Home air quality is becoming an important consideration in the purchase of a home!

Poor home air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. (Just like most of you, I don't know what hypersensitivity pneumonitis is either. A description of this condition can be found here. ). In addition, poor air quality can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.

Some of the things that can cause hazardous air quality conditions or just poor home air quality:

• Biological pollutants, including mold , bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality.



• An estimated one out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon levels above 4pci/L, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency-recommended action level.



• Asbestos is the name given to a group of microscopic mineral fibers that are flexible and durable and will not burn. Asbestos fibers are light and small enough to remain airborne; they can be inhaled into the lungs and can cause asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue) and lung cancer.



• Heating systems and other home appliances using gas, fuel oil, or wood, can produce several combustion products, of which the most dangerous are:



• Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that interferes with the distribution of oxygen to the body. Depending on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede coordination, worsen cardiovascular conditions, and produce fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Very high levels can cause death.
• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the mucous membranes in the eye, nose and throat and causes shortness of breath after exposure to high concentrations. Prolonged exposure to high levels of this gas can damage respiratory tissue and may lead to chronic bronchitis.


• Volatile Organic Compounds - (VOC)s) - Household cleaning agents, personal care products, pesticides, paints, hobby products, and solvents may be sources of hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals, including residual chemicals from Meth production. Such components in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritation, and cancer.



• Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) also called "secondhand smoke," a major indoor air pollutant, contains about 4,000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons, such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, as well as 43 carcinogens.