Can indoor air be hazardous to your health?

Absolutely. Exposure to air pollutants can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors. The American Lung Association found that many people spend 90% of their time in a building, making it important for homeowners to be knowledgeable about indoor air quality (IAQ) in Fort Myers.

Many standard household products contribute to bad indoor air quality, including:

• Chemicals in parts of carpet, furniture, upholstery and drapes
• Cleaning chemicals
• Paint
• Personal care items

The tight construction of modern homes also contributes majorly to poor IAQ. Fixtures like weather stripping and storm doors are designed to decrease heating and cooling bills. However, they also prevent enough ventilation by keeping indoor air in and exterior air out. The consequence may be an increase of fumes within your residence.

Bad IAQ can be a direct or indirect source of some health troubles. Medical experts have determined that nearly half of all sicknesses are tied or worsened by indoor air pollution.

Pollutants in your house can result in flu-like illness like headaches, nausea and respiratory inflammation. It can also trigger allergies and asthma.

Proper ventilation also plays an important role in bettering indoor air quality, because it decreases the concentration of indoor pollutants.