Aranka Fruehauf
Windermere Real Estate/North, Inc.
Aranka Fruehauf:: Cell/Direct: 425-478-7270 :: Email: aranka@windermere.com
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| Indoor air-quality basics | ||||
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ost of us tend to think of air pollution as something that occurs outdoors where car exhaust and factory fumes proliferate, but theres such a thing as indoor air pollution, too. Since the 1950s, the number of synthetic chemicals used in products for the home has increased drastically at the same time that homes have become much tighter and better insulated. As a result, the EPA estimates that indoor pollutants today are from five to 70 times higher than pollutants in outside air.
Depending on the home and the individual, this sick building syndrome can result in problems ranging from eye, nose and throat irritation to damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Cancer, too, has been linked to indoor pollutants, and both offices and residential homes are vulnerable.
How pollutants get into our homes
Potentially toxic ingredients are found in many materials throughout the home, and they leach out into the air as Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs. If you open a can of paint, you can probably smell the VOCs in the air. The new-car smell is another example of this. The smell seems to dissipate after a while, but VOCs can actually off-gas for a long time, even after any noticeable smell is gone.
We all know to use paint and glue in a well-ventilated room, but there are many other materials that dont come with that kind of warning. For instance, there are chemicals such as formaldehyde in the resin used to make most cabinets and in plywood and particle board. Its also in wall paneling and closet shelves, and in the wood finishes used on cabinets and furniture.
The problems arent just with wood, either. Fabricseverything from draperies to upholstery, bedding and your dry cleaned clothesare a potent source of VOCs. Even some wells in the United States have been contaminated with dangerous levels of VOCs from product spills or proximity to gas stations or other sources.
Carpets: one of the worst culprits
Wall-to-wall carpeting is a fairly modern invention, and one that most homeowners take for granted. But carpeting has a high propensity for making our indoor air less than healthy. Not only do the synthetic fabrics themselves emit VOCs, but so do the glues usually used to secure them. Carpets also tend to collect dust mites and pet dander, and soak up any outdoor contamination we bring in on our shoes, such as pesticides. If they get wet, they can be even more of a problem as mold and fungi take hold.
Mold gone bad
Molds release tiny spores into the air, and most of the time theyre pretty harmless to humans. But a certain form, known as toxic mold, emits its own little VOCs that are suspected of causing symptoms from memory loss to lung problems in some individuals. This type of mold prefers to grow on things containing cellulose, such as drywall, wood and paper, but it can also take hold on leather and clothing, and even inside air conditioners.
Homes that have flooded or are located in areas with a moderate temperature and high humidity are most at risk of developing toxic mold. You can look for signs such as green, black or brown patches on the wall, a musty odor, or respiratory irritation when youre inside the home. An even earlier sign is a yellowish discoloration on walls that have been wet, which makes them prime breeding areas for the fungi.
What you can do about VOCs
The good news about VOCs is that they do dissipate with time and with a good airing. For that reason, the greatest problem with VOCs is in new homes or remodels, and if this is a concern to you, there are many products you can buy today that are either low- or no-VOC.
The best advice if youre purchasing a home that you suspect may have air- quality issues (especially mold) or if youre concerned about your own home is to get the air tested. After all, healthy air is something thats too important to all of us to be taken for granted.
Whats making us sick?
When Tracy Clarke and her family moved into their new home five years ago, it really was a homecoming. The house in the Seattle suburbs, built in 1941, had previously been owned by her parents. Tracy and her family were aware when they moved in that the partially finished basement had a history of moisture both from drainage problems and a burst water heater, but they didnt think much about it until their two young children and nanny began coming down with a constant stream of colds.
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