Cleaning house

Aileen Gagney is on a mission to help local residents reduce home health risks.

"Mold is the next asbestos or lead because it's so insidious -- and it's everywhere," Gagney said.

Gagney hopes that the Master Home Environmentalist (MHE) program will combat indoor health risks that cause asthma and allergic reactions. As Asthma and Environmental Health program manager for the American Lung Association of Washington, Gagney oversees the MHE program, a joint effort between American Lung, King County Public Health, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Household Hazardous Wastes Department.

MHE trains volunteers to help residents identify indoor health risks in their homes. Volunteers receive 40 hours of instruction from experts on topics including toxicology, household chemicals and tenant rights. Upon completion of training, volunteers give 35 hours of time back to the program. Many choose to conduct free home assessments.

The program targets low-income families with asthma or allergy problems because these conditions are preventable. In addition, most residents cannot afford to make appointments with home inspectors.

"I get so many calls from people who are so sick," Gagney said. "They have unexplained illnesses, and they don't know what's going on."

After residents contact the program, volunteers use Home Environmental Assessment Lists (HEAL) to identify health hazards in homes and apartments. Volunteers walk through the home with the residents, looking for visible signs of mold and other hazards. In addition, volunteers have been trained to search for hidden problems, including ventilation problems.

HEAL solicit personal information from residents in order to help volunteers recognize the largest environmental health risks in houses. An optional do-it-yourself form exists for residents who feel uncomfortable inviting volunteers to their homes.

UW senior Julie Golomb finished her volunteer training yesterday.

"You can't get this (education) from the UW and it's a good way to do outreach for something you care about," Golomb said.

Golomb explained that many Seattleites, particularly low-income residents without adequate health-care training, do not realize how hazardous the indoor environment can become.

After six months, she said, 50 percent of a feather pillow's density is composed of dust mites, creating tremendous problems for asthmatic children. Residents can create a cheap solution by purchasing dust covers for pillowcases and mattresses.

"It's a free service that provides a lot of information the common person doesn't know," Golomb said.

Volunteers have made significant accomplishments in the homes they work with. Eighty-seven percent of homes have made changes after requesting HEAL; however, despite this success, many obstacles remain.

One of the greatest challenges that new volunteers face is finding ways to meet the needs of immigrants in South King County.

"In a low-income immigrant population, our biggest problem is communication," Gagney said.

The program is working to translate informational brochures into other languages for the multiethnic community.

Volunteers also encounter unexpected problems when they enter households, many of which contain several health hazards. Gagney recalls one mobile home where the elderly owner had sealed up every window to save money, trapping toxins released from the wood-burning stove she used for heat. She has also seen mushrooms sprouting from the carpets in apartments.

New homes are not immune to similar problems. Exposed siding can become saturated with rain during construction, causing mold to grow between the stud walls.

MHE helps residents eliminate these hazards, and its success, combined with the support of former volunteers, has helped the program survive deep cuts in the county budget. Despite reduced funding, a new training session will take place in March. Golomb believes that she and other volunteers fill a need in the community.

To find out about the application process for spring training, visit the American Lung Association of Washington Web site at www.alaw.org.