Potential Determents to the Air Quality in Your Home

Indoor air quality is crucial for good health, but it often goes unnoticed until people start to experience health problems. Homeowners can take steps to identify and minimize potential indoor air pollutants. This article discusses the most common indoor air pollutants, such as asbestos, biological pollutants, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, nitrogen dioxide, radon, indoor particulate matter, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It also provides ways to improve indoor air quality, including using air filters, ventilating the home, adding house plants, keeping the home clean, investing in air purifiers, trying a dehumidifier, buying the right cleaning products, and more. By following these tips, homeowners can help ensure a healthy and safe living environment for themselves and their loved ones.

Why Indoor Air Quality is Important

People often look at outdoor pollution as a sign they need to take better care of their local air. However, the quality of indoor air is often much worse than it is outside. As such, homeowners may find their indoor air quality causes them various health problems, from throat or skin irritation to asthma, migraines, or even cancer. The problem is that people may not be aware of the severity of the problem until they are already facing health conditions. With the following information, homeowners will know the common causes of poor indoor air quality and things they can do to improve it.

Potential Indoor Air Pollutants

There are numerous indoor air pollutants, and many of them relate to material components of the structure or the function of the home's systems. By researching the most common contaminants, people may be able to minimize or prevent them.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was a common component in many building materials until the 1970's and 1980's. It was popular due to its ability to minimize the spread of fires. At that time, health experts realized asbestos could release tiny fibers into the air when disturbed. If people breathe in those fibers, they may be at risk for various possible health problems. Homeowners can assume if their homes were built in the 1970's or earlier, the structure might contain asbestos in the following areas:

Insulation

Ceiling texture

Paint

Drywall

People unsure of the material makeup of these aspects of their homes may want to schedule a consultation with an asbestos remediation expert. These professionals can help identify existing sources of asbestos and determine the best course of action.

Biological Pollutants

Homeowners likely have to deal with several types of biological pollutants. Some of them may come from outside, tracked or blown in while doors and windows are open. Others may accumulate in the home due to environmental conditions or the presence of pets. Common pollutants include:

Pollen

Mold

Pet dander

Dust Insects or mites

Most of these are particles, although some such as pet saliva, can be liquid. In most cases, these contaminants will accumulate in soft materials throughout the home, such as carpets, drapes, or bedding. Test kits may be available for certain types of pollutants like mold or pollen. People should consider hiring an expert to inspect for insects or pests. Sometimes, people can only determine a contaminant's presence by testing themselves for an allergic reaction and identifying the most likely sources of the exposure.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide Pollution in Air. Unlike many other types of pollutants, carbon monoxide can be deadly without a long accumulation of exposure. This byproduct of combustion usually arises as a result of heat-producing equipment or appliances in the home like:

Gas furnace

Gas oven or range

Wood or gas-burning fireplace

Carbon monoxide can be tricky to identify in the home because it is colorless and odorless. Unlike natural gas, which has a distinct odor, people may have no warning that carbon monoxide is spreading in the home. It may not take long, only hours in some cases, for carbon monoxide to cause confusion, severe headaches, and even death. The best way to test for carbon monoxide is to purchase and use a carbon monoxide detector in the house. Experts suggest installing the detector several feet away from the fuel-burning appliance and consider installing more than one throughout the home.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a preservative commonly found in certain building materials like wood flooring. It is also a byproduct of certain types of combustion, such as cigarette smoke. Over time, formaldehyde trapped in building materials may eventually release into the air. This gas has an overwhelming odor that homeowners may notice at first, although it will dissipate over time.

Significant exposure to formaldehyde can cause skin or throat irritation and even increase the risk for certain types of cancer with heavy exposure. Homeowners may not know they have a high formaldehyde level in their homes unless they purchase a test kit. The kit involves placing a unit in the room for 24 hours, sealing it, and mailing it to a lab for testing. People can minimize their exposure by researching products that reduce formaldehyde usage and look for safe heat production methods with good ventilation in their homes.

Lead

Although lead is a heavier element, tiny particles of it can become airborne. The most common sources of lead exposure in the home relate to lead paint stirred up during renovation or cleaning and lead dust tracked inside from contaminated soil. In most cases, people will not realize that they have a lead problem unless they know how to look for it.

