According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the quality of the air in your home may be worse than outdoor air, even in the most polluted industrialized cities. Because you spend so much time in your home--90 percent of your time, according to the EPA--it's important for you to understand the health risks posed by indoor pollutants and how you can minimize your exposure to these toxins.
Radon
According to Family and Consumer Sciences, part of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M System, radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that occurs when uranium in the soil experiences radioactive decay. The EPA suggests that the most common source of indoor radon is the uranium found in the rocks or soil upon which houses are constructed, and that it enters your home through cracks in your walls, floors, floor drains and sumps. If your house does not have adequate ventilation, the buildup of radon gas can lead to health problems, including lung cancer. Because radon gas breaks down into radioactive particles, it can get trapped in your lungs when you inhale. The energy these particles release can cause lung damage and, over time, may lead to lung cancer in some individuals.
Tobacco Smoke
The National Asthma Council Australia states that environmental tobacco smoke, or ETS, is one of the most significant indoor air pollutants, especially for young children. Indoor smoking, by mothers in particular, boosts your child's risk of asthma, and those children who are exposed to indoor tobacco smoke typically experience more severe forms of the condition. The NACA also notes that many asthmatic adults identify ETS as a trigger for their wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. The EPA offers three suggestions to help you reduce your exposure to ETS in your home, including asking smokers to smoke outside, increasing ventilation in the area where smoking occurs and abstaining from smoking when children are present, as children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.
New Carpet
According to the Canadian Lung Association, new carpet may contribute to reduced air quality and numerous health problems. Carpets often contain adhesives that off-gas a mixture of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, at room temperature. The VOC responsible for the odor associated with freshly laid carpet is 4-phenylcyclohexene, or 4-PC. Other chemicals used in carpet include Styrene, toluene, formaldehyde and benzenes. Dyes, pesticides, fungicides, fire-retardants and anti-stain chemicals are also used during the carpet-manufacturing process, and they often are released inside your house after your carpet has been installed. Exposure to the chemicals released from carpets may cause you to experience eye, nose and throat irritations, allergies, headaches and fatigue.
