Air Quality in the Home

This fact sheet provides answers to basic questions about air quality in the
home. It will explain what causes poor indoor air quality, how it can affect
your health, and what you can do to improve the air quality in your home.

The quality of air in residential buildings has become an important issue
to homeowners and health professionals. Indoor air pollution studies have
identified several contaminants that can be present in indoor air. These
include combustion products, volatile organic compounds (including
formaldehyde), tobacco smoke, bioaerosols, and pesticides. Proper ventilation
and elimination of the sources of these contaminants are important in
maintaining good indoor air quality.

WHAT IS INDOOR AIR POLLUTION?

Indoor air pollution is usually caused by the accumulation of contaminants
from various sources inside a home. Emissions from fireplaces, stoves,
cigarettes, cleaning products, newer building materials, and chemicals stored
in the home can cause indoor air problems. People living in this type of
environment may experience adverse health effects from breathing these
contaminants.

Many factors contribute to indoor air pollution. Adding insulation and
caulking to weatherize the home to save on energy costs can reduce air
circulation and trap contaminants inside the home. Outdoor “make-up
air” cannot enter the home and dilute contaminants. This is why health
effects caused by indoor air pollution are often called “tight building
syndrome” or “sick building syndrome.”

Many people underestimate the extent of the indoor air pollution problem.
Air pollution is usually visualized as the black smoke emitted from factories.
Little thought is given to tobacco smoke and the by-products of aerosol sprays,
paints, cleaners, and pesticides used in the home. To compound the problem, it
is estimated that the average American spends 70 percent to 90 percent of his
or her time indoors, and more than half that time is spent in the home.

WHAT HEALTH EFFECTS CAN BE CAUSED BY POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Occupants of homes with poor indoor air quality may complain of symptoms
such as headache, eye irritation, fatigue, dry throat, sinus congestion,
dizziness, and nausea. Because many illnesses can cause these symptoms,
diagnosing sick building syndrome is difficult. Extremely high levels of some
contaminants, such as carbon monoxide, can cause more serious illness,
including death.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC CAUSES OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

Poor ventilation and specific sources of contaminants in the home cause most
indoor air problems. Each of these will be addressed in this section.

1. Ventilation Problems

Poor indoor air quality is generally caused by the lack of adequate
ventilation, which results in a buildup of contaminants from sources in the
home. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identified
inadequate ventilation as the primary problem in more than half the workplace
indoor air investigations it has conducted. Investigations conducted in homes
by the Illinois Department of Public Health have found the same to be true.
These investigations revealed that proper ventilation is important in
maintaining good indoor air quality.

Most residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
recirculate indoor air to conserve energy. The current trend in home
construction is to reduce air leakage through cracks and other openings in
walls, floors, and roofs. The combination of these construction practices and
the recirculation of indoor air has led to an increase in indoor air problems.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) recommends that a minimum of 15 cubic feet of outdoor make-up air per
minute (CFM) per person be brought into the indoor living areas of residential
buildings. The ASHRAE guidelines for make-up air for kitchens and bathrooms in
homes are much higher. This fresh make-up air dilutes indoor contaminants and
helps exhaust them from the home.

Inadequate maintenance of the HVAC system also may contribute to indoor air
quality problems. Ventilation system filters that are not replaced on a regular
basis may become clogged, reducing air flow volume, quality, and distribution.
They also may become places for bacteria and molds to grow and be distributed
throughout the home. Humidifier systems on HVAC systems also must be properly
maintained to prevent bacteria and mold contamination.

2. Combustion Products

Combustion products from automobile exhaust, furnaces, water heaters, space
heaters, scented candles, oil lamps, wood stoves, fireplaces, and gas stoves
that are not properly vented can generate carbon monoxide, nitric oxide,
nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, and respirable particulates.
These combustion products may result in eye, nose, and throat irritation;
fatigue; dizziness; and nausea.

Tobacco smoke is also a combustion by-product that affects indoor air
quality. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of different compounds, compounds
including carbon monoxide, acrolein, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, and
respirable particles. Acrolein and formaldehyde are potent irritants that cause
a burning sensation in the eyes.

3. Organic Vapors

Many household products release organic vapors that can cause adverse health
effects. These effects may include nose and throat irritation, headaches,
dizziness, and nausea. Products containing these vapors include paints,
strippers, fuels, solvents, pesticides, hobby supplies, cleaners, deodorizers,
and disinfectants. Formaldehyde is another organic vapor that can cause similar
symptoms. Formaldehyde can be found in new construction materials, such as
plywood, paneling, fiberboard, and particle board, and in cigarette smoke and
many consumer products.

4. Bioaerosols

A bioaerosol is an airborne product of a biological contaminant. Biological
contaminants in the home may include mold, bacteria, viruses, mites, and
pollen. Bioaerosols released into the air can be distributed throughout the
home by the HVAC system. Bioaerosols can cause infectious diseases such as
Legionnaires’ disease. They also can cause allergic reactions, including
hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic rhinitis, and some types of asthma.
Symptoms caused by biological pollutants include sneezing, eye irritation,
coughing, dizziness, and respiratory infections.

