What comes to your mind when you think about air pollution? Vehicle emissions, wildfire smoke, or factories that are not carbon-free are the main sources of air pollutions.
Even inside the house, air pollutions occurs. According to the EPA, indoor air can be more polluted (up to 5x) than the outside air. A report by WHO says, almost 4 million people die every year globally from diseases caused by indoor air pollution. This is SCARY!
In this article, you can learn about 9 types of indoor air pollutants, including their sources, health effects, and how you can remove them.
Let’s start.
Top 9 Types of Indoor Air Pollutants:
Here are the top 9 types of pollutants you can find in your houses.
- Organic Contaminants
- Formaldehyde
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
- Lead (Pb)
- Pesticides
- Asbestos
- Radon (Rn)
1. Organic Contaminants
Organic pollutants include viruses, bacteria, dust mites, pet dander, and pollen. Humans and pets are the primary carriers of germs. Dust mites live on carpets and mattresses. They grow in humid conditions. Pollen can enter the house by our clothes and/or through ventilation.
Health Effects
Because these biological pollutants are small enough to inhale, they trigger allergic reactions, including sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, fever, dizziness, digestive problems, and shortness of breath. Viruses and bacteria can cause various health issues.
How to Protect
- Maintain a safe humidity level (40% to 60%)
- Regularly wash your beddings and carpets with warm water.
- Clean and sanitize yourself after coming home from outside.
2. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a chemical that is released from pressed wood products, building materials, and furniture.
Health Effects
Skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation, and some types of cancers when the level of exposure is high.
How to Protect
- Use formaldehyde-free products.
- Ensure adequate ventilation.
3. Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs
Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs are fumes that find their way inside your house from paints, aerosol sprays, cleansers, wood preservatives, stored fuels, automotive appliances, moth repellents, pesticides, and air fresheners.
Other sources include copiers, printers, building supplies, and furnishings.
Health Effects
Exposure to the VOCs can bring eye, nose, and throat irritations, head pains, light-headedness, and nausea. Extensive contact with the VOCs can cause harm to the liver, kidney, the central nervous system, and sometimes they can result in cancer in both humans and animals.
How to Protect
- Ensure adequate air circulation when using materials that release VOCs.
- Store them in a safe place, keep them in airtight packages.
4. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Carbon Monoxide is a tasteless, colorless, and odorless lethal gas. The deadly gas is produced when fossil fuels isn’t burn completely. The gas can emit from unvented space heaters, gas stoves, leaking furnaces and chimneys, automobile exhaust fumes, generators, and other equipment powered by gasoline.
Health Effects
At low concentrations, the gas can cause fatigue and chest pain. At average concentrations, the gas can cause weakened vision and brain function. At higher levels, the gas can be deadly.
How to Protect
- Ensure that the combustion appliances are adjusted correctly and well-maintained.
- Ensure adequate ventilation when high levels of CO are expected.
- Don’t leave your car running in the garage.
5. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
The primary sources of this toxic and corrosive gas include unvented gas stoves, kerosene heaters, tobacco smoke, welding, and vented stoves with faulty installations. Living nearby highways will increase the exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide as gasoline-powered vehicles are the primary source of NO2 emissions.
Health Effects
When consumed, the gas causes respiratory infections, lung diseases, and chronic bronchitis.
How to Protect
- Vent the NO2 appliances to the outdoors.
- Ensure proper installation of vented gas stoves and other combustion appliances.
6. Lead (Pb)
Lead is a naturally occurring soft metal used in household paint before being banned in 1978. Lead particles are airborne and highly toxic when consumed.
Health Effects
Unsafe contact with lead causes impairment to the brain, kidneys, red blood cells, and the central nervous system. Old lead paint remains the leading cause of lead (Pb) exposure in the US.
How to Protect
- Keep away from peeled paints and avoid removing paint by open-flame burning, sanding, or dry scraping.
- Ensure that children never are exposed to lead particles because their bodies absorb lead at a higher rate than adults.
7. Pesticides
The source of the semi-volatile organic chemicals in houses is pest control products such as sprays, liquids, powders, foggers, crystals, sticks, and balls.
Health Effects
Contact with the chemicals may result in eye, nose, and throat irritations, a higher risk of cancer, and injury to the kidney, including the central nervous system.
How to Protect
- Strictly use the pesticide according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of minerals found in rocks and soils. Because these minerals have a high fiber strength and heat resistance, the mineral is used in building supplies, automobile parts, gaskets, coating, packing, and heat-resistant materials.
Health Effects: Asbestos fiber is inhalable and causes asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos fibers can be released into the house by inappropriate attempts to extract asbestos materials.
How to Protect
- Don’t damage building materials that contain asbestos.
- Get professional assistance when you need to remove them for house remodeling or maintenance purposes.
9. Radon (Rn)
Radon is an invisible and odorless gas found almost everywhere in the US. The gas is emitted from the ground and can enter the houses.
Health Effects
Exposure to high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.
How to Protect
- Test your house by a trained professional for radon level.
- Alternatively, you can get a radon testing kit or device to test by yourself. If high levels of radon are detected in short or long-term tests, seek professional help.
To monitor your indoor air quality, check out our top picks >>> The 7 Best Indoor Air Quality Monitor.
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