Housing & Habitability Swimming Pools - Essay Example

Housing and Habitability/Swimming Pools Situation A: Housing and Habitability In many older apartment complexes and homes throughout America, lead-based paint is still present. Exposure to lead-based paint poses a considerable health hazard to all of the occupants of these dwellings, but it is particularly dangerous to young children under the age of six and unborn children. If children handle these chips, they can easily ingest lead just by putting their hands to their mouths (EPA). Furthermore, disturbance of these lead-based paint chips can release particles of lead into the dust and soil in and around a home.

Because of the danger of creating lead dust in the process of removing lead-based paint, the job must be done by professionals, and children and pregnant women should not be present when the paint is being removed (EPA). In a case where the lead-based paint has been chipping away for some time, there is already a risk of long-term exposure. However, both long-term and short-term exposure carries considerable health risks. Exposure to lead affects the brain, the central nervous system, and the blood cells.

Exposure to high levels of lead can lead to convulsions, coma, and even death. Children and fetuses exposed to lead-based paint can experience delays in physical and mental development, lower IQ levels, shortened attention spans, and increased behavioral problems. In addition, children are more vulnerable as lead is easily absorbed into their bodies, and their developing tissues are more sensitive (EPA). In this situation, the children exposed to lead-based paint in this dwelling should have a blood test to determine their level of lead exposure, and the dwelling should be cleared of lead-based paint by professionals (EPA).

The presence of cockroaches in this situation create an additional hazard to the occupants of the dwelling. The antigens released by cockroaches increase the risk to those who suffer from asthma. In addition, cockroaches are carriers of disease-causing germs (AFHH). Steps should be taken to eliminate the cockroaches in this situation, but pesticides, which carry their own human health risks should not be used (AFHH). Water leaks should be corrected, all surfaces should be cleaned, food should be properly stored, and all cracks in the dwelling should be sealed.

In addition, professional exterminators should be called. Situation B: Swimming Pools The use of chlorine in swimming pools has been linked with asthma (Finney). When chlorine is combined with organics such as sweat, dander, and urine, it reacts and produces chloramines, which increase the permeability of the lung epithelium, and it is this condition that has been liked with asthma (Finney). Another risk presented by the chlorinated water in a public swimming pool is the presences of trihalomethanes (THMs), which are known carcinogens, that form when chlorine reacts with organic material (Finney).

Less dangerous symptoms of exposure to chlorinated water are red eyes, skin irritations, and rashes (Finney). In this situation, given the dangers of chlorine use, ozone, or O3 should be considered as a viable option. Initial installation of the system will require more capital outlay; however, long-term savings using O3 should offset these costs as O3 does not denigrate the structure of the pool or rust the ventilation systems as chlorine does (Finney). Ozone is made from oxygen (O2) that is converted through electricity into O3 through the use of an on-site ozone generator.

It is an oxidizing agent that destroys microorganisms, dead algae, organic debris, and byproduct build ups. Since ozone keeps pools cleaner, proper attention must be paid to maintaining the filtration system (Finney). Ozone technology has been used for some time in Europe with great success, and it is now being used in more public pools throughout America. Since Ozone treated pools present none of the health risks that chlorine has, it is a much more viable solution in this situation than chlorine treatment, as it will keep the pool cleaner and provide a much healthier swimming environment, even though the initial costs are higher.

Works Cited"Cockroaches." Alliance For Healthy Homes. 4 March 2006 .Finney, Allan. "Chlorinated Swimming Pools Can cause Asthma in Swimmers." Mainstream Water Solutions. 4 March 2004 .United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. Washington: EPA, 1995. 4 March 2006 .