Home > Natural Resources & Water Quality > Water Quality Projects > Healthy Homes
Healthy Homes
Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) faculty developed and education MD citizens about the benefits of Healthy Homes. Health hazards in housing include those that cause and contribute to asthma (dust allergens, molds and pests), toxic materials (lead, asbestos, pesticides and household products, dangerous gases (carbon monoxide and radon) and other related safety and health concerns. MD’s rate of child asthma prevalence is 9.8% of the population, which is higher than the 8.1% national average. There are no preventive measures or cure for asthma; however two science-based proven management strategies are taking medication and avoiding contact with environmental “triggers” for asthma. These ‘triggers’ are what we must minimize in our built environments to reduce these negative outcomes. The Goals of the Healthy Homes program are to ultimately improve health outcomes of Maryland citizens through improved air and water quality in our built environments, as well as increase adoption of best practices as it relates to health and safety issues.
Strategies include: 1) Provide current science-based information to Maryland citizens that will heighten awareness of the significant impact of poor indoor air quality on health outcomes and quality of life, especially for children and other vulnerable populations; 2) offer learning opportunities that will result in Maryland citizens identifying health hazards in the built environment such as toxic materials (lead, asbestos, pesticide and household products), dangerous gases (carbon monoxide and radon) and hazards that cause and contribute to asthma (dust allergens, molds, and pests) and other safety and health concerns; 3) provide strategies for minimizing or eliminating health hazards in the built environment; 4) through educational programs, exhibits, and media efforts, engage Maryland citizens in the process of making their homes safer by making informed, intentional purchases that will result in healthier homes, using safe “green” cleaning products to keep homes clean and free from potential toxins, and following other recommended procedures for ensuring a healthy home; 5) participate in research projects that will contribute new knowledge to this growing area; and 6) have developed partnerships with National Center for Healthy Homes, The Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, Johns Hopkins University, and The University of Maryland School of Public Health.
For more information, contact Patsy Ezell , Assistant Director, Family & Consumer Sciences
Last updated: 04/8/2009
What do Katie O'Malley, cover crops, and onthefarmradio.com have in common?
Answer: The Grow It Eat It Campaign! Onthefarmradio.com, promotes cover crops and the Grow It Eat It campaign with Katie O'Malley's Kitchen Garden. - posted Nov 19, 2009
MDA features Grow It Eat It in November eNewsletter.
Maryland's 1st Lady Katie O'Malley plants a cover crop in her kitchen garden with the help of Master Gardeners as part of the Grow It Eat It campaign. - posted Nov 17, 2009
General Forestry Course
Interested in learning about the trees in your woodlot, and how to protect them from insects and pests? Are you interested in managing your forest for wildlife? These topics and more are covered in the General Forestry Course. - posted Nov 16, 2009
