Biological
Pollutants
in Your
Home
V«3 F1OI6&.
AMERICAN
LUNG
ASSOCIATION
The Christmas Seal People •
This booklet will help you understand 1) what
indoor biological pollution is, 2) whether your
, home or lifestyle promotes its development, and 3)
how to control its growth and buildup.
Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health
problem. Much effort and money continues to be
spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But
air pollution can be a problem where you least
expect it, in the place you may have thought was
safest—your home. Many ordinary activities such
as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning, and redeco-
rating can cause the release and spread of indoor
pollutants at home. Studies have shown that the
air in our homes can be even more polluted than
outdoor air.
Many Americans spend up to 90 percent of their
time indoors, often at home. Therefore, breathing
clean indoor air can have an important impact on
health. People who are inside a great deal may be
at greater risk of developing health problems, or
having problems made worse by indoor air pollut-
, ants. These people include infants, young chil-
dren, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
What Are Biological
Pollutants?
Biological pollutants are or were living organisms.
They promote poor indoor air quality and may be
a major cause of days lost from work or school, and
of doctor and hospital visits. Some can even dam-
age surfaces inside and outside your house. Bio-
logical pollutants can travel through the air and
.are often invisible.
Some common indoor biological pollutants are:
•Animal Dander (minute scales from hair, feath-
ers, or skin)
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Dust Mite
Dust mites are microscopic—this
drawiiig has been enlarged to show detail
•Dust Mite and Cockroach parts
•Fungi (Molds)
•Infectious agents (bacteria or viruses)
•Pollen
Some of these substances are in every home. It is
impossible to get rid of them all. Even a spotless
home may permit the growth of biological pollut-
ants. Two conditions are essential to support bio-
logical growth: nutrients and moisture. These
conditions can be found in many locations, such as
bathrooms, damp or flooded basements, wet appli-
ances (such as humidifiers or air conditioners),
and even some carpets and furniture.
Modern materials and construction techniques
may reduce the amount of outside air brought into
buildings which may result in high moisture levels
inside. Using humidifiers, unvented heaters, and
air conditioners in our homes has increased the
chances of moisture forming on interior surfaces.
This encourages the growth of certain biological
pollutants.
The Scope Of The
Problem
Most information about sources and health effects
of biological pollutants is based on studies of large
office buildings and two surveys of homes in north-
ern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that
30% to 50% of all structures have damp conditions
which may encourage the growth and buildup of
biological pollutants. This percentage is likely to
be higher in warm, moist climates.
Some diseases or illnesses have been linked
with biological pollutants in the indoor environ-
ment. However, many of them also have causes
unrelated to the indoor environment. Therefore,
we do not know how many health problems relate
only to poor indoor air.
Health Effects Of
Biological Pollutants
All of us are exposed to biological pollutants,
However, the effects on our health depend upon
the type and amount of biological pollution and the
individual person. Some people do not experience
health reactions from certain biological pollutants,
while others may experience one or more of the
following reactions:
• Allergic
• Infectious
• Toxic
Except for the spread of infections indoors, AL-
LERGIC REACTIONS may be the most common
health problem with indoor air quality in homes.
They are often connected with animal dander
(mostly from cats and dogs), with house dust mites
(microscopic animals living in household dust),
and with pollen. Allergic reactions can range from
mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening, as in a
severe asthma attack. Some common signs and
symptoms are:
•Watery eyes
•Runny nose and sneezing
•Nasal congestion
•Itching
•Coughing
•Wheezing and difficulty breathing
•Headache
•Fatigue
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Health, experts are especially concerned about
people with asthma. These people have very sen-
sitive airways that can react to various irritants,
making breathing difficult. The number of people
who have asthma has greatly increased in recent
years. The number of people with asthma has gone
up by 59 percent since 1970, to a total of 9.6 million
people. Asthma in children under 15 years of age
has increased 41 percent in the same period, to a
total of 2.6 million children. The number of deaths
from asthma is up by 68 percent since 1979, to a
total of almost 4,400 deaths per year.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES caused by bacteria ancl
viruses, such as flu, measles, chicken pox, and
tuberculosis, maybe spread indoors. Most infec-
tious diseases pass from person to person through
physical contact. Crowded conditions with poor air
circulation can promote this spread. Some bacteria
arid viruses thrive in buildings and circulate through
indoor ventilation systems. For example, the bac-
terium causing Legionnaire's disease, a serious
and sometimes lethal infection, and Pontiac Fever,
a flu-like illness, have circulated in some large
buildings.
