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Common Indoor Air Pollutants & How to Remove Them InspectAPedia®  -     Table of Common Indoor Air Pollutants includes product, area or use pattern, & formaldehyde concentration Sources of formaldehyde gas contaminants in buildings How to Remove indoor air contaminants including: allergens, formaldehyde gas, radon gas, particulates such as smoke, soot, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, organic compounds, asbestos, and improved make-up air in buildings Solar Age Magazine Articles on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings, Construction Practices Questions & answers about indoor air pollution: causes, detection, testing, remedies

This article discusses common indoor air pollutants and how to remove them. Sketch at page top and accompanying text are reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Readers looking for a thorough, detailed guide to improving indoor air quality should also see INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE.

Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

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Common Indoor Air Pollutants & How to Remove Them

• ALLERGEN TESTS for buildings discusses the detection of allergenic particles indoors, such as animal dander, hair, cockroach and insect fragments, dust mites, mite fecals, etc.
• Asbestos Hazards as well as other indoor air quality topics listed in detail at the left of this page.
• BIOLOGICAL POLLUTANTS such as mold, animal dander, cat or dog dander, mouse dander or droppings, animal hair, cockroaches, dust mites, dust mite fecal pellets
• COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS discusses indoor pollutants associated with oil or gas burning heating appliances
• Formaldehyde Gas Hazard Reduction explains and illustrates how to reduce indoor formaldehyde gas levels in buildings.
• Formaldehyde & Radon Reduction Indoors - a PDF article: "Breathing Free, Part I: how to do battle with formaldehyde and radon in houses", (use your browser's back button to return to this article series). This article discusses how to reduce formaldehyde-using products in buildings.
• Formaldehyde & Radon Reduction Indoors - a PDF article, "Breathing Free part 2" contains additional current details about formaldehyde and radon hazards and corrective measures
• Formaldehyde Hazards lists sources of formaldehyde in buildings, and also see Radon Hazards.
• Lead Exposure Hazards in indoor air and dust as well as outdoors in soil near older homes
• MOLD: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO MOLD INSPECTION,  TESTING, CLEANUP & PREVENTION discusses mold, on building surfaces, and airborne toxic mold, allergenic mold, or pathogenic mold: how to find, identify, remove, and prevent indoor mold contamination. We also describe harmless cosmetic mold in buildings.
  
• Particulates & Allergens Indoors - "Breathing Free, Part II: steering clear of yet more indoor pollutants" - avoiding indoor pollutants from combustion (CO, CO2, NO2 - see Combustion Appliance Contaminants), avoiding indoor allergens (dust mites, pollen, mold), avoiding toxic organic compounds found indoors (construction products, cleaning fluids, cosmetics, paints, caulks, adhesives, home workshops and hobby materials, and improperly applied pesticides - see Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs).
• Particulates & Allergens Indoors - "Breathing Free, Part II, page 2.
• Pesticide Exposure Hazards  including improper application of pesticides and pesticides in drinking water
• Volatile Organic Compounds VOCs  contamination from glues, formaldehyde, mold, paints, finishyes, other sources
• Radon gas and radon in water hazards in buildings - list of key Radon articles is given below

This article series, originally by Steven Bliss and appearing in Solar Age Magazine, explains Indoor Air Pollutants & How to Remove Them, including indoor air contamination by allergens, formaldehyde gas, radon gas, particulates such as smoke, soot, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, organic compounds, asbestos, and improved make-up air in buildings.

Formaldehyde in buildings

High levels of formaldehyde gas indoors can cause eye and respiratory irritation, and can cause headaches and dizziness. Long term exposure to formaldehyde may cause respiratory-tract harm and can trigger asthma attacks in susceptible individuals. Previous cancer-concerns associated with formaldehyde have been discounted by subsequent research. As early as 1984 ASHRAE reported as a standard a "comfort level" of indoor formaldehyde gas as 0.1 ppm. (See Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation UFFI). Formaldehyde gas hazards, sources, and exposure levels are discussed in more detail at Formaldehyde Hazards.

Formaldehyde was used and continues to be used in many building products, coatings, finishes, and furnishings because it has desirable chemical properties and is inexpensive. Nearly all products made using formaldehyde outgas to some extent, some completely, so that the level of this irritating gas is usually substantially reduced or eliminated over time with little or no consumer action.

Of chief concern, probably because their outgassing lasts longer, are wood products made with urea formaldehyde (UF) glues, including most hardwood plywoods, decorative paneling, and nearly all particle board materials. On the other hand, nearly all softwood plywoods use phenol formaldehyde adhesives that are more chemically stable and that have negligible formaldehyde emissions.

