Carbon monoxide is released into indoor spaces via heating
and cooling units, gas stoves, wood stoves, and other sources. Even at low
levels, carbon monoxide can cause mild health effects including headache,
nausea, fatigue, and confusion. In larger doses, it can be fatal. Micro-organisms,
such as fungal spores and mold, may grow in areas inside the home that exhibit
inadequate ventilation and excess moisture, such as the bathroom, basement, or
crawl space. Mold can lead to mild conditions like sinus irritation and respiratory
infections, and at higher levels, infertility. It has also been known to worsen
asthma symptoms along with other allergens like dust, smoke, and dander. Dust
mites can live in areas all over the home including pillows, blankets, carpet,
mattresses, and upholstered furniture. In addition to exacerbating asthma,
dust, smoke, and dander can cause nose and throat irritation, nasal congestion,
sneezing, and coughing. Infectious disease is another danger of indoor air.
Working in offices, hospitals, or other areas that use recirculated air
ventilation can contribute to the spread of illnesses like colds, influenza,
and other dangerous viruses. Within all buildings, including homes, offices,
hospitals, stores, etc., toxic compounds are present in building materials,
furniture, carpets, paint, cleaning chemicals, and many other places. Some
older buildings may still contain dangerous chemicals like lead and asbestos
that can lead to serious health effects like cancer. Radon is found in the soil
and ground water and has been known to be detectable in homes and other
buildings. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after cigarettes.
In my home I have a gas stove and oven that is used almost
daily. There is a large exhaust fan over the stovetop that is used when it gets
smoky in the house from cooking, but is not used routinely. I would worry about
small amount of carbon dioxide while cooking. We do have carbon monoxide
detectors that are functioning, but as mentioned above, even small amounts of
carbon monoxide can have some negative effects. I also have an exhaust fan in
the bathroom that is turned on whenever the shower is in use to remove
moisture. There is a dehumidifier in the basement/garage to keep down moisture
and mold growth. I have a Molekule air filter that I bought about 2 months ago
that runs continuously. It is designed to cover quite a large area, up to 600
square feet. Molekule uses Photoelectrochemical Oxidation to destroy indoor air
pollutants. It is designed to rid the indoor environment of substances as small
as viruses, and I believe that it greatly improves the air quality inside my
house. I am curious to what types of technologies they use in hospitals to keep
viruses and other air pollutants from spreading from patient to patient. With
the cleaning chemicals used in hospitals on a continuous basis, I would be
concerned about the air quality in hospitals. The previous article I read about
asthma in nurses makes me believe that the air quality in hospitals is quite poor.
Alameda county has an Environmental Performance
Specifications Checklist for New Construction and Major Remodels (link below) that
outlines specific requirements for things like carpets, paints, adhesives, wood
finishes, and other important areas of potential contamination during and after
construction. The specifications follow current policies and are designed to reduce
environmental impact and provide an optimal indoor environment with the
finished product. A study performed by UC, Berkeley in 2012 found that there
were higher than allowable levels of formaldehyde in day care centers in
Northern California. I could not find any information regarding any steps to
remedy this over the past seven years, so I would guess that this is an ongoing
issue.
Environmental Performance Specifications: https://www.acgov.org/sustain/documents/SustainableDesign_Checklist.pdf
Berkeley Study on Formaldehyde: https://news.berkeley.edu/2012/10/25/formaldehyde-in-daycare-centers/
In practice, I currently do not educate patients about
indoor cooking risks and proper air flow, but I believe that this information
would be beneficial to share with many patients in the future. Even gas stoves
and ovens release some amount of carbon monoxide, and ventilation is still
important. Many homes in the U.S. have gas appliances, and consumers are likely
unaware of their risk of exposure. Although not typically used for cooking in
the U.S., wood stoves and fireplaces still exist in many homes. Patients must
be educated about proper ventilation via chimneys or exhaust fans to reduce
their exposure to harmful particulate matter within the home.
When we vacuum our carpeting at home, or even have them cleaned, there is a high level of chance that VOCs are being emitted into the environment. The Lung Association warns about the dangers associated with indoor carpeting; mold spores, dustmites, cockroach allergens, lead, and VOCs. I am also concerned about this issue at work in the Cancer Center because our nurses walk into the lobby and reception areas throughout the day and may have hazardous drug residues on the soles of their shoes. When the carpets are cleaned or vacuumed, these particles can linger in the air and cause respiratory problems in exposed persons. Babies are especially susceptible because they are crawling on the floor and placing their hands in their mouths. I suffer from asthma and remember a time when my parents were instructed by my doctor to remove the carpets in our home. Of course, they didn't do that but now I understand why it was suggested to them.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/indoor/indoor-air-pollutants/carpets.html
I was reading the CDC website and I found that the government is aware of mold growing in our schools and they tried to do regular testing to know the levels. I find this really disturbing because the public is not being educated about this matter. Perhaps the schools and the clinics should warn parents about this air pollution and how to prevent it.
ReplyDeletetheir recommendation to prevent are: eep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
Use an air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans.
Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.
Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.
Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.
Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.