by Travis Mitchell

Created on: April 08, 2010

When we think of air pollution, images of smoggy cities and industrial smokestacks usually come to mind. What we don’t picture is the air pollution that can potentially exist inside the home, the workplace or just about any building that we construct.

According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution is very much a reality, accounting for nearly 3% of disease worldwide. Before you come unglued though, let’s take a look at the different causes of indoor air pollution in order to better ascertain what risk, if any, you may be facing.

Formaldehyde:

A gas that is commonly found indoors is formaldehyde. Typically, it is only present in low amounts and occurs as a result of off-gassing. This is a natural process where materials used in the construction or renovation of a building will slowly release gases (in this case, formaldehyde) over a period of time. Various adhesives, varnishes and paints are common sources of formaldehyde being released via this method.

Formaldehyde is also released through combustion. Vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke and wood-burning stoves are common sources in this particular case.

Radon:

Radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from the breakdown of underground uranium. It is colorless, odorless and worst of all, radioactive.

While this sounds rather menacing, the truth is that our skin acts as a natural barrier and protects us. The danger lies with breathing radon in. Human lung tissue is susceptible to its radioactive effects, and long-term exposure to high levels of radon will put a person at an increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Radon is mostly a problem in homes and can seep into them through cracks or openings in the basement floor.

Carbon Monoxide:

This relatively well-known hazard is of course a gas that is released through combustion. It has no color, smell or taste, and so it is therefore nearly impossible to detect.

By reducing oxygen in a person’s bloodstream, carbon monoxide can cause everything from headaches and fatigue to full-blown comas and in some cases, even death.

Common sources of this silent killer would be basically anything that burns and is not properly ventilated. A few examples would be a blocked chimney, a car idling inside a garage, or perhaps even a barbecque.

Mold:

Unlike the previously mentioned pollutants, mold is biological in nature. It is a fungus that can be found thriving in damp areas of a building and if left unchecked, it can be a major source of indoor air pollution.

Mold reproduces by releasing spores into the air, which us unsuspecting humans will then breathe in. This can cause a variety of problems, such as allergic reactions, phlegm build-up and respiratory irritation.

Again, mold thrives in damp environments and feeds off organic material. So wooden windows are particularly susceptible. As are areas that receive a lot of water spillage.

Leaks as well can cause mold. So any areas that have taken water damage (whether mold can be seen or not) should definitely be inspected.

As you can see, indoor air pollution is not something to be taken lightly. Air quality issues exist not only out in the environment, but in the very buildings we inhabit.

SOURCES:

"Indoor Air Pollution", WHO

"Indoor Air Pollution", Medline Plus

"Indoor Air Quality", Health Canada

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