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Indoor Air Pollutants
Much has been made of the pollution that can be found in the outdoor environment but did you know that there are also indoor air pollutants that can be found in your home and that may be affecting your health? Find out more here.
What is Indoor Air?
Indoor air has been defined as the air within a building that is occupied for at least one hour by people of varying states of health. Such spaces include the office, classroom, transport facility, shopping centre, hospital, and home. Indoor air quality can be defined as the totality of attributes of indoor air that affects a person’s health and wellbeing.
The concern when it comes to indoor air is that homes and other dwellings are becoming better sealed from the external environment, meaning that pollutants from indoor sources are being found at higher concentrations.
Types of Indoor Air Pollutants
There are several types of indoor air pollutants. These include:
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke – is a major indoor air pollutant and contains about 4000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, as well as 43 carcinogens.
• Formaldehyde – is a common chemical that is found primarily in adhesive or bonding agents for many materials found in households and offices, including carpets, upholstery, particle board, and plywood paneling.
• Asbestos – is the name given to a group of microscopic mineral fibres that are flexible, durable, and will not burn. These fibres are light and small enough to remain airborne. Many asbestos products are found in the home, such as roofing and flooring materials, wall and pipe insulation, spackling compounds, cement, coating materials, heating equipment, and acoustic insulation. These products only become a problem when the material is disturbed and becomes airborne, or when it disintegrates with age.
• Heating systems and fuel burning appliances – whether gas, fuel or wood, these can produce several combustion products, of which the most dangerous are carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
• Household products – such as cleaning agents, personal care products, pesticides, paint, hobby products, and solvents can be sources of hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals.
• Biological pollutants – such as mould, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality.
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Related Categories
Air Conditioning
Asbestos Removal
Ventilation