Air pollution is the measure of excessive gases, particles, and biological matter in the Earth’s atmosphere that can be harmful to the health of life on the planet. Air pollution is caused by natural processes like wildfires or human activity like the effects of industry. The impact of air pollution on human life can include allergies, disease and even death.
When we think about air pollution, we don’t always think about the quality of the air inside. Indoor air pollution is common and it can pose a more immediate threat to our health and wellbeing as well as the health and wellbeing of our loved ones. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been attributed to poor productivity in workplaces, learning difficulties, and ill health, all of which contributes to something called “Sick Building Syndrome.”
There are a number of common indoor air pollutants to be aware of and learning about IAQ is necessary step to correcting the problem. Here is a list of common indoor air pollutants.
1. Second-hand smoke
Since the 1970s, we have known that the harmful effects of smoking tobacco and other substances are not limited to the smokers themselves. Also called passive smoking, second-hand smoke is harmful to everyone breathing the air in a confined space where someone is smoking. Smoking produces harmful gases and particles that can enter the lungs of people exposed to second-hand smoke.
Older people, children and people with existing breathing difficulty are especially vulnerable. Awareness about the damaging impact of second-hand smoking helped many communities to outlaw smoking in public places. The health risks of second-hand smoking include cancer, heart diseases, respiratory diseases, and other lung problems.
2. Radon
Radon (Rn) results from the decay of the radioactive element radium, which is found in underground rock formations and even inside some building materials. This invisible atomic gas is one of the most pervasive and common indoor air pollutants across North America and Europe.
Radioactive itself, radon represents a serious health risk and is responsible for tens of thousands of cases of lung cancer each year. It can enter a building through drinking water, especially from bathrooms. Home radon test kits are available. In most places, a home must be professionally tested for radon before it can be sold. Simple prevention tools like sealing concrete flooring, basement foundations, water drainage systems, and increasing ventilation can help mitigate the risk of radon contamination.
3. Carbon dioxide
Human beings are the main source of carbon dioxide (CO2) inside most buildings. CO2 is a dense colorless gas that will take on a sharp and acidic odor when it is present in large quantities. The CO2 level in a closed space can increase dramatically within as little as 45 minutes. Exposure to CO2 can cause drowsiness, headaches, sluggishness and decreased energy in humans.
Fortunately, it is relatively easy to measure and can be effectively manage by improving ventilation, which can be as simple as upgrading your air conditioning system.
4. Carbon Monoxide
Odorless, tasteless and invisible, carbon monoxide (CO) is difficult to detect. Carbon monoxide is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels that forms when there is not enough oxygen in the environment to produce carbon dioxide. Using a stove or an engine in a closed space with poor ventilation can cause carbon monoxide to form. Sources of carbon monoxide include tobacco smoke, automobile exhaust, defective heaters or heating furnaces and stoves.
This gas is toxic to humans and animals because it stops a body from absorbing oxygen. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poison include headache, dizziness, exhaustion, confusion, nausea, and an accelerated heart rate. Exposure to carbon monoxide can prove fatal.
5. Ozone
Ozone (O3) is a light blue gas that has a unique and pungent odor. O3 is produced when ultraviolet light connects with the Earth’s atmosphere. It can also form from lightning or as a result of certain electric devices. O3 can even be by-product from other kinds of air pollution. As an indoor air pollutant, the presence of O3 is often the result of specific electronic office equipment like photocopiers. It is incredibly hard on the respiratory system, and can cause wheezing, coughing, and loss of breath.
6. Asbestos
Once valued in construction for its fire-retarding abilities, asbestos was common in many building materials like tiles, shingles, heating systems, piping, and insulation materials made before 1975. Homes and buildings like schools, hospitals and industrial buildings from this period often contain asbestos. As asbestos disintegrates or is otherwise damaged, tiny microscopic fibers enter the air. Asbestos fibres are released in significant qualities when building materials that contain asbestos are manipulated with power tools like saws, drills or sanders.
Unfortunately, the fibres in asbestos easily enter the lungs and cause serious diseases including cancer (especially mesothelioma) and emphysema. Asbestos removal is not always possible, because the material spreads into the air during removal. An asbestos mitigation strategy is recommended. Sometimes sealing or covering asbestos materials is sufficient to prevent their spreading in the air.
7. Mold
Mold is a name for a large varied group of fungi that grows in moist environments. Molds are microbes that cause natural materials to biodegrade. Molds will form colonies in moist areas and spread. In buildings, mold forms if moisture is allowed to buildup inside cracks or leaks in the building. Condensation from poor ventilation, or ground moisture penetrating a building part also cause mold growth.
Visible mold is a sign of poor indoor air quality. Mold causes serious respiratory trouble, skin allergies, and more. The growth of mold can be slowed by keeping humidity low (below 50 per cent) by using a dry heating system. Mold inspection and remediation are costly and involved processes. Many believe removing all affected areas is the only solution to mold infestation.