Sick Building Syndrome

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7 Simple Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution

Author: Eddie Hudd

Unbelievably, the air within modern homes can be upwards of five times more polluted than outdoor air. When you also consider that we can spend up to ninety percent of our lives indoors, the term sick building syndrome should require little explanation. Outside air, unlike inside, is recycled repeatedly with pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all adding towards asthma and allergies.

There are various symptoms associated with so called sick building syndrome including sinus congestion, watery or itchy eyes, headaches, lethargy, lack of concentration and nausea. However, because several of these symptoms are similar to those of a common cold, it is not always easy to ascertain if indoor pollution is the cause or if it is because of some form of virus.

If you find that, the symptoms fade when you outside, you should try to discover inside air sources, which might be possible causes and endeavour to get rid of them. As luck would have it, indoor air pollution is one health hazard that you can do something about.

Here are seven easy measures you can take to improve the air quality in your home.

1. Banish Smoking Inside the Home

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the home but if this is not possible, try to confine it to one place. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, visit, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan installed in the kitchen, make sure that it is turned on and try to have smokers stand reasonably close to the fan so that the fumes are sucked out.

2. Open Your Windows Once In a While

If it is not freezing cold or blowing a gale outside, let some outdoor air in by opening your windows and doors every now and then. Doing so will also remove some of the pollutants that have built up within your house.

3. Chuck out Those Chemical Cleaners

If you have ever taken the time to study the labels on household cleaning products, most of them will include a warning about how harmful the chemicals are for your health or skin. Every time you use that product, fumes from whatever is in the bottle are released into the air for you to inhale. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Not any longer though, as my natural housecleaning products of choice are now baking soda, washing soda, vinegar and pure lemon juice. These are all non-toxic, environmentally friendly and can tackle the majority of cleaning chores, either separately or combined with one another.

4. Clean and Dust Your Home on a Regular Basis

Although it might seem obvious to some folks, regularly vacuuming your carpets and flooring can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is claimed that some 70% of all household dust is composed of dead skin, which we humans shed day in and day out. Dust mites in turn feed upon the dead skin that falls from our bodies. They then grow and shed their own skin and it is this together with their faeces that cause allergic reactions in people.

5. Pet Dander Triggers Allergies

If you have a family pet, they will shed dander that can trigger allergies and asthma. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another household member is allergic to pet dander. Ideally, it is best to keep pets out of the house altogether although that is seldom possible. As a viable alternative, try to restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.

6. Reduce Indoors Air Humidity

If the climate where you live is either very humid or just plain damp (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels within your house can increase. This excessive moisture or humidness is the ideal breeding conditions for mold. For anyone with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment since they are capable of removing excess dampness from the surrounding air; thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.

7. Get an Indoor Air Purifier

Home air purifiers or room air cleaners do as their name suggests and clean the air of pollutants and allergens such as mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander. Besides being used to reduce the concentration of these airborne contaminants, they are especially useful for people who suffer from allergies and asthma attacks. Air purifiers and room air cleaners are quickly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/7-simple-solutions-to-indoor-air-pollution-488880.html

About the Author

To learn much more about the different types of Air Purifier for Allergy Relief, visit Home Air Purifier Systems where you will find this and much more including How to Eliminate House Odor with an air purifier

Understanding Sick Building Syndrome And VOC Paint

Author: Delilah Jones

Does going to work make you sick? Not the Monday morning "I-don't-wanna-gooooo", or the Friday afternoon "Is-it-the-weekend-yet?" kind of sick, but actually sick? Symptoms such as headache, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue might signal that your office has Sick Building Syndrome.

Sounds funny, but Sick Building Syndrome is no laughing matter. It's recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and is described as a situation in which building occupants suffer discomfort (headache, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dizziness and nausea, fatigue, sensitivity to odors, difficulty concentrating) from being in the building that can't be linked to any other causes or specific illnesses. Ultimately, Sick Building Syndrome means that the air quality in your building is so poor; it's making you sick.

The causes of Sick Building Syndrome are fairly simple. Chemicals in the building contaminate the air; without proper ventilation, they can't escape. The big question here is just how do these chemicals get into the buildings in the first place?

The chemicals that are most likely causing office workers distress are commonly known as VOCs, which stands for volatile organic compounds. VOCs can be emitted as a gas from certain liquids or solid products, and can include a large variety of different chemicals. In particular, VOCs are known to be found in paint, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, building materials, copiers and printers, glues and adhesives, and permanent markers. Carpets are also a huge contributor to low air quality indoors - don't you remember rolling on the brand new carpet as a kid breathing in that lovely new smell. Mmmmm well, let's not do that anymore. Mold, which can be hidden in the walls and ventilation, is also be a culprit. VOCs, as greenhouse gasses, also contribute to global warming.

All of these products have something in common aside from their heightened levels of VOCs: a strong odor. For example, the smell from the painting going on in the office down the hall might come to mind. That's a sign that you're being flooded with VOC exposure right now! In fact, the EPA estimates that levels of VOCs found indoors can be up to ten times higher than those found outside.

If you think you're suffering from Sick Building Syndrome, do what you can to provide yourself with better ventilation by moving near a window, bringing a fan to the office, and taking frequent breaks to get outside. Don't hesitate to alert the management of your situation, and ask if any changes can be made to the ventilation system.

As far as reducing the levels of VOCs inside offices or homes, be sure to search out a non toxic paint with zero VOCs. These do exist and are priced similar to other traditional premium paints. You'll immediately notice that these are low odor paints. In a work situation, low odor paint and zero VOC paint will not only be less distracting to current workers, but will also not harm the health of future workers. If you're painting a new wall, zero VOC paints are the safest for people (as well as for pets and the environment), and are much less likely to result in Sick Building Syndrome.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/understanding-sick-building-syndrome-and-voc-paint-501133.html

About the Author
Delilah Jones has a passion for zero VOC paint and its impact to consumer safety. She is also interested in how a 100 percent non toxic paint and low odor paint can correlate.
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