Healthier Housing Possible      

Most Canadians feel pretty safe in their homes. Yet the very houses they rely on for comfort and security may be making them sick. Many commonly used building material give off harmful emissions; many houses do not keep out dangerous substances that can come from the soil or biodegradable material buried in a building lot; many heating devices and appliances can emit poisonous gas if not installed or operated properly. One in four Canadians suffer some sort or allergy, asthma or chemical sensitivity that can be aggravated by some building materials.


Common ailments, such as stuffy nose, headaches and fatigue, may also be related to poor indoor air quality.
Even Canadians without allergies can be at risk. Soil gases and radon pose serious health hazards and these can seep in through a foundation that is not properly sealed. Radon, for instance, is an odorless, colourless, but radioactive gas that comes from the soil around a house foundation. It’s believed to be the cause of five to ten per cent of all lung cancer.
Better known carbon monoxide can come from kerosene heaters, wood burning appliances, invented gas appliances and attached garages. Results of breathing carbon monoxide include nausea and headaches while severe poisoning can be fatal or cause brain damage in fetuses. Not content with just sounding the alarm about these silent threats, Canada Mortgage and Housing has conducted and collected a vast amount of research data and offers solutions to the problems. Solutions can be built in the time of construction or applied to existing homes. Canada Mortgage and Housing has put this information into Healthy Housing Information Kits. Www.CMHC.CA