The Online Guide to... Indoor Air Pollution

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

Indoor air pollution can pose significant health risks, especially if we spend a great deal of our time indoors. &, according to recent studies, most of us are--up to 90 percent of our time is indoor time.

Indoor Air Pollution: Sick Building Syndrome

Sick building syndrome is a term first used in the 1970s to describe symptoms experienced by occupants of a building that can be linked to their presence in the building. Usually, the building in question is an office building, but that is not always the case.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, or as it is technically known, environmental tobacco smoke, refers to smoke coming from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, or exhaled by a smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke is referred to as passive smoking. Secondhand smoke, a complex cocktail of cancer causing compounds, is a dangerous component of indoor air pollution.

Remodeling and Indoor Air Pollution Part two

The best time to address indoor air pollution issues is when you are remodeling your home, or taking steps to improve its energy efficiency. Indoor air pollution considerations should guide your purchases of new building materials and furnishings. If you plan to disturb any existing materials, there will also be indoor air pollution consequences to consider.

Remodeling and Indoor Air Pollution Part one

When you are remodeling your home, or taking steps to improve its energy efficiency, it is a perfect time to address issues related to indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution should be considered when purchasing new building materials and furnishings, and also when making decision about disturbing existing materials.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Radon

Radon usually exists as a gas. It is colorless, odorless, and radioactive. Usually radon is released by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil or rock. If a home or building is built on soil containing uranium, there is a risk that radon could enter through cracks and drains.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Pesticides

Indoor air pollution is a persistent risk in the world's industrialized countries. The chemical byproducts of technology & people's increasing time indoors combine to create a serious indoor air pollution problem.

Is Indoor Air Pollution a Problem in Your Office?

Most discussions of indoor air pollution and strategies to reduce exposure to dangerous levels of pollutants concentrate on residential homes. But indoor air pollution is not limited to homes. Many offices and office buildings face significant indoor air pollution problems.

Preventing Indoor Air Pollution in New Homes

If you are planning to construct a new home for your family, it's the perfect opportunity prevent indoor air pollution problems before they start. To make sure that you avoid exposure to indoor air pollution, you must give special attention to potential indoor air pollution sources and the air exchange rate in your new home.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Lead

Indoor health pollution can threaten anyone who spends time indoors. Surveys indicate that people in industrialized countries spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors. It makes sense to learn more about possible contaminants and how they may affect your health.

A Problem in YOUR Home?

It has been clearly established that indoor air pollution is a serious threat to health and safety. The risk of health effects are greater the more time people spend indoors. How can you tell if indoor air pollution is a current or potential problem in your house?

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Household Products

Most people how spend most of their time indoors are at risk for negative health effects of indoor air pollution. There are many sources of indoor air pollution, ranging from decaying uranium in the soil beneath the building to secondhand smoke from tobacco products.

Using Home Humidifiers

There are many benefits to using humidifiers in your home. They can help relieve the discomfort of dry nose, throat, lips and skin. By adding moisture to the air in your home, they are especially effective at reducing the effects of winter heating, like static electricity, peeling wallpaper and cracks in paint and furniture.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Formaldehyde

People who live in industrialized nations spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors. This puts them at risk for negative health effects of indoor air pollution.

Flood Cleanup

After you have experienced a flood and are beginning to clean your home or office, future indoor air pollution may seem to be the least of your worries. However, if flood cleanup is not completed correctly, you may face serious long-term health risks.

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution: Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, Chimneys

Indoor air pollution is a threat to the health of anyone who spends most of their time indoors. According to recent studies, people in industrialized countries, especially the United States & Europe, are spending as much as 90% of their time inside buildings and homes.

The Dangers of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is colorless & odorless. At high concentrations, it is lethal (that is, deadly) within minutes. Carbon monoxide is produced when any fuel is burned.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Biological Contaminants

Biological contaminants that contribute to indoor air pollution include bacteria, mold, mildew, dust mites, cockroaches and pollen. Biological contaminants can be traced to a variety of different sources.

Basic Strategies to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

The most outstanding way to reduce indoor air pollution is to get rid of each pollution source, or at least lower their emissions. Sources that contribute to indoor air pollution should be removed if possible.

Removing Asthma Triggers

Asthma is a serious respiratory illness affecting as many as 17 million Americans. Asthma attacks occur in response to triggers like allergens, cold air, exercise or stress.

Components of Indoor Air Pollution: Asbestos

People who spend most of their time indoors should consider the possible threat to their health from indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution continues to put people at risk throughout the world's industrialized countries.

A Real Threat?

Living can be pretty risky sometimes. We all face a variety of threats to our safety as we move about, attend work, play games, live life. Some risks are unavoidable and some we choose to accept as they are.

Indoor Air Pollution and Your Health

It is often difficult to know if poor health conditions are related to indoor air pollution. The health effects of indoor air pollution can occur immediately, or they may be delayed for years.

Air Duct Cleaning

indoors. If your air in your home is heated or cooled with a central air system, you may need to decide if cleaning the air ducts would help avoid the health effects of indoor air pollution.

Will Air Cleaners Help?

Indoor air pollution can be reduced three ways. The greatest thing to do is remove all sources of pollutant emissions.