"Key residential health hazards include asthma and allergy triggers, such as mold, dampness and pests (e.g., cockroaches, mice), injury hazards, and poor indoor air quality. The health and economic burden of housing‐related hazards is substantial. For 2007, the National Heart,Blood, and Lung Institute estimated the total cost to the U.S. economy from asthma at $19.7 billion (includes $14.7 billion in direct medical costs and $5 billion in indirect costs such as lost work and school days). In addition, research shows that about 21% of asthma cases in the U.S. are linked to dampness and mold, at an annual cost of approximately $3.5 billion. Pests can also play a significant role in triggering the symptoms of allergies and asthma; a recent study of asthma among inner‐city children found that 69% were allergic to cockroaches and 33% to rodents. Meanwhile, unintentional injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children younger than 15 years of age, with over 2,800 child and adolescent deaths occurring each year due to injuries in the home. The elderly are also at an elevated risk for residential injuries; each year, 35‐40% of adults 65 and older fall at least once. It is estimated that falls account for 33% of injury‐related medical expenditures and cost Americans more than $38 billion annually."
Source: The Healthy Homes Strategic Plan, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control, The Strategic Plan is accessible at www.hud.gov/healthyhomes
RBc: We love this message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development...Healthy Homes / Healthy Famlies / Healthy Children.
For further study in health and building science factors with radiant based HVAC systems as they related to LEED's™ indoor environmental quality element.
See also:
Effects of improved home heating on asthma in community dwelling children: randomised controlled trial.
The Health, Safety and Comfort Advantages of Low Temperature Heating Systems - A Literature Review
