1. Healthy & Happy People
= Healthy Planet
Dr Rosemarie Russo, Sustainability Coordinator
Mary Pat Aardrup, Healthy Homes
11/16/12 1

2. Happiest Countries
Name the top three happiest
countries?
11/16/12 2

3. Happiest Countries
Costa Rica
Denmark
Iceland
Switzerland
Finland
Mexico
Norway
Canada
Panama
Sweden
11/16/12 3

4. Happiness
Many studies find that
human happiness
depends on three key
elements:
good health,
access to education,
and relative wealth.
11/16/12 4

5. Climate Change and Health
• Warmer temperatures lead to greater
concentrations of ground-level ozone, which
forms on hot, sunny days when pollution from
cars and other sources mix.
• OZONE can damage lung tissue, increase
respiratory and heart disease, and even lead to
death. The most modest increases in smog can
cause asthma in children.
11/16/12 5

6. Climate Change and
Allergies/Asthma
• Pollen is likely to
increase as temperatures
and carbon dioxide levels
rise. A doubling of the
atmospheric carbon
dioxide levels stimulated
ragweed-pollen
production by more than
50%.
• Another study, showed
ragweed grew faster,
flowered earlier, and
produced significantly
more pollen in urban
locations. 6
11/16/12

7. Children
• Their airways are smaller;
• They are more active and breathe 2 to 3 times
harder and deeper than adults;
• They spend more time on the ground and have
more hand to mouth transfers.
11/16/12 7

8. Energy Reduction & Clean Air
• 2010 climate mitigation measures also reduced air pollution
by:
– 127 tons of NOx
– 47 tons of sulfur dioxide ; and
– un-quantified amounts of VOCs
11/16/12 8

9. Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs)
• VOC is the “new car smell.”
• In the home, new carpeting, wood paneling,
fresh paint, furniture, adhesives, and other
household items that are made with
chemicals give off vapors (VOCs).
• VOCs can also come from some room
fresheners, deodorants, and other products.
VOCs are a health concern because they can
trigger asthma, cause throat irritation, cause
headaches, and damage the liver and
nervous system.
• Spider plants love VOCs …….
11/16/12 9

10. Health & Safety Tips
• Average VOCs levels
can be up to 15X Check the indoor air quality
higher indoors at the in your home or office.
workplace causing
health effects, lower Buy low or no VOC paints.
productivity, or
increased
absenteeism.
11/16/12 10

11. Household Cleaners
• The average American uses 40 lbs. of unsafe
household cleaners each year. Multiply that
number by millions American and the effect is
significant.
Examples: Commercial dish detergent, hand
washing (naphtha or complex phosphates)
Toxicity - Naphtha is a central nervous
depressant.
Environment – Phosphates cause
algae blooms.
11/16/12 11
Read more: Clean and Green (1994) Ceres Press: New York.

12. Alternative Cleaners
Disinfectant Furniture Polish
• 1 teaspoon borax, 2 • ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup
tablespoon vinegar, ¼ vinegar, drop or two
teaspoon vegetable-oil lavender or lemon.
based liquid soap and 2
cups very hot water.
• Tea Tree Oil – full
spectrum fungicide and
anti-bacterial
www.ewg.org
11/16/12 12

13. Simplify Your Household
Products
• Seltzer
– Rinse hair (i.e.
frizz)
– Carpet stains
• Vinegar
- Cutting boards
• Olive Oil
– Brittle hair
11/16/12 13

14. Purchasing
Each year, the average
American throws away
about 100 polystyrene foam
cups, each expected to last
more than 500 years.
Polystyrene is produced
from styrene, a known
human neurotoxin and
animal carcinogen. Styrene
has been shown to leech
out from packaging under a
variety of circumstances.
Most notably when in
contact with an acidic
solution (such as adding
lemon to your tea).
11/16/12 14

