A Healthy Breath

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant health effects. In the past 20 years, an emerging and expanding body of evidence has shown that indoor air quality has tremendous impact on human health.

Americans, especially infants, the elderly, and persons with chronic diseases-typically spend 90% of their time indoors where they can be exposed to very high levels of air pollutants.Environmental Protection Agency studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend about 90% of their time indoors.

If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered "leaky."

Providing adequate ventilation is especially important for today's well insulated and tightly sealed homes and buildings. Construction gaps where fresh air once entered are now being diligently sealed to conserve energy. Besides needing fresh air to breathe, we are now aware that fresh air helps dilute the many potential toxic emissions from home and building materials. Opening windows can, of course, help solve this problem, but may also bring in unwanted outdoor air pollutants, as well as significantly change the temperatures indoors! These concerns call for adding a multi-faceted approach to controlling indoor air contaminents.

The following is a partial list of contaminents that can be present in your indoor air, at home or at work:

1. Insulation: In Europe, the jagged edged particles of fiberglass are of even greater concern than asbestos, which can still be found in older houses.

Urethane is a further concern.

2. Pressed wood in furniture and flooring: manufactured with formaldehyde, which is released as gas.

3. Dry cleaning: source of toxic tolulenes and PERC.

4. Dust Mites: the excreta and body parts of these organisms are a common allergen, a particular problem in bedrooms.

5. Lead: found in older paints and plumbing pipes.

6. Aerosols in personal care products: a common source of organic gases, some of which are suspected carcinogens.

7. Gas stove: can be a source of combustion by-products.

8. Household cleaning products: can contain many harmful volatile chemicals.

9. Pesticides: source of extremely toxic chemicals that can be released into indoor air.

10. Smoke from fireplace or wood stove: open fireplaces can produce ash dust, carcinogenic tars and combustion by-products like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

11. Wall coverings: plasticized wallpapers can emit VOC's; wood paneling is often manufactured with formaldehyde.

12. Draperies: treated fabrics can contain formaldehyde. Curtain folds collect dust.

13. Tobacco smoke: tobacco smoke contains 43 carcinogens, the danger to nonsmokers from second-hand smoke, especially children, is now becoming recognized.

14. Carpets: source of formaldehyde. Harbor dust, dust mites and animal dander.

15. Paints and solvents: these are sources of many volatile chemicals which are easily vaporised and enter household air.

16. Fuels: storage of gasoline, kerosene, and other fuels can release volatile chemicals into household air.

17. Pet Dander: animal hair and skin flakes are common sources of allergens.

18. Auto exhaust: such fumes can enter the home from the garage or nearby traffic flow. Carbon monoxide is the primary danger, and has a cumulative effect in the human system.

19. Asbestos: the particles of this carcinogen can be released into the air if asbestos insulation or pipe cladding is disturbed during house repairs.

Asbestos fibers reside in lung tissue and can cause lung cancer or emphysema.

20. Radon: radon gas is a natural emission where uranium exists underground. Radon carries radioactive particles that can be a dangerous cause of lung cancer.

Obviously, it is virtually impossible to remove all potentially dangerous substances from your environment, which is why is it important to at least minimizeexposures by taking appropriate steps to eliminate or reduce them when that can be done.

There are three major strategies for reducing indoor air pollution. These strategies are source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. Each is described more fully below:

Of the three, the first approach -- source control -- is the most effective. This involves inimizing the use of products and materials that cause indoor pollution, employing good hygiene practices to minimize biological contaminants (including the control of humidity and moisture, and occasional cleaning and disinfection of wet or moist surfaces), and using good housekeeping practices to control particles.

The second approach -- outdoor air ventilation -- is also effective and commonly employed. Ventilation methods include installing an exhaust fan close to the source of contaminants, increasing outdoor air flows in mechanical ventilation systems, and opening windows, especially when pollutant sources are in use.

The third approach -- air cleaning -- is not generally regarded as sufficient in itself, but is sometimes used to supplement source control and ventilation.

Air filters, electronic particle air cleaners and ionizers are often used to remove airborne particles, and gas adsorbing material is sometimes used to remove gaseous contaminants when source control and ventilation are inadequate.

You an obtain further information on each of the above methods by visiting our environmental wellness page, Toxin Free Blog, and following our series on water, and air filtration systems, as well as household cleaning tips, and toxin free household and personal care products.