People spend up to 90% of their time indoors—where they face health risks due to poor indoor air quality.

1. The Link Between
Poor Indoor Air
Quality and Health
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2. People spend up to 90% of their time indoors—where they face health risks due to poor
indoor air quality.
Indoor air quality refers to the condition of the air inside buildings, in relation to the
comfort and health of building occupants. Poor indoor air quality means the air contains
pollutants, including chemical emissions, “respirable” particles, animal allergens, mold
spores, combustion gases, radon, pesticides, tobacco smoke, and even dust from dirty
air ducts.
This type of pollution is much more dangerous than outdoor pollution, as the air in
indoor environments is concentrated. In fact, according to a recent study by the World
Health Organization, seven million deaths occur every year due to indoor air pollution.
Immediate Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Some effects show up immediately after a single exposure or repeated exposure to a
pollutant.

3. These effects include headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritation, fatigue, and dizziness,
which are often short-term and treatable. Other immediate effects include:
 Rhinitis and nasal congestion
 Dyspnea (difficulty breathing)
 Epistaxis (nose bleed)
 Wheezing
 Pharyngitis (sore throat)
 Cough
Long-Term Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Left unaddressed, the chemicals in the home may affect health in the long run, and may
lead to some severe conditions. These often show up years after exposure.
The long-term effects include heart disease, some respiratory diseases, and cancer. If
the air contains asbestos, individuals may develop asbestosis, mesothelioma, and
various other types of cancers. Tobacco smoke, on the other hand, may cause
pneumonia and emphysema, as well as lung cancer and heart disease.

4. Other effects, according to EPA’s Health Effect Symptom Reference Chart, include:
 Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat, which sometimes lead to shortness of breath)
 Hearing loss
Poor indoor air quality can be present at home, work, and even the school. Some
effective ways to combat it is to understand the effects, know the source, and eliminate
the source.
Sources:
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-and-effects-of-indoor-air-pollution.php
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2014/air-pollution/en/
http://www.procleanairductcleaning.com/