Toxic Homes. Is your house making you sick?
By Dr. Sandra Cabot 
The air pollution in cities is a well-known cause of health problems, but did you know that the air in your own home can be even more toxic? Indoor air can be between five to seven times more polluted than outdoor air, unless you live right along a freeway, according to Professor Margaret Burchett of the University of Technology, Sydney.
This is because air indoors is stale and it accumulates. Since the majority of Australians spend 90 percent of their time indoors, whether in their home or workplace, the air you breathe each day can be putting your health at risk.
There are many sources of indoor air pollution; some of it will come from the air outside, but the majority is generated in the home through synthetic building materials, furnishings and finishes that out-gas pollutants; for example furniture, paints, solvents and carpets.
(The CSIRO estimates that people living in new homes can be exposed to many times the maximum allowable limits of some indoor air pollutants).
The major indoor air pollutants are a class of chemicals called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). These are carbon-containing compounds which make up fossil fuels – coal and petroleum and their products. Nearly all modern interior building and furnishing materials contain, or are partly composed of plastics, glues, solvents and paints, all of which are made from petroleum derivatives. All of these substances “out-gas” VOCs into the air, including benzene, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, perchloroethylene and others. They are called volatile because they easily turn into a gas and evaporate into the air, enabling us to breathe them in.
More than 350 VOCs have been identified in indoor air. These compounds are regarded as being responsible for “sick building syndrome” and “building related illness”; causing symptoms such as headaches, loss of concentration, sore throat and eyes, nausea and breathing problems. All VOCs are fat soluble, therefore they tend to accumulate in our tissues, being incorporated into our cell membranes and fatty tissues such as the brain and endocrine (hormone producing) organs.
Prevention is always better than cure. Most of us are so accustomed to our regular life and routine that we don’t even think about the various chemicals we come in contact with. Here are some tips on keeping chemicals out of your home:
Take your shoes off as soon as you get home. A lot of dust and chemicals are brought into our home on our shoes, where they can stay in the carpet for a lifetime.
• Don’t leave your car idle and warming up in the garage. Carbon monoxide, benzene and other chemicals in exhaust fumes will drift into your home.
• Don’t let excess moisture build up in your house; this will help to prevent the growth of mould. Leave the window of the bathroom open and use the fan each time you have a shower or bath. Remove any mould you can see. Look for areas of water damage in your home and have them fixed.
• Try to avoid using chemicals that aren’t absolutely essential. Using lots of chemicals to clean and “freshen” your home may be polluting your home and poisoning your body. Avoid the use of air fresheners and insect sprays in your home. Purchase toiletries that are “fragrance free” or “hypoallergenic”, as these will contain less chemicals.
• If you get your clothes dry cleaned, make sure you air them out on the clothes line for several hours before you take them into your house. If you buy new soft furnishings such as curtains, blankets or a bed, it is best to air them outside first, so that some of the chemicals will out-gas outside, not in your home.
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