Indoor Air Quality:
Things from Outside
When common outside impurities - such as auto exhaust fumes, pollen, mold spores, pollution, and bird droppings in air intakes - come inside, they can induce or aggravate asthma as well as cause respiratory irritation, dizziness, headaches, and excessive drowsiness.
Another common outside hazard is radon, which can seep into your home’s foundation from the soil below. Odorless, colorless radon gas is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer.
What to do:
For common impurities:
- On days when the pollution index is especially high, keep windows closed and turn on the air conditioning.
- Use pleated filters in your heating and cooling systems.
- Consider a HEPA air cleaner with a carbon pre-filter.
- Discourage birds from nesting or roosting in ductwork and vents.
For radon:
- Inexpensive radon test kits are available at many hardware and retail stores.
- If these tests show high radon levels in your home, seal foundation cracks and holes, increase ventilation in foundation and basement areas.
- Contact a professional for long-term corrective measures.
