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Lillian Walker






EXIT BEACH CITIES REALTY





Featured Articles



Is Your House Making You Sick?



Start Breathing Easier Today!



Reducing Carbon Monoxide Exposure



The Trivia Block



















Is Your House Making You Sick?

Improving Your Indoor Air Quality

Many people spend a large portion of time indoors - as much as 80-90%
of their lives. We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environments
where air circulation may be restricted. For these reasons, some experts
feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These
include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco
products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated,
asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture
made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance,
personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification
devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides and outdoor air pollution.


Health Concerns
Infants, young children and the elderly are a group shown to be more
susceptible to pollutants. People with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular
illness or immune system diseases are also more susceptible than others to pollutants.

Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated
exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches,
dizziness and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and
treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure
to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified.

Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has
occurred or only after long or some respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer,
can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the
indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.

















Identifying Air Quality Problems
Some health effects can be useful indicators of an indoor air quality
problem, especially if they appear after a person moves to a new residence, remodels
or refurnishes a home, or treats a home with pesticides.

Another way to judge whether your home has or could develop indoor
air problems is to identify potential sources of indoor air pollution. Although
the presence of such sources does not necessarily mean that you have an indoor
air quality problem, being aware of the potential sources is an important step
toward assessing the air quality in your home.

Finally, look for signs of problems with the ventilation in your
home. These may include moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or
stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling equipment, and areas where
books, shoes, or other items become moldy.


Out With the Bad