| Indoor Pollutants |
The following is adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission.By-products of Combustion (such as CO, CO2, NOX)Source: Unvented kerosene and gas heaters, gas appliances, wood and gas-burning fireplaces, leaking chimneys and furnaces, tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust in attached garagesHealth Effect: Eye, nose, and throat irritation, impaired lung function and respiratory function in children, bronchitis, lung cancer, flu-like symptoms. What to do:
Environmental tobacco smokeSource: Cigarettes, cigars, pipesHealth Effect: Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, pneumonia. Increased risk of respiratory and ear infections in children. Lung cancer and increased risk of heart disease. What to do:
FormaldehydeSource: Pressed wood products (hardwood, plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) used in buildings and furniture, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, permanent press textiles, glue, ETS, vehicle exhaust, stoves, fireplacesHealth Effect: Eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, fatigue, rashes, and allergic reactions. Causes cancer in animals. Death at very high concentration. What to do:
Other volatile organic compoundsSource: Paints, solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, cleaners and disinfectants, moth repellents, air fresheners, hobby supplies, and dry cleaned clothesHealth Effect: Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination; nausea, damage to kidney and central nervous system. Some cause cancer in animals. Some may cause cancer in humans. What to do:
RadonSource: Local geology, soil, waterHealth Effect: Lung cancer, possibility of stomach cancer What to do:
PesticidesSource: Garden and lawn chemicals, poisons for pest controlHealth Effect: Eye, nose, and throat irritation, damage to central nervous system and kidney, cancer What to do:
AsbestosSource: Deteriorating or damaged insulation, fireproofing, or acoustical materialsHealth Effect: Cancer and lung diseases (smokers at higher risk) What to do:
Heavy MetalsSource: Paints, automobiles, tobacco smoke, soil, and dustHealth Effect: Headaches, irritation in mouth, rash, excessive perspiration, kidney damage What to do:
BioaerosolsSource: Humans, pets, moist surfaces, humidifiers, ventilation systems, drip pans, cooling coils in air handling units, plants, outside airHealth Effect: Legionnaires' disease, humidifier fever, influenza What to do:
Consider an air cleaner, air purifier, UV lamp and whole-house duct cleaning to improve your indoor air quality. |
Customer Tools
