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To Breathe or not to
Breathe?
Concerns
Over Indoor Air Quality
Part 1
By Thomas
Hirsch
The long
winters in our part of the country can often lead to a host of complaints
like cabin fever, lethargy, headaches, allergies and other respiratory
ailments. Some folks
manage to go away to warmer climates while others take up winter sports or
hold their breath until spring. There
is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the indoor air quality of
our homes and workplaces is often more polluted than the outdoor air.
Environmental illness is on the rise.
New phrases are being coined like “Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS),
“Multiple Chemical Sensitivity” (MCS), and “Chronic Fatigue
Syndrome”. For many of us,
health is taken for granted and our busy lives are devoted to raising a
family, earning a living and serving our community. There is neither time nor reason to examine the issues until
we find ourselves with degenerating health, symptoms of misdiagnosed or
undiagnosable health problems, or just plain stress.
There
are several factors affecting indoor air quality (IAQ): some are complex
and interrelated. IAQ concerns have increased dramatically in the last 50 years
due to the increase of a)
amount of time spent indoors, b) use of mechanical climate control
systems, c) manufactured and toxic building materials, d) electromagnetic
fields (EMF) e)
building energy efficiencies which have reduced natural ventilation
rates or fresh air exchange.
The
emphasis on energy efficiency has resulted in tighter building
construction. Air tight
construction practices must use a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) to bring
in adequate fresh air and exhaust accumulated indoor pollution.
Well designed breathing wall systems can provide adequate fresh air
exchange and humidity regulation without compromising thermal performance
and structural integrity. The
designers of either system must thoroughly understand the issues to create
the proper balance required for healthy indoor air.
Very few buildings currently meet this standard.
Indoor
humidity levels are important especially when using mechanical climate
control devices which create a low humidity situation during the winter
months, or when using air conditioning in the summer.
Air flowing through metal ductwork under low humidity conditions
can create airborne positive ions which may affect one’s seratonin/melatonin
cycles (responsible for healthy immune system function).
Indoor air pollutants from toxic sources (to be outlined below)
tend to attach themselves to these airborne positive ions.
Synthetic surfaces in the building create electrostatic buildup
which compounds the above situation.
Humidification to around 50% by mechanical or natural means will
reduce or eliminate this problem.
Today
there is a greater reliance on highly manufactured products for building
materials , cleaning, household and office supplies.
Many of these consist of substances that belong to a large class of
volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that release vapors (off-gas) at room temperature and are often toxic and irritating.
“The Chemical Revolution has spawned a startling array of new
substances derived mainly from oil, coal and gas.
Our bodies are now being bombarded with substances that were not
present during our evolution and which we have never before encountered.
Increasingly, we are surrounding with a synthetic, alien world.
The danger of these artificial substances is
that we do not know their precise, long-term effects.
Laboratory tests are usually restricted to a new chemical in
isolation. They consider
neither the synergistic effect of
mixing it with the cocktail of many other chemicals to which we are
exposed, nor the
local concentrations experienced in the real world.
What we do know is that harmful effects
may not show for many years. Asbestos
related diseases, for example, may not occur until 10-20 years after
exposure.” 1.
A
report by the Consumer Products Safety Commission on chemicals commonly
found in homes identified 150
chemicals which have been linked to allergies, birth defects, cancer,
psychological abnormalities, headaches, depression, dizziness and loss of
sleep. The most well known
and documented of these are formaldehyde, organochlorines and phenolic
compounds. Most exposure
comes from composite lumber products (particle board, plywood, presswood
), treated lumber, paper products, carpets, cosmetics, fabrics, plastics,
pesticides, paints, finishes, glues and a vast array of cleaning products.
At present there is no government regulation on materials used in
the construction industry to protect the consumer.
In other words, we are surrounded by this stuff.
Our stores and landfills in addition to our buildings are full of
it. Fortunately, there are
safer alternatives for all of our needs.
Biological
pollutants include pollen, dust and mold spores.
Pollens come from all sorts of interior and exterior plants and can
be problematic for folks with allergies.
Dust is composed of many items like animal dander, dust mites,
heavy metals from cars, streets, exhaust fumes and shoe dirt, crumbling
building materials and mold spores. The
ubiquitous dust mite feeds on dead skin cells and breed in carpets, linens
and upholstery. Their fecal matter and skeletal parts cling to other dust
particles and can cause allergic reactions in many people.
Inhaling
of certain mold spores can be extremely dangerous.
Undetected moisture problems like refrigerator condensation pans,
poorly maintained humidifiers, plumbing leaks; and building errors like
improper flashing, drainage plans, and ventilation systems; damp basement
walls and vapor impermeable wall surfaces can create moisture build up
which provide ideal breeding grounds for fungus and molds to flourish.
Knowledge, cleanliness and vigilant home maintenance can keep these
problems at bay, along with proper building techniques based on the
understanding of building biology/science.
We
will continue this discussion of indoor air quality next month,
considering the impact of radiation, electromagnetic fields, light quality
and indoor plants.
Indoor Air
Quality: Part 2
Welcome
back to Part 2 in a series devoted to indoor air quality (IAQ) begun with
the previous issue of HGJ. In
Part 1 we briefly discussed the importance of fresh air in our buildings
and how it is often compromised by reduced air exchange due to airtight
construction methods. We also
identified a plethora of chemicals introduced into our homes through
commonly used building materials, clothing, office and household products
and the often forgotten biological contaminants like pollen, dust, animal
dander, molds and mildew.
In
addition to the above, we are frequently confronted with the irritating
combustion by-products of automobile exhaust fumes via attached garages,
gas burning appliances, wood-burning heaters and tobacco smoke.
The need for proper ventilation cannot be overemphasized.
