Indoor Air Quality -- Identifying Sources and Making Renovation Choices that Eliminate Contamination
VOCs – THE POLLUTANTS AND THEIR SOURCES IN THE HOME
Most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. In addition, some of the products used in home construction, like standard paints and wood finishes and processed wood products such as cabinetry and flooring, give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have a larger environmental impact because they create ground-level ozone pollution which is the primary component of smog. Below is a chart listing the most common chemicals and their sources, and health affects:
VOC CHART BY SOURCE
Copyright ©2008 Eden Industries, LLC d/b/a ECOBROWNSTONE™. All rights reserved.
VOC CHART BY CONTAMINANT
Copyright ©2008 Eden Industries, LLC d/b/a ECOBROWNSTONE™. All rights reserved.
Let’s look further at some of the biggest offenders. Due to the important nature of this topic, we have not limited ourselves to construction- and renovation-related substances.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or Secondhand Smoke is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and smoke exhaled by the smoker. According to the EPA, it is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and many of which are strong eye, nose and throat irritants. In a study conducted in the early 1990s the EPA concluded that ETS is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults and impairs the respiratory health of hundreds of thousands of children. For more information visit the EPA website.
Radon The American Lung Association, the American Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control agree that radon causes, on average, 14,000 deaths from lung cancer every year. Radon gas enters homes through dirt floors, cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains, and sumps, and can be a problem in any home, however some areas of the countgry are more at risk than others. Consult the EPA’s Radon Zone Map , to find out if your home is in a risk area -- New York City and Boston are in a low potential zone, Chicago is in a moderate potential zone. In addition, for an in depth discussion of radon we recommend you refer to the EPA website “A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon”.
You can test for radon by obtaining an inexpensive, do-it-yourself radon test kit through the mail and in hardware stores. Look for kits that are state certified or have met the requirements of some national radon proficiency program. Alternatively you can hire a contractor to do the testing for you, and you can obtain a list of state certified radon contractors from your state’s radon office, state radon office (in New York state can be contacted at 1-800-458-1158 ext. 27556 or 518-402-7556 or email radon@health.state.ny.us, and see also the New York State Departmentof Health Radon information resources, or you can also contact either the National Environmental Health Association's (NEHA) National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) for a list of proficient radon measurement and/or mitigation contractors.
Formaldehyde – Due to its prevalence in the manufacturing of building materials, furniture, cabinetry and fabrics and its nature as a byproduct of certain combustion processes, formaldehyde has become ubiquitous. The rate at which products like pressed wood or textiles release formaldehyde can change over time and will generally decrease as products age. When the products are new, high indoor temperatures or humidity can cause increased emissions.
Lead The EPA and other federal agencies initiated policies starting in the 1980’s to phase out lead in gasoline, to ban or limit lead used in consumer products, including residential paint, to reduce lead in drinking water and in industrial air pollution. Lead is equally dangerous whether it is inhaled or ingested, and lead dust, from sources like deteriorating lead paint for example, can be ingested in both those manners.
Children are more prone to ingesting lead due to dust settling on toys and floors where they crawl and play, and childrens’ proclivity for putting objects and hands into their mouths. Children's growing bodies absorb more lead, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems and headaches.
Adults who are exposed to lead can suffer from difficulties during pregnancy, reproductive problems in both men and women, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.
For more information visit the EPA website.
