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Home , Passive smoking

Indoor Air Hazards Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station Michael Bradshaw, and Cooperative Extension Service Health and Safety Specialist

Indoor Air Hazards eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion, itching, coughing, wheezing and difficulty Studies from the and Europe breathing, headache, dizziness and fatigue. show that, on average, persons in industrialized Molds and dust mites thrive in areas of nations spend more than 90 percent of their high . Molds grow most places but time indoors. For infants, the elderly, persons especially on organic materials such as food, with chronic diseases, and most urban residents paper, textiles, grease, dirt and soap scum. Mold of any age, the proportion is probably higher. spores float throughout the house, forming new The amount of time spent indoors is important colonies where they land. Dust mites thrive because the concentration of many pollutants on human and animal dander, dead skin cells exceeds those outdoors. The locations of especially in textiles such as bedding, carpeting highest concern are those involving prolonged, and upholstery. continuing exposure – that is, the home, school, Reduce the Risk and workplace. Many of the common pollutants found in the home can be reduced with careful There are no practical tests for biological planning and good home maintenance. contaminants for use by non-professionals. However there are signs to watch for. You can sometimes see and smell mold colonies growing Biological Pollutants on surfaces. Mold growth should be expected Sheet Fact Biological pollutants include such things wherever there are water stains, standing water as molds and dust mites. Mold are plant-like or moist surfaces for more than a day. organisms that produce spores that float in Prevent mold growth by keeping basements, the air like pollen. Mold is found in areas of bathrooms and other rooms clean and low the home that have high humidity levels, such humidity. Use a disinfectant to clean surfaces as bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and that have mold on them. When carpeting or basements. Dust mites are tiny organisms not uphostered furniture become wet, they must be commonly visible to the naked eye. They feed quickly and thoroughly dried or discarded. off human and animal dander. Their waste , dehumidifies and air becomes airborne during vacuuming, bed conditioning condensing units should be making, or when textiles are disturbed. Dust regularly cleaned with a disinfectant such as mites are second only to pollen in causing chlorine bleach. allergic reactions. Keep humidity at acceptable levels (less Health Concern than 50 percent) by making sure that water vapor from baths and cooking is exhausted to Allergic reactions are the most common the exterior and ventilation is used to control health problems associated with biological indoor moisture in the air. pollutants. Symptoms often include watery People who are sensitive to dust mites may Household Products need to replace carpeting in their homes with hard-surfaced flooring and use area rugs that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can be removed and cleaned. are found in many household products. They Vacuums with high-efficiency filters, water are chemicals that easily evaporate to vapor or filtration systems or central vacuum systems gas at . They are found in can help reduce the airborne dust generated by paints, solvents, air fresheners, hobby supplies, vacuuming. automotive products, dry-cleaned clothing, moth repellents, pesticides and some cleaners and disinfectants aerosol sprays, adhesives, manufactured wood products (pressed board), and fabric additives used in carpeting and furniture. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless Some common volatile organic compounds gas that can be fatal when breathed. It is (VOCs) listed on product labels are: petroleum produced when combustion equipment is not distillates, mineral spirits, chlorinated solvents, working properly. Sources include unvented carbon tetrachloride, methylene chloride, fossil-fuel space heaters, unvented gas stoves trichloroethane, toluene and formaldehyde. Other and ovens, blocked chimneys or , gas dryer household product ingredients can also be a vented into the room, cars or other engines run hazard if they are used improperly. in garages, and cracked combustion chamber in the , and “backdrafting” from Health Concern and water heaters. The unsafe use of many common Health Concern household products can cause many undesirable health effects. Short-term effects It’s sometimes difficult to determine if include eye, nose and throat irritation, and a person is experiencing carbon monoxide headaches. Long-term exposure can cause loss symptoms or if they are experiencing of coordination; nausea; and damage to liver, symptoms of the flu, food poisoning, or kidneys and the central nervous system. Some allergies. Low levels of carbon monoxide can organics can cause in animals and are cause nausea, dizziness, weakness and muscle suspected of causing cancer in humans. aches. Higher doses can impair judgment, cause paralysis or coma, and . Reduce the Risk

Reduce the Risk First, read the labels of products you are considering buying. Note the product’s Carbon monoxide alarms alert you to ingredients and beware of all warnings of its dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It is use. important to choose and place an alarm wisely and maintain it to assure accurate sensing of Always use household products only for carbon monoxide. Experts recommend having their intended purpose and according to the your combustion heating systems inspected manufacturer’s instructions. And use them by a trained professional every year. Such sparingly. inspections should look for blocked openings When possible use the product outdoors, in to flues and chimneys; cracked combustion a separate building, or in a well-ventilated area. chamber, or disconnected pipe; signs of Choose products that are packaged to soot around openings in your furnace or ; reduce the chance of spills, leaks and child rust or cracks in the ; soot or tampering. creosote build-up; and exhaust or gas odors. Keep household products in their original containers so that safety information and directions for use are always with the product.

