We have provided links to web resources that contain detailed information and solutions for you and your family.
Much of the information comes from the Oregon's Department of Human Services and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as well as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other local and national resources.
Overview of Toxins in the Home
- The National Library of Medicine's Tox Town offers an introduction to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life and in everyday places. Visit the section on homes to learn more about healthy homes, chemicals in the home, and other home safety issues.
- Children's Health Protection Website (EPA) - Get up-to-date information about potential threats to children's environmental health at home and learn about the steps parents can take to protect their children. Scientific data, regulations, and publications are also provided.
Toxic-Free Kids Act
The Toxic-Free Kids Act, passed in 2015, requires manufacturers of children's products sold in Oregon to report products that contain one or more high priority chemicals of concern for children's health, and ultimately remove these chemicals or seek a waiver.
Lead
Lead poisoning can cause learning disabilities, visual-motor problems, lowered intelligence, and stunted growth. Dust from lead-based paint is the main source of lead poisoning, but lead can also be found in lead solder, household plumbing, soil around homes, ceramics or pottery, fishing weights and bullets, and folk medicines.
Drug Labs
Methamphetamine cooks use many toxic chemicals and the cooking process creates a residue of methamphetamine that coats all the surfaces of a property. If labs are not cleaned up properly then the public, and specifically children, are at high risk for coming into contact with these dangerous contaminants.
- What is a meth lab? - Learn about the dangers, the signs to look for, and what to do if you suspect a lab in your neighborhood.
Pesticides
Pesticides can be beneficial, but they can be very dangerous to children if they are not used or stored properly. Learn more about what you can do to reduce exposure in your home.
Mold
Household mold is a environmental irritant that can cause respiratory irritation and can aggravate asthma and cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals and children are at a greater risk. Mold should be removed as soon as it is discovered, but it is important to note that mold rarely causes severe illness and is merely an indication of moisture problems in the home.
Radon
If a significant amount of radon is present in the soil on which your home is built, it can collect in higher-than-average levels in your home. Over time, exposure to high levels of radon increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer.
Drinking water
Learn about the sources of drinking water, how it is treated, and how everyday actions can affect the safety of our water supply.
Asthma
Approximately 64,000 children in Oregon have this chronic lung disease and it is the leading cause of school absences nationwide. Learn more about asthma, what triggers attacks, and how to help your child successfully manage this disease.
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
Children exposed to secondhand smoke miss more days of school every year, are more likely to have asthma, and have a higher rate of respiratory infections. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Indoor Air
Poor indoor air quality can create health problems for both children and adults.
- Indoor Air Quality (EPA) - Learn about the the sources of indoor air pollution, the health effects, and how to improve indoor air quality.
Poison
Many of the products we use in and around our homes can be poisonous and children under the age of 5 are the most likely to be exposed to poisons, but teens and adults are also at risk.
Building materials and consumer products
Many products and materials we use everyday can be toxic to children. Learn about these items and how to use them properly or replace them with safer options.