What Causes Indoor Air
Problems?
Indoor pollution sources
that release gases or
particles into the air are
the primary cause of indoor
air quality problems in
homes. Inadequate
ventilation can increase
indoor pollutant levels by
not bringing in enough
outdoor air to dilute
emissions from indoor
sources and by not carrying
indoor air pollutants out of
the home. High temperature
and humidity levels can also
increase concentrations of
some pollutants.
Pollutant Sources
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.
I am so pleased with
the new system that
you sold my family
that I felt I had to
write and let you
know. My son and
husband have had
serious allergy
problems since we
moved to Arkansas in
1988 and the old
house we bought in
Hillcrest
exacerbated the
situation. I
actually thought we
might have to sell
the house and move
to a newly built
home to correct the
situation. However,
since installing the
new system with the
filter and UV system
those problems have
been significantly
reduced. My son had
a cough that started
last September and
continued through
the first month
after the new system
was installed in
May. I feel certain
that the filtration
system reduced the
allergen that was
causing his problem.
My husband’s problem
with the mold
allergen had been
almost completely
eliminated by the UV
system. I wouldn’t
trade this system
for the 25th wedding
anniversary trip to
the Bahamas which
was what I had the
money earmarked for
which I spent on the
zoned system Dash
installed in May.
Sonja Sanderson
The relative importance of
any single source depends on
how much of a given
pollutant it emits and how
hazardous those emissions
are. In some cases, factors
such as how old the source
is and whether it is
properly maintained are
significant. For example, an
improperly adjusted gas
stove can emit significantly
more carbon monoxide than
one that is properly
adjusted.
Some sources, such as
building materials,
furnishings, and household
products like air
fresheners, release
pollutants more or less
continuously. Other sources,
related to activities
carried out in the home,
release pollutants
intermittently. These
include smoking, the use of
unvented or malfunctioning
stoves, furnaces, or space
heaters, the use of solvents
in cleaning and hobby
activities, the use of paint
strippers in redecorating
activities, and the use of
cleaning products and
pesticides in housekeeping.
High pollutant
concentrations can remain in
the air for long periods
after some of these
activities.
Amount of Ventilation
If too little outdoor air
enters a home, pollutants
can accumulate to levels
that can pose health and
comfort problems. Unless
they are built with special
mechanical means of
ventilation, homes that are
designed and constructed to
minimize the amount of
outdoor air that can "leak"
into and out of the home may
have higher pollutant levels
than other homes. However,
because some weather
conditions can drastically
reduce the amount of outdoor
air that enters a home,
pollutants can build up even
in homes that are normally
considered "leaky."
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
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