What is it about ?
Before, when we spoke of air pollution, we only thought of outdoor air pollution. But it is above all the air in our homes that is polluted. As we spend the majority of our time indoors, this can have adverse health consequences. Indoor air pollution worsens or causes health problems such as asthma, allergies, chronic bronchitis (COPD) and some cancers.
What are the causes ?
Indoor air pollution is caused by physical, biological or chemical factors.
Physical factors
Examples: temperature, humidity, fibers (eg asbestos), dust, radiation (eg radon, uranium waste from soil).
Biological factors
Examples: viruses, bacteria, molds, dust mites and dander (skin dandruff) from humans and animals.
The primary source of bacteria in indoor air is humans. Water damage and humidity often results in the spread of large amounts of mold or its by-products. The main substances in indoor air that cause an allergic reaction (allergens) come from the skin and feces of animals, molds and, to a lesser extent, dust mites and plants.
Chemical factors
The main factor chemical indoor air pollution is tobacco smoke, both when you smoke yourself (active smoking) and when you breathe the smoke of people who smoke (passive smoking). Other important chemical factors are:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), present in automobile traffic but also, for example, in paints, cleaning products, disinfectants, insecticides and construction materials;
- Combustion gases, from cigarettes for example;
- Formaldehyde, or formalin, released by certain glues and resins (insulation material, paints, new furniture);
- Inorganic gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) released from the improper combustion of coal stoves, carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (eg gas stove) and ammonia;
- Organic chemicals released from building materials, varnishes, glues, coating materials and combustion processes.
What are the consequences ?
The damage caused by humidity in a building generates a large amount of mold. This can lead to all kinds of symptoms grouped together under the name of “toxic mold syndrome”. People who live in houses damaged by humidity are more likely to suffer from irritation and infections of the respiratory tract as well as from general and allergic symptoms. These symptoms are very similar to those of “sick building syndrome”. The exact causes of this syndrome are unknown. It is assumed that there are many causes and that the symptoms result from several polluting factors inside buildings. The syndrome can affect about 1 in 3 employees in new office buildings. Symptoms include eye and throat irritation, headache, fatigue, stuffy nose, rash and dry skin, shortness of breath, cough, dizziness, and nausea.
Household pollutants can also cause allergic reactions, whether immediate like asthma, atopic eczema, atopic rhinitis, or delayed like a farmer’s lung. An immediate allergic reaction is usually the result of exposure to animals or the substances they excrete, molds or dust mites.
Chipboards, certain furniture materials and varnishes release formaldehyde. This substance has a characteristic pungent odor and irritates the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and respiratory tract.
Certain substances, such as asbestos, can increase the risk of lung cancer.
What can you do ?
Ventilate and ventilate your interior sufficiently, you will thus avoid the accumulation of harmful and toxic substances and gases. Sufficient ventilation corresponds to a continuous supply (24 hours a day) of fresh air and a continuous evacuation of polluted air. The easiest way is to open up tilting windows or facing grilles so that the air can circulate well.
It is also advisable to open the window or door wide for a quarter of an hour or half an hour to renew the air, once or twice a day, especially in case of additional generation of humidity in the room. air, such as after cooking, showering, or drying clothes.
Ideally, you will choose to ventilate the house by opening the windows that are not on the street. If this is not possible, avoid peak hours to ventilate your interior.
For the rest, you can also apply the following tips:
- Try to dry your laundry outside and use a hood when cooking;
- Place your furniture, paintings, hangings, … at least 10 cm from the walls;
- Heat your home sufficiently to avoid humidity problems;
- Never cover wet areas;
- Check your house for technical faults;
- Wash your bed linen every week at 60 degrees;
- Eliminate mold with bleach diluted in water;
- Address moisture issues;
- Keep your green waste outside (a source of mold!);
- Do NOT smoke indoors;
- Use chemicals and cleaning products responsibly;
- Avoid products with danger symbols, read labels and instructions carefully;
- It is seldom necessary to disinfect with bleach, a universal cleaner is usually sufficient;
- Use a non-irritating, health-safe cleaning product. Properly dose your cleaning products;
- Excess hurts everything;
- Avoid rugs and cushions (dust mites);
- Dust mites do not like light. Make sure there is sufficient lighting;
- Do not use indoor deodorants (they contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs))
- Have your chimney swept once a year;
- Regularly check the devices that produce your hot water (water heaters and bath heaters).
What can your doctor do?
If the doctor does not come to your house, he cannot know about possible pollution problems at home, let alone at work. Tell him. Only then will he be able to check whether your symptoms are the result.
The general practitioner may ask you to complete an environmental exposure questionnaire. On the basis of this questionnaire and a clinical examination, he can assess whether the environment plays a role in your symptoms. He may also take a blood sample for toxicological analysis. The doctor can appoint an expert in the medical environment (EEM). This specialist in environmental medicine can possibly come and examine your living environment by inspecting your home and carrying out measures if he deems it necessary.
Want to know more?
- Air pollution and health – mongeneraliste.be – SSMG – Scientific Society of General Medicine
- Indoor air quality – EEA – European Environment Agency
Are you looking for more specialized help?
- Smoking Assistance Center (CAF®) – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund
- Tobacco specialists – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund
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