Moth crystals and room deodorizers are intended to maintain high levels of p-dichlorobenzene in homes, so no one should be surprised that they succeed. Recently p-dichlorobenzene was determined to be a carcinogen. Chemical Sensitivity Assessing the relationship between exposure to air pollutants and disease is complicated. One major problem is chronic exposure to multiple pollutants. Indoor air pollution can be the result of occupational exposures, hobby or recreational chemicals, gardening, renovations, mold in damp areas, stored papers, books, and clothing, out-gassing and dust collection and microorganisms growing in carpets and furniture or materials present in the air because of poor building ventilation or contamination.
Occupational exposures are often the most risky.
At work, volatile organics such as gasoline, cleaning solutions and solvents, and other chemicals can be health hazards. Sources Chemical fumes can be released by many common items in the home. There are the obvious volatile sources such as perfumed soaps, cleaners, adhesives, paints and solvents and there are the not so obvious materials such as treated woods, laminates, carpets, wall coverings and spores from fungi and molds. In a newly constructed home, many of the fumes are from volatile components of construction materials or residual volatile from synthetic composites. These compounds are found in many common household products.