Page 36 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

The Homeowner’s Handbook SIXTH EDITION

Indoor Air Quality Testing

Indoor air quality has been identified as a
public health risk, and UL Environment, a
division of the independent safety science
company UL, tests products to determine
their environmental impact, providing
homeowners with valuable information on
how to make their surroundings safer.

For example, UL’s GREENGUARD GREENGUARD certifications enable Vision House® at Mariposa
program certifies products, which purchasers to identify holistically Meadows Sponsor
include everything from computers greener products that meet their
to televisions to paint and flooring, sustainability goals. MARIPOSA
offer low chemical emissions and MEADOWS
contribute to healthier indoor UL Environment offers a
environments. UL’s ECOLOGO free app on its Facebook page www.ul.com/gg
certification rates multiple attributes, that gives homeowners tips on
including impact to indoor air improving environmental safety.
quality, throughout the life cycle of UL Environment also maintains the
products. From building materials to Sustainable Product Guide, a free
cleaning supplies, ECOLOGO and searchable database of more than
32,000 currently certified products.

Some of the most common pollutants include: dioxide (NO2). CO interferes with the delivery of oxygen to the body.
It can produce fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea and dizziness.
Biologicals Make sure combustion appliances are installed and maintained by
These include molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, animal dander and reliable professionals and properly used. A UL-listed CO monitor
particles from dust mites and cockroaches. These may cause should also be installed.
infections, provoke allergic symptoms or trigger asthma attacks. Means
of control include washing bedding to kill dust mites, keeping animals Formaldehyde
out of areas affected persons frequent and practicing careful cleaning. This common chemical is found primarily in adhesive or bonding
agents and is used in carpets, upholstery, particleboard and plywood
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke paneling. The release of formaldehyde into the air may cause health
A major indoor air pollutant, it contains some 200 known poisons, problems, such as coughing; eye, nose and throat irritation; skin
such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, and at least 60 rashes, headaches and dizziness. The best control is to avoid using
chemicals known to cause cancer. It causes an estimated 3,000 lung products that emit formaldehyde. As a second line of defense, allow
cancer deaths and up to 50,000 heart disease deaths among U.S. new, potential sources of formaldehyde to air out thoroughly before
non-smokers each year. bringing them indoors.

Combustion Pollutants ALSO: Hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals are emitted by
These come from sources such as fuel burning stoves, furnaces, household cleaning agents, personal care products, pesticides, paints,
fireplaces, heaters and water heaters, equipment that uses gas, oil, hobby products and solvents. Such chemicals can cause dizziness,
coal, wood or other fuel. The most dangerous pollutants are both nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritation and
colorless and odorless gases: carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen cancer. Minimize your use of such sources of dangerous chemicals.

SOURCE: AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION: REPRINTED FROM WWW.LUNG.ORG