Volume 2   Issue 16         

Safety News

 By Ronald Porep

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 Tuesday, March 25,  2003

           At home, do you have frequent headaches?  Do you feel nauseous even in the early morning class?  Do you feel better outside than inside your home? If so, your home air is making you sick. Recent research has found that in homes across America, the quality of indoor air can be worse than outdoor air. Why?

            Many homes are being built and remodeled tighter to save energy. We are also using more products and furnishings containing compounds sensitive to more and more occupants. But you do not have to move to win the battle against home air pollution. Are you or your family suffering from constant health problems? 

            Allergic reactions are the most common health problems associated with biological pollutants. Symptoms often include watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness and fatigue. 

             Dust mites have been identified as the single most important trigger for asthma attacks. Other symptoms of bad air can include nausea and skin rashes. Basically, if you or a family member suffer from a health problem that the doctor can not seem to find a cause for or the health problem seems to improve when the sufferer leaves home, then your home may have bad air.

What Is Making You Sick?

            There are many things in air that can make you sick. The natural environment of your home can cause pollutants in your home’s air or the cause can be artificial such as the results of a recent remodeling job in your home.

Molds, mildew, fungi, bacteria and dust mites are some of the main biological pollutants inside the house. Some, such as pollen, are generated outside the home.  Mold and mildew are generated in the home and release spores into the air.  Mold, mildew, fungi and bacteria are often found in areas of the home that have high humidity levels, such as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms or basements.  Dust mites and animal dander are problematic when they become airborne during vacuuming, making beds or when textiles are disturbed.  Biological pollutants though are not the only pollutants in your home air.

            Asbestos, formaldehyde and leaded paint dust can also be in the air. These hazardous materials can be released into the air when you remove paint, hang cabinets or disturb other existing products that contain these materials. Paints, stripping and finishing products, and adhesives can also create indoor air pollution.

            Major sources of asbestos are deteriorating, damaged or disturbed insulation, fire proofing or acoustical materials, and floor tiles. You won't feel any immediate symptoms from excessive asbestos exposure, both there is the long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung disease. Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer.

            Formaldehyde is often used as a preservative or as an adhesive in pressed wood products, such as paneling and particle-board, and furniture. Formaldehyde causes eye, nose and throat irritations; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rashes; headaches; loss of coordination; nausea; damage to liver, kidneys and the central nervous system; and severe allergic reactions. It has been linked to cancer.

            And, small amounts of lead dust, ingested regularly, can cause delayed development, reading and learning problems, lowered IQ, hyperactivity and discipline problems. Larger doses can cause high blood pressure, anemia, and kidney and reproductive disorders in kids and adults. Lead accumulates in the body and its effects are irreversible.

            While these pollutants can make you sick – in some severe cases kill – they are not the deadliest pollutant that can be in your home air. Carbon monoxide is the deadliest home air pollutant.  It  is an odorless, colorless gas that can be fatal when breathed. Low levels can cause nausea, dizziness, weakness and muscle ache. Higher doses can impair judgment, cause paralysis or coma, and death. CO is the deadliest pollutant though because it is difficult to determine if carbon monoxide is what is making your family ill because its symptoms are so similar to flu and allergies that even doctors miss diagnosing CO as the cause what may seem like an allergy or the flu.

            Carbon monoxide buildup can occur several ways: when flues or chimneys become blocked so exhaust cannot be vented to the outside; when a fuel burning furnace has a cracked or rusted heat exchanger, allowing combustion gases into the living spaces; when fuel-burning space heaters, ovens, ranges or grills are operated in the home without adequate ventilation; when car exhaust from an attached garage enters the home; when combustion equipment is not working properly and causes incomplete combustion; and when there's a negative pressure balance between the inside and outside of the home, preventing adequate venting of combustion gases.           

            Harmful build-ups of this gas can occur when: exhaust from combustion equipment is not vented to the outside of the home, and when combustion equipment is not in good working order and is not regularly inspected for safe operation. Some homes may have a problem with "back drafting." That's when the air pressure inside the home is less than the air pressure outside, causing combustion by-products from furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and similar equipment to spill back into the room rather than being vented outside. Back drafting can also occur when natural draft appliance exhaust is pulled back into the house by mechanical ventilation -- like a down-draft kitchen power vent.

            Carbon monoxide is an insidious killer but you do not have to be its victim.

Fighting Bad Air

Carbon Monoxide

            The best defense against carbon monoxide is knowing if it is in your home. Carbon monoxide may be the problem if you feel bad only when you're inside the home and the symptoms gradually disappear after you have left, or if more than one person in the home has similar symptoms. Remember carbon monoxide related symptoms are similar to those of the flu.

