Mold problems: Is your home making you sick?

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Mold problems: Is your home making you sick?

Baxter Bulletin - Mountain Home,AR*

By The Associated Press

http://www.baxterbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080411/NEWS01/804110339/1002/NEWS01

There's plenty of concern — with good reason — about air pollution.

But many people are unaware that indoor pollution can be just as bad

as, or even worse than, the outdoor kind.

Studies of human exposure to air pollutants by the Environmental

Protection Agency indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants

may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times,

higher than outdoor levels.

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Paradoxically, laws designed to improve energy efficiency and

outside pollution don't improve indoor air quality. Tightly sealed

homes constructed in the last couple decades to reduce drafts have

diminished the use of fossil fuels, but if a house can't " breathe, "

it also can't dilute pollutants contained in building and decorating

products.

While pollutants can affect people differently, the EPA warns of

immediate effects including irritation to the eyes, nose and throat,

headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Long-term effects can include

respiratory disease, heart disease and cancer, according to the EPA.

Potential sources of indoor air pollution include central heating,

cooling and dehumidification systems; household cleaning and

maintenance products; outdoor sources such as pesticides; biological

contaminants such as animal dander, mold and cockroaches; dry-

cleaned clothing; tobacco smoke; formaldehyde from fabrics, pressed

wood products and insulation; styrene found in adhesives, foam,

lubricants, plastics carpets and insulation; and paint-strippers and

removers.

While this is not particularly good news, awareness is the first

step to a more healthful indoor environment. Your best defense

against indoor air pollution is a strong offense.

First, identify and control sources of pollution to reduce and

prevent indoor air contamination. This can range from changing

housecleaning products to airing out freshly dry-cleaned clothing to

tossing out formaldehyde-containing furniture.

Proper ventilation — the mixing of indoor air with outdoor air — can

revitalize the air in your home and protect your health. Adequately

sized exhaust fans should be used wherever moisture and combustion

are present in the bathroom, laundry and kitchen. A bath fan, for

example, will help to dissipate chloroform gas, which is a byproduct

of chlorinated water. It also will remove excessive moisture that

can lead to mold which can produce yet more health hazards.

Since cigarette smoke is one of the single greatest contributors to

indoor air pollution, smoking indoors is a no-no. Similarly,

fireplaces and other fuel-burning appliances (water heaters,

furnaces, stoves, etc.) should be properly adjusted and vented to

the exterior. Doing so will both prevent carbon-monoxide poisoning

and improve the efficiency of the appliance.

Do-it-yourself test kits are available for many indoor air

pollutants such as lead or radon.

Other indoor pollutants such as asbestos require professional

testing.

The rule of thumb for lead and asbestos is that they are best left

alone if in good shape and not peeling or crumbling.

Asbestos or lead should not be scraped or sanded and should be

removed only by a professional abatement contractor with the proper

equipment.

Moreover, testing should be performed after the abatement process to

ensure the air quality is safe.