Children’s Environmental Health
Our mission is to protect, promote and enhance the health and well-being of all people and the environment in our county. Our Children’s Environmental Health section focuses on identifying and reducing environmental risks that affect Guilford County children through education and regulations in partnership with public and private entities.
Our staff completes evaluations of all public and private school cafeterias, school buildings, childcare facilities, and adult day care facilities. We also collaborate with Guilford County parents, local health care providers, and school nurses to provide Healthy Home assessments. We look for and identify asthma triggers and other environmental hazards in the home, at school and childcare centers.
Our staff is responsible for the enforcement of the North Carolina Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Regulations. We investigate and seek remediation of any known lead hazards associated with a child having an elevated blood lead level.
Information About Asthma, Radon, and Lead
The number of children with asthma in Guilford County continues to increase. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children today. It is also the #1 reason why children miss school and one of the leading reasons why children visit the emergency room.
Guilford County Children’s Environmental Health Division and other community partners are working together to educate the public on how to make their home a healthy home which includes information on a variety of hazards found in the home. These hazards include asthma triggers, eliminating mold and moisture, integrated pest management, minimizing exposure to lead based paint hazards, and having a safe home environment.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency children spend about 90% of their time indoors either at home or at school. We want every child to have a safe and healthy home. Visit NC Healthy Homes website for more information and tips on green cleaning recipes, a schedule for basic home maintenance, and other information on how to make your home a healthy home.
For more information, visit NCHealthyHomes.com
Asthma Notes
Asthma is common, occurring in 7-10% of all preschool and school-aged children. Asthma is a major cause of morbidity in childhood, resulting in sleep disturbance, limitations in exercise, absenteeism from childcare and school, and hospitalization. Despite increased awareness and knowledge of the problem, asthma remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Proper diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of exposure to environmental triggers can lessen complications and improve long term outcome.
Despite efforts at education and prevention, children in Guilford County continue to be exposed to lead hazards such as peeling lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, mini-blinds, and other sources.
Nationally, about half a million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with blood lead levels that are high enough to cause them harm. North Carolina has state regulations concerning lead poisoning and prevention that were recently updated. The new regulations lowered the blood lead action level for children and now include a blood lead action level for pregnant women.
Lead poisoning is 100% preventable with the proper education, training, and remediation. The Guilford County Division of Public Health offers free blood lead test for children under the age of six (6) in Greensboro and High Point. A variety of educational materials are distributed locally, in many different languages to parents, contractors, and health care providers. In addition to educational materials and recommendations, the division also offers the Preventive Maintenance Program to help homeowners and landlords identify potential lead hazards and eliminate or reduce them by using lead safe work practices.
For more local and state information regarding statistics, regulations or educational materials, please contact Guilford County Department of Public Health at 336-641-3771, or visit State of North Carolina Children’s Environmental Health Branch.
Lead Notes
For information on toys and other items recalled due to lead, visit Consumer Product Safety Commission. For information on the North Carolina Lead based paint hazard management program for renovation, repair, and painting, visit NC Health Hazards control unit.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is found in the earth’s rock below the soil. It is formed by the natural breakdown of radium. Radon gas is invisible and odorless. It is a health hazard when it accumulates to high levels (4 pCi/l or greater) inside homes or other structures. A high level of indoor radon exposure is estimated to cause between 15,000 and 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the United States. This accounts for 12% of all cancer deaths and is the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths in the United States.
The only way to determine if radon gas is a problem in your home or building is by measuring the level of radon gas present.
Guilford County Department of Health & Human Services Public Health Division periodically has free radon test kits. To inquire if we have any test kits, please call the Public Health Division at (336) 641-3771.
How do you determine if radon is a problem in your home or building?
While an area’s geology may be an indication for the presence of a radon gas problem, remember that radon gas is odorless and colorless therefore, it cannot be detected by the human senses.
How does radon get indoors?
Radium, which releases radon gas, is a common element within the earth’s crust. Soils and rocks containing high levels of uranium, such as granite, phosphate, shale and pitchblende, are natural sources of radon.
High levels of radon gases in the soil percolate up through porous soils under the home, school or workplace and enter through gaps and cracks in the foundation or in the insulation and through pipes, sumps, drains, walls, or other openings.
Groundwater is another possible pathway for bringing radon into the home. Water, when in contact with rock containing uranium, absorbs the radon gas. The radon is then carried into the home and released into the air in household dishwashers, faucets, showers, or washing machines.
Is radon a serious problem in the U.S.?
Elevated radon levels have been identified in every state. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly one (1) out of 15 homes in the United States has an elevated indoor radon level (4 pCi/l) on a yearly average. The United States average radon-to-air level in a single-family home is 1.3 pCi/l. Radon can also be a problem in schools and work places.
Contact Us
Email or call us at 336-641-3771 with feedback, questions, or comments.