Talking To Your
Doctor
Are you concerned about the effects on your health
that may be related to biological pollutants in your
home? Before you discuss your concerns with your
doctor, you should know the answers to the follow-
ing questions. This information can help the doctor
determine whether your health problems may be
related to biological pollution.
• Does anyone in the family have frequent
headaches, fevers, itchy watery eyes, a stuffy nose,
dry throat, or a cough? Does anyone complain of
feeling tired or dizzy all the time? Is anyone wheez-
ing or having difficulties breathing on a regular
basis?
• Did these symptoms appear after you moved
to a new or different home?
• Do the symptoms disappear when you go to
school or the office or go away on a trip, and return
when you come back?
• Have you recently remodelled your home or
done any energy conservation work, such as in-
stalling insulation, storm windows, or weather
stripping? Did your symptoms occur during or
after these activities?
• Does your home feel humid? Can you see
moisture on the windows or on other surfaces,
such as walls and ceilings?
• What is the usual temperature in your home?
Is it very hot or cold?
• Have you recently had water damage?
•Is your basement wet or damp?
«Is there any obvious mold or mildew?
• Does any part of your home have a musty or
moldy odor?
•Is the air stale?
• Do you have pets?
• Do your house plants show signs of mold?
• Do you have air conditioners or humidifiers
that have not been properly cleaned?
• Does your home have cockroaches or rodents?
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TOXIC REACTIONS are the least studied and
understood health problem caused by some bio-
logical air pollutants in the home. Toxins can
damage a variety of organs and tissues in the body,
including the liver, the central nervous system,
the digestive tract, and the immune system.
Coping With the
Problem
Checking Your Home
There is no simple and cheap way to sample the air
in your home to determine the level of all biological
pollutants. Experts suggest that sampling for
biological pollutants is not a useful problem-solv-
ing tool. Even if you had your home tested, it is
almost impossible to know which biological
pollutant(s) cause various symptoms or health
problems. The amount of most biological sub-
stances required to cause disease is unknown and
varies from one person to the next.
Does this make the problem sound hopeless? On
the contrary, you can take several simple, practi-
cal actions to help remove sources of biological
pollutants, to help get rid of pollutants, and to
prevent their return.
Self-Inspection: A WaXk Through
Your Home
Begin by touring your household. Follow your
nose, and use your eyes. Two major factors help
create conditions for biological pollutants to grow:
nutrients and constant moisture with poor air
circulation.
• Dust and construction materials, such as
wood, wallboard, and insulation, contain nutri-
ents that allow biological pollutants to grow. Fire-
wood also is a source of moisture, fungi, and bugs.
• Appliances such as humidifiers, kerosene and
gas heaters, and gas stoves add moisture to the air.
• A musty odor, moisture on hard surfaces, or
even water stains, may be caused by:
—Air-conditioning units
— Basements, attics, and crawlspaces
— Bathrooms
— Carpets
— Heating and air-conditioning ducts
— Humidifiers and dehumidifiers
— Refrigerator drip pans
What You Can Do
About Biological
Pollutants
Before you give away the family pet or move, there
are less drastic steps that can be taken to reduce
potential problems. Properly cleaning and main-
taining your home can help reduce the problem
and may avoid interrupting your normal routine.
People who have health problems such as asthma,
or are allergic, may need to do this and more.
Discuss this with your doctor.
Moisture Control
Water in your home can come from many sources.
Water can enter your home by leaking or by
seeping through basement floors. Showers or even
cooking can add moisture to the air in your home.
The amount of moisture that the air in your home
can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As
the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold
less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, mois-
ture condenses on cold surfaces (for example,
drops of water form on the inside of a window). This
moisture can encourage biological pollutants to
grow.
