Overview
Indoor Air Quality, IAQ, has been an increasing concern with a large segment of the population. The quality of the air can be as many as 2 to 100 times worse than the outdoor air, especially in winter months when windows are closed and indoor pollutants can build up inside the home or office. Following the advice spelled out in this article will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution.
Results of Poor IAQ
Poor IAQ has been shown to result in increased incidence of illness and absenteeism, reduced productivity, irritability, complaints about building odor and stuffiness and health problems. These may include allergies, coughing, diarrhea, eye, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, general respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, dizziness, runny nose and skin irritation. (Source: Camfil Farr)
Controlling at the Source
The best way to control indoor air pollution is to control and eliminate the individual source of the pollution or reduce the emissions. Some sources, like those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed while others, like gas stoves or other fired equipment, can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions. Usually source control is also the most cost-efficient approach to protecting indoor air quality rather than increasing ventilation, because increasing ventilation can increase energy costs.
Unfortunately, many homes don’t introduce fresh air into the conditioned air stream, but rely on leaks and drafts to accomplish this. High-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment bring in outdoor air for combustion through large PVC pipes. Homes today are sealed almost airtight to reduce energy costs. Although this does substantially reduce heating and cooling cost, the price you end up paying is poor air quality. Statistics show that the air you breathe at work is up to 3 times cleaner than the air inside your home. Americans spend upwards of 90% of their day indoors, including commuting. Any improvement to IAQ will show benefits for you and your family.
Other Ways to Control IAQ
Plants have been shown to improve indoor air quality. Many of the chemicals that make can make people sick can be absorbed by plants which thrive upon them and can quickly remove the chemicals from the air. Some studies that have been conducted are inconclusive to plants’ effectiveness, mostly due to the speed at which chemicals are absorbed into the plants and how quickly the pollutants are generated in the space.
To get the best air cleaning potential from plants, you should have one for approximately every 100 square feet of floor space. You would therefore need two to three plants to help the air quality in the average sized living room. Some of the easiest plants to grow indoors are tropical, since they have adapted to low light levels. The peace lily, bamboo palm, lady palm, which is one of the more effective plants for removing ammonia and formaldehyde, parlor palm, which is good at removing ammonia, English ivy, and moth orchids, which can remove a portion of xylene and toluene.
Try to use safe cleaning products. All the cleaning products that come with warnings do so because they contain harmful chemicals and when they are used, those chemicals get into the air. There are many non-toxic alternatives on the market today with low volatile organic compounds, VOC. When you have to use products that are toxic, make sure to ventilate the room where you’re using it well, so that you can get the fumes out of the air as quickly as possible. Always follow the instructions printed on the label.
Don’t smoke indoors. This may not be possible for some, and for others it has already become law set down by your supreme commander, your spouse. During the winter it may be difficult to have everyone go outside. If smoking outside the house isn’t possible, then smoking next to a ventilation fan, that pushes air outside the house is better than letting people smoke anywhere in the house.
Air cleaners or purifiers may be good options for some homeowners. There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive table-top models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems. Some air cleaners are highly effective at particle removal, while others, including most table-top models, are much less so. Air cleaners are generally not designed to remove gaseous pollutants.
The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air, which is expressed as a percentage efficiency rate, and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element, which is expressed in cubic feet per minute. A very efficient collector with a low air-circulation rate will not be effective, nor will a cleaner with a high air-circulation rate but a less efficient collector. The long-term performance of any air cleaner depends on maintaining it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
If your home is equipped with a forced-air heating and cooling system, then replacing the air filters is one of the most effective ways to reduce indoor particulates. Don’t waste your time and money on cheap filters, they allow too much dirt to pass through that they become ineffective within a month or less. There are filters with additives such as activated charcoal that absorbs odors. Pleated filters work best since they increase the surface area of the filter media, trapping more dirt and dust. In bright light, a 10-micron particle is just visible to the naked eye. The dust particles dancing in a sunbeam are probably larger than 10 microns in diameter, as are pollen, mold spores, and dust mites. Visible particles account for less than 2% of the particles floating around a typical house; the other 500,000 to 1 million particles per cubic foot are much smaller—usually in the 0.3- to 1-micron size range. Filters are listed by the MERV rating, which stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, which will indicate what percentage of particles in the 3 to 10 micron range that the filter will be able to trap. The ratings go from 1 to 16, with 16 being the most efficient and also known as a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arresting) Filter. MERV 11 is used in standard commercial buildings, such as office space. MERV 6 and 7 are pleated panel filters, applied in office environments, and above average residential filters. MERV 1 through 5 are typical polyester or fiberglass throwaway panels and metal washable filters. Again, the higher the efficiency, the more resistance there is to air flow, which will mean that your blower will have to work a little harder to move the same amount of air, but the trade-off is cleaner healthier air.
Vacuum cleaners have always been a source of indoor pollutants as they collect all of the dirt from your home and concentrate it inside the vacuum bag or canister. This is why so many modern vacuum cleaners have come equipped with HEPA filters to prevent the particles from leaving through the exhaust. Always empty the vacuum bag or canister outside to prevent any of the dust from reentering your home.
As discussed in a previous Factoid, I listed the benefits of UVC light in not only cleaning your condensing coil, but also in destroying organic materials and mold spores that can cause odors and cause illness. See How to Clean Your HVAC System with Coil Combs, Chemicals, or Ultraviolet Light.
Final Thoughts
Always store toxic chemicals and compounds outside and look for such things as cleaners, paints, pesticides and solvents to name a few. If you own pets, try to maintain as clean a home as possible with routine grooming and vacuuming to control pet dander and shedding hair. Spending a little more on dust free litter will also help improve indoor air quality. Removing your shoes or cleaning them thoroughly before entering your home will keep a substantial amount of dirt outside your home or office. Ventilation fans can waste energy if left on all the time by blowing conditioned air outside, but when used correctly while cooking, cleaning, or in the bathroom, they will definitely benefit the IAQ of your home. Check for leaks around windows, doors, and your roof that could potentially allow mold to develop. Plumbing leaks under sinks and vanities can go unnoticed for a long time until mold or rot starts to form. Have your home checked for radon, or purchase a do-it-yourself radon test kit at home centers or hardware stores. Seal leaks in sump pump lines and clean your sump pit annually by removing the pump, and vacuuming out any remaining water with a shop-vac. You can purchase some odor absorbing enzymatic cleaners that can be mixed with water to destroy any bacteria in the pit. Vacuum out the enzyme mixture after 2-3 days.
Hopefully this article will give you a few ideas on how to keep you, your family, and your coworkers healthy year ’round.
