label, Natural gas and propane gas --lug-in detector sounds alarm when concentrations of natural gas or propane gas present. Test detector once each month. Flammable--A triangle with flames warns that product contains a flammable substance, Explosive--A triangle with exploding object warns that container may explode if heated or punctured. Poison--A triangle with skull and crossbones warns that product is poisonous if ingested or inhaled, Caustic--A triangle with hand and test tube warns that product contains chemical which can bum skin and eyes. CHECKING FOR INDOOR POLLUTANTS Identifying indoor pollutants. Within your home there can be health-threatening pollutants. If any family member suffers frequent illnesses, have your house professionally inspected and tested; consult your local or federal environmental protection agency or department of health for a list of certified building inspectors and testing laboratories in your area. To help you identify sources of indoor pollutants within your home, refer to the guidelines below: • Radon gas. Radon gas, produced by uranium decay, is colorless and odorless; it can leach into a house through water from a private well, cracks in a foundation or a dirt floor. Prolonged exposure to radon gas increases the risk of lung cancer; use a radon gas detection kit to test for radon gas (step below, left). • Asbestos. Asbestos is a fire- and corrosion-resistant mineral product that may be in pipe coverings, insulation, floor or ceiling tiles, roofing materials, textured paints, and spackling or Joint corn pounds; its use as a building material in the U.S. was outlawed in the 1970s. Asbestos is safe unless it’s cut, flaking or damaged- then, it releases particles into the air. If you suspect your house contains asbestos, call an asbestos-removal professional; don’t vacuum or sweep up the fibers. • Formaldehyde gas. Plywood, particleboard, fiberboard and other manufactured products may contain formaldehyde, used as a binder and adhesive; urea formaldehyde foam insulation, used extensively in the 1970s, has formaldehyde in it. Formaldehyde leaches into the air in a process called "outgassing". To reduce the formaldehyde level in your home, use solid wood products or seal all unfinished wood products and have any urea formaldehyde foam insulation removed. • Lead. Until the 1960s, lead was a major ingredient of house paints-dangerous only if chips of it are eaten or if dust from sanding or fumes from heat-stripping it are inhaled. To check the lead content of a paint, take a chip for professional testing. Lead ions from lead pipes or lead solder used to join copper pipes can leach into your water supply; check for lead pipes and lead solder (107). Lead ions can leach into your food from lead-glazed crockery made in the U.S. before 1971; imported crockery is spot-checked by the Food and Drug Administration and may not be lead-free. • Carbon monoxide gas. Carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless; it’s produced when a gas burner has inadequate air sup ply for proper combustion and can build up in a fireplace if the flue-damper is closed before a fire is completely extinguished. Install a carbon monoxide gas detector in your home; have any gas appliance, water heater and heating system professionally serviced at least once a year. • Natural and propane gas. Natural and propane gas are treated with a sulphur-based chemical to give them a strong odor similar to rotten eggs, enabling a leak to be easily detected; as a precaution, install a natural gas and propane gas detector near any gas appliance, water heater and heating system. --- 44abc--- Using a radon gas detection kit. Set up a radon gas detection kit following the manufacturer's instructions, placing it at the lowest level of your house about 20 inches above the floor and at least 4 inches from any object; avoid placing it near any heat source or in any draft. Mark the kit identification number, set-up date and set-up site on the log sheet. When the test period elapses, remove the kit and seal it in its storage packet. Record the retrieval date on the log sheet and return it with the storage packet to the manufacturer for analysis. Using a carbon monoxide gas detector. Following the manufacturer's instructions, install at least one battery-operated carbon monoxide gas detector (43) on the ceiling or at the top of a wall in your home- preferably more than 6 feet above the floor near a gas appliance, water heater or heating system or a fireplace. Test the detector once each month, depressing the test button and holding it for 10 seconds. Replace the battery if the detector does not sound when it’s tested-or if it emits a chirping sound, indicating the battery is wearing down. Using a natural gas and propane gas detector. Following the manufacturer's instructions, install at least one natural gas and propane gas detector on a wall near each gas appliance, water heater and heating system: 6 to 12 inches below the ceiling for natural gas; 3 to 4 inches above the floor for propane gas. Plug in the detector and test it once each month, depressing the test switch and holding it for 10 seconds. If the detector does not sound, replace it or have it professionally serviced. --- USING CHEMICAL PRODUCTS SAFELY Preventing chemical emergencies. Special care is required when using any chemical product, including prescription medication-and proper use of chemical products includes safely storing and disposing of them. The chemicals contained in many common household products are poisonous if ingested; others are caustic and can burn the eyes and skin or emit toxic fumes that can cause dizziness, faintness or even loss of consciousness. Read the label on the • Always wear the proper protective gear when working with chemical products (43) • If you transfer a chemical product or medication from its original container, label the new container and transfer as well any hazard warning and special instructions about its use. Never transfer a chemical product or medication to a food or drink container. • Keep all chemical products and medication out of the reach of children. If a child contacts or ingests a poisonous material, call the poison control center immediately, then treat the victim. • Store chemical products in a cool, dry, locked cupboard; keep the containers capped tightly. • Never mix ammonia with household bleach; the solution produces deadly fumes, • Don’t use an aerosol near any heat source or puncture the can. • When using a chemical product that emits toxic fumes, ventilate the work area well; if you feel faint or sick, leave the room and get fresh air, then improve ventilation before continuing to use it. • Don’t eat food or drink alcoholic beverages while using chemical products that emit toxic fumes-the combination can cause illness. Don’t smoke while using a flammable chemical product. • Keep a fire extinguisher rated ABC or BC around flammable chemical products; know how to use it. • Don’t pour any chemical product down a house drain or into a septic system. Call your local department of public works, the mayor's office or an environmental protection agency for the disposal regulations in effect for your community. --- CLEANING UP A CHEMICAL SPILL 1. Wiping up the spill. Wearing rubber gloves, rubber boots, safety goggles and a respirator, clean up any spill of a toxic chemical immediately; extinguish any flame and keep people and pets away. Open all the windows and doors of the room to the outdoors. If the spill small, soak it up with cloths or paper towels, then place them in a plastic garbage bag for disposal. For a large spill, pour an absorbent material such as cat litter or vermiculite on it; when the pill is soaked up, scoop up the absorbent material with a shovel or a room and dust pan, then bag it for disposal. 2. Washing the spill site. Wearing rubber gloves, rubber boots, safety goggles and a respirator, remove remaining traces of the spill using a clean cloth or stiff-bristled brush dipped in an appropriate solvent-usually marked on the label of the chemical con tamer. Then, scrub the area thoroughly with a solution of mild household detergent and warm water , rinse it and wipe it dry with clean cloths or paper towels. Dispose of chemical-soaked cloths, paper towels and absorbent material following the regulations of your community. Change out of your clothes and launder them separately. Previous: Family
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