1. Guide to Reducing Asthma Symptoms & Creating A Healthy “Green” Home For Residents of Melrose Commons Site V Instructor Packet

2. Table of Contents: What is Asthma Common Indoor Asthma Triggers Dust/Dust Mite Smoke Animal fur Mold/ Mildew Cockroaches Some chemicals products Green Cleaning Guidelines Healthy & Green Living Tips Objective of this Guide : To reduce environmental asthma triggers and promote a healthy “green ” home.

3. What is Asthma?  Asthma is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe because the lining of the airways swells.  Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest tightness.  Triggers are things that cause asthma symptoms to worsen.  Asthma cannot be cured, but it can be controlled by reducing your exposure to asthma triggers.

4. Common indoor triggers: Dust Animal fur Cockroaches Mold Tobacco and other smoke Some chemicals products Other common triggers: Exercise Viral infections (Colds and Flu) Air pollution Pollen Emotions (laughing, crying, yelling, anxiety) Heart burn Asthma Triggers

5. Triggers are different for each person. Allergy testing at a doctor’s office may be helpful. Ask your doctor for an asthma action plan. Keep a peak flow meter log to monitor how triggers and medication affect asthma. Know your Asthma Triggers

6. Wipe feet on a quality doormat when entering. oMake sure everyone, including kids, uses the mat. oVacuum/clean the backside of the mat once a month. Take shoes off as soon as you enter the door. oStore the shoes near the doorway. Dust  Dust can make asthma worse when breathed into the lungs.  All homes have dust. Preventing Dust – Before Entering

7. Dusting  Dusting can be done with a micro-fiber dust cloth.  Use a damp dust cloth on vinyl furniture  Dust articles higher up from the floor first.  If needed, wear a mask when dusting. Removing Dust Vacuuming  Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a double-layered bag.

8. Dust Mites are insects that are so small you can’t see them. They live in carpets, curtains, bedding, house dust and upholstered furniture. Avoid installing drapes and wall to wall carpets. Avoid humidifiers – dust mites need moisture to grow. Avoiding Dust Mites Center for Disease Control and Prevention

9. Do wash bedding materials weekly in hot (130°F) water. Dry on hot cycle. Do put allergy control covers on the mattress and pillows. Do wash stuffed animals each month or freeze them for 48 hours. Do keep stuffed animals out of the child’s sleeping area. Avoiding Dust Mites Green Tips! To save energy, return the temperature back to a cold or warm setting after washing bedding. After drying clothes, clean the lint out of the dryer’s lint filter. This will help the dryer work better.

10. Tobacco is an indoor pollutant and is not permitted in the building. If someone in the home does smoke: oWear a different jacket that is only worn outside the home when smoking. oWash hands after smoking. oNo smoking in cars. Avoid smoke produced by candles, wood stoves and fireplaces. Tobacco And Other Smoke

11. Animal Fur Pets are not permitted in the apartment.  Many pets, including dogs, cats and birds produce substances that can trigger asthma (allergens).  These allergens include flakes from the skin (dander) and substances in the saliva, feces and urine.  If you are allergic, and handle pets with fur:  Make sure to wash your hands  Take off shoes when entering the home  Change clothes

12. Mold Exposure to some molds can cause asthma and can trigger asthma attacks. Like dust mites, molds require moisture to grow. Some common sources of moisture: Leaking pipes Bathrooms and kitchens without enough air flow Fix any plumbing leaks right away. Avoid humidifiers.

13. Cleaning Mold/Mildew oCleaning bathroom and other damp areas weekly can prevent mold problems from developing. oCleanable surfaces with mold should be washed with a detergent and water solution. oWear gloves and mask when cleaning. oItems too moldy to clean should be thrown out. oNotify building management if there is a mold problem. Green Tips! Decrease shower time to decrease the chance of mold and to save energy. Don’t leave sink running any longer than needed.