Factors that can contribute to the growth of biological contaminants are wet
or moist building materials (carpeting, ceilings, walls) and poorly maintained
humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners. “Humidifier fever”
is a common illness caused by improper maintenance of humidifiers that can
produce fever, chills, headaches, and persistent coughs. Various fungi and
bacteria grow quickly in the warm, stagnant water inside humidifiers. During
operation, these contaminants can be distributed into the air and inhaled by
the building occupants. Other possible sources of biological contaminants are
pets and household plants.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

There are many things you can do to improve the indoor air quality of your
home. These include improving overall ventilation and reducing sources of
contamination in the home.

1. Improving the Ventilation System

HVAC systems must be properly designed, installed, and maintained to ensure
good operation. The following recommendations may improve the ventilation in
your home:

• Follow a regular maintenance schedule for the HVAC system. Regularly
  service the filters and humidifiers.
• Install special high efficiency filters in the HVAC system.
• Consult with an HVAC contractor to ensure your system is properly designed
  for your home.
• Use exhaust fans in potential problem areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens,
  and hobby rooms, to exhaust contaminants generated inside the home.

Residents can supply additional make-up air to the inside of the home by
using mechanical fans when outdoor temperatures are favorable in the spring and
autumn. When temperatures are severe during the summer and winter, air-to-air
heat exchangers may be installed to supply make-up air. These units exhaust
stale, warm air from the house and transfer the heat in that air to fresh air
being supplied from the outside. In air-conditioned houses during the summer
months, heat is transferred from the incoming warm air to the outgoing air,
causing a reduction in the energy required for air conditioning.

Homeowners also can install fans that supply outdoor air directly to the
return side of the HVAC system. These fans are usually installed with a timing
mechanism or manual control to regulate the amount of outdoor air supplied to
the structure. This type of system works effectively to supply make-up air, but
it also increases the cost of operating the HVAC system since the air is not
cooled or heated before it enters the home.

2. Reducing Combustion Products

The following remedies can reduce exposure to combustion products:

• Only use space heaters that are vented to the outside.
• Install hoods that are vented to the outside above gas stoves.
• Inspect furnaces and water heaters regularly to ensure proper operation.
• Inspect wood stoves to ensure proper operation. Chimneys should be
  inspected regularly for soot buildup and other obstructions.
• Eliminate or reduce tobacco smoking inside the home.
• Refrain from idling or “warming up” vehicles in garages attached
  to homes.

3. Reducing Organic Vapors

The following remedies can reduce exposure to organic vapors:

• Use products such as strippers, paints, and hobby supplies that contain
  organic solvents outside or in a separate room vented directly to the outside.
• Store products containing organic solvents in a separate building (shed or
  garage) or in a well-ventilated room.
• Use products containing organic solvents sparingly and according to label
  directions.
• Properly dispose of unused containers of products containing organic
  solvents.

4. Reducing Bioaerosols

The following remedies can reduce exposure to bioaerosols:

• Install exhaust fans in potential problem areas, such as bathrooms,
  kitchens, basements, crawlspaces, and attics, to reduce indoor contaminants and
  moisture.
• Avoid venting clothes dryers to the inside of the home to supplement the
  heating system. This practice increases moisture inside the home and produces a
  favorable environment for biological contaminants.
• Replace or clean materials in the home that have been water damaged. Use
  dehumidifiers in moisture-bearing rooms, such as basements, to reduce humidity.
  Relative humidity should be maintained between 30 percent and 60 percent for
  occupant comfort and controlled biological growth.
• Use distilled or demineralized water in room humidifiers. Change the water
  daily and do not allow scum and scale to develop. Use a brush or other scrubber
  to clean the tank while following the manufacturer’s suggested cleaning
  methods. If chlorine bleach or other cleaning products are used, be sure to
  rinse the tank well to avoid breathing harmful chemicals.

WHERE CAN I OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?

Illinois Department of Public Health
Division of Environmental Health
525 W. Jefferson St.
Springfield, IL 62761
217-782-5830
TYY (hearing impaired use only) 800-547-0466

Other contacts for indoor air quality material include–

United States Environmental Protection Agency
Public Information Center
401 M St., SW PM-211B
Washington, DC 20460
202-382-2080

American Lung Association
1740 Broadway
New York, NY 10019

or

Your local American Lung Association

American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning
Engineers
1791 Tullie Circle NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
404-636-8400

National Environmental Health Association
720 S. Colorado Blvd.
South Tower, Room 970
Denver, CO 80222
303-756-9090

This booklet was supported in part by funds from the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act trust fund through a
cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services.

Illinois Department
of Public Health
535 West Jefferson Street
Springfield, Illinois 62761
Phone 217-782-4977
Fax 217-782-3987
TTY 800-547-0466
Questions or Comments