It is ironic that the place you consider a safe haven in reality represents your greatest risk from the dangers of indoor air pollution. You spend most of your indoor time at home, so naturally your risk from exposure to air pollutants will likely occur there. For your health, it is important to know how indoor air pollution occurs and what steps you can take to make the air in your home cleaner and safer.
Significance
Whether you realize it, indoor air pollution can be deadly. According to the National Cancer Institute, radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths in America, killing up to 20,000 people each year. Likewise, carbon dioxide also poses health risks, causing 15,000 emergency room visits and 500 deaths each year, based on data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
Types
Indoor air pollution can be gaseous, such as the fumes from solvents or paint thinners. Some pollutants are readily detectable, whereas others are not. Particulate matter from burning wood in your fireplace or from dust or other particles in the air also contributes to the amount of air pollution in your home. Some pollutants, such as asbestos, are especially harmful.
Sources
Indoor air pollution has several possible sources. If you have wood-burning fireplace or kerosene heater in your home, you are exposed to the contaminants released during combustion. Likewise, if you or someone in your family smokes, you inhale secondhand smoke. Household cleaners paint, and other materials release toxins into the air, contributing to the indoor air pollution. Radon is a natural-occurring chemical from the breakdown of uranium in the Earth's crust. It can enter your home through the soil.
Effects
How you are affected by indoor air pollution depends upon the type of pollutant. Carbon monoxide, like radon, is colorless and odorless, making detection difficult unless you begin to suffer symptoms such as fatigue or nausea. Immediate effects from pollutants include irritation of your eyes, mouth, or throat. Over the long term, you may develop respiratory conditions, such as asthma.
Prevention/Solution
To protect yourself against the dangers of indoor air pollution, you must know when there is a problem. Using test kits or detectors can help you monitor your air quality of dangerous pollutants such as radon and carbon monoxide. Always try to open the windows of your home occasionally to prevent contaminants from accumulating indoors to minimize your risk of exposure. To remove particulate matter, you can use an air cleaner in your home.
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
- National Cancer Institute: Radon and Cancer: Questions and Answers
- Centers of Disease Control and Prevention: Carbon Monoxide--Related Deaths --- United States, 1999--2004
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Radon--Health Risks
