Good health begins at home. And Tulane is working to make the home even safer
Reducing allergens in the home
We know the environment impacts our health.
So what does it say when your home -- the place you live -- is presenting a negative influence of its own?
Beyond gaining a better understanding of things like smoke-heavy cooking and third-hand tobacco smoke, experts at Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine are also trying to understand the role that household allergens play in longterm health.
Outdoor air pollution is fairly well studied, and we now know that it contributes significantly to heart and lung disease, but we know surprisingly less about the air we breathe in our homes.
Fortunately, Tulane is attempting to understand home safety even better. The Household Air Pollution Study (HAPS) is investigating how indoor air quality affects long-term health, while the Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study (ARCHS) is addressing asthma triggers among children.
In the latter case, researchers visit participants' homes where they address dust control, getting rid of cockroaches, and providing families with education on asthma and techniques for effectively reducing triggers at home.
For both studies, participating volunteers learn about prevention techniques that lead to better health outcomes. Data collected provide information to expand the learning beyond each individual home.
Good health begins at home. And Tulane is working to make the home even safer.
Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study
ARCHS, also known as The Allergen Reduction and Child Health Study, was started at Tulane’s School of Public Health to help New Orleans’ children who suffer from asthma have better outcomes. Many things commonly found in our home can cause unwanted asthma complications, even when we do not realize it. These are known as asthma triggers and include things like: dust mites, pets, mold, smoke, and even cockroaches.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARCHS STUDY
‘Thirdhand smoke’ may be hidden asthma trigger in kids
A new study from Tulane University found that parents may underestimate their children’s exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and a newly identified phenomenon called thirdhand smoke may be to blame. Thirdhand smoke occurs when chemical residue from smoking lingers in carpets, furniture and walls long after the cigarette was lit. Children can inhale these particles by disturbing fabric fibers while playing or ingest them by touching contaminated surfaces and then putting their hands in their mouths.
Learn More About Third-Hand Smoke
Academic Opportunities in Epidemiology
The MPH in Epidemiology is a professional degree that prepares students to serve as epidemiologists in mid-level positions in public health research or practice settings. The program appeals to professionals currently employed in the health field and as well as those without previous training or experience in public health.
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