            You can know for sure if carbon monoxide has infiltrated your home by installing a CO detector which will alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It is important to choose and place a detector wisely and maintain it to assure accurate sensing of carbon monoxide. If your home air is polluted with carbon monoxide, call 911 and leave the house. Emergency personnel can air out your home and treat you and your family so all can be well again.

            To prevent carbon monoxide pollution, keep all combustion equipment well-maintained and inspected for safety. Experts recommend having your combustion heating systems inspected by a trained professional every year. Such inspections should look for blocked openings to flues and chimneys; cracked or disconnected flue pipe; signs of soot around openings in your furnace or boiler; rust or cracks in the heat exchanger; soot or creosote build-up; and exhaust or gas odors. Always operate combustion equipment for its intended purpose and make sure it has been installed correctly. Never use unvented combustion appliances indoors.

Formaldehyde

            Particle board is the major contributor of formaldehyde to the home environment. The culprit is the adhesive, urea formaldehyde, which can break down, releasing the formaldehyde. Phenol formaldehyde (used in exterior panels) does not present problems. Some particleboard is now manufactured with reduced formaldehyde.

            Other sources include interior plywood, veneered or laminated furniture and cabinets, some professionally applied furniture and floor finishes, paneling, permanent press fabrics (some drapes), combustion products and cosmetics.

            If your home has these source materials, it may be polluted with this killer chemical. There are self test kits you can use but the accuracy of such test kits is questionable so the best way to be sure is to hire a company that tests for formaldehyde. If you have a formaldehyde problem, you can reduce it.

            Formaldehyde cannot penetrate plastic laminate and is at least partly blocked by coatings. Varnishes and special formaldehyde sealants are also available. Apply these coatings to all exposed edges and surfaces, such as the undersides of countertops, cabinet interiors and drawers.  High humidity and elevated temperatures cause formaldehyde release, so you might want to control humidity through air conditioning and dehumidifiers. Also, increase ventilation, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the home.

            When remodeling and in new construction, select low formaldehyde materials.

Lead

            An estimated 57 million U.S. homes have at least some lead paint. Older homes are at greater risk. Prior to 1950, paint contained as much as 50 percent lead. Paint in good condition poses little risk. Paint that is peeling or on deteriorating surfaces is especially risky. Dust created from remodeling an older home can also be a source of lead.

            If you live in an older home, get your family tested for lead poisoning in the blood.  Do-it-yourself test kits are available at home centers, paint stores and ceramic supply stores. Their sensitivity is limited though. Also, it may be difficult to get accurate readings on surfaces with multiple levels of paint. For more accurate information, have a professional detection service conduct a lead-based paint risk assessment.

            If your home has a lead problem and you can not afford to have the problem corrected, there are things you can do to protect your family.  The cheapest way to control exposure to lead is through frequent damp mopping to control dust. (Vacuuming can disperse dust particles back into the room.) Pick up loose paint chips with duct tape. Frequent washing of your child's hands and toys will also reduce exposure. It's important not to sand or scrape leaded paint, or do any other activities that generate dust.

            Of course, the best protection is getting a professional involved.  Eliminating lead dust hazards is complex and should only be done by professionals. Measures include replacing windows and moldings, paint removal and covering surfaces with materials such as wallboard. Children should be removed until the site "clears" inspection.

Biological Contaminants

Dust Mites

           The elimination of dust mites may require replacing carpeting in the home with hard surfaced flooring and area rugs that can be removed and cleaned. If you can not afford to replace your carpeting with hardwood floors with area rugs, vacuums with high efficiency filters or central vacuum systems can help reduce the airborne dust generated by vacuuming.

Mold

            Mold is the most common biological contaminant in home air but it is also easily controlled. Look and smell surfaces for mold, Use a disinfectant – such as bleach - to clean surfaces that have mold on them. Keep humidity at acceptable levels (less than 50 percent) and make sure there's plenty of ventilation, especially in areas where moisture tends to build up.

Humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning condensing units should be regularly cleaned with a disinfectant such as chlorine bleach. Prevent mold growth by keeping basements, bathrooms and other rooms clean and dry. If carpeting or furnishings become wet, they must be quickly and thoroughly dried or discarded.

Conclusion

            You can successfully fight some of the air pollutants in your home but other pollutants are best left to professionals. However you fight the battle against home air pollution though, you do not have to let home air pollution make you retreat from your home.

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Please live safetly.

THE END