Home air pollution is the silent and invisible health concern that many people live entirely unaware of. There are numerous air pollutants within most homes that can cause serious health effects, and most are not covered under any home insurance policy if you try to remove them.

It is vital that you have a house checked for home air pollution elements before you buy.Some of the more common home air pollution problems include radon, mold, carbon dioxide, and toxic chemical bases.

Radon is a toxic gas that can be trapped under the home and released over long periods of time directly into the living environment. Children are usually the first to suffer from respiratory ailments when radon is in the home.Once a home is tested and the test returns positive for radon, it becomes almost impossible to sell. For this reason buyers have to require the test as part of the terms of sale if they want the home checked before buying.

air quality and air pollution

Mold is a very common home air pollution problem, and it can reach extreme levels in some moist and warm areas of the United States. Mold can cause a host of health problems, including chronic infections. Mold spores that are released into the air and are breathed in by children and infants can cause serious respiratory and immune system problems.

Carbon monoxide is a deadly home air pollutant that is present on some level in most homes. When carbon monoxide levels reach high enough levels, the end result is generally death for the entire family. In recent history the common household carbon monoxide detector has saved countless lives. In most cases, deadly levels of carbon monoxide come from cracked furnaces and indoor vehicle emissions.

There are a number of incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning from the indoor use of an outdoor product, like grills. Carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to find this odorless and colorless gas that can become a home air pollution nightmare.

Chemicals are effectively one of the most common home air pollutants. Chemicals come in and out of the average home on a regular basis. Chemicals often are released into the air during their use and poor ventilation can then trap the chemical components in the air for long periods of time. This can cause immediate illness, or even death, if not noticed.

Most of the home air quality and pollution problems are existent in all homes but are not considered to be at high enough levels to be considered a true health risk. Homes that are well ventilated are often at a much lower risk for serious problems for home air pollution. However, this in no way implies that well ventilated homes can’t experience toxic levels of toxins, especially carbon monoxide.

Home air filters, and home building essentials that can reduce the risk of home air pollutants are now becoming increasingly common. For the family that is having a new home built, it is imperative to talk with the builder about their policies and materials to make sure that toxic chemicals not only stay out of the building process but that the builder also uses home environmentally friendly materials and processes.

For an existing home, tests and detectors are the only real answer. Home filtration systems can be beneficial in reducing molds and other irritants, but will not filter out toxic gases like carbon monoxide or radon.