350 A Healthy Home
Health Problems at Home
Our homes are not separate from the environment. They can have many of
the same environmental health problems we find in our communities and
workplaces. When planning a new home or improving the home you live in,
you can protect your health by considering problems caused by how and where
houses are built, how they are furnished, and what work is done at home.
Open eaves and
windows without
screens can let in
mosquitoes carrying
malaria and dengue
(see Chapter 8).
Lead paint flakes, if eaten
or breathed in, damage
the nerves and brain (see
pages 368 to 370).
Carpets and furniture
may contain finishes,
sealants, or glues that are
harmful when touched
or breathed in. Also, they
can be breeding places
for insects.
Electrical wiring
can cause fires
if not properly
installed.
Animals in the house can cause allergies
and asthma (see pages 331 and 357), and
their droppings can cause worm infections
and other illnesses (see Chapter 5).
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012