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Environmental/Public Health Topic Menu (click on Link to Jump to Topic) Housing Concerns Related to Unsafe Living Conditions Medical Care for the Under-Insured Methamphetamine Contaminated Houses West Nile Virus (will jump to another page) In Oregon State, the chance of getting rabies from a cat or dog bit is very low, however, all bats or other high-risk wild animals should be considered rabid unless proven otherwise. If rabies cannot be ruled out in the bat then PEP (preventative serum) should be strongly considered. Animals that are at risk for rabies in Oregon include bats, cats, dogs, and foxes.
Rabies Symptoms:
There are a number of factors that need to be considered with each incident that determine the best course of action, therefore it is important to report the bite to a number listed below. Making sure that your tetanus vaccine is up to date, and receiving adequate wound care are also important ways to prevent disease and infection.
For State Laws on Vaccination, Reporting, Quarantine, etc. For General Information on the Prevention of Rabies: Asbestos is a strong, heat-resistant, fibrous material that is used in building insulation, fire proofing, and roofing, among other things. Asbestos-containing materials in buildings do not always pose a problem to occupants and workers in those buildings; however, if the fibers get into the air and become inhaled into the lungs, they may cause significant health problems.
For more information, explore the links below:
If you have local questions about asbestos:
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see:
Blue-green algae (Anabaena) can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals. These algae levels are likely to be associated with dangerous toxin concentrations in the water. Swallowing or inhaling water droplets from lakes that are showing high levels of toxin should be avoided, as well as skin contact with water by humans or animals. The toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating water.
If people choose to eat fish from lakes with dangerously high toxin concentration, they should remove all fat, skin, and organs before cooking since toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues.
Symptoms of numbness, tingling, dizziness and paralysis can lead to difficulty breathing or heart problems and require immediate medical attention. If symptoms of skin irritation, weakness, diarrhea, nausea, cramps and fainting persist or worsen, people should seek medical attention. Children and pets are particularly susceptible.
Local contact: Web link below For lake advisories and FAQ:
(Restaurants and other licensed facility complaints, as well as Foodborne illness reports)
(Such as asbestos, contaminated soil, paint, motor oil, antifreeze, batteries, etc. )
Any questions about hazardous waste can be directed to:
Web link for additional information can be found at:
Housing Concerns Relating to Unsafe Living Conditions
For information on your rights as a tenant to live in safe and sanitary living conditions see the link below. Included in the link are contact numbers for further resources.
http://www.osbar.org/public/legalinfo/tenant.html
Call 1-800-678-6944 or 385-6944 www.oregonlawhelp.org
Lead is a highly toxic metal that was used for many years in products found in and around our homes. Lead may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death. Children 6 years old and under are most at risk, because their bodies are growing quickly.
Research suggests that the primary sources of lead exposure for most children are: - deteriorating lead-based paint, - lead contaminated dust, and - lead contaminated residential soil (source: Environmental Protection Agency - EPA)
Emergencies: Call your medical provider or
Local Contact Number:
General Information:
Web link for additional Lead information:
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see:  Medical Care for the Under-Insured
In an emergency:
For non-emergent care:
Methamphetamine Contaminated Homes Makers of methamphetamine, an illegal and highly addictive stimulant drug, often set up makeshift labs in their own home to produce and sell the drug. They are always dangerous, and should be treated with extreme caution. Click on the link below to learn more about meth houses and what you should do if you suspect one in your neighborhood.
Meth House Reporting Guide: What to do (and not to do) if you suspect a meth house in your neighborhood: http://www.methaction.org/Meth%20House%20pamphlet%20(PDF).pdf
Note: Meth addicts, or those who have used meth for a long period of time, are often irritable, paranoid, and potentially violent. Citizens should avoid any confrontation with a person suspected of being under the influence of meth. Your personal safety should always be your first priority.
For more information about the dangers of meth use, treatment resources, and local prevention efforts:
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see: SHOULD I BE CONCERNED IF I HAVE MOLD OR MILDEW IN MY HOME? Yes. Mold and mildews are harmful at least to the materials on which they grow, and they usually produce objectionable odors, stains and discolorations. If mold conditions are allowed to exist for long in a wood structure, the wood can quickly become weak and rotten. Fabrics and paper can be seriously damaged or destroyed in days by damp, moldy conditions. If molds grow extensively, they may produce enough airborne irritants to cause coughing and cold-like symptoms. Allergic persons may react to very small amounts of mold.
SHOULD I TEST FOR MOLD OR HAVE MOLD SAMPLES FROM MY HOME TESTED? Generally it is not necessary or helpful to test molds found in homes. Usually damp areas in homes will have a large number of molds growing together. Even though many molds produce toxic or potentially toxic substances, merely finding such a mold in a home does not mean that the mold poses a serious or extreme hazard to people in the home. There is very little known about the health significance of most household molds. If one has a specific mold allergy and needs to know if that particular mold is present, then testing may be helpful. General tests to determine total numbers of molds or spores in air samples may be useful in determining if there is a significant but unidentified indoor source of mold. There are private testing firms that offer such evaluations commercially. County and state agencies in Oregon do not have resources for inspecting private homes or testing them for mold.
WHO CAN I CALL FOR ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE? If you are ill, contact your health care provider. For general information and advice about household mold, you can call the Deschutes County Health Department (322-7418). If you are interested in commercial inspection or testing in your home, you can contact firms listed under "Environmental Services", "Laboratories-Analytical" and "Industrial Hygiene" in your local telephone business listings. (For more information from this documentation source click on mold information packet)
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see:  Pesticides
Pesticides are used to kill or prevent pests, such as insects, rodents, weeds, and fungi. Many pesticides can also pose risks to people; however, in many cases the amount of pesticide people are likely to be exposed to is too small to pose a risk. The health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide. Some may affect the nervous system. Others may irritate the skin or eyes. Some pesticides may cause cancer.
To learn more about pesticides:
To find our what to do if you are exposed to pesticides:
Call the
 Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that you cannot smell, see, or taste. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium that is found in nearly all soils. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Your home traps radon inside, where it can build up. Any home may have a radon problem. This means new and old homes, well-sealed and drafty homes, and homes with or without basements.
The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the
Testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk from radon. There are many kinds of low-cost "do-it-yourself" radon test kits that you can get through the mail and in your local hardware stores and other retail outlets. They cost between $10 and $25. If you prefer, or if you are buying or selling a home, you can hire a qualified tester to do the testing for you.
For a list of companies or individuals that provide Radon measurement services to sites in
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see: A vector is any organism capable of transmitting disease. Some examples are fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and rodents. Vectors are able to spread disease to humans by biting, burrowing into skin, or contaminating our living spaces.
For general information about vector-borne disease:
If you are interested in inspection or exterminating in your home, you can contact firms listed under 'pest control' in your local telephone book business listings.
For Tenants looking for how to ensure their living conditions are safe see: |
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Report all animal bites to the Environmental Health Specialist, or the Health Department Reporting line:
Food Safety Complaints
