Absolutely. Exposure to air pollutants can be nearly 100 times greater indoors than outdoors. The American Lung Association found that many people spend 90% of their time inside, making it important for homeowners to be knowledgeable about indoor air quality (IAQ) in Calgary.
Many regular household products cause inferior indoor air quality, such as:
- Chemicals found in carpet, furniture, upholstery and drapes
- Cleaning chemicals
- Paint
- Personal care products
The secure construction of modern houses also contributes greatly to poor IAQ. Upgrades like weather stripping and storm doors are installed to decrease heating and cooling bills. However, they also block proper ventilation by keeping indoor air in and exterior air out. The outcome could be a buildup of fumes within your residence.
Bad IAQ can be a direct or indirect cause of some health problems. Medical groups have determined that as many as half of all sicknesses are caused or irritated by indoor air pollution.
Chemicals in your house can cause flu-like symptoms including headaches, nausea and respiratory sensitivity. It can also aggravate allergies and asthma.
Enough ventilation also is an important part of improving indoor air quality, since it lowers the amount of indoor pollutants.