Types of contaminants, Where does it
come from, Why is it harmful.
As explained earlier, the indoor air quality could be worse than the
outdoor air quality, especially when the ventilation is poor. There are few
factors that affect the quality of indoor air; such as the design and
orientation of the space itself, as mentioned in the previous chapter. In the
indoor spaces, contaminants are present as well. They are categorized into 3 main
types- chemical, biological and physical. Contaminants enter our body through
ingestion, inhalation or touch but in our case, we are discussing the main
indoor pollutants which are mostly air-bone contaminants that affect humans
through inhalation.
3.1 CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS
Chemicals from furnishings and surface finishes in the interior could be
the source of bad indoor air quality. These chemicals, otherwise known as
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs); are released into the air at room
temperature and can harm our health. VOCs are found in some of the most common
materials such as composite wood; which includes particle board, plywood,
hardwood and medium density fiberboard (MDF). All these wood are categorized as
engineered wood panels or simply, “pressed wood”; made by binding together
fibers of woods together with adhesives. These man-made woods are custom made
which comes with specific measurements and sizes in order to match with certain
international standards. Formaldehyde, commonly present in adhesives in these
composite woods has been classified as carcinogens (cancer causing agents). It
irritates the eyes and can cause respiratory problems such as stuffy nose,
coughing and wheezing. In some cases it even can cause nausea and fatigue.
Solid wood is a good alternative for composite wood products, as it does
not contain formaldehyde. A cheaper alternative is to use construction-grade
plywood, which uses more stable formaldehyde glue. More stable formaldehyde
glue means the formaldehyde particles present in the wood will not react to the
room temperature easily because it forms a tighter bond between the particles;
it is tightly bound and that prevents it to be released into the air. According
to studies, the indoor air concentrations of formaldehyde are often higher than
the legal tolerance value of 100 Nl l-1 (0.1 PPM, 120 µg m-3)
formaldehyde2.
In two of the case research, the houses that were built in older days
(40 – 60 years back) have more furniture made of wood in the homes such as
sofa, study table, cabinet, dining table, chair and so on. The houses built in
the more recent years have more new materials as furniture such as glass and
steel frames. Therefore there are less chance of formaldehyde releasing from
the composite woods.
Benzene, another type of VOCs can enter the indoors in the form of motor
vehicle exhaust. Houses built near the main roads or highways might face
problem with benzene entering the living spaces, other than noise pollution. An
attached garage will increase the risk of benzene entering the home through
opened doors and windows. Quite a number of Malaysians stay in terraces,
semi-detached houses, bungalow that have an attached car poach that might have
a problem with vehicle smoke entering the home, which contains benzene that can
harm human health.
Having indoor plants, especially the spider plant (Chlorophytumn
comosum) could help remove chemical
vapor from the air, formaldehyde in particular. The plant leaves metabolize and
convert formaldehyde into tissue products such as sugars, amino acids and
organic acids; a process called “metabolic breakdown”. When plants transpire water vapor (lose
water) from their leaves, they pull the air around their roots which supplies
their root microbes (microorganisms present on the roots) with oxygen. Besides
oxygen, the root microbes also use other substances present in the surrounding
air, such as toxic chemicals as source of food and energy. The microbes can
rapidly adapt to chemical contaminants by producing new colonies that are
resistant to the chemical. As a result, the longer they are exposed to the
chemical, the more effective they are at breaking down that particular
chemical. According to research, Malaysians do not normally have indoor plants
in their homes, due to hygiene issues. But it is actually good for health to have
a few indoor plants as long as the soil is well covered.
If homes were built before the 1950s, chances are that lead pipes could
be found in that home. Our first inclination would be to replace the lead pipes
because it is known that lead could harm our bodies. However, replacing any
type of plumbing is expensive and tedious. Moreover, having lead pipes may not
expose us to enough lead to be dangerous. The leaching of lead out of lead
pipes happens when the water is sitting in the pipes. This could cause children
experiencing learning disabilities from high exposures to the toxin, while
adults can have kidney problems and high blood pressure. The Environmental
Protection Agency suggests that the Maximum Contaminate Level (MCL); the
highest level of toxin allowed in water for lead to be 0.015 mg/L. A good rule
of thumb is to run the cold water tap in home for 30 seconds first thing in the
morning before drinking the water to reduce the chance of exposure.
