Rochester Housing-based Opportunities to Minimize Environmental Exposures (ROC HOME) Study
Rochester Housing-based Opportunities to Minimize Environmental Exposures (ROC HOME) Study
About the Study
Between May 2021 and May 2024, the University of Rochester conducted a study (called “ROC HOME”) of contaminants (lead, allergens, and other environmental chemicals) in household dust in partnership with Silent Spring Institute. The ROC HOME study was funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and included 84 owner-occupied households that participated in the City of Rochester’s Lead Hazard Control grant program.
Watch a video about the study created by Silent Spring Institute
Keep reading to learn more about the study, our findings and view related resources.
Questions about the study or your results?
If you have questions about the study or want to talk to someone about your results, please reach out to us at (585) 301-6815 or
rochome@urmc.rochester.edu
The goal of the study was to answer the questions:
- Can Lead Hazard Control work reduce exposures to other common contaminants in the home?
- Does providing residents with information and resources help further improve and maintain home health over the longer term?
We visited each home three times and collected dust samples to measure levels of lead, mouse and cockroach allergens, and 45 environmental chemicals found in common household products, furniture, or building materials. We also asked questions about products in the home, cleaning, and other features of the home. We visited each home before, just after, and a few months after Lead Hazard Control work.
Contaminants we measured:
Many of the contaminants we tested for -- pesticides, phthalates, flame retardant chemicals, and fragrance chemicals -- are found in common household products, furniture and building materials and can make their way into dust in homes. These contaminants may affect health, particularly children’s health. We tested for these contaminants because past studies show reason for concern, but there is no set level of safety. The government has not established health standards for most of these contaminants (except lead).
| Contaminant | Associated Health Concerns |
|---|---|
Lead | Impaired neurodevelopment, kidney and reproductive problems, cancer |
Mouse and cockroach allergens (substances from mice and cockroaches that can cause an allergic reaction) | Allergic reactions, asthma attacks |
Environmental Chemicals | |
Flame retardants (chemicals added to products to make it harder for them to catch fire) | Impaired brain development, cancer, hormone disruption |
Phthalates (chemicals used in plastics, cosmetics, and personal care and cleaning products) | Impaired reproductive and neurological development, hormone disruption, asthma |
Pesticides (chemicals used to kill bugs, mold, weeds, and other pests, as well as bacteria, fungus and other microbes) | Impaired neurodevelopment, hormone disruption, cancer |
Fragrance chemicals (chemicals used to create artificial smells or mask unwanted odors) | Asthma attacks; impaired reproductive development |
Some ROC HOME participants joined a substudy, “Engaging Residents to Sustain Healthier Homes” (ERSHH), that also tested their urine for environmental chemicals. This substudy was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
The substudy’s goal was to answer the questions:
- Do these chemicals get from the dust into residents’ bodies?
- How does providing participants with information about the chemicals in their home and their urine affect them?
We collected urine samples at the second and third home visits to measure some of the same environmental chemicals that were measured in household dust. We also visited each home one more time and interviewed study participants after they received their study results.
Overall Study Results
We found contaminants in every home and urine sample we tested. This does not mean that every home is unsafe or that there are health hazards. We found higher levels of contaminants in some homes and urine samples than others. People with higher levels can probably make changes to reduce their exposure.
Watch a video to learn how to read the report
We created a video to help participants understand their personalized study report. The video explains the results summary and how to understand the graphs for environmental chemical and allergen results.
What We Found
- We found higher levels of some chemicals and lower levels of others in dust and urine samples.
- For some of the contaminants we measured in urine, we can compare data from ROC HOME to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). NHANES is a program run by the Centers for Disease Control that tracks the health of adults and children in the United States. We found higher levels of some chemicals and lower levels of others in study participants’ urine than those in typical US adults.
- For some of the contaminants we measured in dust, we can compare typical levels to previous studies in other places. However, there is not a national survey of contaminants in household dust. We compared study participants’ dust results to other homes in the study.
- Lead is lower, but lead remains. Cleaning, maintenance and education are important.
- Lead was much lower after repair work, but 45% of homes had lead dust levels above US Environmental Protection Agency standards 4 months after Lead Hazard Control work.
- At the end of the study, 25% of participants thought that there was no lead in a home after Lead Hazard Control Work.
- Intact lead paint on a wall or trim (“non-friction surfaces”) is not necessarily removed during lead hazard control and is safe if it is not disturbed. Lead dust may be created over time if previously intact paint deteriorates, so it is still important to clean up any paint chips and repair safely. Lead can also be tracked in on shoes from outside or blown in through open windows.
- Almost all homes had evidence of mice, but cleaning matters.
- 98% of homes had mouse allergens in dust.
- Many people are allergic to mice allergens, and it can trigger asthma.
- People who vacuumed at least once per week tended to have lower allergens than people who vacuumed less often
- Before the study, 36% of participants did not have a vacuum.
- We found both old and new environmental chemicals in dust.
- We found both banned and current-use pesticides.
- We found phthalates that have been phased out of use and their newer replacements.
- When provided with education and alternatives, people made changes that may reduce their exposure.
- Study participants received a “Healthy Home Kit” with safer swaps for household chores.
- Participants made changes like:
- Making homemade cleaners
- Replacing scented dryer sheets with dryer balls
- Using unscented detergents
- Using fewer air fresheners
Resources
Why Study Household Dust? (2-page flyer about the contaminants studied in ROC HOME and what we found)
Visit our Healthy Homes Resources page for additional resources, including a PDF version of the Healthy Homes, Healthy Families guide.
The Detox Me app is a clean lifestyle guide that walks you through simple, research-based tips on how to reduce harmful chemicals where you live and work. Download the free Detox Me app today at www.detoxmeapp.org.
6 Simple Steps to Avoid BPA and Phthalates in Food (tip sheet from Silent Spring Institute)
What You Should Know About Flame Retardant Chemicals (tip sheet from Silent Spring Institute)
Prescriptions for Prevention - Information for New York families to address common environmental health concerns. Developed by the NYS Children’s Environmental Health Centers.
The Hidden Hazards of Air Fresheners (infographic and 2-page fact sheet with FAQ about chemicals in air fresheners).
Contact Us
Questions about the study or want to talk to someone about your results? Reach out to us at (585) 301-6815 or rochome@urmc.rochester.edu.
Study Partners
- Silent Spring Institute
- City of Rochester
- National Center for Healthy Housing
- Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization (RENEW)
Funding Sources
- HUD Healthy Homes Technical Study Project #MAHHU0060-20
- NIH NIEHS R21 Award #1R21ES033750-01
- Supported by a grant from the William and Sheila Konar Foundation (Grant #2104)