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Chemical Pollutants
Indoor air, a chemical soup
What is in the book?
Chapter: Pollutants and their
health risk
Chemical pollutants
Health effects
Common household chemicals
Formaldehyde
Pesticides
Ammonia
Bleach
Benzene
Detergents
Solvents
Fragrances
Paint strippers
Paint
Safe handling and disposal
Only fifty years ago, people weren’t exposed to the health effects of formaldehyde, acetone or sodium hypochlorite, three chemicals amongst hundreds that are today very common in indoor air.
Because we use more and more synthetic materials and spend so much time indoors, we are exposed to levels that are two to five times higher than they would be outdoors. New buildings and short-term activities, such as painting, can increase the levels by many hundred times.
The effects that chemicals have on human psychology and emotion aren't easily proven scientifically. Much more tangible, however, are the immediate medical symptoms a person may experience, such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, allergic skin reaction, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. In the long-term, continuous or frequent exposure to high doses may damage the liver, kidney or the central nervous system and cause cancer.