Indoor Air Quality - A Growing Concern For Many Home Owners

Indoor Air Pollution Can Be More Of A Health Risk Than Outdoor Pollution

You probably know that outdoor air pollution can effect your health but did you know that indoor air pollution can also have a negative impact on your health. Studies of human exposure to air pollution indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times higher (and often many times higher) than outdoor levels. These levels are a concern because the average person spends as much as 90 percent of their time indoors.

The Key Sources Of Indoor Air Pollution

• Biological pollutants: These are living organisms like mold, bacteria and dust mites.
• Chemical pollutants: These are gases and particles that come from combustion appliances, tobacco smoke, household products, personal care products, various building materials and outdoor air.

The reason for the decline in indoor air quality in today’s homes is a direct result of our efforts to be energy efficient. As we strive to build better homes that are increasingly energy efficient, we also create an environment susceptible to these indoor air quality problems. The air in our homes is recycled many times over, often with fresh air entering only when we open doors or windows.

There are many things that contribute to indoor pollution. Some of the common pollutants in homes are dust, mold spores, pollen, pet dander, smoke and fumes from household products. These pollutants can be caused by such simple tasks as cooking, bathing, or heating the home. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce pollution and to improve indoor air quality.

Often, it is difficult to determine which pollutants are the source of poor health, or even if poor indoor air quality is the problem. Common symptoms of exposure to high indoor pollution levels include; headaches, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, itchy nose, and scratchy throat. More serious effects are asthma and other breathing disorders.

Many indoor air pollution sources cannot be detected by our senses and the symptoms they produce can be vague, making it hard to attribute them to a specific cause. Some pollutants may take weeks or even months to produce symptoms, making it even harder to discover the cause.

Children and senior citizens are even more susceptible to indoor pollution. Children because of their developing systems and seniors because of their advanced age and weaker immune systems.

Millions of people are affected by asthma each year. A recent study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine concluded that by controlling biological contaminants asthma cases could be reduced by as much as 55 to 60 percent. It is prudent to try to improve indoor air quality in your home even if there are no symptoms of poor health.

Some of the steps that you can take to reduce indoor pollution are easily implemented and many don’t even require hiring a contractor.

• Furnace filters and air conditioner filters remove many of the airborne contaminants that have a negative impact on indoor air quality. They come in many different designs and efficiencies and can be easily installed in your heating or cooling system. The best designs are over 90% efficient.
• Humidifiers can be installed in your heating or cooling system to maintain desirable humidity levels, or you can purchase stand-alone units that will serve your needs.
• Dehumidifiers also serve a useful purpose. If your basement or other areas of your home have high humidity problems, a dehumidifier can correct these problems and maintain levels between 30 and 50 percent.
• Ventilation equipment and air exchangers can have a major impact on indoor air quality. With proper ventilation indoor pollution can be greatly reduced but it is critical that this equipment is properly installed and maintained for it to work properly.