Most Common Air Pollutants in Atlanta Homes

Yes, Your Home’s Air is Polluted (In a Scary Bad Way)

Indoor air can be polluted.

In fact it causes sickness every day in homes, offices and schools all over the country. There is evidence, according to the Atlantic Journal Constitution, that our air is worse inside than outside.

This holds true even in Atlanta, which has a high level of air pollution.

But you can get safer air. See these tips from your Atlanta HVAC company about the problems in your indoor environments, and what you can do about them.

The Indoor Pollution Problem

Mold, and chemicals like pest killers, and even dust or other particles inhabit our indoor environments, causing more harm than we think.

The effects of poor air indoors are a litany of health problems, including cancer, nervous system damage and respiratory ailments. However, the resources devoted to indoor air improvement are impoverished compared to those afforded outdoor air pollution.

Part of the problem is that the chemicals and hazards of indoor air are virtually invisible, while the sources of outdoor pollution are well known and evident.

There is also little known about indoor health problems, even by doctors, who are used to diagnosing factors of causation like infection, but not like environmental harm.

Tight Building Construction and Cheap Materials Keep Poison Locked In

When buildings are constructed without windows that open, without walls that breathe and with synthetic materials and furniture that bring with them their own chemicals that get into the air, there is little fresh air – if any – to dissipate the chemicals inside.

These chemicals include carbon monoxide, pesticides, and carcinogenic benzene – all at levels that are higher than we breathe outdoors.

This is certainly a problem at work in office buildings – especially government buildings. But it’s also a problem in apartments and houses that are built in the same way, or have mold and other environmental hazards.

What to Watch For in Your Home

Dust is a hazard. Why? Lots of chemicals attach to it. And when it combines with humid air it creates a chemical soup in your lungs and your air conditioner, eventually sliming the AC compressor so it doesn’t function properly.

(Your lungs are kind of like a compressor, too.)

Dampness and leaks are harbingers of mold, which causes respiratory problems and can make someone who is young runner feel like an old, lethargic couch potato. Add to the mix poor ventilation, and you can develop allergies where none were before.

Other home pollutants include:

• Dust mites
• Bacteria,
• Lead and carbon monoxide from appliances without venting.
• Dry-cleaned clothes,
• Paint pesticides
• Air fresheners also contaminate the air.
• Furniture and carpets give off chemical fumes.
• Plastic furniture and PVC

Maybe This is the Worst Thing About Dust

Dust and dirt in the carpet are most dangerous for infants because they inhale twice the dust that adults do. Children also have more phthalates, which are found in plastic products and linked to reproductive problems.

In fact, infants living in an urban home have in their bodies the amount of Benzo(a)pyrene that would come from smoking three cigarettes.

This chemical can be found in the dirt tracked into the house.

Strategies You Can Take to Reduce Toxins At Home

• Use natural cleaning products.
• Never wear shoes indoors.
• Don’t use pest control products that are chemically based.
• Introduce houseplants that eat toxins.
• Maintain your furnace and AC filters
• Use natural toiletries
• Don’t use artificial air fresheners
• Ventilate.

For more information about how you can achieve maximum ventilation in your home, call the experts at Anytime Heating, Cooling and Plumbing.