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Educational
Material Regarding Indoor Air Quality
Most of our time
is spent indoors where there are many types of air pollution:
consumer products, appliances, building materials, cigarette
smoke, and furniture can all contribute to the problem.
The Environmental Protection Agency ranked indoor air pollution
fourth in cancer risk among 13 top environmental problems
analyzed. Indoor
radon gas was at the top of this list. A lot relates to
the problem of indoor air quality problems.
First of all, we spend most of our time indoors. Because
many pollutants are found indoors we all inhale them everyday.
Secondly, indoor air pollution is often higher than those
outdoors. The EPA has said indoor levels of pollutants,
such as formaldehyde, chloroform, and styrene, range from
2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. Exposure to pollutants
such as cigarette smoke is usually indoors.
Indoor air pollution consists of toxic gases or particles
that can harm your health. These pollutants can build up
rapidly indoors to levels much higher than those usually
found outdoors. This is especially true if large amounts
of a pollutant are released indoors. Additionally, the better
construction in newer homes can prevent pollutants from
escaping to the outdoors.
| Sources
and Potential Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants
|
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| Pollutant
|
Major
Indoor Sources |
Potential
Health Effects* |
| |
| Environmental
Tobacco Smoke |
Cigarettes,
cigars, and pipes |
Respiratory
irritation, bronchitis and pneumonia in children,
emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease |
| Carbon
Monoxide |
Unvented
or malfunctioning
gas appliances, wood stoves, and tobacco smoke |
Headache;
nausea; angina; impaired vision and mental functioning;
fatal at high concentrations |
| Nitrogen
Oxides |
Unvented
or malfunctioning
gas appliances |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; increased respiratory
infections in children |
| Organic
Chemicals |
Aerosol
sprays, solvents, glues, cleaning agents, pesticides,
paints, moth repellents, air fresheners, drycleaned
clothing, and treated water |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination;
damage to liver, kidney and brain; various types of
cancer |
| Formaldehyde |
Pressed
wood products such as plywood and particleboard; furnishings;
wallpaper; durable press fabrics |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; headache; allergic reactions;
cancer |
| Respirable
Particles |
Cigarettes,
wood stoves, fireplaces, aerosol sprays, and house
dust |
Eye,
nose and throat irritation; increased susceptibility
to respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer |
| Biological
Agents (Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Animal Dander, Mites) |
House
dust; pets; bedding; poorly maintained air conditioners,
humidifiers and dehumidifiers; wet or moist structures;
furnishings |
Allergic
reactions; asthma; eye, nose, and throat irritation;
humidifier fever, influenza, and other infectious
diseases |
| Asbestos |
Damaged
or deteriorating insulation, fireproofing, and acoustical
materials |
Asbestosis,
lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers |
| Lead |
Sanding
or open-flame burning of lead paint; house dust |
Nerve
and brain damage, particularly in children; anemia;
kidney damage; growth retardation |
| Radon |
Soil
under buildings, some earth-derived construction materials,
and groundwater |
Lung
cancer |
| * |
Depends
on factors such as the amount of pollutant inhaled,
the duration of exposure and susceptibility
of the individual exposed. |
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Health
Effects
The effects of indoor air pollutants vary. Exposure to high
levels of some pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, can
even result in immediate death. Some indoor pollutants can
magnify the effects of other indoor pollutants. Based on
cancer risk alone, scientists have ranked indoor air pollution
as one of the most important environmental problems in America.
Many of us are susceptible to the health effects of indoor
pollutants. These include infants and the elderly, those
with heart and lung diseases, people with asthma, and individuals
who have developed extreme sensitivity to chemicals.
The economic impact of indoor pollution - including health
care costs, lost productivity, legal costs, and human welfare
impacts - have been estimated at billions of dollars each
year.
What Can You Do About
Indoor Air Pollution?
The most effective way to protect your family and yourself
from indoor air pollution is to prevent or minimize the
release of pollutants indoors in the first place.
Use Products Safely
Products such as cleaning agents, paints, and glues should
be used outdoors whenever possible. Directions on the label
should be followed carefully. If the product must be used
indoors, lots of ventilation should be provided. Also, it
may be possible to use safer consumer products, such as
baking soda instead of harsher cleaners, or products in
solid or liquid form rather than aerosol sprays.
Restrict Smoking
Restricting cigarette smoking to outdoor areas is especially
important because cigarette smoke contains many toxic pollutants.
It is harmful to both smokers and nonsmokers.
Use Appliances Properly
Use gas appliances, wood stoves, and fireplaces only as
intended. Gas stoves should never be used to heat the house
since high pollutant levels can result. Wood stoves and
fireplaces should only be used to burn properly sized and
aged wood, since other types of fuel may emit toxic compounds.
These combustion devices pollute less when properly maintained.
Annual inspections and cleaning by your gas company's service
personnel or by other qualified individuals will help reduce
pollution and save energy.
Select Building Materials
and Furniture Carefully
Many products, including some types of plywood and particleboard,
emit significant amounts of formaldehyde or other gaseous
pollutants. Try to avoid those products if possible.
You might request that new carpets or furniture be aired
out by the manufacturer or distributor prior to delivery.
Otherwise, you may want to air them in your garage or yard
before bringing them inside.
Practice Good Housekeeping
Proper storage of solvents and frequent housecleaning to
remove dust and molds are necessary steps in maintaining
good indoor air quality.
Provide Adequate Ventilation
Adequate ventilation is another easy and effective way to
maintain good indoor air quality, although it may not completely
remove all pollutants. Increase ventilation by opening windows
and doors when the weather permits. This is particularly
important when using products or engaging in activities
that may generate pollutants. Kitchen and bathroom exhaust
fans that are properly vented to the outdoors are very effective
at removing pollutants generated during cooking and showering.
For effective ventilation while conserving energy during
extreme weather, consider installing a heat recovery ventilator.
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