Absolutely. Exposure to air pollutants can be as much as 100 times greater in a building than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates that many people spend 90% of their time in a building, making it critical for homeowners to be knowledgeable about indoor air quality (IAQ) in Denver.
Many regular household items create inferior indoor air quality, including:
- Chemicals found in carpet, furniture, upholstery and drapes
- Cleaning sprays
- Paint
- Personal care cosmetics
The tight construction of modern houses also contributes greatly to poor IAQ. Upgrades like weather stripping and storm doors are made to decrease energy costs. However, they also block adequate ventilation by keeping interior air in and outside air out. The outcome could be an increase of fumes inside your residence.
Poor IAQ can be a direct or indirect cause of several health problems. Medical groups have found that nearly half of all ailments are caused or aggravated by indoor air pollution.
Chemicals within your house can bring on flu-like illness like headaches, nausea and respiratory inflammation. It can also trigger allergies and asthma.
Proper ventilation also is an important factor in enhancing indoor air quality, because it reduces the level of indoor pollutants.