Resolving Indoor Air Pollution

Fire and water restoration companies do more than just repair flood and water damage to properties. They resolve indoor air pollution as well. Indoor air quality is lower and more polluted than outside air. Chemicals and mold make our air toxic to breathe and exposes us to various health ailments. Armed with knowledge and information, we can make better choices and keep our homes healthier.

Environmental Hazards in the Home

Usually, when we hear the term “environmental hazard”, we think about toxic waste, mercury poisoning, pandemics, floods, and many other phenomena that are commonly thought of as external to us. However, some environmental hazards are actually closer than we think. They are lurking in our homes, in the most innocent places and we would never imagine how dangerous they are if not for the mounting evidence of everyday chemicals and molds harming our health. Information is available so we can make better choices about products we buy and use in our homes. If we have suspicions of exposure to hazardous materials, we do have resources at our disposal. Water restoration companies are trained to clean up and remove the offending toxins and restore our properties so we can be safe in our own homes.

Not only are we exposed to environmental pollution from x-rays, radiation and electro-magnetic fields, but we are also susceptible to indoor pollution illnesses from lead, benzene, formaldehyde, molds, etc. In fact, these pollutants cause not only respiratory conditions such as asthma, but also a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, wheezing, coughing, headache, nausea, dizziness and many more. They may also cause cancer. The sources of these toxins are every day items found in our homes, such as furniture and wallpaper glues, wall paint, cigarette smoke, dry-cleaned clothing and drapes, particle board and plywood used for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, toxic gases released from fire and combustion. Unfortunately, these are only a few of many examples. Molds are also responsible for respiratory illnesses and are often present in homes where water damage gives rise to these opportunistic organisms.

Various studies have documented that sometimes, indoor air pollution is worse than outside air quality. This is quite an astounding finding, given that outdoor air contains automobile exhaust fumes, industrial emissions, wastes, and by products, chemicals and gases that are released into the environment daily. However, there are ways to reduce these hazardous offenders.

Knowledge is powerful and when we are armed with it, we can make informed decisions about choices we make daily, such as taking care of water spills before they contribute to water damages and mold infestation in the home. Another way to reduce our exposure to toxins in the home is to stop using dry cleaning services, or at least reduce them significantly as formaldehyde is a common dry cleaning solvent. Wallpaper that is made in the USA has significantly lower toxin risks than wallpaper from other countries, such as China. We, as consumers, can vote with our pocketbooks. We can choose to buy products that are environmentally safe and will not poison us. Fire and water restoration companies are also a big help in restoring our properties after water damage, fire and smoke damage, and mold emergencies. Moreover, most professional water restoration companies are well trained in hazardous materials cleanup and can restore the home with safer alternatives.