The Silent Threat: Understanding and Managing Chemicals in Indoor Air

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on
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The quality of indoor air in our homes is crucial for our well-being and health. Often overlooked, the air inside our homes can be laden with various chemicals from everyday products and materials. This article delves into the common sources of indoor air pollution, the risks associated with exposure to these chemicals, and practical steps homeowners can take to minimize their impact.

Understanding Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce the risk of indoor health concerns.

Common Sources of Chemicals in Indoor Air

1. Household Cleaning Products

Products such as disinfectants, polishes, and cleaners often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, ammonia, and bleach. These compounds can evaporate into the air and contribute to indoor pollution.

2. Building Materials

Materials used in home construction such as paint, varnish, sealants, and flooring materials can emit a variety of toxic substances, including formaldehyde and other VOCs, long after they have been installed.

3. Furnishings

Furniture and upholstery can release chemicals absorbed during their manufacturing process. For instance, flame retardants and phthalates in plastics and textiles can vaporize into the air.

4. Personal Care Products

Products like hairsprays, perfumes, and colognes are significant sources of VOCs inside the home. These substances can linger in the air and contribute to a chemical cocktail in enclosed spaces.

5. Heating Equipment and Stoves

Burning fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene, coal, or wood can produce indoor pollutants including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

6. Outdoor Air Pollution

Outdoor contaminants such as pesticides, radon, and particulate matter can enter homes through open doors, windows, and cracks in structures, worsening indoor air quality.

Health Risks Associated with Poor IAQ

Exposure to indoor pollutants can lead to a variety of short-term and long-term health effects. Short-term effects, often treatable, include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Long-term exposure can lead to respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, which can be severely debilitating or fatal.

Strategies to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Improving the air quality in your home involves several strategies, from choosing the right materials and products to regular maintenance and air quality monitoring.

1. Ventilation

Increase ventilation to reduce pollutant concentration. This can be achieved through natural methods like opening windows and doors when weather and environmental conditions permit, or through mechanical means such as exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens.

2. Keep a Clean Home

Regular cleaning helps reduce dust and animal dander which can trap and hold chemicals. Use vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA filters and mop regularly to keep surfaces clean.

3. Choose Low-Emitting Products

Select paints, varnishes, and furnishings that emit lower quantities of VOCs. Manufacturers often label products that are low-VOC, providing a safer alternative for indoor use.

4. Monitor Humidity Levels

Maintain indoor humidity at 30-50% to help reduce the potential for mold growth and control dust mites. Dehumidifiers and air conditioners can help maintain the correct indoor humidity levels.

5. Use Air Purifiers

Consider using an air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture particulate matter and an activated carbon filter to remove gases and odors from the air.

6. Reduce Chemical Use

Limit the use of harsh cleaners, aerosol sprays, and air fresheners, opting instead for natural cleaning products or homemade solutions like baking soda and vinegar.

7. Houseplantsindoor-air-quality-ez-breathe-2

Some studies suggest that certain houseplants can absorb harmful toxins, although the effectiveness can vary significantly. Plants can also improve indoor aesthetics and provide psychological benefits.

The air inside our homes can be more polluted than the air outdoors, primarily due to everyday activities and the products we use. By understanding the sources and risks of indoor air pollution and implementing strategies to improve indoor air quality, homeowners can create a safer, healthier environment for themselves and their families.

Ultimately, the key to managing indoor air quality is awareness and proactive behavior. Regularly testing your home for radon, avoiding smoking indoors, and being mindful of the materials and products you bring into your home can significantly improve the air you breathe. While some pollutants are unavoidable, minimizing exposure and maximizing ventilation can help mitigate the risks and ensure a healthier indoor environment.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Today! 866-822-7328

Written by Andre & Erika Lacroix

We are a 2nd generation family owned and operated business that has been working in homes with basements and crawl spaces for over 40 years.  We have been waterproofing and sealing about 500 foundations a month during that time as the largest Waterproofing contractor in the Midwest with 15 locations servicing 8 states.

20 years ago we would seal a foundation and recommend a standard dehumidifier to address the additional water vapor (humidity in the air) inherently found in below grade environments, such as basements and crawlspaces.  Back then, dehumidifiers were the industry standard to help with this problem. However, many of our customers were looking to us as the “foundation expert”, asking…

“What else do you have? I really am not getting results with this messy, expensive dehumidifier. My foundation is dry, walls are dry, floor is dry, so why does it still smell and feel like a basement?” 

We needed to find something better. Our company’s core values include offering world class customer service to every customer, every time.   So, we challenged our Research and Development department to find a real solution for our customers to combat not only the moisture, but also the odors, pollutants and unhealthy environment our customers were concerned about. We found, tested and installed a ventilation product for a period of three years. We private labeled that product as the EZ Breathe Ventilation System. The feedback in those first three years from our customers, as well as our installation crews, did not live up to the standard of quality to be included in our waterproofing process that offered a life time warranty. Once again, we needed something better.

We valued not only the results, but what we were learning from our customers. So, we went back to the drawing board, took matters into our own hands and made quality improvements to that first generation ventilation unit.

Our own EZ Breathe Ventilation System was born…reengineered, redesigned and much improved! We quickly learned that our crews were thrilled with the quality improvements, ease of operation and installation, but more importantly, our waterproofing customers loved the new, improved EZ Breathe unit as well.

Their feedback told us the air in their basements and crawlspaces felt better, but their entire home was benefiting from their EZ Breathe as well. We received countless letters thanking us because their whole house felt different, less odors, fresher air upstairs too, family members were feeling better, needing less allergy medicine, husbands were no longer snoring, children were no longer coughing as much, the home and it’s family were living healthier lives!

It was time for us to move beyond simply offering this innovative technology to just our waterproofing customers. Our passion and commitment to helping people improve their indoor air environments is what drove us to incorporate EZ Breathe Ventilation Systems as an independent company in 2003. We strongly believe that homeowners everywhere deserve a healthy indoor air quality.

We have spent the last 20 years dedicated to learning about the relationship between our home and our health; indoor air quality, the home as a system, building science and how it relates to indoor air quality as well as the challenges our modern day practices pose to the quality of air we breathe in our homes.