Question - What are some common indoor air pollutants that cause health issues? Air pollutants are also called biological pollutants.
They promote poor air quality.
Some of these pollutants can damage surfaces inside and outside your house.
They can travel through the air and may not be seen.
Some common biological indoor pollutants are: -Animal Dander -Dust mite and cockroach part -Indoor molds -infectious agents (bacteria/viruses) -Pollen Other sources of air pollution are: -Household cleaning/maintenance supplies -Perfumes -Tobacco smoke -Wood smoke Some of these items mentioned above are in every home, and I know you can not get rid of them all, but it just gives you some prospective.
Question: How can polluted air affect my health? All of us are exposed to air pollutants at some time or another.
However the effects on out health will depend on the type of pollution, amount of pollution, and the person exposed.
Some people do not have any health problems from exposure to pollutants while others can have a severe reaction.
Allergic reactions are the most common health problem from poor indoor air quality.
Some common signs and symptoms of poor air quality are: -Watery eyes -Runny nose and sneezing -Nasal congestion -Itching -Coughing -Wheezing and difficulty breathing -Headaches -Fatigue Question - Where are indoor air pollutants found? Indoor air pollutants are found in a variety of different places and some can be hidden.
Here are the most common areas where pollutant -Dirty heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) -Dirty humidifiers and dehumidifiers -Bathroom and kitchens without proper venting/windows -Refrigerator drip pans -Laundry room with non-vented dryer or damaged connection -Unventilated attic or crawlspace -Bedding -Carpet -Dogs and Cats -Showers -Sink cabinets Question - How can I test my home for indoor air pollutants? The first thing to do would be researching for a licensed/certified home inspector with additional certifications in indoor air quality (IAQ), and mold.
A full home inspection will point out issues such as structure, electrical, plumbing, but most important to air quality issues will be potential areas of water intrusion, such as roof leaks, improper flashing, missing sealant, plumbing leaks, etc.
Moisture as some of us may know will eventually cause mold growth and this is a potential health concern.
Indoor air quality and mold screening/testing will be the next items to tackle.
Samples should be taken at areas where the inspector recommends.
The samples should then be sent to a certified lab for testing.
A few days later your lab results should be ready.
I hope this Q and A information will help some people out there.
Thanks for reading!