Nitrogen dioxide (NO 2): colorless, odorless gas that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath or increased susceptibility to respiratory illness.Carbon monoxide (CO): colorless, odorless gas that can cause headaches, nausea, dizziness or even death.
Improper use or venting of fuel-burning appliances, such as a space heater, gas stove or water heater, furnace, fireplace or wood stove, can allow gases to get into the home. Most air pollutants fall into three categories: combustible contaminants, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and living organisms.Ĭombustible contaminants are gases and/or particles that result from burning materials. Start your search by identifying all potential pollutants. If someone is exhibiting symptoms, it may be the result of multiple pollutants rather than a single source. Identifying all potential sources and dealing with them is usually the most effective and cost-efficient.
If you suspect poor air quality, the first step is to find all possible sources of pollution. Children, the elderly and those with chronic respiratory conditions are especially susceptible to some air pollutants. An irritant for one person may not affect others. Another problem in detecting pollutants in the air is that people react differently to contaminants. Some pollutants, such as paint or tobacco smoke, can be smelled or seen, but others are odorless and invisible. Other pollutants can cause more serious reactions, including respiratory illness, allergies or other serious conditions.ĭetecting poor air quality can be difficult. Some indoor air pollutants can cause irritation, such as sore eyes, burning of the nose or throat, headaches or fatigue.
Increases in energy efficiency, such as sealing buildings against loss of heat and cooling, can result in pollutants in the air we breathe. Most of us spend over half of our time indoors either at home, school or work.
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