Go easy on air fresheners
Many of the air fresheners we buy to cover up odours ( essential oils included) may degrade air quality and increase VOCS.
Mould is the most common issue affecting indoor air quality, says Francis Lavoie, a biologist with Health Canada in Ottawa. The fungi, and their airborne spores, can grow in moist, humid environments. Extreme weather changes, spring thaws, flooded basements, leaky roofs, condensation and other sources of water damage are often to blame. Mould thrives in basement clutter, too—especially newspapers, fabrics and leather. And beware of basement carpeting, says Dr. Riina Bray, medical director at the Environmental Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, because it can camouflage the issue.
If your home has a musty smell or if your flooring, walls or belongings look blackened, it could be mould. While homeowners often consider black mould to be the worst health hazard, any mould (including white or green) may make you sick. Symptoms of exposure include a runny nose, a sore throat, itchy eyes, rashes or breathing problems, all of which can progress into body aches, extreme fatigue and a weakened immune system.
Evict it Even a few drops of water a day can lead to mould growth. Use extractor fans to disperse moisture and a dehumidifier, if necessary, to keep your home’s humidity between 40 and 70 percent, recommends indoor-air-quality expert Karen Bartlett, a professor in the school of population and public health at The University of British Columbia. “Increase ventilation by opening windows,” says Dr. Bray. If you see condensation around single-pane windows, upgrade to double-glazed, and deal with any flooding or leaks right away.
If you see signs of mould on floors, walls or belongings, clean the area with unscented detergent and water while wearing a mask, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt and protective eyewear. Avoid using bleaches and ammonias; they can worsen air quality. Carefully dispose of mouldy items outside, putting them in garbage bags for pickup. Disturbing mould indoors can result in the release of spores that can then move through your heating or air-conditioning system, says Dr. Bray. If the mouldy area spans more than one metre square, call indoor-air-quality professionals, who can remove it safely. If you find mould on or behind drywall (don’t forget protective gear while you’re looking for it), get a professional to remove mouldy sections and to check for more. Remember, before installing new drywall, the area must be fully dry— or mould could grow again.
Cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust fumes from attached garages are the main sources of
VOCS in the home.
Evict it The best way to rid your home of VOCS is to prevent them from entering in the first place. Don’t smoke indoors or idle your vehicle in the garage, even if the door is open. Buy low-voc paints, furniture and building products. Vacuum regularly (not just floors; mattresses and upholstered furniture, too) to remove particles that can contribute to VOCS and other toxins.
To improve ventilation, clean and maintain furnaces, wood-burning stoves and fireplaces annually. Lavoie also recommends opening your windows to increase fresh-air circulation when you renovate, paint or varnish. Finally, if you have an air exchanger (a unit that exhausts stale air from the house and supplies fresher air), use it. Radon is an invisible, odourless radioactive gas that seeps in through cracks in your home’s foundation and openings such as drainpipes and sump pumps. A natural byproduct of uranium breaking down in the soil, radon is responsible for an estimated 16 percent of lung cancer deaths. All homes are at risk of having radon gas; even new homes can have harmful levels. Though you won’t know you have it until you test for it, some regions have higher levels: Manitoba, Yukon, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick are known radon hot spots. Evict it Do a radon test every two years. According to Health Canada, about seven percent of Canadian homes have high levels. Thankfully, says Bob Wood, founder of Mr. Radon in Greenbank, Ont., the gas is relatively easy to eradicate. For about $55, you can purchase a radon test kit at a hardware store or through the Radiation Safety Institute of Canada (radiationsafety.ca), or hire a certified radonmeasurement professional. The test involves placing a small device in the lowest lived-in level of your home. Then, after 90 days, send the device to a laboratory for analysis.
If the test detects levels higher than 200 Bq/m3, talk to a professional about reducing your levels, using sub-slab depressurization, or SSD. That’s a system that changes air pressure below your home so that air flows downward, instead of into your home. It takes about a day to install and costs between $2,500 and $3,000. Go to c-nrpp.ca for a list of certified contractors.