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 POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEATLH PROBLEMS People who have chronic headaches, nausea, itchy eyes or other ailments might want to consider whether their home is part of the problem. Indoor air can harbor many potentially hazardous materials, These materials can cause a variety of health problems -- some common, some very serious -- that people don't associate with poor indoor air quality. 
Some of the more recognizable indoor air pollutants -- because they can be seen or smelled -- include cigarette smoke, asbestos, formaldehyde, carpet fumes, mold and mildew. Less easy to recognize are carbon monoxide, lead and radon. A variety of household products can also degrade indoor air quality if used improperly. Recent research has found that in homes around the country, the quality of home indoor air can be worse than outdoor air. Many homes are being built and remodeled tighter without considering the factors that assure fresh and healthy indoor air. A primary reason for health problems, though, is that we are using furnishings, combustion appliances and hobby and household products that can compromise the quality of the indoor air. 
Some products, like lead-based paint, can
produce serious health problems. Lead, which
has been banned in gasoline and household
paint but still persists in the environment,
causes delayed development, learning problems,
hyperactivity and other problems in children
who ingest small, but regular amounts. Both
kids and adults can suffer high blood
pressure, anemia and kidney and reproductive
disorders.
Combustion by-products from wood stoves, fireplaces, un-vented space heaters, gas ovens and stoves can damage the respiratory tract and irritate the eyes, nose and throat. One of the components of combustion, carbon monoxide, can kill, and in small amounts, cause flu and allergy symptoms. 
Excessive amounts of formaldehyde, used as a
preservative and adhesive in building products
and furnishings, can trigger asthma attacks
and damage the liver, kidneys and the central
nervous system. In lower amounts, it can
irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause
coughing, fatigue, skin rashes, headaches and
nausea.
People who are remodeling should be especially on guard for these symptoms, since disturbance can release formaldehyde, asbestos, carpet fumes and leaded paint dust. If asbestos is present, and you disturb it, you won't feel immediate symptoms, but there is a long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung disease. Even some relatively common household products can cause undesirable health effects, if they are not used properly. These products include paints, strippers, solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol sprays, cleansers, moth repellents, automotive products, hobby supplies and pesticides. 
People have more and more products in their
home environments. When we mix a variety of
these products, there is a greater potential
for problems, especially if there is
inadequate ventilation.
Molds, mildew, fungi, bacteria and other biological pollutants are also a source of common health problems such as headaches, watery eyes, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, fatigue and breathing difficulties. If people are chronically afflicted with some of these ailments, their home's indoor air may be part of the problem. If you find you feel better when you leave the house, and the symptoms return when you spend time at home, you ought to find out whether indoor air pollutants are the source. 
809 Live Oak Drive, Suite 30 Chesapeake, Virginia 23320-2600 Ph: 757-366-5237 | E-mail: [email protected] 
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