| Quality of Indoor Air at Home or in the Workplace |  |
Your home or work environment may be causing you additional health
risks without you realizing it. On average, Canadians spend about 80-90
percent of their time indoors, thus the quality of indoor air is very
important. Ask yourself a few questions:
Does fresh, outside air flow into the room or office you are usually in?
Is the room humid?
Are there any gas-fired appliances?
Is your furniture composed of particle board or wood laminents?
These questions need to be addressed when determining the quality
of air in our home or workplace. Here are the reasons why.
Does fresh, outside air flow into the room or office you are
usually in? Better insulation can save on heating costs, but it
limits the amount of fresh air that enters and leaves your house or
office.As a lot of water vapour is produced from normal human
activities, fresh air is necessary to get rid of this extra humidity.
Is the room humid?
Humid or damp conditions in your home can encourage the growth
of mould and dust mites. Mould can develop from too much humidity,
building leaks, refrigerator drip pans, bathroom surfaces and flooding.
Mouldy smells from carpet, wood and gypsum board are a sign that
they harbour fungi. Stale water in humidifiers and air conditioners can
lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Are there any gas-fired appliances?
Typically, oven and pilot light emissions are not vented and can
contribute significantly to indoor levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides and formaldehyde. Of emerging interest as a potential
source of indoor air pollution is the wood burning stove. Since
combustion is much less complete with wood than with oil and gas
furnaces, pollution emissions can be greater. Though by-products
should be vented to the outside, leaks and improper operation of
these appliances can cause emissions to the indoors. Kerosine
heaters are becoming increasingly popular for space heating. Since
these systems are often unvented, the potential for high level
contamination exists.
Is your furniture composed of particle board or wood laminents?
Formaldehyde is released from wood laminates and particleboard in
which formaldehyde-containing resins have been used. Urea
formaldehyde foam insulation is a significant source of formaldehyde
and possibly other gaseous products. Insulating materials such as
fibreglass can release particulate matter to indoor air.
Health Risks
Illnesses caused by poor air quality range from skin irritation to
sneezing and asthma. In some cases, toxins from fungi can cause
illness. Toxins in dust can produce fever and flu-like symptoms,
especially if the environment is damp. Viruses can also be found in
indoor air, but they do not usually lead to illness. A virus does not
survive long in air, and getting sick usually results from contact with
infected people.
Peter McGarry
|
|
