Some pollutants in the air are especially harmful for children, elderly people and those with health problems.
Most of us spend much of our time indoors. The air that we breathe in our homes, in schools and in offices can put us at risk for health problems. Some pollutants can be chemicals, gases and living organisms like mold and pests.
Several sources of air pollution are in homes, schools and offices. Some pollutants cause health problems such as sore eyes, burning in the nose and throat, headaches, or fatigue. Other pollutants cause or worsen allergies, respiratory illnesses (such as asthma), heart disease, cancer and other serious long-term conditions. Sometimes individual pollutants at high concentrations, such as carbon monoxide, cause death.
Understanding and controlling some of the common pollutants found in homes, schools and offices may help improve your indoor air and reduce your family’s risk of health concerns related to indoor air quality (IAQ).
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed in the soil. It can enter indoors through cracks and openings in floors and walls that are in contact with the ground.
Secondhand smoke comes from burning tobacco products. It can cause cancer and serious respiratory illnesses.
Combustion Pollutants are gases or particles that come from burning materials. In homes, the major source of combustion pollutants are improperly vented or unvented fuel-burning appliances such as:
The types and amounts of pollutants produced depends on the type of appliance, how well the appliance is installed, maintained and vented and the kind of fuel it uses. Common combustion pollutants include:
VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products used in homes including:
VOCs evaporate into the air when these products are used or sometimes even when they are stored.
Asthma triggers are commonly found in homes, schools and offices and include mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke and pet dander. A home may have mold growing on a shower curtain, dust mites, pilllows, blankets or stuffed animals, secondhand smoke;in the air, and cat and dog hairs;on the carpet or floors. Other common asthma triggers include some foods and pollutants in the air.
Molds are living things that produce spores. Molds produce spores that float in the air, land on damp surfaces and grow.
Take steps to help improve your air quality and reduce your IAQ-related health risks at little or no cost by:
Controlling the sources of pollution:Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air is to eliminate individual sources or reduce their emissions.
Ventilating: Increasing the amount of fresh air brought indoors helps reduce pollutants inside. When weather permits, open windows and doors, or run an air conditioner with the vent control open. Bathroom and kitchen fans that exhaust to the outdoors also increase ventilation and help remove pollutants.
Always ventilate and follow manufacturers’ instructions when you use products or appliances that may release pollutants into the indoor air.
Changing filters regularly: Central heaters and air conditioners have filters to trap dust and other pollutants in the air. Make sure to change or clean the filters regularly, following the instructions on the package.
Adjusting humidity:The humidity inside can affect the concentrations of some indoor air pollutants. For example, high humidity keeps the air moist and increases the likelihood of mold.
Keep indoor humidity between 30 and 50 percent. Use a moisture or humidity gauge, available at most hardware stores, to see if the humidity in your home is at a good level. To increase humidity, use a vaporizer or humidifier. To decrease humidity, open the windows if it is not humid outdoors. If it is warm, turn on the air conditioner or adjust the humidity setting on the humidifier.
Important tips that will help control indoor pollutants
Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Radon gas enters your home through cracks and openings in floors and walls in contact with the ground.
Take Action:
Test your home with a do-it-yourself radon kit. If the test result indicates you should fix, call a qualified radon mitigation specialist.
Ask your builder about including radon-reducing features in your new home at the time of construction.
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans.
Take Action:
Environmental asthma triggers: are found around the home and can be eliminated with these simple steps:
Children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke, which can trigger asthma and other respiratory illnesses.
Secondhand smoke: smoke comes from burning tobacco products such as cigarettes, pipes and cigars.
Take Action:
Mold can lead to allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Mold: can grow anywhere there is moisture in a house.
Take Action:
VOCs cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and can damage the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): are chemicals that evaporate at room temperature. VOCs are released from products into the home both during use and while stored.
Take Action:
Carbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue, and high levels can be fatal.
Nitrogen dioxide causes eyes, nose and throat irritation, impairs lung function, and increases respiratory infections.
Take Action:
While remodeling or improving the energy efficiency of your home, steps should be taken to minimize pollution from sources inside the home, either from new materials or from disturbing materials already in the home. In addition, residents should be alert to signs of inadequate ventilation, such as stuffy air, moisture condensation on cold surfaces, or mold and mildew growth.
When building new homes, homebuyers today are increasingly concerned about the IAQ of their homes. Pollutants like mold, radon, carbon monoxide and toxic chemicals have received greater attention than ever as poor IAQ has been linked to a host of health problems. To address these concerns, builders can employ a variety of construction practices and technologies to decrease the risk of poor IAQ in their new homes using the criteria from EPA’s Indoor AirPlus as a guide.
To help ensure that you will have good IAQ in your new or remodeled home:
With nearly 56 million people, or 20 percent of the U.S. population, spending their days inside elementary and secondary schools, IAQ problems can be a significant concern. All types of schools—whether new or old, big or small, elementary or high school—can experience IAQ problems. School districts are increasingly experiencing budget shortfalls and many are in poor condition, leading to a host of IAQ problems.
Picture of students with pencils" width="160" height="121" />
Many office buildings have poor IAQ because of pollution sources and poorly designed, maintained, or operated ventilation systems.
