Mansel A Nelson Tribal Environmental Education Outreach Program Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Northern Arizona University nau.edu/iaqtc

Indoor Air in Tribal Communities nau.edu/iaqtc Indoor Air Quality Assessment at Tohono O’Odham Introduction to Our Lungs Healthy Homes Healthy Schools Healthy Communities Special Topics Asthma Radon Mold

Our Lungs nau.edu/iaqtc Our lungs are directly connected to the environment. People breath continuously (Breathing is NOT optional) Oxygen & carbon-dioxide pass through very thin walls of alveoli But, any gas (poisonous ones, too) can pass through alveoli walls And, very small particles can also pass through alveoli walls

Cardiovascular Connection Gases and small particles distributed widely after entering bloodstream If lungs are not functioning properly, heart must work harder

Healthy Homes nau.edu/iaqtc

An Ordinary House A Chemical House TVs & Computers Personal Care/Cosmetics Cleaning Products & Pesticides Flooring Furniture Carpeting Furniture Automobile

Air Pollution Levels in Homes Pollution inside typical home 2–5x worse than outdoors Levels may be 1,000x background outdoor after various activities Indoor air pollution one of top 5 most-serious environmental risks to public health Fifty percent (50%) of all illnesses traced back to home

Sources of Pollutants Average American household uses 40 lbs of chemicals each year Average household stores more than 60 hazardous products Loaded with fragrances and petroleum- distilled chemicals Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Pollutants – Air Fresheners Interfere with ability to smell by way of nerve- deadening agent Coat nasal passages with undetectable oil film Cover up one smell with another (Rarely) break down offensive odor Air fresheners do little to freshen the air

Healthy Schools nau.edu/iaqtc Promote a healthy learning environment at your school to reduce absenteeism, improve test scores and enhance student and staff productivity.

What are pollutant sources in tribal schools? People - everyone is a source of pollutants Personal care products Students & staff with communicable diseases Radon Classroom pets Excess moisture leading to mold Dry-erase markers and chalk Cleaning materials Odors from paint, caulk, and adhesives Insects and other pests Odors from trash Outdoor pollutants nau.edu/iaqtc

What is the EPA IAQ TfS Program? nau.edu/iaqtc IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit l G uides & Check lists for: IAQ Coordinator Teachers Administrators Maintenance staff Health staff Video Collection: Action plan Ventilation basics Walk through guide

Healthy Communities Improve health in communities related to air quality Reduce exposure to cigarette smoke nau.edu/iaqtc

Leading Cause of Lung Cancer Smoking is leading cause of lung cancer Causes an estimated 160,000 deaths in the U.S. every year (American Cancer Society, 2004 Harms nearly every bodily organ Causing many diseases, degrades health Estimated 438,000 deaths (nearly 1 of 5 deaths) each year in U.S. More than by all deaths from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined

Surgeon General Report Second-Hand Smoke Millions of Americans, children and adults, still exposed to second-hand smoke Second-hand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects Cardiovascular system and causes Coronary heart disease Lung cancer

Surgeon General Report Second-Hand Smoke The scientific evidence indicates there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke

Surgeon General Report Second-Hand Smoke Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers Following actions DO Not protect nonsmokers Separating smokers from nonsmokers Cleaning the air Ventilating buildings

Asthma in Tribal Communities Protecting the health of the next generation. nau.edu/iaqtc 12% of people living in tribal communities Compared to the current national average of 7% % of American Indian/Alaska Native children Compared to 8.9% of children in the U.S. 2 1 CDC. Surveillance for asthma---United States, In: CDC Surveillance Summaries (March 29). MMWR 2002;51(No. SS- 1). 2 Asthma Prevalence Among US Children in Underrepresented Minority Populations: American Indian/Alaska Native, Chinese, Filipino, and Asian Indian. Brim, Rudd, Funk, and Callahan. PEDIATRICS: 122(1). July 2008, pp. e217-e222.

Asthma Many potential triggers are air pollutants Inflammation of airways Blocking, narrowing airways, mucous nau.edu/iaqtc

What makes Asthma Worse? Allergens such as: Dust mites Cockroaches Furred and feathered animals Pollens (grass and trees) Molds (indoor and outdoors) Nitrogen dioxide

nau.edu/iaqtc What makes Asthma Worse? Irritants such as: Environmental tobacco smoke Air pollution including wood smoke Scented products Strong fumes or odors

Radon Radioactive gas Radon in air is ubiquitous Found in outdoor air and indoor air of buildings of all kinds No known safe level of radon

Radon “Daughters” Radon, Polonium, Lead, Bismuth, and Polonium have short half-lives Results in several exposures in a short time

Radon Testing Radon test kits for tribal communities can be ordered online at

Radon Mitigation p

Mold nau.edu/iaqtc

Mold Molds live in the soil, on plants, on dead or decaying organic matter Outdoors - breaks down leaves, wood, plant debris Indoors - air pollution and destroys buildings

nau.edu/iaqtc Mold Basics - Health People have lots of different reactions to mold Symptoms can include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints Molds can be found almost anywhere

nau.edu/iaqtc Mold Basics - Cleaning Mold growth begins within hours of getting wet Protect staff and building occupants during cleanup Clean up the mold and eliminate sources of moisture Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent, and dry completely Absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles may need to be replaced cleaningnetwork.com

nau.edu/iaqtc Resources from ITEP Air Quality Outreach Program (nau.edu/eeop) Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities (IAQTC) Technical Assistance Web resources (nau.edu/iaqtc) Radon Testing (nau.edu/iaqtc) American Indian Air Quality Training Program (nau.edu/itep)