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Indoor Air Concerns All of us face a variety
of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving
in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities and
being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees
of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable, some we choose to accept
because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead a normal
life. Indoor air pollution is one risk you can do something about.
In the last several years a growing body of scientific evidence
has indicated that the air within our homes and other buildings
can be more polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and
most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people
spend 90 percent of their time indoors.
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Thus,
for many people, the risk to health may be greater due to the exposure
of indoor air pollutants. In addition, people who may be exposed
to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often
those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such
groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill,
especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the
air are the primary source of air pollution in homes and buildings.
Some of these sources are from combustion materials such as oil,
gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products. Other sources can
be Radon, car exhaust, mold spores, Asbestos, pesticides, paint,
carpets, and dust mites. Many other sources can effect a variety
of sensitive people. If you have headaches or rashes; If you sneeze
or cough; or if you have trouble breathing, believe what your body
is telling you even if other people in the home have none of the
symptoms you are experiencing. When we inspect a home we are looking
for sources of indoor air pollutants. If the home has a musty odor,
we recommend that the home be tested for airborne mold spores. We
also check the home for gas leaks and carbon monoxide. I am also
a healthy home consultant and know how to check a home for indoor
pollutants caused by off gassing from carpet, paint, plastics, and
a variety of other materials. If we believe that a home is not safe
or healthy we will inform you of this. Testing for causes of indoor
air pollutants is not part of the regular home inspection, except
for gas leaks and carbon monoxide. We would like to recommend a
book published by the John Hopkins School of Public Health; the
author is Jeffrey C. May and the title is “My House is Killing Me”.
Mr. May is a house scientist. His book is available from Borders
book store in Eau Claire and costs approximately $20.00.