From designer kitchens to burglar alarms, we strive to make our homes both comfortable and safe.
Turns out, though, that there’s a slew of potential home-based threats to our well-being that we’re either unaware of or simply ignore. Some we unwittingly invite into our homes; others invade. Here’s a round-up and some solutions.
Noise
This is a pervasive threat in a world seemingly addicted to loud activity.
According to the Canadian Hearing Society, hearing damage starts with exposure to 85 decibels (dB) for eight hours or more per day, while regular exposure to 110 dB for longer than one minute a day risks permanent hearing loss.
A refrigerator averages 40 dB, an electric razor 85, and a power saw 110; squeeze toys can hit a painful 135.
Distance from the noise also affects hearing damage.
When buying household appliances, look for the noise rating, advises Toronto-based audiologist Beverley Wolfe. “You want it to be well below 85 decibels so (that) if there are other sounds turned up, like music or the TV, that people listen to when they’re (doing household chores) they’re not so loud they’ll damage your hearing.”
Wolfe, who recommends products such as the Rowenta line of low-noise vacuum cleaners, adds that excessive noise is correlated to such ills as increased blood pressure and even poor sleep.
For tips on creating a quieter home, including adding cushions, curtains and wall coverings to absorb sound, visit noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/parents/pages/athome.aspx.
Light
Electric light, made practical by Thomas Edison less than 150 years ago, has massively impacted our natural circadian rhythm (the regulation of our sleeping habits to the rising and setting of the sun).
That’s not necessarily a good thing, according to an increasing body of research.
“There’s no question of the effects on hormones and glycemic levels,” says Richard Stevens. He teaches in the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and was a major contributor to a 2012 report to the American Medical Association on the health effects of nighttime lighting.
Such lighting suppresses the sleep-cycle hormone melatonin, according to the report. Outcomes include sleep disorders, obesity and diabetes. Circumstantial evidence linking artificial light and breast cancer is also growing, says Stevens.
He suggests darkening your bedroom for a sound night’s sleep and using as dim a bulb as possible for bedtime reading.
CFL bulbs are among the worst offenders, Stevens says, because their wavelength is primarily blue, which our bodies associate with morning (reds and greens predominate as the day goes by). Incandescent bulbs are better but banned in Canada and elsewhere. For now, LED lights may be the best overall bet for both lifespan and diversity of wavelength. For a guide to buying LED bulbs, visit homedepot.com/c/led_light_bulbs_energy_efficient_way_to_light_your_home_HT_BG_EL).
A note: Computer screens typically throw a blue light. If you use yours a lot at night, download the free software f.lux. It reduces the blue as the day progresses, and I’ve found it makes a big difference, especially on eye strain.
Radon
Exposure to radon, a naturally occurring gas that typically enters homes through cracks in the foundation, is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, according to the Canadian Cancer Society.
There are hot spots across the country, including some areas of Kanata and Carp, says Neil Card of Barrhaven Home Inspectors Ottawa. He’s certified to test for radon gas under the Canadian-National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) and other programs.
“But you can’t go just by area; you have to go house by house,” Card says. “One house can test at 400 becquerels (the standard used to measure radon gas) and the one next to it at 50. It depends on cracks in the foundation, how the soil was broken up during construction.”
Health Canada recommends remediation if the indoor radon level exceeds 200 Bq/m3. That involves a simple exhaust system and costs about $2,500 for a retrofit. If you have a new home, it may already have a rough-in for radon elimination, and if your home exceeds the Health Canada limit of 200 Bq/m3, your Tarion warranty will cover mitigation costs for seven years with some limits depending on the age of the house.
There’s little evidence, incidentally, that granite countertops emit dangerous levels of radon.
Household radon can be tested by hiring a professional or purchasing a DIY kit. For more information, visit the City of Ottawa website.
Mould
We Canadians spend up to 90 per cent of our time indoors, according to Health Canada. If your home has mould — and it’s hard to avoid the stuff, which grows on everything from food to damp building materials — that could be a lot of time breathing spores that may incite respiratory irritation, allergies and a worsening of existing asthma.
Ottawa home inspector Peter Weeks says common mould areas include the underside of roof sheathing in inadequately ventilated attics (the mould can damage the sheathing), beneath kitchen sinks where a plumbing leak has gone undetected, and basement drywall where dampness often exists.
“Drywall is a great food for mould,” he says.
Weeks cautions that while some moulds can be tackled with commercial or homemade cleaning products, the unsightly growth can be hazardous and very difficult to remove completely. Hiring a professional contractor with experience in mould removal and remediation makes sense in complex situations.
For a guide to detecting, removing and preventing household mould, visit epa.gov/mold/index.html.
Other nasty stuff
Pressed wood found in much cabinetry and less-expensive furniture can off-gas formaldehyde, a potential respiratory tract irritant and possible provoker of allergies, especially in children, according to Health Canada.
Formaldehyde may also be found in carpet adhesives, wallpaper and other products.
To reduce off-gassing risks, Health Canada’s recommendations include purchasing pressed-wood products with a plastic laminate or coating on all sides, or sealing them yourself when you get them home.
“Good mechanical ventilation from HRVs and electronic air cleaners on furnaces can make a big difference,” adds Matthew Sachs of Urbandale Construction.
For more information on indoor air quality, visit hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/air/in/poll/index-eng.php.
Other potential dangers (don’t despair: these are all remediable!) range from lead-based paint, which is common in homes built before 1960 and especially hazardous to children, to household chemical products. Health Canada says the latter are among the top products responsible for injuries and deaths in children under age five.
For information on lead-based paint and household chemicals, visit the Health Canada website.
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