Health care providers and environmental agencies spent Tuesday morning learning what their clients may not know about their environment but could cause serious harm to children.

Michael Vogel, a professor at Montana State University, spoke about the dangers of untested well water and lead found in old paint during the second day of the 2008 Children's Environmental Health Workshop in Casper.

He said these might be obvious to the Wyoming Department of Health and Department of Environmental Quality representatives, but the public might not realize the harm they can cause.

"You know this, but does the homeowner know this?" Vogel said when asking how far a water well should be from a septic tank.

Vogel and Dr. Mark Anderson, a pediatrician from Denver, gave tips the agencies could take back to their clients to make a home environment more safe for children.

Don't smoke indoors around children: Anderson said people shouldn't smoke, but if they choose to smoke they should protect children from it. Second-hand smoke can increase a child's risk of ear infections and breathing problems and can trigger asthma attacks.

Clean often: This keeps dust to a minimal amount and reduces the chemicals that come into the house from the outside, Vogel said. Cleaning is especially important with pets. Animal dander irritates some children and can trigger asthma attacks. Pets shouldn't be allowed in bedrooms.

Check your heating system: As winter approaches, people should check their heating systems, especially if they run on gas. They need to make sure the area around the heater is well ventilated and look for obstructions in ducts. The filter needs to be changed regularly. If you are not sure the heater is working properly or safe, heating companies can check it for a low cost.

Buy a carbon monoxide detector: Anderson recommends people buy a carbon monoxide detector, which costs between $25 and $45. Certain carbon monoxide levels are deadly. Vogel recommends a digital unite because it shows any level of carbon monoxide.

Maintain water wells and septic tanks: People must realize they are responsible for the testing and maintenance of their wells, Vogel said. They should test a well on an annual basis for bacteria and other chemicals and be aware treatment of well water may not protect from everything. If there is an infant living in the house, people should test for nitrate because it can cause blue-baby syndrome where babies turn blue because not enough oxygen is in their blood.

Test for lead: Lead poisoning can cause learning, behavioral or health issues in children and they are more likely to be exposed because they put things in their mouths and crawl on the floor. Many older homes are likely to have lead in the paint. New technology is making swab tests for the presence of lead more accurate, Vogel said. Children can also be tested through a blood sample. If lead is in the paint in the house, people shouldn't chip the paint away. They should paint over it several times to reduce the exposure.

Read labels on hazardous material: People should store hazardous materials such as cleaning supplies in their original containers out of the reach of children and pets. Children and fetuses are much more sensitive to hazardous materials than adults. These materials should be properly disposed of at a waste disposal site. Vogel said it's important to dispose of materials no longer used.

"You don't need 15 cleaning products to do two jobs," Vogel said.

For more information contact, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Children's Health Protection at 1-877-590-KIDS, the Wyoming Department of Health at (307) 777-2931 or the Casper-Natrona County Health Department at (307) 577-9752

Contact health report Allison Rupp at (307) 266-0534 or allison.rupp@trib.com.