Top Five Airborne Threats to Senior Health

Senior citizens have their share of concerns these days, but perhaps the single most important issue they face is health care. With the baby boomer generation reaching retirement age and sweeping changes being proposed for pensions, retirement funding, and health care services, now more than ever senior citizens need to educate themselves on the unique factors affecting their health. One such consideration is indoor air quality (IAQ). Although air quality sometimes takes a back seat to other potential health hazards, experts contend that seniors should be especially concerned about the air they breathe. This article will examine five of the biggest influences on indoor air quality for seniors.

The subjects discussed below are not ranked in order of importance. Some factors will affect seniors more than others depending on the specifics of each individual situation. In fact, smoking is commonly regarded as the number one air quality issue for seniors. The health effects of tobacco smoke are of course well documented. The five concerns below are air quality issues that may be less understood by seniors and the general public. Always contact your regular health care provider if you feel that you are experiencing symptoms from poor IAQ.

Correlations Between Childhood Academic Performance and Indoor Air Quality

For most parents, the academic success of their children is crucial, in that it is the very foundation that a child’s future is built upon. It is because of this, that a child’s ability to attend school on a regular basis is extremely important to their overall academic performance. Many people are unaware of the importance the environment plays in a child’s ability to succeed academically. One factor that can substantially limit a child’s ability to thrive physically and academically is that of poor indoor air quality. It is important to understand the part that indoor air quality plays in our school systems and how to improve it.

There have been numerous case studies and physical evidence that have highlighted the affects of poor IAQ on the respiratory system, and how it contributes to the onset of asthma. “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, asthma is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism.” The evidence indicates that a child’s “overall performance decreases with illnesses or absences from school.” If a child is unable to attend classes or focus while at school, their grades will suffer because of this. Since many school professionals and parents are unaware of how detrimental poor IAQ can be to a child’s health and performance, they may attribute the child’s struggle to some other factor.

Infants and Indoor Air Pollution

For many new mothers, bringing a baby into the world can be an amazing, and yet terrifying, event. It can be scary due to the overwhelming amount of things that can threaten a child’s life in their first 6 months. The reason for this is that during this period of time a baby is growing and maturing very quickly. One of these parts of the body that is growing very rapidly at this time is the lungs. If you are living in a home with poor indoor air quality and have an infant, it can be very damaging to your child’s health. Records of infant mortality rates in the United States around 2005 indicate that respiratory distress in newborns is the 7th most common cause of death.

Poor indoor air quality as a result of Indoor Air Pollution has been rated one of the top five environmental dangers in regards to human health by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). This is especially the case for individuals with comprised immune systems like that of the elderly and, of course, small children. Poor Indoor Air Quality can be the result of several factors, often thanks to inadequate ventilation due to improper construction of buildings by making them air tight to achieve energy efficiency combined with chemical contaminants, also known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These can be emitted from several common household materials, such as paint or carpeting, resulting in poor IAQ . Some of the VOC’s include carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide and many others. With nitrogen dioxide for example, there have been studies conducted that have shown that exposure can cause bronchitis in asthmatic children. For developing lungs, the precursor to childhood asthma can be triggered by several factors, including poor indoor air quality. Finally, the biological contaminants that contribute to poor indoor air quality include: mold, bacteria, mildew, viruses and pollen. Moisture intrusion and stagnant water are the environments where these contaminants fester the easiest. All the above contaminants can cause poor IAQ, most of which cannot be detected by the naked eye.

Gambling Your Health: How Air Quality Inside Casinos Can Make You Sick

When it comes to entertainment, the last thing a person wants to worry about is the possible health risks associated with a given activity. However, it is important to understand the possible health risks associated with leisure activities so that they can either be avoided or decreased. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for example, “indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors,” and much of that time is spent involved in recreation. So it is necessary to understand the effects poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can have on an individual and how such conditions can be improved.

Biological contaminants are part of poor indoor air quality and can contribute to health issues in people who are exposed. Such contaminants can be an even bigger problem in a casino establishing due to the sheer number of people that are present at any given time. Particular individuals, especially the elderly or those who have an existing respiratory condition, are at a high risk of being affected by airborne contaminants. Thus, avoiding high levels of mold in the air is very important. Moisture intrusion is necessary for the growth of black mold. If a building, such as a casino, has existing leaks, the structure can become a prime location for toxic mold to fester. In this kind of situation, it is very important to keep the building properly maintained and to fix any leaks or water intrusion sites as soon as they happen. If mold spores are present and water is added, mold can begin to grow rapidly, even within 48 hours. Those who are affected by black mold exposure will expect to suffer from the following symptoms: scratchy or irritated throat, watery eyes, congested nasal passage, coughing, sneezing, bloody nose, flue-like symptoms, skin sensitivity and rash. Severe reactions can cause damage to the kidneys, immune system, central nervous system or brain, and can even result in death. Not only does water intrusion lead to mold growth, which can cause serious health problems, but mold can also destroy the structural integrity of the building resulting in increased repair costs.