There are many ways to control moisture in
your home:
; "Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the
house from the outside, your options range from
simple landscaping to extensive excavation and
waterproofing. (The ground should slope away
from the house.) Water in the basement can result
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Where Biological Pollutants May Be Found In The Home
Dirty air conditioners
Dirty humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers
Bathroom without vents or windows
Kitchen without vents or windows
Dirty refrigerator drip pans
Laundry room with unvented dryer
Unventilated attic
8. Carpet on damp basement floor
9. Bedding
10. Closet on outside wall
11. Dirty heating/air conditioning system
12. Dogs or cats
13. Water damage (around windows, the roof,
. or the basement)
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from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the
house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and
sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants
to grow.
• Put a plastic cover over dirt in crawlspaces to
prevent moisture from coming in from the ground.
Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.
• Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
to remove moisture to the outside (not into the
attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.
• Turn off certain appliances (such as humidi-
fiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on
windows and other surfaces.
• Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, espe-
cially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in
the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves
don't become sources of biological pollutants.
• Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where
moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm win-
dows. (A storm window installed on the inside
works better than one installed on the outside.)
Open doors between rooms (especially doors to
closets which may be colder than the rooms) to
increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to
: the cold surfaces. Increase air circulation by using
fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to
promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that
your house has a source of fresh air and can expel
excessive moisture from the home.
• Pay special attention to carpet on concrete
floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a
place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area
rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In
certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a
concrete floor, it may be necessary to use a vapor
barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and
cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered
with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
• Moisture problems and their solutions differ
from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold
and wet; the Southwest is hot and dry; the South
is hot and wet; and the Western Mountain states
are cold and dry. All of these regions can have
moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers
used in the Southwest can encourage the growth
of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the
use of air conditioners which cool the air too
quickly may prevent the air conditioners from
running long enough to remove excess moisture
from the. ah-. The types of construction and weath-
erization for the different climates can lead to
different problems and solutions.
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different problems and solutions.
Maintain And Clean Att Appliances
That Come In Contact With Water
•Have major appliances, such as furnaces, heat
pumps and central air conditioners, inspected and
cleaned regularly by a professional, especially
before seasonal use. Change filters on heating and
cooling systems according to manufacturer's di-
rections. (In general, change niters monthly dur-
ing use.) When first turning on the heating or air
conditioning at the start of the season, consider
leaving your home until it airs out.
• Have window or wall air-conditioning units
cleaned and serviced regularly by a professional,
especially before the cooling season. Air condition-
ers can help reduce the entry of allergy-causing
pollen. But they may also become a source of
biological pollutants if not properly maintained.
Clean the coils and incline the drain pans accord-
ing to manufacturer's instructions, so water can-
not collect jn pools.
• Have furnace-attached humidifiers cleaned
and serviced regularly by a professional, especially
before the heating season.
• Follow manufacturer's instructions when us-
ing any type of humidifier. Experts differ on the
benefits of using humidifiers. If you do use a
portable humidifier (approximately 1 to 2 gallon
tanks), be sure to empty its tank every day and
refill with distilled or demineralized water, or even
fresh tap water if the other types of water are un-
available. For larger portable humidifiers, change
the water as recommended by the manufacturer.
Unplug the appliance before cleaning. Every third
day, clean all surfaces coming in contact with
water with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide,
using a brush to loosen deposits. Somemanufac-
Before You Move
Protect yourself by inspecting your potential new
home. If you identify problems, have the landlord
or seller correct them before you move in, or even
consider moving elsewhere.
• Have professionals check the heating and
cooling system, including humidifiers and vents.
Have duct lining and insulation checked for growth.
• Check for exhaust fans in bathrooms and
kitchens. If there are no vents, do the kitchen and
bathrooms have at least one window apiece? Does
the cooktop have a hood vented outside? Does the
clothes dryer vent outside? Are all vents to the
outside of the building, not into attics or crawlspaces?
• Look for obvious mold growth throughout the
house, including attics, basements, and crawlspaces,
and around the foundation. See if there are many
plants close to the house, particularly if they are
damp and rotting. They are a potential source of
biological pollutants. Downspouts from roof gut-
ters should route water away from the building.
• Look for stains on the walls, floor or carpet
(including any carpet over concrete floors) as evi-
dence of previous flooding or moisture problems. Is
there moisture on windows and surfaces? Are
there signs of leaks or seepage in the basement?
* Look for rotted building materials which may
suggest moisture or water damage.
« If you or anyone else in the family has a pet
allergy, ask if any pets have lived in the home.
