REFERENCE GUIDE TO MAJOR INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS IN THE HOME
The pollutants listed in this guide have been shown to cause the health effects mentioned. However, it is notnecessarily true that the effects noted occur at the pollutant concentration levels typically found in the home. Inmany cases, our understanding of the pollutants and their health effects is too limited to determine the levels at which the listed effects could occur.
RADON (Rn)
Sources: Earth and rock beneath home; well water; building materials
Health Effects: No immediate symptoms. Estimated to contribute to between 7,000 and 30,000 lung cancerdeaths each year. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer
Levels in Homes: Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon levelis 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)
Source: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; may contribute to heart disease.Specifically for children, increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections; build-up of fluid in the middle ear; increased severity and frequency of asthma episodes; decreased lung function
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smokers or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, those outdoors. Homes with one or more smokers may have particle levels several times higher than outdoor level
BIOLOGICALS
Sources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems.Can cause asthma; humidifier fever; influenza and other infectious diseases
ORGANIC GASES
Sources: Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products;hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney,and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
Levels in Homes: Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1000 times background outdoor levels.
RESPIRABLE PARTICLES
Sources: Fireplaces, woodstoves, and kerosene heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer. (Effects attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are listed elsewhere.)
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smoking or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, outdoor levels.
FORMALDEHYDE
Sources: Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) and furniture madewith these pressed wood products. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). Combustion sources andenvironmental tobacco smoke. Durable press drapes, other textiles, and glues.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergicreactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under "organic gases."
Levels in Homes: Average concentrations in older homes without UFFI are generally well below 0.1 (ppm). Inhomes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products, levels can be greater than 0.3 ppm.
PESTICIDES
Sources: Products used to kill household pests (insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants). Also, products used on lawns and gardens that drift or are tracked inside the house.
Health Effects: Irritation to eye, nose, and throat; damage to central nervous system and kidney; increased risk of cancer.
Levels in Homes: Preliminary research shows widespread presence of pesticide residues in homes.
taken from parts of an Article: The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
RADON (Rn)
Sources: Earth and rock beneath home; well water; building materials
Health Effects: No immediate symptoms. Estimated to contribute to between 7,000 and 30,000 lung cancerdeaths each year. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer
Levels in Homes: Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon levelis 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)
Source: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; may contribute to heart disease.Specifically for children, increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections; build-up of fluid in the middle ear; increased severity and frequency of asthma episodes; decreased lung function
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smokers or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, those outdoors. Homes with one or more smokers may have particle levels several times higher than outdoor level
BIOLOGICALS
Sources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems.Can cause asthma; humidifier fever; influenza and other infectious diseases
ORGANIC GASES
Sources: Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products;hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney,and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
Levels in Homes: Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1000 times background outdoor levels.
RESPIRABLE PARTICLES
Sources: Fireplaces, woodstoves, and kerosene heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer. (Effects attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are listed elsewhere.)
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smoking or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, outdoor levels.
FORMALDEHYDE
Sources: Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) and furniture madewith these pressed wood products. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). Combustion sources andenvironmental tobacco smoke. Durable press drapes, other textiles, and glues.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergicreactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under "organic gases."
Levels in Homes: Average concentrations in older homes without UFFI are generally well below 0.1 (ppm). Inhomes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products, levels can be greater than 0.3 ppm.
PESTICIDES
Sources: Products used to kill household pests (insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants). Also, products used on lawns and gardens that drift or are tracked inside the house.
Health Effects: Irritation to eye, nose, and throat; damage to central nervous system and kidney; increased risk of cancer.
Levels in Homes: Preliminary research shows widespread presence of pesticide residues in homes.
taken from parts of an Article: The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
