No one would actually believe that the home can be a source of disease or infections. The home is supposed to be a safe haven where the whole family can be assured of their physical wellbeing. However, in some instances, the home can increase the risk of contracting a disease. Because of this, several precautions should be taken to ensure the home does not become a hub for germs and dangerous bacteria.
The WHO reported that most of the housing related health issues were respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular diseases caused by indoor air pollution. This is followed by communicable diseases that spread because of poor home ventilation. Exposure to toxic household chemicals can also lead to cancer, asthmas, behaviour problems, nervous system damage and liver failure. Here we recommend some ways you can ensure your home doesn’t become a death trap.
No smoking in the house
Exposure to secondary smoke is the reason many children develop lung cancer, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. This is because young children and the elderly have a weaker immune system compared to normal adults and exposure to second hand cigarette smoke is akin to smoking a joint themselves. If anyone in the home smokes, it is best to consider quitting through a systematic program.
Clean up the Dust
Dust is among the most common cause of allergic reactions, hay fever and asthma. In addition to cleaning regularly, you may also want to consider changing old carpets or carpeted areas with newer carpets or get rid of them altogether. You can also opt to have wooden, bamboo or non-vinyl linoleum which are easier to clean and don’t accumulate dust.
Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides
Instead of relying on too much on chemicals to kill off weeds and pests, it is better to rely on more natural organic methods. For example, citronella plants are able to ward off mosquitoes. Additionally , preventive measures should be practiced like pulling out weeds with your hands rather than using a herbicide. Both pesticides and herbicides can affect the mental developments of children as well as their respiratory health.
Beware of Peeling Paint
Peeling paint can release two types of dangerous chemical, namely Radon and Lead. Lead is extremely poisonous and can cause brain damage to developing foetuses and Radon can cause Lung cancer. If your paint is peeling, especially if your house was built before the 1990s, it is best to chip off the whole area and repaint it with modern certified non-toxic paint.
Filter Your Water
Water contains all sorts of pollutants and possibly germs as well. These pollutants include lead, fertilizer and industrial chemicals. Installing a filter will more or less remove the majority of these chemicals. Don’t forget to boil any water you take from a filtered tap as this will kill the germs which can spread illnesses like meningitis and typhoid