Absolutely. Exposure to air pollutants can be up to 100 times higher in a building than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates that the majority of people spend 90% of their time indoors, making it critical for homeowners to be aware of indoor air quality (IAQ) in Columbus.
Many common household things create bad indoor air quality, including:
- Chemicals used in carpet, furniture, upholstery and drapes
- Cleaning chemicals
- Paint
- Personal care products
The tight construction of modern residences also contributes majorly to poor IAQ. Upgrades like weather stripping and storm doors are installed to decrease heating and cooling expenses. However, they also stop enough ventilation by keeping indoor air in and exterior air out. The result can be a buildup of fumes in your house.
Bad IAQ can be a direct or indirect source of some health issues. Medical groups report that as many as half of all sicknesses are tied or worsened by indoor air pollution.
Pollutants within your house can result in flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and respiratory sensitivity. It can also aggravate allergies and asthma.
Enough ventilation also is an important part of improving indoor air quality, because it decreases the amount of indoor pollutants.