Understanding Chemical Factors in Health Risks

2- Chemical factors

1- Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced from the incomplete burning of virtually any combustible product. It may accumulate indoors as a result of tobacco smoking, poorly ventilated appliances, and attached garages. Heating without ventilation can be dangerous. In a poorly ventilated space, CO can cause serious illness, or even death

Signs CO poisoning seems at first like flu, but without fever. Signs include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. Prevention: The best way to prevent CO poisoning is to make sure your home has good ventilation. Do not use gas appliances such as stove tops, ovens, or clothes dryers to heat your home

Cigarette smoke Smoking tobacco can cause many health problems for the smoker and for other people exposed to the smoke. Health problems from smoking include: serious lung diseases, such as lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. cancer of the mouth, throat, neck and bladder.

Second-hand smoke is the mixture of smoke that comes from cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, plus the smoke breathed out by the smoker. Second-hand smoke makes smoking dangerous for everyone who lives with a smoker, especially children. It causes the same health problems as does smoking.

Secondhand smoke each year is responsible for: about 3,400 lung cancer deaths in non-smoking adults Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of chemicals produced by the burning of tobacco and the additives. The smoke contains tar, which is made up of more than 4,000 chemicals, including over 60 known to cause cancer.

To stop or help someone stop smoking People who smoke become addicted to a drug in tobacco called nicotine. Without a cigarette, they may feel sick or nervous. As every smoker knows, it is difficult to stop smoking because nicotine is a very addictive drug Telling people DO NOT SMOKE, is rarely successful in helping smokers to stop.

Some ways to help break the addiction and stop smoking include: Exercise daily. Replace smoking with a healthy habit such as drinking a cup of tea or walking. Drink plenty of water to flush nicotine out of the body. Ask for support from friends and family.

3-Pesticides A pesticide is any substance intended to destroy, prevent, or repel pests, such as insects, weeds, fungi, and rodents. Children develop leukemia three to nine times more often when pesticides are used around their homes. Brain tumors and other cancers in children have been linked with exposures to insecticides.

Symptoms Accsociated with Selected Pesticide(s)

Pest control without chemicals For cockroaches, mix boric acid with water to make a thick paste. Add corn flour and make little balls. Leave them around the house, For ants, sprinkle red chili powder, dried peppermint, or crushed cinnamon where they enter. For flies, soak crushed basil leaves in water for 24 hours. Filter and spray onto flies.

Common Dangerous Household Products Disinfectants Cleaning agents & solvents Bleaches Window cleaner Carpet cleaner Oven & drain cleaners Dry-cleaning fluids, spot removers Paint & varnish solvents

Pesticides Emissions from heating or cooling devices Indoor use of charcoal grill Leaks from refrigerator or A/C cooling systems

Workshop Discuss with your group criteria for safety home for children

Video : Safety home for children