14. Pests Cockroaches are common indoor pests found in all types of homes. Substances found in the roaches’ feces, saliva, eggs and skin shedding can set off allergies and asthma. Cockroaches Rodents Mouse and rat (rodent) urine and hair contain allergens that can cause or trigger asthma symptoms. Courtesy of the CDC Public Health Image Library

15. Cockroach and Rodent Prevention Store food in sealed containers. Keep garbage in a closed container. Clean dishes up after use or place them in soapy water. Rinse out recyclable bottles and cans before placing them into the recycling bin. Clean up food crumbs and spills right away. Repair leaky faucets and pipes.

16. Cockroach and Rodent Prevention Remove clutter, to reduce places where roaches hide (ex: empty boxes, cans, bottles, bags, newspapers). Seal cracks/crevices in the walls. Green Tips! Remove clutter by recycling newspapers, cardboard, bags and bottles. Clean dust off refrigerator coils twice a year. Pull refrigerator out to sweep and dust behind it.

17. If pests are detected: Contact building management staff to help you. Do Not use spray pesticides. Do Not buy pesticides from street vendors. Keep all pesticides away from children. Safer alternatives: Use traps for rodents. Use boric acid and bait stations for cockroaches. Boric acid is a dust sold in a bottle with a tip for applying it in cracks. Seal the crack afterwards with caulk.

18. Household Products Many chemicals in commercial cleaners with strong odors can worsen asthma symptoms. Avoid products labeled “Danger—Poison”, “Corrosive”, “Severely Irritating,” “Highly Flammable” or “Highly Combustible”. Products with “Warning” or “Caution” labels are also dangerous. Do NOT mix different cleaning products together!

19. Products to Avoid Chlorine bleach OR Ammonia oIf you absolutely need to use either one, make sure it is diluted. oNEVER MIX CHLORINE BLEACH AND AMMONIA TOGETHER! Aerosols/ Spray cans oThese substances can contribute to indoor air quality problems.

20. Household Products o Scented Products oScented products may have substances that can disrupt “hormones” and effect the way the body grows. oInstead, look for unscented products, including soaps, lotions and detergents. o Avoid Air fresheners/Plug-ins Green Tip! - Choose laundry detergent that is labeled “phosphate-free”, “biodegradable” and/or “non- toxic.”

21. Household Products Moth balls oStore wool items in plastic bags or airtight containers instead. oIf there is a moth problem, kill eggs by washing clothing in hot water. oYou can also put them in the freezer for a few days. Glues, adhesives, paints oAvoid household products with strong odors. oThese often contain “ volatile organic compounds” (VOCs). oChoose products that are labeled “low-VOC”, “non- toxic” and/or biodegradable.

22. Green Cleaning Guidelines Cleaning can reduce exposure to allergens from dust mites, roaches, pets and molds. The most important rooms to clean are rooms where people spend the most time, especially the bedroom. Make your own cleaning products or look for green cleaning products. It can sometimes be helpful to look for products with a Design for Environment seal or a Green Seal on the label.

23. o0o0 Green Cleaning Guidelines Sample “Green” products : Baking soda – good general cleaner Washing soda – related to baking soda but stronger White vinegar – mild acid to cut grease Lemon Juice – acid to cut grease Hydrogen Peroxide – disinfectant Liquid castile soap (a mild soap made of olive oil and sodium hydroxide) Scouring pad Mop Cotton washcloth/sponge/rag Microfiber cloth Newspapers Spray bottle

24. Healthy & Green Living is Good for the Environment Burn calories – not electricity/gas Use the stairs rather than the elevator Try walking rather than taking a car or bus Eat less meat Meat production has high energy costs Fill your plate with fruits and vegetables Drink tap water rather than bottled/sugary drinks Less packaging is better and less sugar is better for your health Eat local produce rather than packaged/processed foods Less packaging is better and fresh foods are better for your body

25. The educational materials were funded by Enterprise Communities Green Communities. This education was also provided by the Department of Preventive Medicine in the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and by the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Center. Information was adapted from the following references: epa.gov nyc.gov kingcounty.gov klickitatcounty.org beyondpesticides.org activelivingresearch.com greenseal.org Healthy Child Healthy World Enterprise Green Communities acaai.org References