As promised more on IAQ
As promise additional information on IAQ. I told you that I would provide information that would surprise you as a source of indoor air pollution. I am not so sure you will be surprised. I attended a conference on green building this weekend and the information I am going to give you was pretty much common knowledge with the people present.
A source of indoor air pollution is the many perfumes and air deodorizers that we use in our homes every day. Things such as fabric softeners, and laundry detergents that have artificial perfumes added can be a problem for some people. In all cases since most are chemically based they have an affect on IAQ. Have you ever been in a room where someone is wearing too much perfume and it annoyed you? You experienced an IAQ problem first hand. Some people can even become sick in situations like this.
The room deodorizer that is setting in the corner, it may be pleasing to smell but what are the ingredients use to make it smell pleasant? Is it a petroleum-based product or is it a natural plant extract? Also, are there use restrictions on it (other than common sense)? All of these products give off gases. That is why we can smell them and the more we have in our homes the poorer the IAQ.
The point I am trying to make here is we need to be conscious of all the products in our home. Sometimes avoiding just the ones we find offensive will not be enough to improve IAQ in our homes. We have to be aware of the hidden sources of pollution. Is IAQ all that important? Yes, it is!