DELAWARE HEALTHY HOMES SUMMIT Children s Health & The Indoor Environment CLAYTON HALL, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE NEWARK, DELAWARE JUNE 5, 2012
Healthy Homes, Healthy Children, Healthy Future Presentation by Meg Maley, RN, BSN
Delaware Cancer Consortium Accomplishments: Model Treatment program Over 1,000 people have received cancer treatment services through the Delaware Cancer Treatment Program Delaware is the only state in the nation that pays for cancer treatment of the uninsured for up to 24 months
Delaware Cancer Consortium Accomplishments: Screening statistics: Over 30,000 people screened for breast cancer through Screening for Life Over 20,000 people screened for cervical cancer through Screening for Life Over 3,000 people screened for colorectal cancer (colonoscopy) through Screening for Life
Delaware Cancer Consortium Accomplishments: Delaware has one of highest state cancer screening rates for Colorectal, Breast and Cervical cancers Delaware has essentially eliminated the gender and racial gap in colorectal cancer screening Delaware s colorectal cancer incidence rate continues to fall at a faster rate than the U.S Delaware's all site cancer death rate is declining faster than the national rate
Delaware Cancer Consortium Accomplishments: Over 30,000 people have enrolled in the Delaware Smoking Quit-line. The Delaware Cancer Registry is one of the best in the nation Has been awarded gold standard certification by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries for the seventh consecutive year. The Division of Public Health have investigated statewide incidence patterns for seven environmentally based cancers.
Why is the Delaware Cancer Consortium funding a Healthy Homes Summit? What s the connection?
Why are healthy homes important to us? There are more than 6 million housing units with severe or moderate deficiencies in the United States.
Residents of substandard housing are at increased risk for exposure to: Lead Carbon Monoxide Mold Cockroaches Dust Mites Mice Rats Pesticide Residues Tobacco Smoke Combustion Gases Radon Rat Bites Fires Falls
Health problems related to housing conditions Asthma Allergies Brain damage Behavior & learning problems Lung cancer Injuries Poisonings
Why are healthy homes important to us? Homes can affect health both physically and mentally. Young children spend as much as 70% of their time inside their homes.
Children Are NOT Little Adults Developing human beings in the womb and through puberty can be uniquely vulnerable to environmental toxicants, depending on the substance and the exposure situation.
Children may have greater exposures to environmental toxicants than adults Pound for pound of body weight, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air than adults.
Children s typical hand-to-mouth behavior increases their ingestion of any toxicants in dust or soil.
Toxins Harm Kids the Most Child developmental disorders Low birth weight Asthma Adult chronic diseases Obesity Cancer
Health Hazards in the Home Asthma Triggers Dust mites can cause asthma to develop, and cats, dogs, cockroaches, mice, dust mites, tobacco smoke and molds can trigger asthma attacks. Asthma rates are 40-50% higher among minority children in U.S. cities.. Chemical Exposure Children are vulnerable to toxins found in a home. Some toxins could make you sick, and even cause cancer. Chemicals can cause liver, kidney, & brain damage. Air pollution can be up to 70 times higher indoors
Health Hazards in the Home Lead Lead in paint, dust and soil can cause lead poisoning that can lower IQ, as well as cause behavioral issues and learning problems in children. And even result in death. Radon Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the ground into a house. Radon can cause lung cancer. There are about 20,000 deaths in the USA yearly from radon. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide can build up in a house if a furnace isn t working right or an un-ventilated gas heater is used. High levels of carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, confusion and death.
Health Hazards in the Home Mold Mold in damp indoor environments is associated with nose and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing and asthma z symptoms. Some people can develop pneumonia if they are exposed to mold. Injuries in the Home Falls, poisonings, fires, burns, choking and suffocation are the top causes of injuries in the home.
Health Problems from Pesticides Health effects associated with pesticides include: Eye, nose, throat irritation Skin rashes, stomach cramps, nausea Central nervous system damage Kidney damage Increased risk of cancers
Pesticides and Poisonings Almost half of all households with children under five stored pesticides within reach of children. Poison Control Centers report over 150,000 cases of pesticide poisoning each year.
Healthy Homes, Healthy Children, Healthy Future YOU can make a difference in the lives of children and their families with the knowledge gained at today s conference.
The End How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world ~Anne Frank