Pollutant Sources
There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion
sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building
materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation,
wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products;
products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central
heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such
as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant
it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as
how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant.
For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon
monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.
Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products
like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources,
related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently.
These include smoking, the use of un vented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces,
or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use
of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products
and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the
air for long periods after some of these activities.
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Amount of Ventilation
If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants
can accumulate to levels that can pose health and
comfort problems. Unless they are built with special
mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to
minimize
the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home
may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather
conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home,
pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered "leaky."
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