housing and habitability

Name

Professor

Subject

Date

Housing and Habitability

A . Mold and Lead in houses

1 . You are an environmental health inspector asked to investigate problems at a local apartment complex . There is lead-based paint peeling from the walls , and mold growing on the walls . Summarize the health hazards associated with lead and mold , and describe what may be done to control these two public health problems

Molds naturally exist anywhere . Molds are a group of fungi that composes the mold which is found usually in bread and they can

cause allergies ( Mold . Molds reproduce in the presence of water . After a heavy rain , you can expect to see molds , if an area is not cleaned or disinfected (Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] . But the real danger is that when molds become airborne . Airborne molds that come in large quantity are very harmful and can lead to allergic reactions asthma episodes , and other respiratory problems . If exposure is prolonged it may cause more serious problems like nasal congestion , eye nose irritations and adverse effects to the nervous system (FEMA

Lead , a soft bluish-gray metal , is known to be highly poisonous . Just imagine that it is a substance that is mixed with paint (Washington State Dept . of Labor and Industries . Being exposed to this substance may lead to some health hazards like blood-forming malfunction respiratory and nervous system damage . Lead poisoning is common to children

An article in the web suggested simple ways to get rid of molds in the house . Molds from furniture and walls can be cleaned using household cleaners (FEMA . Regular cleaning of wall is must because wall pastes are potential breeding ground for molds . If cleaning is done , use disinfectants to protect house from returning molds . During cleaning , be sure that you wear proper cleaning material like rubber gloves and dust masks to avoid fumes (FEMA

Another article from the web suggested some simple steps to prevent lead poisoning in homes . Children should be tested and monitored for lead even if they look healthy (Environment Protection Agency [EPA] 1 . It is a good thing if we regularly wash our hands , feeding bottles and pacifiers of babies . Have our house checked for lead hazards . Regular cleaning is another way to fight specially the walls , window sills and places which is exposed to lead hazard . Whenever you have plans for renovations , be sure to take some precautions to avoid lead dusts Belt-sander , propane torch , high temperature heat gun , scraper , or sand ' should be avoided in removing paints which may have lead Lastly , try not to remove the paint , which may contain lead by yourself (EPA 1

B . Ozonation and Chlorination

2 . One of your goals is to protect the health of swimmers at a local recreational pool . Discuss two methods that have been used to treat swimming pool water , ozonation and chlorination . Then , identify the method that would provide the best protection to swimmers and the public 's health . be sure to support your position with evidence from the...