Typically, homes built in the 1970's or earlier may have layers of lead paint on:

Walls

Windowsills

Natural wood siding

Wood staircases

People with homes built in the 1940's or earlier may also have lead plumbing pipes or copper plumbing pipes soldered using lead. Lead exposure causes developmental problems in infants and children and cancers or other health problems in adults. Testing for lead usually involves obtaining a sample of paint for lab testing, which is a practical choice for homeowners looking to renovate older homes.

Nitrogen Dioxide

Much like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide is a common byproduct of combustion. For example, people may be exposed to nitrogen dioxide outside when they stand around vehicles that are actively burning gasoline. Inside the home, nitrogen dioxide can accumulate when a fuel-burning appliance does not ventilate properly. If a homeowner runs a wood-burning stove with a chimney filled with salt and creosote, it may not vent to the outdoors correctly. Similarly, a furnace or stove with insufficient ventilation may force nitrogen dioxide back into the house instead of releasing it outside. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause throat irritation, leading to chronic bronchitis or certain types of lung disease. The ideal method to minimize exposure to nitrogen dioxide indoors is to purchase and use ventilation equipment correctly.

Radon

Radon is a natural element that may be present in higher quantities in certain parts of the country. In homes with insufficient ventilation, radon outside may translate into higher exposure to radon inside. People may not know they have a problem with radon exposure until they are diagnosed with a serious condition. People who have a history of smoking are more likely to be at risk for lung cancer due to radon exposure.

When people buy a home, they may have the opportunity to test for the presence of radon. In areas where radon exposure is higher on average, people may want to request testing from a qualified professional. In many cases, reducing radon accumulation in the home is as simple as purchasing and using a specific ventilation device.

Indoor Particulate Matter

Indoor Particulate Matter in Your Home. The presence of contaminants affecting indoor air quality is not necessarily visible. In some cases, they are so small that humans cannot detect them. These pollutants, commonly referred to as particulate matter, vary in type, source, and long-term effects. The smallest particulate matter is sufficiently tiny and can be easily inhaled or enter the bloodstream. Sources include:

Incense

Smoke

Pet dander or saliva

Cockroach debris

Pollen or other common allergens

The problem with determining particulate matter is there are most likely many types in the home at any given point in time. The chief issue is the quantity and the mobility of these particles. In essence, the more particular matter releases into the air, the easier it is to consume. Homeowners can purchase test kits or hire professionals to test for many of these contaminants. Otherwise, they may prefer to move straight to mitigation of the problem.

Smoke

The presence of smoke in the home can be a significant indoor air pollutant. Smoke comes from a variety of possible sources, such as:

Cigarette smoking

Wood-burning fireplaces or stoves

Smoke that arises from cooking

In any of these cases, smoke inhalation can quickly become a problem. People will usually notice that smoke exposure immediately does not feel good, as smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. With long-term exposure to smoke from the sources, people may be at risk for developing long-term health conditions like bronchitis or lung cancer.

Although smoke in the home may be evident at the time of combustion, its presence lingers over time. For example, someone who regularly smokes inside the house or a buyer who purchases a home from a seller who smoked may have lower air quality — even if they are not actively smoking at the time. Minimizing the sources of smoke and increasing ventilation are the best ways to prevent these problems.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds are also present in things throughout the home. Homeowners may be aware they exist because many have a strong odor and may cause reactions very quickly. Others may take years to release these gases and will be less noticeable. People can look for VOCs in a variety of places, such as:

Building materials

Leather furniture

Cleaning products and solvents

Paint

Materials for hobbies, such as resin casting

Fuel, like stored gasoline or propane

The effect of VOCs depends on the type and amount. For example, someone who opens a bottle of paint thinner will immediately notice the noxious odor. On the other hand, someone who buys a home with freshly laid wood flooring may not notice the smell of wood preservatives. The best time to test for VOCs in the home is right after a remodeling project. Professionals can use tools to identify the presence of thousands of possible compounds, as well as their severity.

Read more about indoor air quality here: EPA Air Quality