Sources of Pollution in the Home Building materials Home furnishings such as furniture made of compressed wood, carpets and drapes Combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene or wood Cleaning products and personal care items Hobby products such as paints, varnishes, etc. Even if your home has a good air exchange rate, pollutants are sometimes held in by carpets, curtains and other surfaces. Recognizing Pollutions in Indoor Air Pollutions in indoor air can cause health problems. If you notice symptoms after moving to a new home or after remodeling your home or treating it with pesticides, you should contact both your doctor and your health department. Many long-term illnesses, such as respiratory problems and cancer can occur from exposure to indoor pollutions.
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally and is found everywhere at very low levels.
Exposure to radon becomes a concern when radon gets trapped indoors so that concentrations build up in indoor air. Lung cancer is associated with exposure to elevated levels of radon. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that between 5,000 and 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year may be attributed to radon. It is recommended that you measure the level of radon in your home. You can purchase inexpensive devises for this purpose.