07 May Has Your Air Purifier Made You Go Nose Blind?
Twenty-two years ago, the U.S. EPA issued an advisory that warned: Indoor-air quality was a top health issue facing Americans. But many of us missed the memo.
Homes with unseen mold-filled crawlspaces still abound. Proper methods of avoiding and abating indoor-air pollutants remain the exception rather than the norm. And many people have forgotten the nationally publicized episodes of people getting sick from formaldehyde off-gassing from flooring and other interior finishing products.
Today, there also is much discussion of health problems, potentially caused by toxicity, with most of the speculation aimed at toxins in food and water. Many have taken the initiative to install whole-home water purification systems, with the most popular type being blamed for more health problems.
As a society accustomed to quick fixes, our desire for clean indoor air has boosted sales of air-purifiers — some effective and some not — to an estimated $2.71 billion in 2023, with $5.04 billion expected by 2029. But when it comes to truly addressing the root causes of poor Indoor-Air Quality (IAQ) many of us don’t know where to start.
“A lot of people have gone to a lot of trouble to make sure they use safe products that don’t off-gas dangerous levels of chemicals.
And professionals that safely remediate mold and radon are readily available,” says N. Carol Kibbee, Natural Interiors® product consultant and a wellness-focused Ohio Realtor® “Building, flooring, furniture, cabinetry and an array of interior products with third-party indoor-air quality certification are everywhere. But only a fraction of consumers are looking for or understanding
Many manufacturers are now making their third-party indoor-air quality certifications, like GREENGUARD Gold, visible in advertising.
these labels.”
Similarly, people will test for radon and install a radon-mitigation system when they buy a house, then never have it checked again, says Brenden Gitzinger, President of Environmental Doctor, with locations in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. And they’ll dismiss musty odors, which are tell-tale signs of mold, that could contain cancer-causing mycotoxins.
“You can run an air purifier morning, noon and night, but it won’t get rid of radon,” he says. “And while it might trap airborne mold spores, it won’t stop mold from growing at its source. And it won’t correct a home’s humidity or ventilation issues.”
IAQ: The key to a safer home
Indoor-air quality is an essential part of a healthy home. Indoor air often is more contaminated than the air outside. Various factors influence IAQ, including mold, radon, chemical off-gassing from furniture, cabinetry and flooring, window treatments, cleaning regimens, lack of humidity control, poor filtration and inadequate ventilation. Understanding these factors and implementing effective strategies can significantly improve air quality, reducing health risks for you and your family.
Ensuring a healthy indoor environment requires identifying potential pollutants and taking steps to mitigate their impact.
Mold: Often a silent threat
Mold is a common indoor pollutant that thrives when humidity levels exceed 55 percent. It can spread through airborne spores and can cause health problems such as allergies, asthma attacks and respiratory infections. Mycotoxins that certain mold spores contain also have been linked with cancer.
“A musty odor is often an indicator,” Gitzinger says. “Tracing it to its source is a big key. When a mold problem is identified, proper containment, air filtration and remediation protocols are needed to prevent it from being dispersed in the air and cross contaminating other areas of the home.”
Visibly apparent mold that had spread and was remediated by Gitzinger’s company.
An air purifier can mask the odor of mold. Therefore, air cleaners and air-freshening products should not be used to hide mold or musty odors, Gitzinger says. Instead, some of them can be used as one part of an overall effort to improve indoor-air quality.
Mold will get a foothold from:
— Humidity and Moisture: High humidity levels, leaks and condensation on surfaces create ideal conditions for mold growth. Buying a simple hygrometer can allow you to track humidity levels in your home.
“If your humidity levels are too high, you need dehumidification or another form of humidity control,” Gitzinger says. “Perhaps your HVAC and ventilation systems should be evaluated because they are not removing humidity as they should be. Maybe you have a crawlspace that doesn’t contain a proper vapor barrier, or you have a faulty sump pump”.
— Poor Ventilation: Lack of airflow and lack of air exchange indoors can lead to stagnant, damp air, thus promoting mold growth. Closing vents in rooms and basements will worsen this problem. In addition, prior to the early 1990’s, many builders did not vent bath fans through the roof or soffits, so moisture is accumulating in the attic.
— Leaks and Water Damage: Roof leaks, plumbing issues, and flooding contribute to mold contamination. Water Intrusion into crawlspace areas causes mold growth that ultimately may release spores that migrate into your home, compromising your indoor-air quality. Depending on the water source, a perimeter drainage system or other waterproofing might be required, in addition to encapsulating the crawlspace and installing a crawlspace dehumidification system, Gitzinger says.
Preventing and removing mold
— Maintain Low Humidity: Keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50% using dehumidifiers or air conditioners.
— Fix Leaks promptly: Repair water leaks to prevent moisture buildup.
— Ensure proper ventilation: Exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens reduce moisture accumulation when operated appropriately. Note: many exhaust fans are only vented to the attic. They need to be vented through the soffit or roof so contaminated air is carried outside, and moisture is not accumulating in your attic.
Exhaust-only ventilation also is not the ultimate solution. Read more about ventilation solutions here.
Do not close HVAC ductwork, thinking you are saving money in the winter or summer. Condensation and mold are more likely without air flow.
— Clean affected areas: If you think mold is growing in a large area, call a verified professional for cleaning and assessment. Trying to clean large areas yourself will spread the mold because it disperses and goes airborne when you spray or scrub it.
You can clean small areas, such as mold in the corner of your shower with a mixture of white vinegar, detergent and water. A professional mold remediation company cleaning a large area will first install air scrubbers, then probably use a specialized cleaner.
Radon: An invisible danger
This crawlspace does not have a needed vapor barrier to keep moisture out.
Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. It can seep into homes through cracks in foundations, walls and floors. Long-term radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers.
Detecting and reducing radon levels
Test for Radon: While home radon testing kits are widely available, a qualified professional is needed for a comprehensive assessment and to install a mitigation system. There also might be cracks in your basement floor and walls that must be sealed. Once installed, levels should be re-tested to ensure radon levels are below 4 pCi/L. And Gitzinger notes, you should re-test every two years because your home changes with age and geology.
Improve Ventilation: Increase airflow in basements and crawlspaces to reduce any radon concentration.
Chemical off-gassing: Hidden pollutants in furniture, flooring, building products and cabinets
Many household items, including cabinets, furniture, flooring and carpets, release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. VOCs come from adhesives, paints, varnishes, and synthetic materials, leading to indoor-air pollution.
Health effects of VOC exposure
Short-Term Effects: Headaches, dizziness, nausea, congestion and eye or throat irritation.
Long-Term Effects: Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory problems, organ damage, and increased cancer risk.
Reducing VOCs indoors
Gitzinger’s company encapsulated this crawlspace, not only sealing out moisture from below, but making it ready for a radon-mitigation system, if needed.
Look for products with stringent third-party indoor-air quality certification: Opt for paints, finishes, and adhesives that have certifications that verify they are low-or zero-VOC. Third-party certifications, such as GREENGUARD Gold, test for specific chemicals and verify that the product’s emissions do not exceed stringent limits set by the certification.
Know the rules for formaldehyde: When adhesives have been used in making a product, such as flooring or cabinetry, look for products made with No Added Urea Formaldehyde (NAUF) adhesives. In addition, any product sold in the United States that is made using composite wood products, such as medium density fiberboard (MDF), now must comply with TSAC Title VI emission limits for formaldehyde.
Some people still call this certification CARB 2 (California Air Resource Board) because California was the first to implement this more-stringent formaldehyde limit. But after a 2015 60 Minutes report involving laminate flooring, which is made with composite wood products, emitting high levels of formaldehyde, the U.S. EPA hastened to put the standard in effect nationwide. The rules apply not only to composite wood products used in making products, but also to the final flooring, cabinetry or other product that contains the composite wood products, which are made using adhesives.
“Unfortunately, labels are still not always visible on the product or packaging, and consumers often don’t know what which certification is better,” Kibbee says. “So it’s important to ask the salesperson for verification that a product has certification and find out if the parameters of that certification are adequate. There also are many private label products out there without certifications, so the salesperson needs to go back to the manufacturer for verification.”
Beyond formaldehyde, there are foams, finishes, synthetic carpets and stain-proofing products that all can emit VOCs. Complicating the consumer’s research is the fact that there are multiple certifications for different product categories, and well-intended product salespeople are not trained in knowing what a specific certification means, she says.
Increasing the confusion are specialty “green” stores and online retailers who present the products they sell as uniquely healthy, when an array of low- and zero-emission products are available nationwide — even at your local big-box store, Kibbee says.
There is a long list of certifications to look for and products to avoid. Here are a few:
Avoid Recycled Vinyl Products: In 2016, controversy arose over the use of vinyl flooring because it was made with a plasticizer known as phthalates, which recent studies had connected with delayed development in children. Most U.S. flooring manufacturers quickly ended the use of phthalates. But, as part of the industry’s ongoing effort toward sustainability, vinyl reclamation programs remained in existence, which left the door open to old vinyl flooring that contained phthalates to be recycled into new vinyl flooring. Hence, even though this manufacturing process did not use phthalates, the recycled portion of the flooring did.
Look for Carpets with no PFAS: If you are a carpet person, you should know that the stain-proofing that has been traditionally used on most synthetic carpets contains PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which also are known as “forever” chemicals and have been linked to severe health effects.
Before choosing a carpet, ask for the manufacturer’s product disclosure document, or Health Product Declaration (HPD), and find out if they are still using or have phased PFAS out of their entire production process. This question goes beyond the scope of the Carpet & Rug Institute’s CRI Green Label Plus indoor-air quality certification, which most U.S. carpet suppliers have.
There also are natural wool and other fiber carpets available, some of which are made without chemical treatments. Carpets, hard-surface flooring, insulation, mattresses and furniture all commonly now are advertised with prominent third-party indoor-air-quality certification logos displayed.
It also might help to:
Air out newly purchased items: Let new furniture, cabinets or flooring air out before bringing them indoors.
Use air purifiers with activated carbon: These can help absorb VOCs and improve air quality.
Increase natural ventilation: Open windows and use fans to disperse VOCs from indoor spaces.
Tighter buildings need better ventilation strategies.
Adequate ventilation helps remove indoor-air pollutants and replenishes oxygen levels. Without proper airflow, indoor contaminants can accumulate, leading to poor IAQ.
Natural Ventilation: Opening windows and doors allows fresh outdoor air to replace indoor pollutants. But according to ASHREA standards, proper ventilation involves introducing fresh air for 15 minutes every hour, which depending on the climate, usually isn’t practical.
Exhaust Fans: Many people rely on bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to pull stale air out and fresh air in. Experts disagree on whether this strategy is healthful and fully effective.
Whole-House Ventilation Systems: Systems that include heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) provide continuous air exchange.
The Well-Dwelling Expert Network can help
While some of the steps described in this article are easy to take, others require professional help. Gitzinger and Kibbee are members or our Well-Dwelling Experts Network — all professional contractors dedicated to creating and maintaining healthful, energy-efficient indoor spaces. In addition to the links in this article, you can reach us at contact@naturalinteriors.com or (513) 200-9471. ©
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