The first things that probably come to your mind when you think of pollution are large factories that emit greyish, smelly clouds or old cards puffing out dark smokes. But, are you aware of the silent pollutions inside your home that can be 5 to 10 times more dangerous than these outdoor contaminants?
You heard it right. Indoor air pollutants are more dangerous than outdoor ones. So, if you want to keep your health safe, you need to identify these pollutants and provide the best solutions to reduce their presence in your home. We give you some of those below!
- Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and extremely dangerous gas that is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
Risks: CO gas takes the place of the oxygen in your blood, so your body is deprived of the oxygen it needs to function well. High concentration of CO gas can cause death.
Solution: Schedule a regular professional maintenance service for your heating systems. Be sure that the installation of your units is done correctly. Proper ventilation should be observed in using combustion appliances.
- Mold
Molds are types of fungi that can be found indoors and outdoors. There are harmless molds, but there are also dangerous ones.
Risks: Molds are common allergens, and the symptoms may include nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, coughing, headaches, and skin irritation. Sever reaction can cause fever, breathing difficulty and asthma attack.
Solution: Keeping moisture and humidity level in check is the key to fighting molds in your home. Provide proper ventilation to moisture-producing appliances and fix leaks and spills immediately.
- Secondhand Smoke
This is also called environmental tobacco smoke that comes from incompletely burning tobacco products. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,700 chemical ingredients.
Risks: Secondhand smoke’s short term effects include eye, nose and throat irritation. Its long term effects are health problems like pneumonia, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
Solution: do not smoke cigarettes or pipe tobacco inside your home. Encourage other members to do so.
- Radon
Radon can be found everywhere at low levels. It is an odorless and colorless gas made naturally during the breakdown of Uranium in the Earth.
Risks: Radon gas increases the risk of lung cancer and breathing difficulties.
Solution: Schedule a professional check for the presence of radon in your home. You may also invest in Radon screening kit. If there’s a high level of radon found inside, hire a qualified professional to remove it.
Are you having trouble with any of these IAQ pollutants in your home? Do not hesitate to talk to our experts at Iceberg Mechanical for professional solutions. Give us a call today!