Besides the pipes, ceilings and floor finishes could also release toxins
that could harm human health. Asbestos, often mixed with a cement-like material
and sprayed or plastered on surfaces was used in insulation, fireproofing,
wallboard, floor tiles and ceiling prior to the 1960s. These materials may
crumble over time thus releasing asbestos. The asbestos fibers are tiny and
small enough to float in the air, and can be inhaled. Severe cases of exposure
to asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and asbestosis, a chronic scarring of
the lungs that hinders breathing.
3.2 BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS
Biological contaminants are living organisms that can be hazardous to
human health, such as molds, fungi, bacteria and viruses. It is concerned that
having indoor plants will increase dust and mold spores in living spaces, due
to the soil exposed. In fact, foliage plants (plants cultivated specifically for
their ornamental leaves) will help reduce air bone microorganisms in the air
provided that the soil is not exposed. At least two inches of gravel or other
porous material such as stones on top of the soil will prevent mold growth.
Scientific research had proven that plant-filled rooms have 50 to 60 percent
less airbone microbes then similar rooms without plants. However, some allergy
physicans argued that patients should remove all plants from their homes; due
to the concerns that but there is no scientific basis for this recommendation.
On the contrary, plants should be beneficial to all allergy patients provided
the plants are grown in a manner to prevent mold growth on the soil surface as
mentioned previously.
Molds generally grow in dark areas with sufficient nutrients and high
moisture. High moisture levels can result from water that comes in from the
outside through the floor, walls or roof; from plumbing leaks; or from moisture
produced by the people living in the home through daily activities such as
bathing, washing and cooking. Areas such as kitchen, bathroom, basement, garage
and storerooms should be constantly checked for the presence of molds. In
research case number 1, the house owner mentioned that rainwater leakage will
sometimes occur from the ceiling in the dining room area. It is possible that
molds grow in the crawl spaces inside the ceiling as the area is not exposed to
sunlight. Rainwater residue could not evaporate entirely in that enclosed space
and it is dark as well, a perfect place for mold to grow.
It is also encouraged to measure the moisture level in the air to
prevent mold growth and other health problems. A hygrometer, available from
hardware stores is needed to find the relative humidity in living homes.
Recommended indoor relative humidity is 30 % to 50 %. It is not difficult to detect mold: the
discolouration and the smell. Often, a musty or earthy smell indicates the
presence of molds. But even if we do not notice discolourations or smells,
dampness are indications of moisture problems that will probably cause mold
growth.
In addition to the damage mold can do to our walls, and fabrics, molds
growing inside the home can cause health problems because they release spores
and chemicals that can be toxic and irritating. The health effects of mold can
range from being insignificant to causing allergic reactions and even chronic
illness, such as environmental sensitivities; depending on the type of mold
present, the amount and degree of exposure, and the health condition of the
occupants. Therefore any sign of mold in the home should be taken seriously and
the mold should be removed as soon as possible.
Besides mold, bacteria and viruses in homes can cause serious health
problems to human beings. One of the carrier of bacteria and viruses is pets in
homes. Pets are living organisms and therefore will shed dead skin flakes and
hair; produce urine, faeces and saliva. The particles or microorganisms from
their waste products linger on carpets, furniture, floors and walls at home. In
the case of individuals with allergies like asthma and skin diseases, having
pet in homes is actually a very serious offence. Therefore it is advisable to
keep indoor living area a pet-free zone to avoid allergy responses and also for
hygiene purposes. In the research, it is found out that some Malaysians keep
pet inside their houses, even letting the pets sleep on their own bed. As
mentioned before it is advisable to keep pets outside because they will shed and
leave fur on the bed sheets, pillows and carpets; not to mention the ticks from
their body.
3.2 PHYSICAL CONTAMINANTS
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas which is produced from
the decay of radium. It is generally found in rocks, soils, and underground
water. Traces of radon could enter a building through foundation cracks, floor
drains, joints between basement walls and floors and so on. Although there are no immediate health
effects, long-term exposure to radon could cause lung cancer; It is the number
one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. The Environmental Protection Agency
and the Surgeon General recommend that all homes should test their radon levels
below the third floor, due to its fatal consequences. The average radon level is
1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L); it is suggested that action to be taken if
the radon level is above 4 picocuries per liter.