Breathe

HOW TO MAINTAIN INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Many people think of their homes as places where they can take a deep breath and relax. However, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) estimates that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, which means that breathing easily at home may not be easy at all.

Americans spend around 90 percent of their time indoors, so they are commonly exposed to indoor air pollution, including mold, pollen, tobacco smoke, household cleaners, pesticides, gases such as radon and carbon monoxide, and materials found in buildings and furniture, such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead. According to the American Lung Association, these pollutants can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma. Babies, seniors, and people who already have respiratory illnesses have a higher risk of developing these conditions.

The immediate effects of poor indoor air quality often mimic cold or allergy symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. During winter, when cold and flu season and more time spent indoors collide, it can be especially difficult to identify whether irritation is coming from a pollutant or a viral source.

In the early phases of exposure to indoor air pollution, symptoms usually disappear when the irritant is absent. So the Consumer Protection Safety Commission recommends tracking symptoms to locate pollutants. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) observes, “Whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person.” In later phases of exposure, sufferers may experience symptoms constantly, which makes locating the source even more difficult.

Avoiding indoor pollution might seem like playing a game of whack-a-mole. Chemicals could be venting from nearly every indoor surface. Flame retardants are added to foams and fabrics in home furnishings and are used in electronics. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emit from wood, glues, paints, stains, carpets and household cleaners. Hormone-disrupting PFCs (perfluorinated compounds) are also used in carpets, stains, and waterproof clothing.

In a worst-case scenario, radon in the home can cause lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless, colorless gas resulting from the radioactive decay of uranium in soil. The EPA estimates that the gas accounts for 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year — as compared with around 400 deaths per year from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Radon is particularly difficult to detect. It can rise through cracks in a cement slab (which might be covered with carpet or tile), hiss through openings around plumbing and even be sucked into belowground return air vents and be recirculated into homes.

Mountainous areas tend to have more naturally occurring radon, and Santa Fe County is no exception. The EPA estimates that Santa Fe County has average indoor radon levels greater than 4 picocuries per liter, the level at which it recommends mitigation.

“I think radon is the biggest danger when it comes to air quality that people face,” says Derek Cunningham, a radon measurement and mitigation professional and president of Roadrunner Air Conditioning, Heating, Refrigeration and Plumbing in Santa Fe.

Preventing Indoor Air Pollution

Reducing indoor air pollution exposure involves four primary steps: testing, eliminating sources of pollutants or reducing their emissions, improving ventilation and cleaning the air.

Homeowners can purchase indoor air quality testing monitors, which detect formaldehyde, VOCs and other pollutants. Radon testing kits are widely available from big box stores and online. However, Cunningham cautions that the affordable home kits may not provide the in-depth results of professional-grade continuous radon monitors, which test hourly.

Cutting down on household pollutants can be as simple as reducing dust, dander, and pollen by using a vacuum with a

HEPA filter and by wet-mopping and dusting surfaces frequently. Shoppers can also reduce chemical fumes by using household cleaners that are fragrance-free and certified by the environmental rating systems Green Seal and EcoLogo. More extreme measures include replacing carpets with certified Green Label Plus or Greenguard low-VOC versions, selecting low- or no-VOC paints and buying furniture without flame-retardant chemicals or stain guards.

Radon mitigation can be costly. “A professional mitigator will come in and figure out the best ways to mitigate. It’s a custom thing,” Cunningham says. The process can range from $1,500 to $6,000. Regardless of the approach, the aim is to redirect cancercausing radon out of the house with a continuous-use radon fan.

Indoor air quality can also be improved with better ventilation. Though residents can achieve this simply by opening doors and windows, they may be reticent to do so during cold months. Operating window or attic fans, and bathroom and kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors, can also help remove contaminants and increase outdoor air ventilation, even in cooler temps.

EWG recommends using air filters to clean indoor air. For central air systems, it recommends filters rated MERV 10. For portable units, look for those with HEPA filters. Air filters should also be cleaned and/or replaced regularly — something many people often skip. Even that simple step may help Santa Fe residents breathe more easily indoors this winter.