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Healthy
People Healthy Environment |
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Air pollution isn't only an outdoor problem. Research has shown that the air indoors, at home and in your office, can also be polluted. Levels of some air pollutants can be higher indoors than outdoors. With Canadians typically spending up to 90 per cent of their time indoors, the impact of indoor air pollution on our health is important.
Poor indoor air quality has been linked with a wide array of health problems, including allergies, asthma, lung cancer, and throat and lung infections.
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The air quality indoors may be worse than outdoors. You could be breathing in the polluted air without even knowing it. Creating a healthy indoor environment is important, especially for children who are at a higher risk for exposure to indoor contaminants.
Mould and moisture control
Kitchens, bathrooms and basements are good hideouts for dampness and mould. A room with a musty smell, condensation on windows, white powdery stains on concrete floors, discoloration on walls, ceiling or floors can be signs of mould growth in your home.
Mould growth can be a concern in indoor environments. Find out more information on the health effects of mould and tips on how to prevent it.
Flooding can also result in the growth of mould. Find out more about how to clean up after a flood.
If you are a building owner or manager, find out more information on what you can do about mould (PDF file size 200KB).
Radon
Radon is a colourless, odourless gas that is widely present in the earth's surface. It can seep into a home from surrounding soil and sometimes contaminates well water. Exposure to high levels of radon can damage the tissues of your lung, which can lead to lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer from radon also increases if you smoke.
The only way to find out if you have radon in your home is to test for it. Learn more about radon and how to protect your health.
Household products
A home that smells clean does not always mean it is free from pollutants. Everything from aerosol sprays to furniture polish contains a variety of potentially harmful chemicals. Some of these chemicals can remain in the air for a long period of time. There are many non-toxic alternatives that would work well, help you with your house cleaning chores while protecting you and your family from exposure to the harmful chemicals.
Making your own non-toxic cleaning solutions can be as easy as mixing parts of air friendly ingredients such as baking soda or vinegar. A simple rule to remember: if the materials you use are not safe to eat or to breathe in, do not put them into your air.
Ready-made non-toxic household products are also available at stores that sell environmental friendly products.
Stoves, furnaces and fireplaces
Gas ranges and ovens can also release dangerous gases (e.g., carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide) and particles into your air. Regular maintenance and proper ventilation (e.g., use of fan hood vented to the outdoors) will reduce harmful emissions.
Leaks from poorly installed and poorly maintained oil and gas furnaces, dryers and water heaters can also release hazardous pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide into your air. Annual inspection of these units and changing your furnace filter on a regular basis (e.g., every few months) will not only help you prevent such problems, it can also help make your furnace run more efficiently. Making sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working properly will alert you to a possibly dangerous level of carbon monoxide in your home.
Respirable small particles from residential wood burning (for example wood burning fireplaces and stoves) can contribute to health concerns such as nasal irritation, respiratory infections, bronchitis or even lung cancer. Find out more about actions you can take.
Indoor use of pesticides
The application of pesticides indoors can be a health concern. Adults, children, or pets can accidentally ingest, inhale or absorb the pesticide residues that stay after the application. Residues of indoor pesticides tend to persist longer than with outdoor application because of the absence of wind, water and sunlight to help remove them.
Air filters
The best way to solve indoor air problems is to eliminate or reduce the sources of pollution. When this is not possible, the next best thing is to dilute and remove the pollution through ventilation - for example, by using fans that exhaust outdoors. When being used along with source reduction and ventilation, air filtration can also be helpful.
While there is very limited scientific evidence available on the health benefits of air filtration devices, it is known that air filters are unlikely to make a significant difference to your health if someone smokes in your home, or when it has a lot of fine settled dust.
Before you consider purchasing an air filtration device, it is important to take into consideration a number of things, including the size of the room, the type of technologies as it relates to effectiveness, and more importantly, the type of indoor air problems you have.
Refer to the Buyer's Guide to Home Air Filters for more information on the efficiency of the different types of air filters:
Smoke-free home
Second hand smoke (PDF file size 31 KB) is the most widespread harmful indoor air pollutant. It contains more than 4000 substances, including 50 that are linked to cancer. Breathing these chemicals can still be harmful long after smoking ends as they are absorbed by curtains, linens, and furniture.
Having a smoke-free home is the best way in protecting you and your family from exposure to second hand smoke.
Additional information on healthy indoor environments
Read Toronto Public Health's reports on indoor air quality.
Links to sites external to the Toronto Public Health Web site are provided as a convenience and their inclusion does not imply that Toronto Public Health endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of these sites.
- Burn it Smart! - This a Government of Canada campaign that offers Canadians an excellent range of educational resources on reducing residential wood burning emissions.
- Canadian Health Network (Indoor Air Quality) - This article describes the health impacts of poor indoor air quality on children.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) - CMHC has carried out extensive research into the impact of indoor air quality on the health of Canadians. Its' Healthy HousingT concept promotes a healthy home environment of which indoor air quality is a major component.
- Healthy Indoors Partnership - The Healthy Indoors Partnership is a network of private, public and not-for-profit organizations and individuals who are committed towards the development, implementation, and financing of a broad range of collaborative actions to improve indoor environments in Canada.
- Healthy Schools - HealthySchools.com is a tool to help Ontario school boards identify, prevent, and remediate indoor environment problems that could affect the health and learning of children. It contains instructions on how to create healthier indoor environments in schools.
- Indoor Air Quality - Tools for Schools Action Kit for Canadian Schools - Adapted from the US Environmental Protection Agency's Tools for Schools program, this comprehensive resource was developed to help Canadian schools improve their indoor air quality.
- YourHealthyHome - The Lung Association's web-based program provides individuals with simple remedies and smart design decisions for creating a healthy home environment.
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