Tama County Public Health offers

Home Environmental Safety Inspections

Lee Wiges, Tama County Environmentalist has announced the availability of Environmental Home Safety Inspections to the residents of Tama County. “The inspection includes analysis of your home for three environmental health risks, levels of carbon monoxide, evidence of molds/moisture/mildew problems and radon. Our primary objective is to help residents with questions and provide recommendations on how to make their home more environmentally safe and provide a healthy living environment for their families. “ The cost for an inspection is $30.00.

The three areas included in the inspection pose some of the greatest risks for families. Commonly known as the “silent killer”, carbon monoxide is a colorless, practically odorless gas. It originates from unvented kerosene and gas space heaters,; leaking chimneys and furnaces,; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces,; gas stoves,; generators and other gasoline powered equipment,; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. At low concentrations carbon monoxide can cause fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. Higher concentrations can cause impaired vision and coordination, headaches, dizziness, confusion and nausea. Carbon monixide can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. It is fatal at very high concentrations.

Molds produce tiny spores that reproduce. Mold spores waft through indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There are molds that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, and foods.  When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or un-addressed. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma, and other respiratory complaints.  

Radon can be a problem in all types of homes, including old homes, new homes, drafty homes, insulated homes, homes with basements and homes without basements. Testing your home for radon is the only way for you and your family know if radon levels are dangerously high. Radon gas is radioactive and has been identified as a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to cigarette smoking in the United States. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that radon causes between 15,000 and 22,000 U.S. deaths from lung cancer annually.

For more information or questions regarding the Home Environmental Safety Inspection, contact Lee Wiges at 1-866-484-4788 or visit the Tama County Public Health & Home Care website at www.tamacounty.org.