Protect your Bird

Hi Everyone,

Being that it's winter time here in America, many people have air-tight homes to stay warm there are dangers that many overlook that I'd like to point out.
I've searched past posts over 2 years and found relatively nothing about this topic so I thought I'd better share this.

1.) The Dangers of Radon gas to birds is lethal. Have your home tested yearly, and take action if the test levels are unacceptable. 1 in every 3 homes has some sort of radon gas level. some are very low, others very high. You can't see it or smell it. Leading cause of death to birds and lung cancer in humans. Just because you may have tested for it last year and have nothing or very low, doesn't mean it's always that way. Radon gas pockets move beneath the earth and seep into basements. I bought a used cage from a couple last spring, they lost all 4 parrots to what they claim was a sickness the maybe was passed from one bird to next they claim. Vet didn't know what exactly made them die.
So a couple weeks later I bought this test kit for the couple and ask them to test their basement, they were a bit hesitant at first thinking it couldn't be that because they themselves appeared healthy. The tests revealed high levels of Radon in the home, I advised them that hey, I'd get out of the house and get a professional to fix that before it kills you in time. It was closure for them as well as they now know what killed their birds.
The test is cheap, and will tell you the levels in your home. Do it for the birds as well as your own health.

Also, vent-less heaters (propane or natural gas wall heaters) be very very catious in using them) make it for emergency heat in case of power outage, and supply a little fresh air in area of birds. Carbon-monoxide will kill the birds or make them sick long before you realize the air quality has changed. Their lungs are very sensitive.

Hawk, you're totally right...radon is one of those dangers that no one thinks about unless the news media has it on their nightly news.....your post also reminded me of other dangers we have in our homes that many of us do not realize or know about...since many of our world governments have taken away our incandescent bulbs, but many local governments and local garbage collection agencies are classifying these energy efficient spiral bulbs as toxic rather than general waste, requiring special disposal because of their mercury content.

You might find a 2008 MSNBC article interesting: Shining a light on fluorescent bulbs - US news - Environment | NBC News

Also, there are EPA guidelines for the proper cleanup of broken fluorescent bulbs and while they deal mainly with the spiral versions, they also apply to any fluorescent bulb/tube, straight or spiral.....

The Official E.P.A. Broken Bulb Clean-up Procedure

Before Cleanup

1. Have people and pets leave the room.
2. Air out the room for 5-10 minutes by opening a window or door to the outdoor environment.
3. Shut off the central forced air heating/air-conditioning system, if you have one.
Collect materials needed to clean up broken bulb:
• Stiff paper or cardboard
• Sticky tape
• Damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes (for hard surfaces)
• A glass jar with a metal lid or a sealable plastic bag.

During Cleanup

• DO NOT VACUUM. Vacuuming is not recommended unless broken glass remains after all other cleanup steps have been taken. Vacuuming could spread mercury-containing powder or mercury vapor.
• Be thorough in collecting broken glass and visible powder. Scoop up glass fragments and powder using stiff paper or cardboard. Use sticky tape, such as duct tape, to pick up any remaining small glass fragments and powder. Place the used tape in the glass jar or plastic bag. See the detailed cleanup instructions for more information, and for differences in cleaning up hard surfaces versus carpeting or rugs.
• Place cleanup materials in a sealable container.

After Cleanup

1. Promptly place all bulb debris and cleanup materials, including vacuum cleaner bags, outdoors in a trash container or protected area until materials can be disposed of. Avoid leaving any bulb fragments or cleanup materials indoors.
2. Next, check with your local government about disposal requirements in your area, because some localities require fluorescent bulbs (broken or unbroken) be taken to a local recycling center. If there is no such requirement in your area, you can dispose of the materials with your household trash.
3. If practical, continue to air out the room where the bulb was broken and leave the heating/air conditioning system shut off for several hours.

And, a 2012 NPR article provides some opposing text to the question of ultraviolet emissions produced by these spiral bulbs.....

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/201...ulbs-have-a-dark-side-when-it-comes-to-health


Enjoy your reading.....

Lids down on all toilets too.