Americans spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Furnaces, tobacco products, building materials, household chemicals and furnishings release pollutants into your home or office. When your home or workplace has inadequate ventilation, these substances become concentrated. In fact, the EPA's Total Exposure Assessment Methodology found organic chemical levels indoors at two to five times the amount found outside. This indoor air pollution leads to building-related illnesses or “sick building syndrome.”
Respiratory Conditions
The main respiratory irritants in indoor air come from gases, biological contaminants and tobacco smoke. Formaldehyde released by pressed-wood products, glues, textiles, carpets and tobacco smoke cause nose and throat irritation. Mold, dust mites and pollen in household dust affect the respiratory system, contributing to asthma and allergies. Asbestosis, a scarring of lung tissue that can be caused by asbestos fibers in old insulation, flooring and acoustic tiles, leads to long-term breathing problems. Respirable particles released by tobacco smoke or wood burning stoves contribute to asthma and other lung diseases. Organic chemicals from household products irritate nasal passages and cause breathing problems.
Neurological Effects
Two neurotoxins, lead and carbon monoxide, can be present in indoor air. Lead has the greatest effect on children, causing physical and developmental delays when it is inhaled. If you live in a home older than 1978, your walls may be coated with leaded paint, which becomes part of household dust when it cracks or flakes. The EPA suggests contracting with a lead abatement specialist if your paint tests positive for lead. Carbon monoxide released from faulty heating and cooking appliances leads to carbon monoxide poisoning. This gas impairs oxygen absorption and causes headache, dizziness, nausea, disorientation, weakness and heart problems. Severe exposure causes death. A plug-in carbon monoxide detector will warn you if it senses high levels of the gas in your home.
Cancer
Long-term exposure to two indoor air pollutants, radon and asbestos, increases cancer risks. The EPA estimates radon-induced lung cancer causes 14,000 deaths per year. Radon, a naturally occurring gas released from rocks and soil that can seep into buildings through foundation cracks, causes cancer as it radioactively decays in lung tissue. Through testing and mitigation systems, you can limit the amount of radon in your home.
Besides respiratory problems, asbestos fibers also cause several types of lung cancer, including mesothelioma. Commonly found in older homes, asbestos materials include shingles, flooring, insulation, ceiling tiles and popcorn ceiling textures. The EPA recommends covering intact asbestos products or hiring professionals to remove damaged materials.
References
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Air Pollution and Respiratory Health
- U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH: MedlinePlus: Indoor Air Pollution
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Clinical Guidance for Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning After a Disaster
- U.S. National Library of Medicine and NIH: MedlinePlus: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
