The Air in Your Home

When I began studying indoor air quality I came across information that was both enlightening and very scary.  The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has found that indoor air is typically between two and five times more contaminated than outdoor air, making Sick Buildings one of the top five threats to human health. And, many buildings are worse!

What is causing our indoor pollution?  What can we do about it?

In some cases, improvements are easy once we know the cause.  The primary cause of poor indoor air quality is actually gasses or particles being released into the air.  Then inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by: a) not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from these pollutants, and b) not carrying indoor air pollutants outdoors.  In other words, low air exchange rates typically increase pollutant levels.

Combustion sources are common air pollutants and include oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood and tobacco.  We can reduce the likelihood of combustion gasses entering indoor air space by installing sealed-combustion furnaces and power-vented water heaters.  If you need a new furnace, get the highest efficiency type…it’s worth the investment.

And this is the one the really amazed me, a huge source of pollutants are building materials and furnishings (off gassing).  We all know about the dangers of asbestos-containing insulation, but this list is just as harmful:

Wet or damp carpet
Pressed wood products
Household cleaning and maintenance products
Air Fresheners
Dirty central heating and cooling systems
Dirty humidification devices
And outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution
The list goes on…

I used to think that ‘tightening’ a house (through energy-efficient windows, weatherization, etc.) would inevitably lead to poor indoor air quality.  But, I’ve learned that this is a common misconception.  Well-designed ventilation inside a well-sealed house can actually help control moisture and pollutants, save energy, and provide a comfortable environment indoors.

The good thing is that we can do lots to improve the air we breathe at home.  The best cure is to remove the source of the air pollution.  If you can’t do that, improving the ventilation will lower pollutant concentrations.  Open the windows, operate that attic fan, run window air conditioners with the vent controls open, and be sure to use that bathroom exhaust fan!  Air cleaners are another good option, but while they work well for removing particles from the air, they are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.

I’ve switched to Biokleen products which I buy at The Drycleaning Station.  They have laundry products, dish soap, cleaning products and more.  I accidentally used the toilet cleaner to scrub out my shower (I thought it was the general purpose cleaner) and it didn’t even irritate my hands.  Its soy based, mild, and smells really nice, too.  If that had been Vanish I’d probably have a rash up to my elbows.  And Scrubbing Bubbles has sent people to the hospital after inhaling too much.  Seventh Generation is good, too.  You just might find you have fewer headaches, less eye/nose/throat irritation, and less fatigue…these are all health effects from indoor pollution.  I feel better after switching to more earth friendly products and I wish that for you, too.  Let me know if you have found other great products you’d like to recommend!