Are our homes making us sick? Creating Healthy Co-ops Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation CHFC AGM June 10, 2010.

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Co-ops

Centre for Equality Rights in AccommodationCHFC AGMJune 10, 2010

Agenda

Introductions Indoor Air Quality: Overview Poor IAQ: The Main Culprits Creating Healthy Housing: Strategies Environmental Sensitivities and the Law Products and Resources Next Steps Evaluation

Are our homes making us sick?

Indoor Air Quality

How to battle bad air in your home: What you put in your home and how you clean it will affect the quality of your indoor air -- and your health

In the outdoors, unwanted irritants such as pollen, exhaust or cigarette smoke can be unpleasant, but ignored. But when they infiltrate your home, it can affect your health. As Canadians spend more than 90 per cent of their time inside buildings, indoor air quality is extremely important, but it's something most people know little about.

Are our homes making us sick?

Indoor Air Quality

Your home can make you ill: Cleaning products and mould can make you sick; poor ventilation, chemicals don't help

Lisa Borden was at a loss over what to do about her newborn daughter's eczema, which persisted despite several months of treatment with a prescribed ointment.

It was her father, a physician, who suggested that the skin condition might be an allergic reaction to a household detergent or chemical.

Are our homes making us sick?

Indoor Air Quality

Domestic Detox: Extreme Home Cleaning

WHEN Matthew Waletzke appeared at the door of my East Village apartment to evaluate my home for what he calls “toxic exposure” — the alternative world’s catch-all phrase for potential health hazards like mold, indoor air pollution, household chemicals and electromagnetic radiation (beware your Wi-Fi!) — I half-expected to see a guy in an “Andromeda Strain”-era hazmat suit.

Are our homes making us sick?

Indoor Air Quality

Among top 5 environmental risks to public health (EPA)

IAQ can be substantially worse than outdoor air (2 to 5 X)

30% of buildings have IAQ problems (WHO)

Are our homes making us sick?

Medical Consequences

Eye, nose and throat irritation; coughing; headaches; fatigue; rashes; etc.

Asthma Respiratory illnesses Sick Building Syndrome Allergies Chemical/environmental sensitivities Certain cancers

Are our homes making us sick?

Particularly Vulnerable Residents

Pregnant women Infants and children The elderly People with existing respiratory

conditions or chemical sensitivities

Are our homes making us sick?

Poor IAQ: Some Culprits

Are our homes making us sick?

Poor IAQ: Some Culprits

Substances that release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s): Cleaning products (especially scented

products) Carpeting, vinyl tiles and adhesives Wood composites used in cabinetry and

furniture Paints, varnishes, wood strippers, sealants Air fresheners Scented personal care products (70% of

asthma attacks from perfume)

Are our homes making us sick?

Poor IAQ: Some Culprits

Exhaust fumes and tobacco smoke Gas appliances Dust, pollens and pet dander Pesticides and lawn fertilizers Mould and mildew Electromagnetic fields Poor ventilation** air transfer between units

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Housing: Principles

Reduce/eliminate source of contaminants

Remove existing contaminants Reduce transfer of existing

contaminants Provide an adequate supply of

clean, fresh air

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Housing: Strategies

Use unscented, non-toxic cleaning products

Remove odours through cleaning and ventilation

Reduce use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers

Use solid hardwood, glass or metal as much as possible (or formaldehyde-free plywood, etc.)

Avoid aromatic woods (pine/cedar)

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Housing: Strategies

Use ceramic tile, brick, polished concrete or hardwood as flooring wherever possible (or natural, low emission carpets that are cleaned frequently)

Use readily available low or no-VOC paints and finishes (be careful of tints)

Sometimes it is better not to renovate

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Housing: Strategies

Maintain corridor (and parking garage) ventilation systems**

Ensure kitchen and exhaust fans working properly

Properly seal units Contain and ventilate work areas Provide adequate notice before major

cleaning/repairs

Are our homes making us sick?

Creating Healthy Housing: Strategies

Address water “events” quickly Regularly inspect for mould growth and

remove with a non-toxic product (not bleach)

Institute a no-idling rule Institute a scent-free policy for

staff/contractors Educate members on use of scented

personal care products Designate one elevator as “scent free” No smoking policies?

Are our homes making us sick?

Environmental Sensitivities

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, Chemical Injury, Environmental Hypersensitivity, etc.

Sensitive to environmental contaminants at levels tolerated by the “average” person

About 3% of Canadians over 30 diagnosed with ES

As many as 4 million Canadians likely have chemical sensitivities

Predominantly women (60-80% in various surveys)

Are our homes making us sick?

Environmental Sensitivities

Poorly understood Now widely recognized as a

disability Can develop as a result of major

exposure For most, develops gradually as a

result of cumulative exposure “Canaries in the coal mine”

Are our homes making us sick?

Environmental Sensitivities

Severity varies significantly Symptoms Include:

headaches, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, difficulty walking and with fine motor skills, nausea, irregular heartbeat, hives, high blood pressure, difficulty concentrating, and anxiety and depression

Symptoms worse with continued exposure Treatment: remove source of symptoms

Are our homes making us sick?

ES and the Law

Considered a disability under human rights legislation

Housing providers (including co-ops) have a duty to accommodate the particular needs of members with disabilities

This could involve changing policies, procedures, structures, etc.

Cost to be borne by the co-op

Are our homes making us sick?

Members with ES: Special Considerations

Consult when using new cleaning/building materials

Advance notice before major cleaning/renovation very important

Provide separate laundry facilities or allow to have laundry in own unit

Avoid gas appliances Many people with ES also sensitive to

fluorescent lights

Are our homes making us sick?

Products

Beware of “Greenwashing” “Green” does not necessarily mean

healthy Cleaning Products

ECOgent (www.ecogent.ca) Nature Clean (www.naturecleanliving.com) MASS Environmental Biodegradable Cleaning

Products (www.massenv.com) AFM SafeChoice (www.afmsafecoat.com) Eco Mist “Pro Solutions”

(www.ecomistsolutions.com)

Are our homes making us sick?

Products

Mould Tri-Sodium Posphate Hydrogen Peroxide Concrobium (www.concrobium.com)

Paints and Finishes Benjamin Moore Natura Lines AFM Safecoat paints Z-Coat Zero VOC Paint

(www.generalpaint.com) Olympic Paints Premier Line

(www.olympic.com)

Are our homes making us sick?

Products

Caulking Adbond (www.dutab.com) AFM Safecoat Caulking Compound

Walls Murco M-100 Hypo Allergenic Joint and Stucco

compound (www.murcowall.com) Flooring

Finitec Canada (www.finitec-inc.com) AFM Flooring Products Eco Timber Flooring (www.ecotimber.com) Flor (low VOC carpet tiles) (www.flor.com)

Are our homes making us sick?

Resources

CMHC (www.schl.gc.ca) Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca) US Environmental Protection

Agency (www.epa.gov) Green Communities Canada

(greencommunitiescanada.org)

Are our homes making us sick?

Resources

Guide to Less Toxic Products (www.lesstoxicguide.ca)

Washington Toxics Coalition (www.watoxics.org)

Earth Easy (www.eartheasy.com) Environmental Health Associations

across Canada

Are our homes making us sick?