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Indoor Air Pollutants are among us.
As the result of a 1989 study, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that our exposure to some air pollutants can be up to 100 times greater indoors--where most of us spend about 90% of our time--than outdoors. The EPA now classifies IAQ as one of our most important environmental concerns.
Types of Indoor Air Pollutants:
Bioaerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds, Particules
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Indoor Air Pollutants cause health problems.
Respiratory allergens and pollutants can trigger a wide range of symptoms, including allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, headaches, fatigue, nausea, depression, dermatitis, rash, sore throat, nasal congestion, and itchy or watery eyes. The very young, the eldery, and the estima ted 50 to 60 million Americans and more than one billion people worldwide afflic ted with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems are most severely affec ted . People with weakened immune systems, such as cancer or AIDS patients, can be especially susceptible to more severe complications, such as bronchial infections or pneumonia. While medical science has made great strides in developing medications to treat reactions to allergens, health professionals generally recommend reducing or eliminating exposure over merely treating the symptoms.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention place air pollutants in 3 categories:
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Particulates:
"A growing body of evidence now suggests that particulate matter poses a serious threat to public health in many American cities and may contribute to premature deaths from heart and lung disease."
- Dr. Carol Browner, EPA Administrator
Common indoor air particulates include dirt, dust, fibers, tobacco smoke particles, and fireplace or wood stove soot. Airborne particulate matter can range from 0.1 to 100 microns in size; however, more than 99% of these particles are five microns or smaller in size, and invisible to the human eye. (To put this size in perspective, the width of a human hair is 50 to 200 microns.) Particulates five microns or smaller are called "respirable" particles because they are small enough to bypass the human body's defense mechanisms and become lodged in the lungs.
Bioaerosols
"An estimated 8 percent of the adult population and 20 to 25 percent of children in the population suffer from Type I allergic reactions to fungi."
- October, 1998 article in 'Occupational Hazards'
Bioaerosols, which are particulates from living organisms, are among the leading causes of asthma attacks and respiratory allergic reactions in humans. Examples of bioaerosols are dust mite and insect remains, pollens, pet hair and dander, bacteria, molds, and fungi. Bioaerosols are generally smaller than 10 to 20 microns in size, and most are smaller than one micron. Molds and dust mites are also often present in dirt and dust particles. Bioaerosols can also create odors, including the characteristic musty smell associa ted with molds.
Volatile Organic Compounds
"Formaldehyde is a common chemical, found primarily in adhesive or bonding agents for many materials found in households and offices, including carpets, upholstery, particle board, and plywood paneling. The release of formaldehyde into the air may cause health problems, such as coughing; eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin rashes, headaches, and dizziness."
- American Lung Association
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) include potentially harmful or irritating gaseous chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene. VOCs can be the result of "off-gassing" from man-made materials such as carpeting, composite wood products and chemicals. They can also be from secondhand tobacco smoke, which is known to include more than 200 VOC, and from mold and fungal growth. VOC emissions often include unpleasant odors. |
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