VOC CHART BY SOURCE
| SOURCE | CONTAMINANT |
| gas boiler and furnaces | carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide |
| gas hot water heater | carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide |
| gas clothes dryer | carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide |
| gas stove and/or oven | carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxide |
| unvented gas space heater/fireplace, kerosene heaters | carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and formaldehyde |
| chimney flue (blocked, leaking, improperly sized or disconnected) | carbon monoxide |
| gas powered equipment (i.e. generators) | carbon monoxide |
| automobiles | carbon monoxide, benzene |
| tobacco smoke | 4,000 compounds including carbon monoxide, benzene, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO), formaldehyde, particulate matter |
| wood burning fireplaces | particulate matter, carbon monoxide |
| humidifiers, cooling coils or condensation pans | mold, mildew, bacteria |
| unvented bathrooms | mold, mildew, bacteria |
| Textiles: Draperies, bedding, carpeting, upholstery, permanent | dust and dust mites, animal dander, pest droppings and body parts, formaldehyde |
| Textiles: permanent press clothing | formaldehyde |
| paint (including painted furniture and old painted toys) | formaldehyde; benzene; old paint can contain lead |
| paint strippers | methyl chloride, benzene, formaldehyde |
| solvents, adhesive removers | methylene chloride |
| aerosol sprays | methylene chloride |
| household cleaners and disinfectants | click on "Resource Room" on the CHEC’s (Children’s Health Environmental Coalition) HealtheHouse website |
| herbicides | click on "Resource Room" on the CHEC’s (Children’s Health Environmental Coalition) HealtheHouse website |
| rodenticides | click on "Resource Room" on the CHEC’s (Children’s Health Environmental Coalition) HealtheHouse website |
| moth balls | naphthalene, benzene |
| hobby supplies | lead |
| dry-cleaned clothing | perchloroethylene |
| adhesive removers | methyl chloride |
| insulation | asbestos, formaldehyde |
| drop ceiling tiles | asbestos |
| floor tiles | asbestos |
| leaded crystal | lead |
| soil, rock | radon |
| plywood (softwoods) | formaldehyde |
| composite wood particleboard furniture and cabinetry | formaldehyde |
| flooring with particleboard backing | formaldehyde |
| glues | formaldehyde |
| adhesives | formaldehyde |
| hardwood plywood paneling | formaldehyde |
| medium density fiberboard (furniture) | formaldehyde |
| bathrooms | biological pollutants |
| kitchens | biological pollutants |
| rodents | biological pollutants |
| animals, pets | biological pollutants |
| any poorly ventilated area with a source of water, moisture or steam | biological pollutants |
| polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, which is "vinyl". Plastics marked with a recycling symbol "3" | dioxins (in its production and incineration) |
| fiberglass insulation | may contain formaldehyde; old insulation may contain asbestos |
| composite or pressed-wood products; medium-density particle board | formadehyde |
| softwood plywood and hardwood plywood paneling (used in decorative wall covering, cabinets and furniture) | formaldehyde |
VOC CHART BY CONTAMINANT
| CONTAMINANT | SOURCE | HEALTH AFFECTS FROM EXPOSURE |
| asbestos |
Crumbling, damaged, or disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials such as drop ceilings, and floor tiles. | No immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers (mesothelioma) and lung diseases (asbestosis). Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer. |
| carbon monoxide (CO) | combustion sources: gas stoves and ovens; gas furnaces and boilers; cracked chimney flues; wood stoves and fireplaces; gas water heaters and clothes dryers; unvented gas and kerosene heaters and "fireplaces"; gas powered equipment such as generators; automobile exhaust; tobacco smoke | reduces oxygen flow to the brain. In low concentrations causes fatigue, can cause chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations causes impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving the contaminated area. Fatal at very high concentrations. |
| benzene | tobacco smoke, stored fuels and paint supplies, and automobile emissions in attached garages, mothballs | a known carcinogen |
| lead | deteriorating lead-based paint which can produce lead dust and further contaminate soil, drinking water, food; old painted toys and furniture; liquids stored in lead crystal vessels, hobbies such as leaded glazes for use in pottery and stained glass and refinishing furniture | Lead affects practically all systems within the body. At high levels (at or above 80 micrograms per deciliter of blood) can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. Lower levels adversely affect the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Blood lead levels as low as 10 micrograms per deciliter can impair mental and physical development. In fetuses and young children can delay physical and mental development, lower IQ levels, lead to shortened attention spans, and increased behavioral problems. |
| radon | uranium in soil and rock | lung cancer |
| formaldehyde (urea-formaldehyde resin) | building materials such as insulation and certain softwood plywoods; pressed or composite wood furniture using adhesives with urea-formaldehyde resins; tobacco smoke; the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves, gas fireplaces or kerosene space heaters; "permanent press" clothing, draperies and upholstery; glues and adhesives; paint; particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops) which is the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product. | eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer. |
