It was an exciting season of new births in the TESTOR office. Staff on maternity/paternity leave sent insanely cute pics of little soft faces and with all this I am powerfully reminded of why we do what we do. Our children’s developing bodies must have clean water, air and food to grow into healthy, strong adults.
TESTOR’s commitment is to help you keep your loved ones safe. We can certainly come and perform comprehensive or targeted testing, but we also want you to be aware of the 10 actions that will reduce environmental risks at home.
It is widely acknowledged that even tiny amounts of lead can seriously affect the development of a child’s brain and other organs. Lead paint and dust can be tracked throughout homes and cover the areas where babies roll, crawl and toddle around to explore their environment by touching and tasting.
The awareness of lead in the water is high after all the publicity of the Flint, Michigan, disaster, but please remember that even if the water coming to you from your city is clean and healthy, it can become contaminated in your pipes if they are old and corroded. Testing water for lead is straightforward. Some municipalities, such as New York City, provide free testing kits upon request to renters and individual home owners.
- Repair/Repaint any loose or flaky paint
- Institute a ‘shoes off at the door’ policy
- Wash your (and your baby’s) hands frequently
- Get a free water testing kit from your town or municipality
Pretty much everyone knows that mold can cause respiratory problems and other allergic reactions but recent studies are also indicating a potential link between early mold exposure to the development of asthma in some children. If you have children, pregnant women or anyone who is immunocompromised living in your home you should take these easy steps to maintain a healthy house.
- Maintain good ventilation throughout the house
- Fix any leaky taps or pipes if you’re good at that sort of thing, otherwise call a professional
- Get a dehumidifier for any rooms that seem damp
- Eliminate all clutter that encourages mold growth such as cardboard and paper
Breathing abrasive asbestos fibers can be deadly. Luckily, if asbestos containing materials, such as flooring and pipe insulation are not damaged or impacted, they can be perfectly safe and it’s often best to just leave them alone. However, if they are damaged or exposed it is possible to cover or wrap the area yourself (if you are confident to do this properly), otherwise it is best to call a licensed professional.
- Educate yourself on what products often contain Asbestos with this guide from the EPA
- Never start a renovation (even a little repair) without knowing the make-up of the materials in your home
Children are precious. Take the right steps to keep them healthy and happy.