Supporting a Healthy Home

Supporting and maintaining a healthy home, including proper indoor air quality, is important to your family’s health, especially since most of us spend a significant amount of our time indoors. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) can be improved with building performance by ‘sealing tight, ventilating right’.

Typical indoor pollutants include:

• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Nitrogen Oxides
• Fine dust particles
• Uncontrolled infiltration/exfiltration (outdoor pollutants)
• Moisture-induced biological particles (dust mites, fungi like mold and mildew)
• Animal based particles (pets and infestations)
• Formaldehyde
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
• Radon
• Lead and asbestos

Carbon Monoxide and Nitrous Oxides

A product of combustion, CO is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas which can kill you before you are even aware it is there. Sources include poorly tuned combustion appliances, disconnected or leaking flue pipes, unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaky chimneys and furnaces, generators and other gas powered equipment and auto exhaust from attached garages, or even nearby roads.

Health Impact: Fatigue and chest pains at low levels of concentration. At higher levels, can cause flu-like symptoms – headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and impaired vision. At very high concentrations, the result can be fatal.

Mold and Other Asthma Triggers

Mold and mildew are fungi that live on damp organic matter. Their spores can enter a home, grow under the right conditions and cause health issues. One of the conditions for mold to grow and cause issues is water vapor condensation on cold surfaces. Other asthma and allergy triggers include dust mites, pet, mice and roach dander, pollen and secondhand smoke.

Health Impact: Mold has the potential to trigger health problems such as asthma and allergic reactions. It can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, even for people who are not allergic to mold. Other irritants can cause wheezing, coughing and chest tightening.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is widely used in the manufacture of building materials and household products. Sources include fiberglass insulation, pressed wood products like particle board, plywood paneling, and medium density fiberboard as well as unvented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves.

Health Impact:Can cause watery eyes, burning eyes and throat, nausea, allergic reactions, fatigue and even cancer. May trigger asthma attacks at high concentrations.

VOCs

VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds and are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs are emitted by thousands of common household items such as paints and paint strippers, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, copiers and printers, glues and adhesives and permanent markers. Some examples are:

• Benzene – from tobacco smoke, stored fuels and paint supplies
• Methylene chloride – from paint strippers, adhesive removers and aerosol spray paints
• Emissions from newly dry cleaned materials

Health Impact: The health effects from these organic compounds can range from highly toxic to little known effects. Common symptoms include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, nausea, allergic skin reaction and dizziness. Some are even know to cause cancer in humans.

Radon

A radioactive gas formed in the soil. It can enter the home through cracks and openings in the floors and walls that are in touch with the ground. Stack effect causes negative pressure, drawing in radon from soil.

Health Impact: Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is often used in building construction materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. It is most commonly found in older homes, pipe and furnace insulation materials, asbestos shingles and some floor tiles. It is when asbestos deteriorates, is damaged or disturbed (sawed, scraped or sanded), that the asbestos fibers get released and can be inhaled into the lungs.

Health Impact: There are no immediate symptoms,but long term effects, even after 20-30 years,can appear. The consequences can be lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the chest and abdominal linings) and asbestosis (lung scarring). The effect is greater if you smoke.

Controlling and Minimizing the Sources of Pollution

As accredited building science practitioners and professional weatherization contractors, Green Star is specially trained to handle ventilation, sealing and moisture issues and install eco-friendly insulation.

Proper sealing with controlled ventilation to control moisture levels and insulation to prevent condensation are key factors in helping to address many of these potential health hazards.

Carbon Monoxide, Nitrous Oxides, VOCs and Formaldehyde

Proper ventilation is important when using products that emit VOCs and to reduce carbon monoxide and formaldehyde exposure. A comprehensive home energy assessment includes checks for combustion appliances ventilation and exhaust, gas line leaks and testing to ASHRAE building airflow standards.

Mold and Other Asthma Triggers

Green Star technicians can seal your home to prevent moisture, pollen, rodents and insects from getting in. Moisture issues in the home can stem from water vapor condensing on cold surfaces, water leaks, standing water such as air conditioning drip pans, high indoor humidity or other conditions. Proper home ventilation, air and duct sealing and effective insulation help control the infiltration of mold and accumulation of moisture.

In addition, the cellulose insulation we use is specifically treated to prevent mold and mildew growth. Cellulose insulation is so effective at blocking airflow and managing moisture that a poly vapor barrier is not necessary. The air-blocking qualities of high-density cellulose insulation prevent moisture flow and the borates in treated cellulose further inhibit mold and fungus growth caused from any moisture.

Radon

Controlling airflow offsets the ”stack effect” which draws in soil gasses. Green Star technicians can install a heat recovery ventilation device which keeps the heat in your house while moving the stale air out.

For more information about indoor air quality, visit The EPA website, Indoor Air Quality.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/index.html

For LEAD hazards in the home, please read more in our Information Center.