| biological pollutants: mold, mildew, viruses, bacteria, animal dander, cat saliva, dust, mites, pest droppings and body parts (cockroaches, rat and mice urine), pollen | humid or wet/moist areas, plants, people, animals | hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma. Can promote spread of infectious respiratory diseases. Molds and mildews release disease-causing toxins. Symptoms include sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever, and digestive problems. |
| tobacco smoke (Environmental Tobacco Smoke or Secondhand Smoke) | smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe and smoke exhaled by a smoker | pneumonia and bronchitis, lung cancer, cough, excess phlegm, and wheezing, ear infections and reduced lung function, increased severity of asthma attacks, possible onset of chest pain |
| particulate matter | Fireplaces, wood stoves, and kerosene heaters, and secondhand smoke | Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer |
| methylene chloride | paint strippers, adhesive removers, and aerosol spray paints | causes cancer in animals; is converted to carbon monoxide in the body |
| naphthalene | moth balls | neurotoxin, may cause cancer |
| Perchloroethylene | dry cleaning fluids | causes cancer in animals |
| nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO). | tobacco smoke, unvented combustion appliances, e.g. gas stoves, vented appliances with defective installations, welding | Eye, nose, and throat irritation, possible bronchitis and impaired lung function, increased respiratory infections in young children; extremely high-dose exposure (as in a building fire) may result in pulmonary edema and diffuse lung injury. |
Let’s look further at some of the biggest offenders. Due to the important nature of this topic, we have not limited ourselves to construction- and renovation-related substances.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or Secondhand Smoke is the mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and smoke exhaled by the smoker. According to the EPA, it is a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals and many of which are strong eye, nose and throat irritants. In a study conducted in the early 1990s the EPA concluded that ETS is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in nonsmoking adults and impairs the respiratory health of hundreds of thousands of children. For more information visit the EPA website.
Radon The American Lung Association, the American Medical Association and the Center for Disease Control agree that radon causes, on average, 14,000 deaths from lung cancer every year. Radon gas enters homes through dirt floors, cracks in concrete walls and floors, floor drains, and sumps, and can be a problem in any home, however some areas of the countgry are more at risk than others. Consult the EPA’s Radon Zone Map , to find out if your home is in a risk area -- New York City and Boston are in a low potential zone, Chicago is in a moderate potential zone. In addition, for an in depth discussion of radon we recommend you refer to the EPA website “A Citizen's Guide to Radon: The Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Radon”.
You can test for radon by obtaining an inexpensive, do-it-yourself radon test kit through the mail and in hardware stores. Look for kits that are state certified or have met the requirements of some national radon proficiency program. Alternatively you can hire a contractor to do the testing for you, and you can obtain a list of state certified radon contractors from your state’s radon office, state radon office (in New York state can be contacted at 1-800-458-1158 ext. 27556 or 518-402-7556 or email radon@health.state.ny.us, and see also the New York State Departmentof Health Radon information resources, or you can also contact either the National Environmental Health Association's (NEHA) National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB) for a list of proficient radon measurement and/or mitigation contractors.
Formaldehyde – Due to its prevalence in the manufacturing of building materials, furniture, cabinetry and fabrics and its nature as a byproduct of certain combustion processes, formaldehyde has become ubiquitous. The rate at which products like pressed wood or textiles release formaldehyde can change over time and will generally decrease as products age. When the products are new, high indoor temperatures or humidity can cause increased emissions.
Lead The EPA and other federal agencies initiated policies starting in the 1980’s to phase out lead in gasoline, to ban or limit lead used in consumer products, including residential paint, to reduce lead in drinking water and in industrial air pollution. Lead is equally dangerous whether it is inhaled or ingested, and lead dust, from sources like deteriorating lead paint for example, can be ingested in both those manners.
Children are more prone to ingesting lead due to dust settling on toys and floors where they crawl and play, and childrens’ proclivity for putting objects and hands into their mouths. Children's growing bodies absorb more lead, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. If not detected early, children with high levels of lead in their bodies can suffer from damage to the brain and nervous system, behavior and learning problems (such as hyperactivity), slowed growth, hearing problems and headaches.
Adults who are exposed to lead can suffer from difficulties during pregnancy, reproductive problems in both men and women, high blood pressure, digestive problems, nerve disorders, memory and concentration problems, and muscle and joint pain.
For more information visit the EPA website.
