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Healthy & Happy People = Healthy Planet

Dr Rosemarie Russo, Sustainability Coordinator

Mary Pat Aardrup, Healthy Homes

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Happiest Countries

Name the top three

happiest countries?

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Happiest Countries

Costa Rica

Denmark

Iceland

Switzerland

Finland

Mexico

Norway

Canada

Panama

Sweden

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Happiness

Many studies find that human happiness depends on three key elements: good health, access to education, and relative wealth.

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Climate Change and Health

• Warmer temperatures lead to greater concentrations of ground-level ozone, which forms on hot, sunny days when pollution from cars and other sources mix.

• OZONE can damage lung tissue, increase respiratory and heart disease, and even lead to death. The most modest increases in smog can cause asthma in children.

Climate Change and Allergies/Asthma

• Pollen is likely to increase as temperatures and carbon dioxide levels rise. A doubling of the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels stimulated ragweed-pollen production by more than 50%.

• Another study, showed ragweed grew faster, flowered earlier, and produced significantly more pollen in urban locations.

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Children

• Their airways are smaller;• They are more active and breathe 2 to 3 times

harder and deeper than adults;• They spend more time on the ground and have

more hand to mouth transfers.

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Energy Reduction & Clean Air

• 2010 climate mitigation measures also reduced air pollution by: – 127 tons of NOx– 47 tons of sulfur dioxide ; and– un-quantified amounts of VOCs

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• VOC is the “new car smell.” • In the home, new carpeting, wood paneling,

fresh paint, furniture, adhesives, and other household items that are made with chemicals give off vapors (VOCs).

• VOCs can also come from some room fresheners, deodorants, and other products. VOCs are a health concern because they can trigger asthma, cause throat irritation, cause headaches, and damage the liver and nervous system.

• Spider plants love VOCs …….

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Health & Safety Tips

• Average VOCs levels can be up to 15X higher indoors at the workplace causing health effects, lower productivity, or increased absenteeism.

Check the indoor air quality in your home or office.

Buy low or no VOC paints.

Household Cleaners

• The average American uses 40 lbs. of unsafe household cleaners each year. Multiply that number by millions American and the effect is significant.

Examples: Commercial dish detergent, hand washing (naphtha or complex phosphates)

Toxicity - Naphtha is a central nervous depressant.

Environment – Phosphates cause algae blooms.

Read more: Clean and Green (1994) Ceres Press: New York.

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Alternative Cleaners

Disinfectant

• 1 teaspoon borax, 2 tablespoon vinegar, ¼ teaspoon vegetable-oil based liquid soap and 2 cups very hot water.

• Tea Tree Oil – full spectrum fungicide and anti-bacterial

www.ewg.org

Furniture Polish

• ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup vinegar, drop or two lavender or lemon.

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Simplify Your Household Products

• Seltzer

– Rinse hair (i.e. frizz)

– Carpet stains• Vinegar

- Cutting boards• Olive Oil

– Brittle hair

Purchasing

Each year, the average American throws away about 100 polystyrene foam cups, each expected to last more than 500 years.

Polystyrene is produced from styrene, a known human neurotoxin and animal carcinogen. Styrene has been shown to leech out from packaging under a variety of circumstances. Most notably when in contact with an acidic solution (such as adding lemon to your tea).

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Say No to Styrene

• For the past thirty years, scientists have become increasingly aware of the widespread presence of styrene in our bodies; it has been detected in our fat, in our blood, even in breast milk.

• Even if it has an arrow – no place in Fort Collins to recycle!

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Local Companies

Try to buy local to reduce air pollution from delivery trucks.

Morning Fresh Dairy • - Collect caps, recycle

them, and reimburse schools

• Milk – gets rid of garlic breath

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Plants – Garden Medicine

Weight loss – chili powder

Anxiety – passion flower

Nail fungus – lavender

Allergies – Rosemary

Mental Clarity – blueberries

Hot flashes – spinach, flax seed

Sleep - Spinach Tart Cherry Juice

Good cholesterol - Pumpkin Seeds

Blood pressure –hibiscus Depression – peppers & broccoli

Sunburn – Aloe Vera

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Plants: Anti - Cancer

1. Carotenoids (red, orange, yellow)

Persimmons, Carrots

2. Isothyrathimines - ovarian cancer

Green leafy vegetables: Broccoli, Chard, Parsley

3. Flavonoids

Raspberries and Red Cabbage

Garlic, Onions, Bok Choy

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Dirty Dozen – Buy Organic

• Celery• Peaches• Strawberries• Apples• Blueberries• Nectarines• Bell Peppers• Spinach• Cherries• Kale • Potatoes• Grapes

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Try Your Best……

Healthy sustainable Homes

Program Premise

• Studies conducted by the EPA & CDC

– US Citizens spend 65-90% of their time indoors.

– Indoor air quality is 70% worse than outdoor air quality.

– Citizens are at the greatest environmental risk where they have the greatest control - in their own homes.

Program Premise

• Studies prompted the Surgeon General to initiate a “Call to Action” to Promote Healthy Homes

• Targeting interventions to reduce or eliminate health hazards in the home.

Program Premise

• The City of Fort Collins 2010 and 2011 Air Quality Survey found that one in four homes in the City report they have a family member who has respiratory problems.

• Reducing personal exposure to toxic chemicals is a idea whose time has come.

Healthy sustainable Homes Program

• This program is the City of Fort Collins’ response to these staggering statistics

• An integrated educational and outreach program on home toxic exposure and pollution prevention

• Create awareness necessary to help citizens improve their health and quality of life

• Create awareness about protecting citizens environment in and around their homes

Healthy sustainable Homes

• Free, volunteer driven program to help citizens learn about common pollutants in their home.

• Volunteers received 20 hours of training to familiarize them with identifying common pollutants and home toxic exposures which can be mitigated with low cost or no cost solutions

• Focus initially will be on homes of asthmatic children.

Training Topics

• Biological Contaminants• Mold & Moisture• Air Quality and Ventilation• Carbon Monoxide • Dust and Clutter • Lead • Radon• Asbestos

• Toxicology• Landlord/Tenant Relations• Household Chemicals –

Natural Cleaning• Pesticides & Natural Lawn

Care• Pest Control• Nature Deficit Disorder• Asthma and allergy triggers

Sustainability

• Resources and information will be distributed to homes regarding the following City programs:

– Recycling– Energy Efficiency– Water Efficiency – Transportation Options– Extensive Referral Resource

Objectives

• Reduce the proportion of homes that have moderate or severe physical problems

• Reduce indoor allergen levels

• Increase the proportion of persons living in homes at risk that have an operating radon mitigation system

• Increase the number of new homes constructed with radon-reducing features

• Increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1978 housing that has been tested for the presence of lead-based health hazards

• Decrease the number of homes that have lead based paint hazards

“The connection between the health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.” Florence Nightingale