Three Simple Steps for Improving Indoor Air Quality

Since 2008, Americans have observed National Care About Your Indoor Air Month during

the month of February. This annual event is an opportunity for indoor air quality

experts and health advocates to come together and educate consumers about the need for

creating better indoor air quality. To honor this month, Sylvane, an online retailer of

high-quality air treatment products and a 10-year proponent of creating healthier

indoor environments, offers consumers three simple steps for improving their indoor air

quality.

1.    Identify Indoor Pollution Sources

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that indoor air can be two to five

times more polluted than the air outdoors. Since Americans spend up to 90 percent of

their time indoors, this results in a greater risk of exposure to indoor air

pollutants. These pollutants can ultimately lead to a variety of conditions, including

asthma and other respiratory illnesses, allergies, irritated eyes, burning of the

throat and nose, headaches, fatigue, heart disease, and even cancer.

"The first step toward improving your indoor air quality is to look for possible

sources of pollution in your home," said Steven Hong, president of Sylvane. "Some

common indicators of indoor air quality problems are excessive dust, mold, mildew,

musty odors, pet hair and dander, insects, fumes from gas-burning appliances, and, of

course, secondhand smoke."

While some pollutants seem obvious, other pollutants may not be as easily detected,

Hong explained. "Yet, those pollutants pose equally serious health risks," he said. For

example, radon -- the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers -- cannot be seen,

smelled, or tasted. The only way to find out if a home has dangerous levels of radon

gas is to install a radon detector, such as the Safety Siren Pro Series 3 Radon Gas

Detector.

2.    Eliminate or Reduce Indoor Pollution Sources

"Once the major sources of pollution have been identified, you should take steps to

eliminate or reduce their effect on the indoor environment," Hong said. "Oftentimes,

this involves simple repairs such as using dehumidifiers to reduce excess moisture

contributing to mold growth, sealing cracks and crevices to control pest problems,

fixing issues with gas-burning appliances, or using allergy bedding to reduce exposure

to dust mites." However, Hong warns, if a home suffers from serious indoor

contamination problems like bed bugs, toxic mold, or extremely high levels of radon,

homeowners should contact a qualified indoor air quality professional for remediation.

3.    Maintain Healthy Indoor Air Quality

After the immediate indoor air problems have been corrected, consumers should take

proactive steps to maintain their now-healthier indoor environment. Hong, a longtime

user of air purifiers for allergy relief, recommends that homeowners add an air

purifier to their environment to help control particle and gaseous pollutants. "By

removing odors, pollen, dust, dander and illness-causing bacteria, air purifiers help

you maintain the cleanest, healthiest air possible," he said.