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Indoor Air Pollution 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 our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor Air Pollution is one risk that you can do something about. In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.
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 air pollution consists of toxic gases and/or particles that can harm your health. These pollutants can build up to higher levels indoors than those found outside. Most indoor air quality problems are not visible to the naked eye. Mold spores, pollen, pet dander and other bio contaminants may be at very high levels in the air, yet undetectable to the human eye. If these bio contaminants can't be seen, how can we know if the air we breathe is healthy or unhealthy? Air sampling is one of the best methods used to determine if the air we breathe is healthy or unhealthy.
Once a mold begins to bloom, it quickly matures and sends spores floating throughout the structure to be breathed by everyone who comes in contact with it. Reported symptoms can include those such as headaches, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, allergic reactions, and aggravation of asthma symptoms. People who are sensitive to a fungus report that even a tiny amount causes the discomforts in the form of sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever, and digestive problems. Some allergic reactions are the result of a previous exposure that a person may not have been aware of. As a result, people who have noticed only mild allergic reactions, or no reactions at all may suddenly find themselves very sensitive to particular molds.
Carpets, chemical cleaners, aerosol sprays, pesticides, air fresheners, smoke, pet dander, odors, cooking, house dust, some furniture, unvented or malfunctioning gas appliances, dry-cleaned clothing, and many other items found in the average house or office can all contribute to poor indoor air quality and affect your health.
Darcy G Provost is a CMI ( Certified IAQ/Mold Inspector ), CBA ( Certified Biocide Applicator), and Certified Indoor Air Quality Specialist. For more information contact us at 250-769-2891 or www.freshairspaces.com
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