Did you know that people in America spend 90 percent of their time indoors? It might seem safer and cleaner, but indoor air pollution is linked to a host of health effects. Common indoor air pollutants -- which are exacerbated by smoke, mildew, and gas -- include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, secondhand smoke, asbestos, lead, and volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds.
Not to worry, it’s easy to reduce the risk. Start by replacing products that contribute to the problem, then try some other simple steps.
What to Do
Our furnishings are the source of a substantial portion of indoor air pollution. That’s why it’s essential to use natural products are natural, from upholstery fabric and carpeting, to building material glues and adhesives, to paint and wallpaper.
Likewise, when indoor pollutants do decrease air quality, use non-toxic techniques to scent the house, such as placing orange slices, lemon slices, cloves, or any other herb in boiling water on the stove.But be careful – the term “non-toxic” is not regulated. Look for specific claims and product ingredients.
Safety Checklist
- Ventilate the home by opening windows, even for a short time. It’s is the second best pollution reduction strategy in your home after prevention.
- Populate your home with indoor plants, which absorb air impurities. Areca palm, lady palm, bamboo palm, rubber plant, and Boston fern are great examples.
- Use air cleaners and purifiers with approved HEPA filters.
- Change the air filter in your air conditioning and heating units as the season change, or at least once a year.
- Change your vacuum bag, and be sure it has a clean filter to prevent the spreading of dust, which can be redistributed into the air.
- Avoid carpets and synthetic flooring. All natural rugs, like jute or wool, or wood flooring (with safe adhesives) are better, chemical-free alternatives.
- Don’t use conventional paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, furniture made from particle board, and “air fresheners” that emit harmful chemicals. Instead, seek non-toxic, naturally derived, and “low or no VOC” alternatives for paints, carpets, and furnishings.
- “Air out” new carpets and home furnishings before indoor use, especially newly painted and newly carpeted rooms. The new carpet smell is most likely unhealthy.
- Use building materials, furniture and other products that are low emissions.
More Information
On a typical cleaning day in a typical home, levels of chemicals in the indoor air can be hundreds, even thousands of times higher than the outdoor air in the most polluted of cities. Household cleaning products, personal care products, pesticides, craft product and solvents may all contribute to indoor air pollution.
Research
- Indoor air pollution is linked to a host of health effects, including chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, headaches, nausea, fatigue, liver damage, harm to the immune, reproductive, nervous and cardiovascular system, and cancer.
- A recent California Air Resources Board study found that elevated exposures to air pollutants can be expected to occur following the use of common cleaning products and air fresheners. The study also found that some chemicals present in household cleaning products react with ambient ozone, resulting in formation of other potentially hazardous compounds and particulate matter.
- Many household cleaning products also contain hidden cancer-causing ingredients.
