Healthy Homes and Public Buildings

Lead

Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in common products found in and around homes. Interior and exterior house paints are a common source of lead contamination around older homes.

These "lead based" paints can cause direct contamination of the your living space by the following common methods:

  • exposure of paint chipping or peeling off the walls
  • contamination of the living space by dust from the lead based painted walls
  • contamination of soils around the exterior of buildings where lead based paint chips have fallen.

Lead may cause a wide range of negative health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children under the age of 6 years are most at risk because of their contact with the floors and other areas that may contain lead dust or chips and the fact that their bodies are rapidly growing.

For more information please visit the Iowa Department of Public Health web site or the Environmental Protection Agency web site.

Story County Ordinance No. 210, Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards

Radon Gas

Radon is a naturally occuring gas that is invisible, odorless, and tasteless that can be found throughout the United States. Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium occurring in soil, rock, and water. The sources of radon gas entering a building or home can be traced to earth and rock found beneath a home, well water, or building materials.

Radon gas can enter into any type of building (homes, offices, schools) which can then lead to a high indoor radon gas level in the air you breathe. Lung cancer is the only health effect which has been definitively linked to radon gas exposure. Radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.

For more information please visit the Iowa Department of Public Health web site or the Environmental Protection Agency web site.
Radon Test Kits are available for purchase at the Story County Environmental Health Department for $8.00.

Mold

Our office does not test for mold. We do offer some helpful information about mold, remediation and laboratories that offer mold testing.

For more information please visit the Environmental Protection Agency web site.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending upon age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure.

For more information please visit the Environmental Protection Agency web site.

Iowa Smokefree Air Act

Complaints can be submitted to the Iowa Dept. of Public Health via www.iowasmokefreeair.gov or by calling 888-944-2247.

The Iowa Dept. of Public Health, upon receiving a complaint, will send an educational letter letting the business know a complaint was received and steps the business can take to correct the situation. If a second or subsequent complaint is received a letter is sent again but a copy goes to local law enforcement and the city council/board of supervisors. If the business has a liquor license ABD is also notified after the second complaint is received.