What are home allergens?

What are combustion pollutants?

They include gases, particles and excess water vapor produced as a byproduct of burning fuels such as natural gas, propane, wood, oil, kerosene, coal and tobacco. The resulting harmful gases include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide, as well as particulates and excess water vapor.

Why should I be concerned about them?

Under certain conditions, such as combustion pollutants can cause adverse health effects. Carbon monoxide, an odorless gas, can be fatal. Nitrogen dioxide can damage the respiratory tract and sulfur dioxide can irritate the eyes, nose and respiratory trace. Smoke and particulates irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and may exacerbate chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma. They also have been associated with cancer. Too much water vapor can lead to moisture problems in the home, including the growth of mold.

How do combustion pollutants get into the home?

Combustion pollutants enter the home from a variety of sources. Unvented or improperly maintained or installed vented cooking and heating appliances that burn fuels– furnaces, boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, space heaters, ranges and clothes dryers–can introduce combustion pollutants. These pollutants also are caused by tobacco smoking, automobile exhaust entering from a garage, and activities involving the use of internal combustion engines or burning, welding or soldering.

How can I determine if combustion pollutants are affecting my health?

They may be the culprit if fuel-fired combustion appliances are being used and you feel bad only when you’re inside the home and the symptoms disappear when you leave, or if more than one person in the home has similar symptoms. A noticeable increase in moisture problems can also be a sign of combustion pollutants in the home.

What causes combustion gases (including carbon monoxide) to build to dangerous levels?

Harmful build-ups of these gases can occur when exhaust from combustion equipment is not properly vented or used, is not in good working order and is not regularly inspected for safe operation. Some homes may have a problem with “backdrafting”. That’s when the air pressure inside the home is less than the air pressure outside, causing combustion by-products from furnaces, water heaters, fireplaces and similar equipment to spill back into the room rather than being vented outside. (Sometimes flue gases can be drawn back into the home when several sources are being exhausted at once). Backdrafting can also occur when natural draft appliance exhaust is pulled back into the house by mechanical ventilation–like a down-draft kitchen power vent. Tobacco smoking inside the home also contributes.