Absolutely. Air pollution levels can be up to 100 times worse in a building than outdoors. The American Lung Association estimates that the majority of people spend 90% of their time in a building, making it critical for homeowners to be aware of indoor air quality (IAQ) in Cleveland.
Many standard household products contribute to poor indoor air quality, like:
- Chemicals in parts of carpet, furniture, upholstery and drapes
- Cleaning chemicals
- Paint
- Personal care items
The snug construction of new homes also contributes greatly to poor IAQ. Upgrades like weather stripping and storm doors are used to save on utility bills. However, they also block adequate ventilation by keeping indoor air in and exterior air out. The consequence may be an increase of contaminants in your home.
Inferior IAQ can be a direct or indirect trigger of some health problems. Medical professionals report that as many as half of all sicknesses are linked or aggravated by indoor air pollution.
Chemicals inside your residence can bring on flu-like symptoms including headaches, nausea and respiratory inflammation. It can also aggravate allergies and asthma.
Enough ventilation also plays an important role in bettering indoor air quality, because it lowers the amount of indoor pollutants.