Your Home May be Making You Sick

Anthony Gucciardi
NaturalSociety
July 24, 2011

According to the EPA, about a dozen common chemical pollutants are two to five times higher inside homes than outside of them. Scientists are beginning to examine the link between indoor pollutants and the sharp rise in respiratory diseases such as asthma.  As for what is known about indoor pollution, it can lead to headaches, flu-like symptoms, and even neurological problems. It is an extreme challenge to limit your exposure to indoor pollution due to the overflow of toxic substances in the average American home. There are a number of steps that can be taken, however.

MSN reports on a few ways to reduce toxic indoor pollution:

Kick off your shoes in the front hall. The bottoms of our shoes are covered in a fine layer of chemicals, dirt, bacteria, and mold. That stuff settles onto floors and into carpeting, and regular household activity can stir it up, causing you and your family to breathe it in, Hildemann says. Try stationing a shoe basket or rack in the entryway to keep things more organized.

Wait a few days before picking up your dry cleaning. Freshly dry-cleaned clothes can emit chemicals that have been linked to cancer and neurological problems, according to the EPA — and it’s important to make sure the solvents are completely dry before bringing them into your home. You could also switch to a dry cleaner that uses “wet” or CO2 cleaning, neither of which emit the same kind of dangerous fumes, according to the EPA.

Go fragrance-free. The EPA warns that some air fresheners can release compounds that cause headaches and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Lemon and pine scents concern experts most, Hildemann says: The chemicals that produce those smells react with ozone in the air to form formaldehyde and ultrafine particles that can collect in the lungs. For a safer room freshener, dip cotton balls in a sweet-smelling extract like vanilla and stash them around the house.

Ventilate

Not surprisingly, indoor pollution becomes more of an issue during the winter, when we keep our windows closed for months on end, light cozy (but smoky!) fires, and braise our favorite cold-weather meals in the oven. Not only does cooking produce fumes, but gas stoves release trace amounts of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide into the air. That doesn’t mean that roasting one turkey is going to hurt you — just like other chemicals, the exposure is cumulative. To reduce yours:

Turn on your stove’s exhaust fan. This will ensure that smoke and other chemicals released during cooking don’t stick around, Hildemann says.

If you have an attached garage, open the garage door before starting your car — and keep it open for a few minutes after pulling in when you return home. Otherwise, the carbon monoxide from your exhaust pipe can get into the main house; over time, that may increase your family’s risk for asthma and even neurological problems. Overexposure to carbon monoxide happens more than people might think, according to the EPA.

Make sure your fireplace flue is working properly, to keep lung-irritating particles in wood smoke out of your indoor air. The EPA recommends having a fireplace pro inspect and clean your furnace, fireplace, or chimney every year.

Explore More:

1. Mold in Your Home Could be Making You Sick
2. Are Your Clothes Making You Sick?
3. Indoor Air Pollution Could Cause 50 Percent of Illnesses Globally
4. Is this Flavor Enhancer Making You and Your Children Sick and Fat?
5. 4 Ways to Naturally Purify the Air in Your Home
6. Secondhand Smoke Making Kids Miss School and Get Sick