Could Your Own Environment Be Ruining Your Health?
Ways to improve indoor air quality in your home may not be your first thought when you have watery eyes and a runny nose. After all, those are typical symptoms of suffering from allergies or a cold.
But poor indoor air quality could also be to blame. Problems with indoor air quality can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea and fatigue. The long-term effects can also be serious, so it’s not an issue to ignore.
Fortunately, there are ways to improve air quality in your home, including air filters, portable air purifiers and proper maintenance of your heating and air conditioning systems.
What Is Indoor Air Quality?
The Environmental Protection Agency defines indoor air quality as the “air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.” The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.
The air inside many homes is far less clean than outside air. Homes built since 1979 are better sealed to make them more energy-efficient, but that’s a two-edged sword. Because energy-efficient homes are “tighter,” they keep more contaminants and moisture inside – which makes a high-efficiency air conditioning and heating system essential for comfort and safety.
On average, Americans spend about 90% of the time indoors, where concentrations of some pollutants are two-to-five times higher than outside. Children are especially sensitive to indoor air quality problems since they breathe faster, inhaling 50% more air per pound of bodyweight than adults.
So what are the most common indoor pollutants?
1. Mold
Some types of mold, which are fungi that grow both indoors and outdoors, are harmless. Others are dangerous and can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks. There are more than 400,000 types of molds, which can fit into one of three categories – allergenic, pathogenic and toxic.
Allergenic molds in small quantities may not be harmful but they can make you feel bad, depending on your tolerance. Aspergillus is a common allergenic mold that can cause watery eyes, coughing, runny nose, postnasal drip and shortness of breath.
Pathogenic molds are more problematic because they can attack a healthy immune system and cause infections in humans. They can cause molds and fungi to grow in your body, which can lead to serious medical conditions. Cryptococcus neoformans is one of the most common pathogenic molds affecting indoor air quality worldwide.
“Toxic” molds are the most dangerous. While the molds themselves are not toxic, they release chemicals called mycotoxins into the air that are toxic. Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly known as black mold, grows readily in areas of excessive moisture, water leaks and condensation. It thrives on fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust and lint.
- Ways to reduce or eliminate mold: Mold thrives in warm, moist environments, so keeping the humidity levels in your home down is key. Most homes have a central air conditioner that pulls humidity from the air, but many older and under-sized systems cannot remove humidity fast enough, which allows mold to grow in HVAC ducts, grates and air handlers. It’s also important to make sure you clean up water spills and that your home doesn’t have water leaks. Damp environments are breeding grounds for mold.
2. Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Dioxide
Carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are both toxic gases that can be dangerous in the home. Exposure to carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion, and at high enough levels, it can be fatal. Nitrogen dioxide isn’t quite as dangerous, but even low levels can cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Higher levels of exposure can cause chronic bronchitis and lung injury and is especially dangerous for children and asthmatics.
- How to avoid CO and NO2 problems: Have your heating systems checked annually by a licensed heating and cooling professional. The safety of combustion appliances such as heaters begins with a correct installation that allows proper ventilation around the unit. A licensed professional can ensure that the installation is done right.
3. Biological Contaminants
We already talked about mold, but it’s part of the broad category of biological contaminants that include bacteria, viruses, dust, animal dander, mites, pollen and insects. Poor indoor air quality is often attributed to these biological contaminants from a variety of sources, such as people, animals, plants and even contaminated central air conditioners.
- How to reduce biological contaminants: General cleaning of a home is important, including the cleanup of spills and drying damp areas. Ventilation and good air distribution also help prevent the growth and spread of biological contaminants. As mentioned above, contaminated central AC units can add to the problem by becoming breeding grounds for mold and mildew and distributing contaminants throughout the home. That’s why it’s important to properly maintain heating and air conditioning systems and have an AC professional inspect them at least once per year.
4. Volatile Organic Compounds
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) include a variety of chemicals that are ingredients in household products such as paints and varnishes, cleaners, disinfectants, cosmetics, aerosol sprays and air fresheners. VOCs can release organic compounds when being used or stored and can cause eye, nose and throat irritation in the short term. According to the EPA, they can also cause headaches, loss of coordination and nausea, and they can also damage the liver, kidneys and central nervous system.
- Ways to protect your health from VOCs: It’s important to increase ventilation in your home when using products with VOCs and carefully follow the instructions on the product’s label. Additionally, don’t store open containers of unused paints inside your home and try to buy products with VOCs in small amounts that will be used in the near future.
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