 Lead Dust Paint over surfaces before they peel, flake, or chalk. Lead dust is a metallic element that is Pick up loose paint chips with masking widely dispersed in the environment. It was tape or tape. used in oil-based paint until 1978, when it was Frequently damp mop to control dust if banned. An estimated 57 million U.S. homes you live in an older home that likely or possibly have at least some lead paint. Older homes are has lead paint. (Vacuuming can disperse dust at greater risk. Prior to 1950, paint contained particles back into the room.) as much as 50 percent lead. Lead can be found Frequent washing of your child’s hands and near major traffic corridors in soils that have toys will also reduce exposure. been contaminated from the long-term use of It’s important not to sand or scrape leaded leaded gas. paint, or do any other activities that generate Paint in good condition poses little dust. risk. Paint that is peeling, chalking, or on Eliminating lead dust hazards is complex deteriorating surfaces is especially risky. and should only be done by professionals. Sanding, scraping, and burning paint during Remediation measures include replacing remodeling can expose family members to high windows and moldings, removing paint and levels of lead. Lead has been used in many covering surfaces with materials such as products, including automotive batteries, brass, wallboard. Children should be removed until solder, some plumbing pipe, and weights. Some the site “clears” inspection. imported products such as toys, candy, jewelry and pottery can also be exposure risks. Health Concern Radon

Young children (up to about six years Radon is an odorless radioactive gas old) are especially at risk of ingesting lead that results from the breakdown of uranium contaminated dust or paint chips. Small from soil and rock beneath and around the amounts of lead dust, consumed regularly, foundation, ground water wells, and some can cause delayed development, reading and building materials. learning problems, lowered IQ, hyperactivity Radon can leak into your house through and discipline problems. Larger doses can cause the basement or crawl space – via adjacent or high blood pressure, anemia, and kidney and exposed soil and rock – or through well water. reproductive disorders in both children and Some building materials such as natural stone adults. Lead accumulates in the body and its or rock can emit radon. effects are irreversible. If you live in an older Health Concern home, your children may be at high risk. Reduce the Risk Exposure to radon can increase your chances of getting . Scientists are Testing: more certain about radon risks than risks from All children up to age six should be tested most other cancer causing substances. Radon for lead in their blood. Ask your is the second leading cause of lung cancer department about lead testing programs for in the United States. Radon causes 15,000- children. 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Do-it-yourself test kits are available at home combined with radon exposure is an especially centers, paint stores and ceramic supply stores. dangerous health risk. Their sensitivity is limited, though. Also, it may Reduce the Risk be difficult to get accurate readings on surfaces with multiple levels of paint. For more accurate You can monitor radon levels yourself information, have a professional detection service by following instructions and using either conduct a lead-based paint risk assessment.  short- or long-term test kits. Short-term kits annually, resulting in between 7,500 and 15,000 are deployed for two to seven days and long- hospitalizations each year. term kits are deployed for three months to one Children exposed to secondhand smoke are year. Such detectors cost about $5-$25 per kit, also more likely to have reduced lung function which usually includes analysis, postage and and symptoms of respiratory irritation like reporting on test results. Contact your local K- cough, excess phlegm, and wheeze. Asthmatic State Research and Extension office for test kit children are especially at risk. availability and testing guidance. EPA estimates that exposure to secondhand Radon levels can be reduced, most often smoke increases the number of episodes and by the installation of a soil ventilation system severity of symptoms in hundreds of thousands that draws the radon from beneath the house of asthmatic children. exhausts into the air above the house. Average Passive smoking may also cause thousands national cost for these radon contractor of non-asthmatic children to develop the installed systems is $1,200. condition each year. Passive smoking can lead to buildup of fluid Secondhand smoke in the middle ear, the most common cause of hospitalization of children for an operation. Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke Reduce the Risk given off by the burning end of a , pipe, or cigar, and the smoke exhaled from the lungs Do not smoke in your home or permit of smokers. This mixture contains more than others to do so. If a family member insists on 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which are smoking indoors, increase ventilation, open known to cause cancer in humans or animals windows or use exhaust fans, in the area where and many of which are strong irritants. Exposure smoking takes place. Do not smoke if children to secondhand smoke is also called involuntary are present, particularly infants and toddlers. smoking, or passive smoking. They are particularly susceptible to the effects Health Concern of passive smoking.

Secondhand smoke has been classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reference (EPA) as a known cause of lung cancer in EPA Indoor Air – http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ humans (Group A ). EPA estimates Adapted from: Indoor Air Hazards Every that environmental smoke, or ETS, Homeowner Should Know About, EPA 402-K- causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths 98-002. in nonsmokers each year. Secondhand smoke is a serious health Publication adapted by Michael Bradshaw, risk to children. EPA estimates that passive Ph.D., Associate Professor and Extension smoking is responsible for between 150,000 Specialist, Health and Safety, School of Family and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections Studies and Human Services. Reviewed by in infants and children under 18 months of age Bruce Snead, Ph.D. and Morgan Powell Ph.D.

Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned. Publications from Kansas State University are available on the World Wide Web at: www.oznet.ksu.edu Publications from Kansas State University may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In either case, credit Michael Bradshaw, Indoor Air Hazards Fact Sheet, Kansas State University, October 2007.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, Manhattan, Kansas MF2787 October 2007 K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. These materials may be available in alternative formats. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fred A. Cholick, Director.