Environmental Home Health Assessment

I understand that all of the assessments point to an environmental health risk, but I don't actually know what specific health threat or outcome it may lead to. For example- radon and mercury. I don't know much about several of these exposures.

I did re-discover the hazards of my dryer- we are not allowed to use it since there is not proper ventilation.

I also realize that I use candles frequently (a few times a week), my roommate uses incense (a couple times a month), and we burn sage (once every few months).

I think that the assessment asked about when my apartment was built to assess for lead paint.

I think that we may want to know if someone lives in the basement because they could have increased risk of exposure to mold or gas leaks (since many heaters are stored in basements).

I think that home-owners are responsible for home based environmental health risks. If the person(s) living there are not the home owner, but are renters/tenants, then I think that the landlord and/or property manager is responsible.

Home, Work, School, Community Exposures

These 4 environments can expose us to various biological, chemical, and radiological exposures.

Examples include:
-microwaves, cleaning supplies, mold (home)
-salmonella, chalk dust (school)
-radiation, burns, formaldehyde, air born pathogens (work)
-tobacco smoke, UV rays, smog, parasitic diseases, fecal matter (community)

The exposures we listed together in class often are related to poorer health outcomes. An observation I have while reflecting on this now is how this can be due to where people live, and often it involves lower income communities of color who are impacted the most.

It makes me think of the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, where the factory has negatively impacted this community with asthma and increased hospital visits. Here is an article that talks about it and highlights social, racial, and environmental justice:

http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/12/06/henry-clark-and-three-decades-of-environmental-justice/