The air you’re breathing inside your home can be five times more polluted than the air outside. A combination of carpet, chemicals, air fresheners, plastics and furnishings contribute to the chemical soup you breathe indoors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you spend at least 10 hours each day inside your home and another eight hours at your work environment.¹ That’s at least 75 percent of your day spent indoors and often longer for many people.

Poor air quality has been linked to a number of different illnesses and diseases. The air you breathe inside is as important as the quality of the outdoor air in the city you live. Without too much effort, you can reduce the indoor pollution at home and contribute to better air quality at work.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the health effects you experience from indoor air pollution may be experienced immediately or several years later.² Understanding and controlling this pollution can reduce your risks and improve your overall health.

Indoor Air Five Times Worse

According to the EPA, the indoor levels of many different pollutants can be between two and five times higher indoors, and some pollutants can be as much as 100 times greater than outdoor levels.³ Poor indoor air quality is one of the top risks to public health according to the EPA.

Contributors to the rise in poor indoor air quality include the rising cost of heating and air conditioning, as well as the chemicals used to treat your furniture, carpets and home. With better building techniques, many new homes are more airtight.

While this may have reduced your heating costs, it has also likely increased the amount of pollution remaining in your home.

Some newer homes include instruction manuals teaching the homeowner to properly ventilate the home and reduce indoor pollution.⁴ These airtight homes have lower utility costs but hold an increased health risk for the occupants when not ventilated correctly.

What’s in the Air at Home?

The pollution in your home originates from several sources that release gasses or particles into the air. High temperature and humidity levels can increase the concentration of some air pollutants.

Combustion sources for heating, such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal or wood, or smoking tobacco products are a source of carcinogens and particulate matter, increasing the risk of acquired lung conditions or worsening asthma.

Building materials and home furnishings release gasses containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that have both short- and long-term health effects. Concentrations of these chemicals are often up to 10 times higher indoors than they are outdoors.⁵

The number of products that release VOCs number in the thousands. Some of those products include:⁶

• Paints, paint strippers and solvents
• Wood preservatives
• Aerosol sprays
• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Moth repellents and air fresheners
• Stored fuels and car products
• Dry-cleaned clothing
• Pesticides
• Building materials
• Copier and printer fluids
• Correction fluid
• Hobby supplies
• Wood glue
• Permanent markers
• Graphic and craft materials
• Pressed-wood products made with MDF board
• Household cleaning products
• Cabinetry

The relative importance of any one of these sources will depend upon how much pollution it releases and how hazardous that particular pollutant is to your health.

Also of significance is how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained. For instance, gas stoves and furnaces can release more carbon monoxide when they are not properly adjusted.⁷