Of course, it is recommended to eliminate these sources of indoor
air pollution where possible.
After
source reduction, one can resort to filtration techniques.
Standard air filters on a forced air furnace are designed to
protect the furnace, not enhance air quality.
Pleated paper filters are inexpensive and are a first step in
better filtration. Spend a
few dollars to a few hundred more and one can consider mixed media
filters, electronic, electrostatic and
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestor) filters.
When considering upgrading to another type of filtration, consult
with an expert so you understand the maintenance schedule with these
systems and the potential for reduced air flow/added strain on your
current furnace blower.
-Another
source of indoor air pollution is radiation, which can find its way into
our buildings through a number of sources.
Although radon is generally not in high concentration here in
Northwest Lower Michigan, it can accumulate in tightly sealed
well-insulated homes. Radon is a radioactive gas decay by-product of uranium 238
found naturally in rocks, ground water and soil.
Proper building techniques and ventilation can minimize exposure.
Our friendly smoke detector contains a radioactive material called
Americium 241. Non-radioactive,
photoelectric smoke detectors are available and code approved.
Check with local authorities about disposal of smoke detectors
containing Americium 241. And
lastly, you can get your daily dose from certain ceramic glazes, some
granites, and I hear there have been some drywall and concrete block
manufacturers that have used radioactive fly-ash in their products.
EEK! Since radiation
exposure is cumulative; avoidance is wise.
I’m saving up for a Geiger Counter.
Another
form of radiation getting press these days and that can impact air quality
is electromagnetic radiation or electromagnetic fields (EMF’s).
This is a broad term implicating everything from household wiring,
machinery, appliances, alternating current (A.C.), direct current (D.C.),
and electric fields to magnetic fields; from artificial fields to natural
bio-electrical fields; and from Faraday cages and Nicola Tesla to
acupuncture and the earth’s natural radio frequency of 7.83 cycles per
second of Hertz (Hz). This is
a topic deserving of its own article to be forthcoming in a future issue.
Light
quality is another issue often underrated and easily cast aside when
discussing indoor air quality. Human
beings have evolved on planet Earth being nourished by the full spectrum
of natural outdoor light. Full
spectrum natural light, when passing through standard window glass and
eyeglasses, becomes an imbalanced light spectrum.
Most artificial lighting also produces an imbalanced light
spectrum. Many scientific
studies illustrate proper hormone and immune system functioning when
exposed to natural light and full spectrum artificial light as well as
negative effects due to continued lack of them.
Fortunately, artificial full spectrum light fixtures and full
spectrum transmitting glass is available.
Indoors, the presence of some ultraviolet (UV) light, normally
blocked by glass and not produced by standard light fixtures, helps to
minimize the growth of mold and bacteria in the air.
Last
but not least, some mention must be made of indoor plants.
While generally spurned by allergy sufferers and other sensitive
individuals due to mold problems, houseplants deserve a closer look.
When the soil health is good and the aforementioned IAQ issues,
such as humidity, light quality, EMF’s, toxic building materials and
household supplies, are addressed and adjusted where necessary, the many
beneficial qualities of plants can greatly enhance indoor environments.
These qualities include production of much needed oxygen, negative
ions, and the absorption/filtering of indoor air pollutants.
There is well- documented research on this, some of which was
carried out by NASA. And let
us not forget the wonderful ambiance created by a roomful of plants.
When was the last time you were in a flower shop or a green house?
To
help cope with all of these issues, schools, scientists and activists are
creating solutions. Healthier
products, their distributors and service providers enter the marketplace
every day. However, it’s important to do the research before
investing. Not all products
and services meet the requirements of being truly safe, healthy and
sustainable in the long haul.
A
“new” science that sprouted in Germany and has now taken root in many
locales around the globe is called “Bau-biologie” or Building Biology.
This is the study of how buildings and their environments impact
our health and the holistic interaction between human life and our living
environment. It is
becoming common practice, in Germany, Europe and with a few enlightened
health care professionals here in America, to recommend that prospective
patients have their homes inspected for potential irritants before other medical treatments are pursued. Some full service
building supply companies in Germany have a trained Building Biologist on
staff to consult with customers and offer a full line of natural building
materials.
Though
we’ve concentrated this article on indoor air quality, the larger global
environment is affected, also, by our choices of resource use,
manufacturing, and landfilling. As
individuals, we must now reflect upon the impact these choices make on
many fronts. Using our power
as consumers, we can choose to promote products, services and systems that
support and sustain our well being and contribute to the long- term health
of our natural and created world.
The
issues addressed here are just pieces of the puzzle in creating optimal
health. Other lifestyle factors, including diet, exercise, emotional
and spiritual health, all have a part to play.
In future issues we will discuss in more detail various building
methods and materials that enhance indoor air quality. So as we quest toward an ever greater quality of life,
I close with a toast of my ancestors:
“Na Zdrowie!” (Nah-sdro-vee-ah), To Your Health!
Sources:
1) Pearson, David. The
Natural House Book. Fireside, 1989.
2).
Baker, Paula AIA, Erica Elliott, MD.
John Banta. Prescriptions
for a Healthy House, a Practical
Guide for Architects Builders and Homeowners. InWord Press, 1998.
3) Dadd, Debra. Nontoxic,
Natural and Earthwise. J.P.Tarcher, 1990
4) Wolverton, Dr. B.C, How
to Grow Fresh Air. A Penguin Book, 1996
5)
International Institute for Baubiologie and Ecology, Box 387, Clearwater,
Fl. 34615, 727-461-4371
Harmony
Home Construction, LLC.
8122 Barney Road
Traverse City,
Michigan 49684
Ph: 1-877-45-GREEN Fx: 231-932-9193
info@harmonyhomeconstruction.com
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