EPA Indoor Air Quality: Three Questions on Internal Air Contamination
According to the EPA Indoor Air Quality website, contamination sources that let go gases or dust air are the main cause of problems in homes. There are numerous sources of indoor air contamination in any home. The comparative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given contaminant it produces and how dangerous these emissions are.
Here are three questions based on EPA indoor air quality guidelines, so you can monitor the health of your home.
- How can you know if your home has an air quality problem? You can read EPA indoor air quality publications, or you can monitor your immune response. Some health effects can be helpful pointers to an indoor air quality problem, especially if they emerge after you move into a new house, remodel or refurnish your home, or treat it with pesticides. Another way to judge if your home has or could develop indoor air pollution is to identify potential sources, such as lead paint or mold.
- What are some of the factors that affect indoor air quality? The EPA indoor air quality guidelines and other major publications on the subject identify several factors that influence air quality, including the building site, climate, building system, construction techniques, contaminant sources (such as building materials and furnishings, moisture, processes and activities within the building, and outdoor sources) and building occupants.
- How can you improve the air quality in your home? Some problems can be fixed just by installing a clean air filter, or by doing some air conditioning cleaning, while others are more complex. You need to pay attention to the products you buy: some furniture and appliances emit vapors, which become pollutants in the surrounding air. When remodeling, be sure the paints, glues and resins you use contain no volatile organic compounds.