Lead Poisoning Prevention

by | air pollution, building biology, building materials, buildings and health, death, diet and lifestyle, health, heavy metals, indoor environmental health, lead

Lead Poisoning Prevention

Lead exposure and poisoning can occur in three different ways – primary, secondary and tertiary.

The primary way, is through direct exposure – eating paint chips, accidentally swallowing a lead sinker, consuming water or food that has been contaminated.

The secondary way includes exposure to dust from leaded petrol, consume plants that are grown in contaminated soil, and similar.

These first two methods of exposure can result in lead being stored in the bones, and potentially also the brain.

The tertiary way occurs when lead is released from its storage sites within the body and re-poisons you.

This can happen when you are pregnant, lactate and go through menopause.

This is because as people age, generally their bones leach lead back into the body.

It is interesting when you look at the list of health issues that can be related to lead poisoning and you see that many of them are generally considered to be “diseases of ageing” – dementia, cataracts, hypertension (high blood pressure) and more.

To share more about this topic, I had the privilege to discuss this topic with Lead Advocate, Elizabeth O’Brien.

Elizabeth O’Brien

In 2004, Elizabeth O’Brien was awarded the United Nations of Australia Association World Environment Day Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment.

As well, she has been involved in lead poisoning prevention for almost three decades and is the instigator of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action.

I had the honour of catching up with this incredible environmental activist… here’s our interview.

  • We discussed how this Week of Action came about, and what the World Health Organisation is working on
  • Why it is important to act in prevention of lead poisoning (which includes safely removing it from the body)
  • The effects of lead on the body
  • Diseases of “ageing”
  • How to test for lead and the optimal limit
  • What sort of testing is reliable
  • The pros and cons of spot testing
  • Unexpected sources of lead – including in our diet (you will be surprised!)
  • Action that you can take
  • Where to get more help

Book a Virtual Indoor Environmental Health Assessnt and I can take you through sampling for BOOK HERE

#lead #leadpoisoningprevention #elizabethobrien #theleadgroup #leadsafeworld #interview #heavymetals

Carbon Monoxide – Beware This Silent Killer

by | air pollution, carbon monoxide, death, gases, indoor air quality, indoor environmental health

As winter approaches, it is a great time to be having appliances serviced and checked for problems; as well, ensuring that flues are vented to the exterior and that there are no blockages.

There are many things to be thinking about, and today, I wanted to share this with you to prevent issues, and potentially deaths.

Carbon Monoxide – A Silent Killer

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas. It is deadly.

It is a combustion gas and can easily build up in the home.

Another common contributor is car exhaust.

CO Poisoning: Health Effects and Symptoms

CO has an affinity for haemoglobin and thus it easily disrupts oxygen transportation within the body.

  • flu-like symptoms
  • fatigue
  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • nausea and vomiting
  • confusion and impaired cognitive functioning
  • tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

Heath practitioners need to be alert to CO poisoning mimicking influenza – and include this in their differential diagnosis when the whole household is exhibiting these symptoms.

Steps to Prevent CO Poisoning

  1. Have all gas appliances serviced annually and checked for faults and defects
  2. Check the flames – are they blue? Great. Are they yellow/orange? Call your gas company as this is a sign that the gas is nor burning properly.
  3. Only use gas heaters that are flued and vented to the exterior
  4. Use the extractor fan when cooking on a gas stove top
  5. Keep your windows ajar to dilute the indoor air
  6. Avoid idling the car in the garage or near windows
  7. If you have a garage attached to your house, be sure to close the door and seal it well, and never idle the car in the garage
  8. Also, ensure that windows are closed when the car is idled in the driveway
  9. Avoid opening your windows during peak hour traffic (or school pick up and drop off), especially if you live near a busy road

Prevention is Better Than Cure

If you have any concerns, please get in touch.

#carbonmonoxide #gases #environmentalhealth #buildingbiology #gasappliances

Life Lessons

by | affirmations, death, happiness, health, life lessons, self-care

Life Lessons

Reminders of life lessons often happen when we least expect them – and most need the nudge. Something happened this week that really made me stop and think – a LOT. I witnessed something traumatic that picked my up by the scruff and gave me a good shaking. It made me want to reach out to you, because maybe this will help you to – but also because I haven’t been writing all that often, and that is something I want to change.

Here’s what happened:

I was in Canberra last week for work – and finished it off with my “3 Keys to Creating a Healthier Home” workshop at WoW (it was great to have a room full of people who were interested and informed and wanted to make a difference) and my Dad’s 91st birthday (he is in such good health and spirit). At the airport, I was heading over to the desk to check my luggage in when I spotted an older gentleman sitting on the floor with his head in his hands, his wife standing next to him looking concerned. Our exchange went like this:
“Are you both okay?” I enquire. “He’s not,” she says. “What can I do to help you?” “Nothing, we are just deciding whether we are flying or not.” “Can I get help for you? Do want me to get airport staff? Medical aid??” “No, we’re fine,” she assures me.
I join the queue, not wanting to be an annoying stranger, but really sensing the need to help them. A few minutes later, I hear a crash. I turn to see him collapsed on the floor. They had begun to walk, and he collapsed.

Things happened quickly now.

There was a crowd of passengers around him, assisting. One comes back to ask the airline staff to get the paramedics – the staff spring into action. Then, they flip the man onto his back and begin CPR – pumping his chest and then breathing for him.

I am in shock – he is dead.

They stop CPR as they have revived him… Thank goodness!!

Without more story, he was still alive the last time I saw him – and I hope that he is okay.

I really was in shock.

It was clear they needed help. I had offered. They refused.

He collapsed, died and was revived. I put myself in her shoes – her loved one collapsed and died in front of eyes.

Just like that.

The “what if’s” flooded my mind. What if I had’ve called for help regardless and he didn’t die there? What if…?????

Needless to say, I was a very upset and crying a lot.

Then, instead of beating myself up for not seeking the help that they hadn’t wanted, instead I focused on the lessons.

Life Lessons: here is what I learned from this

  1. Make the most of the here and now – every person, moment, event, etc because you never know when things will change.
  2. Don’t put things off – do them now – take action! I often catch myself thinking, “I’ll do that when I retire.” I may not make it!
  3. Don’t leave things unresolved – sort out problems, heal wounds, build bridges.
  4. If there is something wrong, reach out, tell the truth about what is going on – not like the little boy who cried wolf, but genuinely.
I hope that sharing this traumatic situation will be of benefit to you and others. I invite you to reach out to someone to remind them you love them – and perhaps even stretch that out to someone with whom there has been some discomfort with. Have a happy and healthy day. Shine and Succeed!
Lucinda
#lifelessons #makethemostofeverything #makepeace