According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental risks to public health. Levels of pollutants inside a private home are often five times higher than they are outdoors; under certain circumstances, they can be as high as 1,000 times more. This pollution can result in a slew of respiratory problems, including asthma. Poor indoor air quality can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. Children and people with respiratory illnesses are at an even greater risk.
Don't count on being able to see signs of poor air quality. Although you may be able to pick up on the strong acrid smell of a new furniture stain or "feel" that a room is too humid, indoor air pollution is particularly insidious in that it's often invisible. Primary culprits of poor indoor air quality include
Poor ventilation: When the air inside a home doesn't have enough circulation, unhealthy particle matter - dust and pollen, for example - and gases from chemicals in furnishings and household products stay in the atmosphere, creating their own form of smog.
Humidity: Bathrooms, basements, kitchens, and other areas where moisture can collect in dark, warm spots are prone to structural rot and the growth of mildew and mold, which may not be visible when the damage is spreading behind the tiles of a bathroom shower or under the floorboards where a pipe is leaking.
Biological pollutants: In addition to mildew and molds, bacteria, dust, dust mite droppings, pollen, and pet hair and dander are other biological contaminants that wreak havoc.
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