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 85%
of our exposure to pesticides comes from indoor sources
When you think about air pollution, what comes to mind? Smog?
Brown Cloud? Cars? How about “home”? Recent studies by the EPA
show that the air inside homes and buildings is on average two to
five times more polluted than the air in even the most industrial
cities1. With Americans spending an average of 90% of
their time inside, indoor air pollution can pose a serious health
risk.
So what’s causing this toxic indoor environment? The culprits run
the gamut from mold to invisible gases to household cleaning
products. Let’s take a look at some common indoor air pollutants
and how to eliminate them from your home.
Biological Pollutants
Not only do household allergens like mold, mildew, animal dander,
and dust mites cause common irritations like sneezing and
headaches, these biological contaminants have also been estimated
to lead to 200,000 emergency room visits per year by asthma
patients2.
Biological pollutants can be reduced or eliminated through regular
household cleaning, removing mold and mildew from damp areas,
washing bedding and pillows, and changing humidifier water
regularly.
Radon
This colorless, odorless gas is actually the second leading cause
of lung cancer, implicated in anywhere from 7,000-30,000 deaths
every year3. Radon gas naturally rises from the ground
and dissipates into the air. The problem arises when structures
such as homes are built over “hot spots,” thereby trapping the gas
inside. When breathed in, radon reacts with lung tissue, causing
damage that over time can lead to lung cancer.
The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to
test for it. Test kits are available at hardware stores for around
$25.00.
Carbon Monoxide
There’s yet another colorless and odorless gas besides radon that
may be lurking in your home, but this one could be far more
dangerous. Carbon monoxide gas is a deadly indoor air pollutant
and can be generated from the incomplete combustion of fuel in
household devices like gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters,
fireplaces, and cars. Carbon monoxide inhibits the transport of
oxygen through the body. At low levels of exposure, it may cause
dizziness, vomiting, muscle aches, and general weakness. High or
prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to death.
The number-one way to protect yourself and your family from carbon
monoxide poisoning is to purchase a carbon monoxide detector.
These units function like smoke detectors and go off when carbon
monoxide levels get too high. In addition, it’s wise to have a
professional check all fuel burning devices in your home (the
flames should be blue), never bring burning charcoal indoors,
never leave cars running in an enclosed or attached garage, and
always open the flue before starting a fire.
Formaldehyde
Carpets, upholstery, drapery fabric, and plywood paneling may be
releasing chemicals such as formaldehyde into your air.
Formaldehyde is classified by the EPA as a possible carcinogen.
Exposure to the chemical may cause headaches, eye, nose, and
throat irritation, dizziness and coughing. To make matters worse,
the adhesives in new carpeting may release a potentially dangerous
gas, which is responsible for that “new carpet smell.” New
clothing is also typically preserved with formaldehyde.
To reduce risk, open windows and ventilate the area when new
carpeting and furnishings are installed, and ask retailers for
information on carpet and upholstery emissions. Also, wash new
clothing before wearing it.
Household Products and Pesticides
Finally, let’s look at what is probably the most common source of
indoor air
pollution – household products. The cleaners, disinfectants,
paints, varnishes, and glues designed to make life easier also
release many harmful chemicals into the air of our homes.
Compounds from these products can pollute both while they are in
use and while they are in storage.
Surprisingly, even personal care products can contribute to indoor
pollution. Products like hairspray, hair dye, air fresheners, and
nail polish removers contain chemicals that evaporate easily into
the air and can lead to dizziness, headaches, and irritation to
the eyes, nose, and throat. Take note that aerosol sprays release
more chemicals into the air because they disperse the product in
tiny, airborne droplets.
What may come as a surprise to you is that many pesticides are
also found inside homes. Pesticides are used to kill or repel, and
according to the American Lung Association even a disinfectant is
a pesticide. Carpets act as reservoirs for the pesticides we track
in from outdoors, retaining these chemicals for years even though
they would break down within days outside. In fact, 85% of our
exposure to pesticides comes from indoor sources4.
The chemicals in household products and pesticides found indoors
can cause dizziness, headaches, irritation to eyes, nose, and
throat, nausea and even cancer. An estimated 3,000 cases of cancer
each year in the U.S. are thought to be caused by long-term use of
household products and pesticides5. This health risk
can easily be reduced by using natural, non-toxic methods of
cleaning and pest control, and paying close attention to label
warnings before using toxic products.
Simple daily adjustments can greatly reduce your risk of living in
a polluted home. Remember to read labels, keep toxic product lids
tight, ventilate your home, get detectors, and avoid the use of
toxic products whenever possible. Also, spread the word about
indoor air pollution, because once folks have a better
understanding of what may be making the air in their homes
unhealthy, they will be better armed to make choices to protect
their health and the health of the Earth. For more useful
information on indoor air quality, check out
www.epa.gov/iaq/ and
www.lungusa.org/air/indoor_factsheet99.html.
Signs of Possible Indoor Air Pollution:
• Stale or stuffy air; unusual odors
• A tightly constructed home (especially new homes)
• Noticeable health reactions from remodeling, redecorating,
installing new carpet, or moving to a new home
• Feeling noticeably better outdoors—Healthy Indoor Air for
America’s Homes, EPA
References:
1) EPA,
www.epa.gov/iaq/
2) EPA, The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, 1995.
3) Ibid.
4) EPA, Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes, 1999.
5) Everyday Exposure to Toxic Pollutants. Ott, Wayne and John
Roberts. Scientific
American, February 1998.
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