Indoor Air Pollution: A Toxic Problem

What is indoor air pollution and where does it come from in my home or office? Indoor air pollution is a product of many substances that result in chemicals, fumes, and gases in the air you breathe on a daily basis. The air pollution in homes and offices is up to five times greater than outside air. This seems hard to believe but it is true.

This level of air pollution has risen in the past few years as we build more and more energy efficient homes and offices. A focus on energy efficiency is good from the aspect of wanting to help save the environment and avoid the needless waste of natural resources. However we have created another problem, an increase in indoor air pollution.

Homes and businesses need to breathe, just like we do. We need to let out the toxic gases that are in our lungs and bring in fresh oxygenated air. Your home or business needs to regularly exchange the toxic indoor air for fresh outdoor air. Using construction techniques that provide for air tight buildings to support energy efficiency has caused the problem of the non-breathing homes and businesses. Some businesses design ways for the air to be exchanged, but not all. Few homes include this ability, because of the added cost to the design. Also, few home owners realize the problem.

So what construction and décor materials in the home or office cause indoor air pollution? One is carpet, most carpets are made from synthetic materials and these synthetic materials give off chemicals. When you walk into a new home or a room that has just had new carpet laid down, have you ever stated: “I can tell the carpet is new, because it has that new carpet smell!” That smell comes from the chemicals in the synthetic carpet evaporating into the air you are breathing.

Paints are made from chemicals and they leave that new paint smell in a room when it has just been painted. That smell is air pollution that results in chemicals being released into the air. Especially oil based paints; they are the worst of all. Have you been in a room that has just been painted with oil based paint? The smell is overpowering and the longer you stay in the room the more your head hurts and you begin to lose your sense of smell. That is toxic air pollution that will cause severe bodily harm with prolonged exposure. The problem is even though you can not notice the smell in a room that was painted with oil based paints after a period of time, the chemical pollution is still present for years.

Another source of air pollution in homes and offices comes from finishing plasters. These plasters emit powdered pigments, highly toxic lacquers, and benzine into the air that you breathe. Benzine is a known carcinogenic that causes cancer and the pigments, along with lacquers, pollute the air with hazardous chemicals that may cause health problems in the long term. Even in low doses you do not even know that it is there, your health is at risk if exposed to these over many years.

Indoor air pollution is a problem that everyone needs to recognize and do something about, before they start developing long term health problems.