While many tout the dangers of outdoor air pollution, there isn’t much talk about indoor air quality. Since we spend the majority of our time indoors—whether at home or the office—shouldn’t we be equally, if not more, concerned about the quality of our indoor air?
Much like outdoor air, indoor air can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks and respiratory symptoms; it can also be more polluted than outdoor air. Indoor air can become polluted by everything from contaminated outdoor air and mold to poor ventilation and dander from pets. We encourage having your home tested for these contaminants that can cause health problems. To make this testing convenient and easy for you,Ace Environmental Services Ltd Ltd offers air monitoring in Vancouver so that you can breathe freely in your home.
WHY YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME
While new homes have tighter seals than ever on windows and doors, this may not necessarily be a good thing. Your airtight home can help you save on energy, but it can also keep fresh air out. If your home doesn’t have enough indoor air circulation, it is more likely that pollutants will build up and lead to poor indoor air quality and health problems. The pollutants that can build up in your home include:
- Carbon monoxide (CO) – a gas left behind after combustion (like lighting your stove), CO can cause many symptoms including headaches, nausea, confusion, unconsciousness and death if you’re exposed to it for too long.
- Radon – a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, radon can seep undetected into your home and cause lung cancer. It is a naturally occurring gas that is diluted enough outdoors not to be harmful. If radon gas enters your home, it can build up to high levels and become a health risk.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – many commonly used products can release these dangerous chemicals that cause health problems like headaches, nausea and brain damage in serious cases. VOCs can be released as vapors by paints, glues, varnishes and wood-plastic composites.
AIR MONITORING IN VANCOUVER
Air is a basic necessity of life and the right combination of gases contributes to healthy breathing. Monitoring this helps detect the pollutant levels around you, that violate the ambient air quality standard. Both outdoor and indoor environments may be equally contaminated and contribute to long term health issues. Some of these are chronic respiratory illnesses, pneumonia and systemic hypertension. Every home should have a carbon monoxide alarm and smoke detector, and you should consider scheduling regular indoor air monitoring in Vancouver, to ensure that you’re safe inside your own home. If you need air quality testing in Vancouver, or if you have any questions, contact Ace Environmental Services Ltd.