• Examine the design of the building. Remem-
ber that in cold climates, overhanging areas, rooms
over unheated garages, and closets on outside
walls may be prone to problems with biological
pollutants.
• Look for signs of cockroaches.
This document may be reproduced without change, in whole or in part, without permission, except for use as advertising material or product endorsement Any such reproduction should
credit the American Lung Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The use of all or any part of this document in a deceptive or inaccurate manner or for purposes
of endorsing a particular product may be subject to appropriate legal action.
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turers recommend using diluted household bleach
for cleaning and maintenance, generally in a solu-
tion of one-half cup bleach to one gallon water.
When using any household chemical, rinse well to
remove all traces of chemical before refilling
humidifier.
> Empty dehumidifiers daily and clean often. If
possible, have the appliance drip directly into a
drain. Follow manufacturer's instructions for clean-
ing and maintenance. Always disconnect the
appliance before cleaning.
• Clean refrigerator drip pans regularly accord-
ing to manufacturer's instructions. If refrigerator
and freezer doors don't seal properly, moisture
may build up and mold can grow. Remove any
mold on door gaskets and replace faulty gaskets.
Clean Surfaces
• Clean moist surfaces, such as showers and
kitchen counters.
9 Remove mold from walls, ceilings, floors, and
paneling. Do not simply cover mold with paint,
stain, varnish, or a moisture-proof sealer, as it may
resurface.
• Replace moldy shower curtains, or remove
them and scrub well with a household cleaner and
rinse before rehanging them.
Dust Control
Controlling dust is very important for people who
are allergic to animal dander and mites. You
cannot see mites, but you can either remove then-
favorite breeding grounds or keep these areas dry
and clean. Dust mites can thrive in sofas, stuffed
. chairs, carpets, and bedding. Open shelves, fabric
wallpaper, knickknacks, and Venetian blinds are
also sources of dust mites. Dust mites live deep in
the :carpet and are not removed by vacuuming.
Many doctors suggest that their mite-allergic
patients use washable area rugs rather than wall-
to-wall carpet.
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Warning!
Carefully read instructions for use and any
cautionary labeling on cleaning products be-
fore beginning cleaning procedures.
• Do not mix any chemical products. Espe-
cially, never mix cleaners containingbleach
with any product (such as ammonia) which
does not have instructions for such mixing.
When chemicals are combined, a dangerous
gas can sometimes be formed.
• Household chemicals may cause burning
or irritation to skin and eyes.
• Household chemicals may be harmful it
swallowed, or inhaled.
•Avoid contact with skin, eyes, mucous
membranes and clothing.
•Avoid breathing vapor. Open all windows
and doors and use an exhaust fan that sends
the air outside.
•Keep household chemicals out of reach ol
children.
• Rinse treated surface areas well to re-
move all traces of chemicals.
• Always wash bedding in hot water (at least
130° P) to kill dust mites. Cold water won't do the
job Launder bedding at least every 7 to lOdays.
• Use synthetic or foam rubber mattress pads
and pillows, and plastic mattress covers if you are
allergic. Do not use fuzzy wool blankets, feather or
wool-stuffed comforters, and feather pillows.
• Clean rooms and closets well; dust and vac-
uum often to remove surface dust. Vacuuming and
other cleaning may not remove all animal dander,
dust mite material, and other biological pollutants.
Some particles are so small they can pass through
vacuum bags and remain in the air. If you are
allergic to dust, wear a mask when vacuuming or
dusting. People who are highly allergy-prone should
not perform these tasks. They may even need to
leave the house when someone else is cleaning.
Correcting Water
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Correcting Water
Damage
— — '— *—* <—r t—s £_/—> sf
What if damage is already done? Follow
these guidelines for correcting water
• Throw out mattresses, wicker furni-
ture, straw baskets and the like that have
been water damaged or contain mold. These
cannot be recovered.
• Discard any water-damaged furnish-
uigs such as carpets, drapes, stuffed tovs
upholstered furniture and ceiling tiles'
unless they can be recovered by steam'
cleaning or hot water washing and thor-
ough drying.
Remove and replace wet insulation to
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Additional Information
ifyandHumidifier SafetyAlert
To report an unsafe consumer product or nroH
land TTY number is 1-800-492-8104.
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