Integrative Medicine • Vol. 8, No. 6 • Dec 2009/Jan 2010

Kreisberg—Green Medicine Tips

Disclosure:

Joel Kreisberg,

, is the director of education and servicedevelopment at Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization dedi-cated to “greening” healthcare.

obacco smoke, mold, pesticides, chemical cleaners, radon,carbon monoxide, asbestos, formaldehyde, and lead—the“short” list of the most common household contaminants.Although concentrations of these toxicants may be small, we stillhave much reason to be concerned about the poor quality of indoor air and its detrimental effects on our health. Sadly, theaverage person will spend between 80% and 90% of his or her timeindoors—be it home, car, or work—exposed to such contami-nants. The green health professional is wise to keep a keen eye onsigns and symptoms of exposure.

Tobacco smoke

: By far, data suggest that tobacco smoke isthe most common concern for indoor exposure. In particular,secondhand tobacco smoke significantly impacts children’shealth, including upper- and lower-respiratory infections andasthma attacks.

The main solution is to keep homes smoke free,asking family and guests to smoke outside. No-smoking zones incities throughout the United States have grown as urban plan-ning has committed to reducing the risks of health effects fromtobacco smoke.

Biological contaminants

: Molds are the most commonexample of such contaminants. However, other biological con-taminants can include dust mites and pet dander along withroaches and other small household pests, as well as microbio-logical contaminants. Often these pollutants occur in areas of our homes or offices that have excess moisture or the availabilityof food. To prevent such exposure, it is advised that cooking andeating areas and any accompanying appliances are kept cleanand dry. In addition, proper ventilation is essential for keepingbiological pollutants from gaining hold in a building.

Pesticides and cleaners

These commonly used productsare pollutants actively applied to our indoor and outdoor envi-ronments, often without knowledge of the potential healtheffects on sensitive people. The National Pesticide InformationCenter (www.npic.orst.edu) offers quick, easy access to the mostup-to-date information about pesticides. Data suggest that 75%of all households in the United States are contaminated with atleast 1 pesticide.

For their part, cleaning supplies often containchemicals that can negatively impact our health. Hence, reduc-ing chemical exposure from pesticides and cleaners is a crucialstep to green health. One way to achieve this is through environ-mental purchasing, which involves switching our purchasingchoices from traditional chemical cleaners to office and house-hold cleaners that are nontoxic by design.

Asbestos, lead, and formaldehyde

: All 3 are commonbuilding products of the 20th century that have since beenproven harmful to humans. Asbestos, commonly used for insu-lation, produces small enough dust particles to lodge deep in thelungs and cause mesothelioma, a terminal cancer. Lead, whilestill used in wastewater systems, is now banned in paints andplumbing; however, older homes can be problematic.Formaldehyde is a preservative that was found in wood treat-ments including paneling and processed wood materials.Precaution is advised. Learning how old a building is can tell youthe possible risks of the buildings contaminants.

Radon and carbon monoxide

: These are odorless gases,common in homes or offices that have older furnaces, gas stoves,or poorly designed foundations. If gas or solids are burnedinside the home or office, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoningis significant. A carbon monoxide detector, the simplest preven-tative measure, is critical for every kitchen and furnace area.Radon, a natural byproduct of uranium decaying within theearth’s mantle, is odorless and poisonous, and a detector mustbe used to find it. Recent studies suggest that radon exposure isresponsible for 14 000 deaths in the United States every year.

3,4

Test kits can be purchased at a local hardware store.

GREEN MEDICINE TIPS

Is Your Office Making You Sick?

Joel Kreisberg,

Resources

•

Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/exphistory/ehindoor_pollution.html•

American Lung Association, Air Quality

: www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35381•

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for PediatricOncology