INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROFESSIONALS

PRIMARY CAUSES OF INDOOR AIR PROBLEMS
Primary causes of IAQ and Common Pollutants

Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the area. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.


7 Common Indoor Air Pollutants

(1)  Pollutant: carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, invisible gas. It’s produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
Risks:
Carbon monoxide stops your body from using the oxygen it needs to work normally. You may experience tiredness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and a fast heart rate. If the concentration of carbon monoxide is high enough, you could die.

(2)  Pollutant: radon
Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is found everywhere in low levels. It is made naturally as the uranium in the Earth breaks down.
Risks:
Being exposed to elevated levels of radon increases your risk of getting lung cancer.


(3)  Pollutant: nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a common oxide of nitrogen. It is a toxic and corrosive gas.
Please note that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is different from nitrous oxide (N2O), an oxide of nitrogen that is medically useful when administered by trained professionals, such as dentists.
Risks:
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) irritates the throat, eyes, nose, and respiratory tract.
Exposure to very high doses of NO2, such as at the site of a building fire, can lead to pulmonary edema (potentially fatal liquid build-up in the lungs) or lung injury. Moderate exposure can lead to acute or chronic bronchitis.  Low-level exposure can impair lung function for people who are already at risk, such as asthmatics, people with chronic obstructive lung disease, and children.


(4)  Pollutant: secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke, comes from incompletely burned tobacco products. According to the Environmental Assistance and Protection Department of Forsyth County, secondhand smoke contains over 4,700 chemical ingredients.
Risks:
In the short term, exposure to secondhand smoke can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. In the long-long, it can cause many of the same health problems as smoking, like wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung cancer. Asthma attacks may be triggered by secondhand smoke exposure.

(5)  Pollutant: lead particles
Lead is a natural, soft metal that is very toxic if consumed. Lead was widely used in house paint until it was banned in 1978. Lead particles and dust can become airborne, leading to dangerous indoor air pollution.
Risks:
Exposure to lead can damage the brain, nervous system, kidneys, and red blood cells. If children are exposed, they may develop short attention spans, behavioral problems, lower IQ levels, and delayed growth.


(6)  Pollutant: asbestos
Asbestos is the name used for a group of minerals found naturally all over the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declared asbestos unsafe in 1971, listing it as a hazardous air pollutant. Although asbestos is not hazardous when intact, disturbing asbestos fibers causes them to become airborne, where they could potentially enter the lungs.
Risks:
In the long-term, exposure to asbestos can lead to various lung disorders, including lung cancer and asbestosis. Asbestosis is an inflammatory condition of the lungs that causes coughing, trouble breathing, and permanent lung damage. Those affected by asbestos should consult asbestos exposure lawyers.


(7)  Pollutant: mold
Molds are types of fungi that grow indoors and outdoors. Some types of mold are harmless, while others are dangerous.
Risks:
Mold can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can include nasal stuffiness, eye or throat irritation, swelling, coughing or wheezing, headaches, or skin irritation. Severe reactions can lead to fever and trouble breathing.

Contaminants may come from outside, but indoor sources such as:

• Building materials
• Consumer goods
• Pets
• Mold

are also a causes.

Poor ventilation will cause contaminates  to accumulate to unsafe levels, an issue that often spikes as we seal up buildings to conserve heat in fall and winter.

In countless consumer goods such as: paint, glue, printers, rugs and shower curtains, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) are to name a few. VOC's have low boiling points, even at room temperature, allowing them to "off-gas" harmful vapors.

Some VOC vapors can cause short-term health effects, such as headaches and nausea, while others, such as brain damage and cancer, pose long-term risks. For what is widely called "Sick Building Syndrome," VOC's were responsible.

There might not always be noticeable mold and mold colonies. In wall cavities, some mold can be caught. Not visible but still give off dangerous mycotoxins and MVOCs to the human eye!