Air Quality Hits Close to Home

Summer time brings with it carefree days by thecausing disastrous health problems.
pool, picnics in the park and . . .- Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas
Air Quality Advisories warning you to staythat interferes with how oxygen is distributed
indoors?throughout your body. The carbon monoxide in
The real question is this: are you really any saferyour home comes from anything that uses gas,
indoors?fuel or wood. These appliances include fuel burning
On those hot days, when you are forced indoorsstoves, furnaces, fireplaces, heaters, water
by the air quality index warnings, chances are thatheaters and dryers.
you are shutting yourself into an equally noxious- Nitrogen Dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that
indoor environment. During the summer months,is also produced by fuel burning elements in your
the EPA makes a daily calculation of how muchhome, just like the appliances listed above that
pollution is in the air. Certain elements like ozone,also produce carbon monoxide.
particles (pollen, dust, etc), the overall- Asbestos products are found in many homes in
temperature of the air and the amount of UVroofing and flooring materials, wall and pipe
exposure are measured to determine how muchinsulation, spackling compounds, cement, coating
of a combined hazard is created. If one of morematerials, heating equipment and acoustic
of these elements are higher than would be safe,insulation. The potential problems arise as these
it usually is advisable to spend the day indoors.elements deteriorate with age or are disturbed
An overlooked factor in the EPA's advise to stayand become airborne.
indoors is the quality of your indoor air. Statistics- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is another
have shown that very few people understandname for second hand smoke. This is a very
just how hazardous your indoor air can be. Youfamiliar pollutant to many people-but if you have
typically spend 90% of your day indoors, whetherlived with ETS for many years, you are at just
you are at work, at school or at home, and theas much risk for developing health problems as
truth is that you encounter far more dangerouspeople who are smokers.
conditions indoors. Apparently 80-90% of all the- Everyday cleaning supplies, personal care
pesticides that come in contact with your bodyproducts, paints, pesticides, hobby products and
do so inside your home. Simple house-holdsolvents represent a huge group of potentially
appliances like gas stoves or gas water heatersdangerous chemicals. These chemicals are
can cause carbon monoxide poisoning-thisresponsible for causing anything from dizziness
condition is commonly overlooked because of itsand nausea, to allergic reactions and even to
cold or flu-like symptoms. This means that part ofcancer.
the problem with indoor pollution is that no one isWhat Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
aware of the full extent of the danger or able to
detect or indentify the symptoms of bad indoor1. Be aware of the potential hazards in your
air quality.home, work or school. For example: damp areas
Some Unsavory Things Found in Your Indoor Air:are prone to molds; houses with adjoined garages
- Formaldehyde is a chemical compound that ismay cause carbon monoxide to enter the house,
found in adhesive or bonding agents used in theetc. It's not good to be paranoid, but be aware of
construction of furniture. It is also emitted bypotentially harmful indoor environments.
carpet, upholstery, particle board and plywood.2. Be aware of the health symptoms linked to
- Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that ispoor indoor air quality and inform your health
naturally occurring and can enter your houseprovider if you have any reason to suspect that
through basements and crawlspaces. It isan illness may be attributed to air pollution.
estimate that one in every 15 homes has radon3. Have the air inside your home tested. There
levels that merit immediate action (according toare many do-it-yourself test kits that are
the EPA). Radon is the second leading cause ofavailable, but some air contaminants can only be
lung cancer (smoking is the primary cause of lungdetected by specialized equipment that can costs
cancer).hundreds or thousands of dollars. Consult a
- Biological pollutants are naturally occurring in yourprofessional to have you air thoroughly tested.
home or are easily brought inside from the4. Install an air purification system. One way to
outdoors. These include molds, bacteria, viruses,temper any potential hazards is to be proactive.
pollen, dust mites and animal dander. LargeAn air purification system that has HEPA filters
amounts of these elements can make even a(like those made by Dynamic Air Cleaners) is very
healthy person experience irritation or developeffective at removing any harmful particulates. As
allergic sensitivities.for other contaminants, such as gases and odors,
- Molds are responsible for a number of healthviruses and bacteria or mold spores, utilizing a
conditions ranging from asthma to cancer. Theultra violet air purifier will neutralize any concerns.
result of mold exposure varies depending on theBoth Biozone air purifiers and Air Oasis air purifiers
amount of mold spores in the air and the varietyuse this technology. Consider installing a whole
of mold that produced them. There are even ahouse air purifier system, so that your home can
few varieties of mold that can enter your body,be a safe haven from unhealthy air quality.