Reduce indoor air pollution at home

Did you know that the levels of many pollutants have higher levels indoors than they do outdoors?

Hard to believe, but it's true. Because most people spend the bulk of their time indoors, serious consequences have resulted because of indoor air pollution. This is particularly true with the very young and the very old. These individuals spend even more time exposed to possible indoor air pollutants.

Of course there are tests that can be performed that give a complete analysis of the quality of indoor air. This can be quite expensive, but some of the simpler tests are very affordable. For example, you can buy a test that will tell you if your home has a radon problem. Radon is a major contributor of lung cancer.

SHORT OF HAVING THE AIR IN MY HOME ANALYZED, WHAT IS ANOTHER WAY OF EVALUATING WHETHER MY HOUSE HAS INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS?

A simple way is to examine your family's health and sickness history. This will often give clues to the quality of your air. The reason: Many symptoms that we assume are viral in nature are actually caused by pollutants in our own home.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT CAN SIGNIFY THAT MY HOME OR WORKPLACE HAS UNHEALTHY AIR?

· Coughing

· Wheezing

· Running nose

· Burning, itching eyes

· Headache

· Dizziness

· Lethargy

· Rashes

· Nausea

· Asthma

WHAT SUBSTANCES CAUSES THE AIR INSIDE OF MY HOME OR WORKPLACE TO BE UNHEALTHY?

There are a vast variety of reasons and some are more serious than others. The most common ones are:

· Tobacco smoke

· Carbon monoxide from improperly working stoves or heaters

· Exhaust from a motor vehicle(when a garage is attached to a house)

· Animal dander

· Molds

· Dust

· Formaldehyde

· Pesticides

· Solvents or cleaning products

· Airborne lead

· Mercury vapor

· Radon

· Asbestos

IT ALMOST SOUNDS OVERWHELMING. WHAT ARE SOME SIMPLE THINGS THAT I CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY INDOOR AIR?

It does sound complicated, but there are some things that you can do to immediately improve the air that you and your family breathes. Start with one or two of them. Then, as you get inspired, commit to doing more. Before you know it, your family will be breathing cleaner, healthier air.

1. If you rely on a wood stove, fireplace, or gas for your source of heat, install a carbon monoxide detector. This will accurately access whether you have a problem with the dangerous gas before it has a chance to harm your family. Remember, carbon monoxide can be a silent killer. SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING: fatigue, nausea, headaches, muscle pain or weakness.

2. Quit smoking or if you must smoke, do it outdoors. This is particularly important if you have children. SYMPTOMS THAT CIGARETTE SMOKE IS MAKING YOUR FAMILY SICK: runny noses, colds, asthma, ear infections, eye infections.

3. Find out whether your house has a lead problem. If you live in a home that was built prior to 1970, it could have been painted with lead-based paint. When this type of paint breaks down or chips, it releases airborne lead particles into the air. There are inexpensive tests that you can buy to check for lead in your home. PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LEAD POISONING: Attention deficit disorder, personality changes, hearing loss, tremor, lack of coordination. ***It is very important to have your child's blood tested for lead if they experience any of these symptoms or if your home is found to contain lead.

4. If you have a basement on your home, buy a test that measures the level of radon in your house. As mentioned earlier, radon is a major cause of lung cancer. If your home does have high radon levels, it can be rectified.

5. Check for areas of decay or mold around your home, basement, and the crawl space. These types of problems can be common in an overly moist basement. They are responsible for some cases of allergies and asthma.

6. When you remodel, know the content of the products that you buy. Formaldehyde has been used in many building products, pressed wood, and carpeting. It is a major contributor to indoor air pollution and is a probable carcinogen.

7. Keep your home dusted and vacuumed. This will cut down on many lung irritants. This is especially important if someone in your family suffers from asthma or allergies.

8. Have your air ducts cleaned.

9. If you use a humidifier, make sure it is kept clean and the water is kept fresh. Humidifiers release bacteria and pathogens into the air if they are not properly maintained.

I'M DOING WHAT I CAN TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE AIR WITHIN MY HOME, BUT I'M STILL HAVING SYMPTOMS. COULD THE AIR AT MY WORKPLACE BE THE SOURCE OF MY PROBLEMS?

Absolutely! There is a condition called "sick building syndrome" that is blamed for many health problems. They include:

· Lethargy

· Headache

· Dizziness

· Nausea

· Sensitivity to odors

· Irritation of the mucus membranes

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT "SICK BUILDING SYNDROME?"

First of all, find out if others in your workplace are having similar symptoms. Also, talk to a maintenance worker. Often times, the cause of sick building syndrome is a poorly designed or improperly maintained ventilation system. ***Legionnaire's disease is spread in this manner.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE INDOOR AIR THAT I BREATHE?

1. Have plants around your home or office. They have a natural air-filtering ability.

2. Use an ionizer or an air cleaner. They do a very good job of filtering the air and removing dangerous substances.

3. Cut down on your use of pesticides, hair sprays and other products that release chemicals into the air.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The quality of the air we breathe directly influences the quality of the life we lead. It is within our capability to improve the air in our homes. If we do that, we will all feel the benefits.