What is Indoor Air Pollution?
Indoor air pollution can be any number of pollutants. Radon, asbestos, tobacco smoke, solvents, cleaning solutions, carbon monoxide, mold, and fungus can pollute indoor air. Indoor air pollution souces include attached garages, new carpets and furniture, water leaks and condensation, chemical storage, poorly operating heaters, and is worsened by inadequate ventilation. Here are some facts: • Indoor air pollution may exist at levels 2 to 5 times more than outdoor levels. • Sometimes, the concentration indoors is 100 times the outdoor pollutant concentration. • Studies indicate children spend more and more time indoors, and less and less outside. • People may spend 90% of their time indoors. Because of this, indoor air pollution is now receiving a great amount of attention. What are the potential health effects? The health effects depend on the chemical, its concentration in the air, and the length of exposure. Long term health effects can include: • cancer • chronic bronchitis • asthma
Indoor-air pollution is basically the accumulation of airborne levels of fine particles and volatile chemicals such as formaldehyde, which results from building materials, furnishings inside homes and offices and building systems like cleaning and equipment use. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. It is widely used to manufacture building and household products, especially as an adhesive resin in pressed wood products. What are the health effects? Indoor-air pollution is one of the main causes of what is known as the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). This phenomenon is the mysterious condition wherein many occupants experience various health or comfort problems connected to the time spent in a particular building, for which no specific illness or sickness has been identified. It has been established however that Sick Building Syndrome may also be caused by acoustic, thermal, illumination and other aspects of indoor environment. Health effects of indoor-air pollution can range
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. Moreover, “tighter” construction in newer homes can prevent pollutants from escaping to the outdoors. Sources and Potential Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants 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,
The air we breathe inside our homes can be 5 to 100 times more polluted than the air outside! The EPA identifies sources of indoor air pollution as second-hand cigarette smoke, building materials, pressed wood products, home cleaning products, pesticides, adhesives, personal care products and others. Without proper ventilation to outside air, you and your family may be at risk for the development of short term as well as long term health effects. Some short term effects are headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Most of the time these symptoms are easily treated by removing yourself from the source of pollution. Long term effects may show up years after the exposure or after several periods of exposure. Heart disease, cancer, and some respiratory diseases are a few of the possible health risks from exposure to indoor air pollution.