15. Say No to Styrene
• For the past thirty years,
scientists have become
increasingly aware of the
widespread presence of
styrene in our bodies; it has
been detected in our fat, in
our blood, even in breast
milk.
• Even if it has an arrow – no
place in Fort Collins to
recycle!
11/16/12 15

16. Local Companies
Try to buy local to reduce air
pollution from delivery
trucks.
Morning Fresh Dairy
• - Collect caps, recycle
them, and reimburse
schools
• Milk – gets rid of garlic
breath
11/16/12 16

17. Plants – Garden Medicine
Weight loss – chili powder
Anxiety – passion flower
Nail fungus – lavender
Allergies – Rosemary
Mental Clarity – blueberries
Hot flashes – spinach, flax seed
Sleep - Spinach
Tart Cherry Juice
Good cholesterol - Pumpkin Seeds
Blood pressure –hibiscus
Depression – peppers & broccoli
Sunburn – Aloe Vera
11/16/12 17

18. Plants: Anti - Cancer
1. Carotenoids (red, orange, yellow)
Persimmons, Carrots
2. Isothyrathimines - ovarian cancer
Green leafy vegetables: Broccoli, Chard, Parsley
3. Flavonoids
Raspberries and Red Cabbage
Garlic, Onions, Bok Choy
11/16/12 18

19. Dirty Dozen – Buy Organic
• Celery
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Nectarines
• Bell Peppers
• Spinach
• Cherries
• Kale
• Potatoes
• Grapes
11/16/12 19

20. Try Your Best……
11/16/12 20

21. Healthy sustainable Homes

22. Program Premise
• Studies conducted by the EPA & CDC
– US Citizens spend 65-90% of their time indoors.
– Indoor air quality is 70% worse than outdoor air quality.
– Citizens are at the greatest environmental risk where
they have the greatest control - in their own homes.

23. Program Premise
• Studies prompted the Surgeon General to initiate a
“Call to Action” to Promote Healthy Homes
• Targeting interventions to reduce or eliminate
health hazards in the home.

24. Program Premise
• The City of Fort Collins 2010 and 2011 Air Quality
Survey found that one in four homes in the City
report they have a family member who has
respiratory problems.
• Reducing personal exposure to toxic chemicals is a
idea whose time has come.

25. Healthy sustainable Homes
Program
• This program is the City of Fort Collins’ response to these
staggering statistics
• An integrated educational and outreach program on home
toxic exposure and pollution prevention
• Create awareness necessary to help citizens improve their
health and quality of life
• Create awareness about protecting citizens environment in
and around their homes

26. Healthy sustainable Homes
• Free, volunteer driven program to help citizens learn about
common pollutants in their home.
• Volunteers received 20 hours of training to familiarize them
with identifying common pollutants and home toxic
exposures which can be mitigated with low cost or no cost
solutions
• Focus initially will be on homes of asthmatic children.

27. Training Topics
• Biological Contaminants • Toxicology
• Mold & Moisture • Landlord/Tenant Relations
• Air Quality and Ventilation • Household Chemicals –
• Carbon Monoxide Natural Cleaning
• Dust and Clutter • Pesticides & Natural Lawn
• Care
Lead
• • Pest Control
Radon
• Nature Deficit Disorder
• Asbestos
• Asthma and allergy triggers

28. Sustainability
• Resources and information will be distributed to
homes regarding the following City programs:
– Recycling
– Energy Efficiency
– Water Efficiency
– Transportation Options
– Extensive Referral Resource

29. Objectives
• Reduce the proportion of homes that have moderate or severe physical
problems
• Reduce indoor allergen levels
• Increase the proportion of persons living in homes at risk that have an
operating radon mitigation system
• Increase the number of new homes constructed with radon-reducing
features
• Increase the proportion of persons living in pre-1978 housing that has
been tested for the presence of lead-based health hazards
• Decrease the number of homes that have lead based paint hazards

30. “The connection between the health and the
dwelling of the population is one of the most
important that exists.”
Florence Nightingale