IAQ+Triggers

=IAQ Triggers = //Environmental Triggers// In most developed countries, individuals are spending the majority of their time indoors. Indoor irritants and allergens are, therefore, playing a larger role in respiratory health. The most common ailment is asthma, a chronic disease that inflames the walls of the airway and makes those more sensitive to irritation. The primary environmental triggers for asthma and other respiratory ailments include: pet dander, secondhand smoke, dust mites, cockroaches and other rodents, and the byproducts of gas or wood stoves, furnaces, or fireplaces. While there is no cure, these ailments are often easily controlled with few, or infrequent, symptoms through the use of medication or a reduction in exposure to the various environmental triggers. //Molds// Molds can be found both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, they play an important role in the decay of organic matter; indoors is another matter. Fortunately, molds, which reproduce by means of tiny spores that float through the air, need moisture and/or water in order to grow. Therefore, the easiest way to prevent mold growth is to control the amount of moisture indoors. If however, growth does occur, it is important not only to clean up the mold but deal with any continuing moisture issues. Molds can gradually destroy whatever it grows on, from furniture to the foundation of a house. They cause health problems by producing irritants and allergens that can produce a variety of reactions or set off asthma attacks. Molds also have the potential to become toxic if not addressed properly. //Carbon Monoxide// Carbon monoxide is the most commonly encountered noxious gas in our environment; it is both invisible and potentially lethal and is evident in the quality of both outdoor and indoor air. Wood and gas stoves, cigarette smoke, and un-vented gas and kerosene space heaters are the primary sources of indoor carbon monoxide. The gas can even leak into homes through a closed, attached garage with an idling vehicle, which can prove deadly. Carbon monoxide affects the respiratory and central nervous systems, as well as affecting those with cardiovascular disease. Carbon monoxide molecules bind to the hemoglobin in human blood, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body's tissues. It has been responsible for more deaths than any other single poison, as well as for serious suffering in those who survive. //Radon// Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that is a source of ionizing radiation. Uranium-238, which is widely distributed in the Earth's crust, decays to radium, which decays to radon. Radon itself is not harmful, but as it decays it creates "radon daughters" that emit alpha particles. These particles can attach themselves to dust, or directly to the lining of the lungs, and are a potential cause of lung cancer, especially among those already at risk, such as smokers. When radon was first discovered in the early 1900s, it was called//niton// and was promoted for its health benefits. Radon was added to products like candy and toothpaste, and bathing in water that contained radon became a health fad. Concerns about radon were finally raised after a study of uranium miners showed that the miners exposed to high levels of radon had a higher incidence of lung cancer. Radon levels vary widely according to geological conditions; in the U.S., higher levels have been found in parts of the Northeast and in the Rocky Mountains. Radon gas can rise up from soil and seep into buildings. In well-ventilated spaces, the gas is quickly dispersed, but tightly-sealed, energy-efficient housing construction can concentrate radon in basements and throughout lower levels. While there is little disagreement that high levels of exposure can be a factor in causing lung cancer, there is considerable disagreement about the risk associated with lower levels of exposure, particularly for non-smokers.   Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Exposures This book, from the Institute of Medicine, provides a comprehensive review of the evidence that indoor air pollution has a role in respiratory illness. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Molds, Toxic Molds, and Indoor Air Quality This paper from 2001 provides background information on molds, their potential health effects, and how they relate to indoor air quality. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Basic Information: Carbon Monoxide The Environmental Protection Agency provides an array of information and links on carbon monoxide. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> How Radon Works HowStuffWorks.com provides an easy-to-understand primer on what radon is, how to test for it, and what the potential health risks are. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> FAQs About Radon Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory provides a Q&A on radon, along with additional reference links. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Environmental Protection Agency: Radon The EPA offers general and health risk information, program initiatives, and additional publications related to radon. 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