Formaldehyde Gas in Mobile Homes

Before 1985 formaldehyde gas levels were particularly high in mobile homes because of the combination of use of large amounts of paneling, carpeting (see CARPETING & INDOOR AIR QUALITY) , and particleboard, and because of their comparatively small enclosed space. Formaldehyde products that emit that gas in mobile homes were regulated (and generally reduced) beginning in 1985 when the HUD standard set a limit on particleboard emissions in mobile homes of 0.3 ppm and 0.2 ppm from plywood paneling (based on a standard "large-scale test chamber").

Other Sources of Indoor Formaldehyde Gas & What Gets Rid of Formaldehyde

Other sources of indoor formaldehyde gas emission that continue to generate consumer complaints in some homes (though certainly not with all products) include formaldehyde outgassing from some carpet backings, carpet padding, glues, and fabrics.

Heat and humidity increase the level of emission of gases from building materials in general - therefore these may even be useful in speeding the outgassing process where that step is desirable.

Radon Gas in Building Air and Water

Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that occurs naturally as a byproduct of the decay of uranium. In parts of the world where uranium-bearing rock is present under buildings, this gas can in some (not all) instances seep into buildings where the enclosed character of the building leads to a higher level of radon than would be found outdoors.

At higher levels radon gas is a lung cancer hazard, especially to people who smoke (who have an 80-times greater risk than non-smokers).

See Formaldehyde & Radon Reduction Indoors - part 2 for additional information about radon gas, and for details see these articles:

Detailed Articles about Radon: detection, correction, & prevention in buildings

Radon Hazards
  Health Effects of Radon
  Guide to Measuring Radon
  Effects of Radon on Home Sales
  How to Remove Indoor Radon

See Radon Enviro-Scare for a full discussion of the normal cycle of public fear that accompanies the discovery and publicity of various environmental hazards, including radon gas and see Enviro-Scare, the Cycle of Public Fear for our article about consumer environmental safety worry cycles that change over time.

For a Thorough Background in Radon Hazards, Radon Mitigation, & the History of Radon Concerns in the U.S. also see these articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

• "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 1 - William Turner, Terry Brennan, Solar Age Magazine Radon and its progeny are the slipperiest pollutants in the indoor environment, but there are simple ways to keep radon and its relations at bay.
• "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 2 - what is radon, where does radon come from, how does radon get indoors, and why is radon a problem in buildings.
• "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 3 - standards for airborne radon levels in buildings and recommended levels of radon for action, how radon is best detected, and radon action plan.
• "Radon's Threat Can Be Subdued", part 4 - radon prevention advice for new construction, radon in well water - how it is removed, sources of information about radon gas and radon contamination.

• "Defeating Radon" part 1- Terry Brennan, Bill Turner, Solar Age Magazine - How does radon get into buildings, how do I know if a building has a radon gas problem, how can I solve radon problems in existing homes, and what can I do to prevent radon from entering new homes. Part 1: where Radon comes from, how to diagnose radon
• "Defeating Radon" part 2- Guide to keeping radon out of new houses - design details
• "Defeating Radon" part 3- Key spots to seal, to stop radon gas leaks into buildings
• "Defeating Radon" part 4- Data on radon levels in buildings before & after radon mitigation treatment
• "Defeating Radon" part 5- Air filtering, testing after radon mitigation, where to buy radon tests

Ventilation to Improve Indoor Air Quality

While avoiding use of outgassing products to reduce formaldehyde gas indoors and sealing cracks or installing a radon mitigation system is effective in eliminating indoor radon gas hazards, the soup of indoor irritants and pollutants can also be effectively thinned by good building ventilation.

Doubling the rate of fresh air intake in a building will in general cut most indoor air pollutant levels in half. (This might not be true for pollen levels in some locations in some seasons where air conditioning or air filtration will be a better bet.)

Mr. Bliss's article interestingly points out that the level of indoor air contaminants varies among buildings by a factor of 100, so don't make an assumption about what your home needs without more careful study.

See INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT, KEY STEPS and  VENTILATION, WHOLE HOUSE STRATEGIES for more details.

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

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Questions & answers about indoor air pollution: causes, detection, testing, remedies.

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INDOOR AIR QUALITY & HOUSE TIGHTNESS
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  INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE
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INDOOR AIR QUALITY METHODS COMPARED

• Formaldehyde gas home test kits are available from a variety of sources including 3M, Occupational Health and Safety Products, 3M Center, St. Paul MN 55101.
• Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
  
• Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
  Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in buildings, and other topics.
• Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education including the ASHI-adopted Home Inspection Training Program (home study course), publications such as the Home Reference Book, report writing materials including the Horizon report writer, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.

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