Air Pollution in Our Homes
Indoor air pollution has become a major health
concern in North America!
Studies have shown that the air
in our homes is often more seriously polluted than outdoor
air. Many ordinary activities such as cooking, cleaning, personal
hygiene & beauty care, redecorating, heating and cooling can
cause the release and spread of common indoor pollutants.
Highest Risk
Research has indicated that most of us
spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors and are therefore
at risk of increasing health problems from indoor air pollutants.
At highest risk are infants, young children, the elderly and those with chronic illness.
Common Indoor Pollutants
Indoor air pollutants can be divided into three main categories:
Only a fraction of the chemicals used today are pre-tested for toxicity. In fact,
it is now being discovered that many are hazardous and are implicated in conditions ranging from chronic
respiratory disorders to cancer.
Toxic chemicals which become airborne are found in our everyday household and
personal products: 'air fresheners', scented candles, perfumes, laundry detergents, fabric softeners,
household cleaning products, scented soaps, skincare lotions,
hair gels and sprays, building and renovation materials, carpets,
new upholstery, dry cleaning, and crease resistant fabrics.
Minute, invisible particles in the air in our homes are
also a threat to our health. They evade the body's filtering
mechanisms and penetrate deep into lung tissue, carrying toxic
substances, which are absorbed in the body.
This category includes copier toner, mold,
fine powders and dust, bacteria, and viruses.
'Hybrid' pollutants include combustion by-products from burning materials such as
cooking oil, candles, furnace oil, wood, tobacco and car exhaust; aerosol sprays which create
liquid particles often laden with toxic chemicals; and some biological contaminants such as mold spores
which produce chemical mycotoxins.
In some cases it is difficult to categorize pollutants
consistently, since there are overlapping factors involved which can place them in more than one category.
Common Reactions
These indoor air pollutants can cause or aggravate
serious health problems.
They can stimulate asthmatic and
allergic reactions, and affect major organs in our bodies,
including our heart, lungs and central nervous system-of which
the brain is the main component.
Reactions can include headaches,
dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, asthma, nausea, flu-like
symptoms, nasal congestion, cough, anxiety, loss of appetite,
'mental fog', depression, muscle pain and more.
Sick Building Syndrome
Some of these pollutants are in every home, even the cleanest.
With increased heating costs and concerted effort
to save our resources, we have created energy efficient homes.
However this tightly sealed environment prevents stale, chemical
laden air from escaping and fresher air from entering. So
the building envelope retains and re-circulates the indoor
air along with any chemical contaminants found in common household
items.
Your Personal Environment
Your indoor air quality will depend on
the age of your home (both new and old have their unique challenges), the type of heating,
the humidity level, the choice of furnishings
and insulation materials, the presence of pets or smokers,
the personal care products you use, your cleaning solutions and renovation materials.
Even the activity levels of the people in your home can affect
the air you breathe.
Reduce Your Risk
Balanced management of your whole home environment is the constructive way to healthier
living—keeping aware of the risk factors and avoiding them where you can.
The Clean Air Coach recommends a simple 3 Step Plan to improve the
air quality in your home: ventilate, eliminate, and filtrate.
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