Is Toxic Mold Exposure the Cause of Your Symptoms?We’ve all experienced that “new” scent. It smells artificial, yet slightly intoxicating, and comes from sources beyond a new car. Sometimes, for instance, it wafts from a new carpet, or emanates from a fresh coat of paint. What exactly is it? That characteristic “new smell” called off-gassing, and it isn’t so innocuous. Here is all you need to know about what off-gassing is, how it occurs in our homes, and what we can do to keep our air cleaner. Off-gassing doesn’t sound very healthy. What is it exactly? Off-gassing occurs when new, manufactured items in our homes release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals. Consider the last few furniture items you purchased —  maybe the leather couch had “new car smell” for a few weeks. That odor is a result of finishes, paint, glue, and other substances emitting chemical particles as they settle. What other household products off-gas?In terms of furnishings, common culprits include cabinets, tables, couches, and even mattresses, which often contain several synthetic materials.

There’s also a lot of off-gassing going on behind our walls and under our floorboards: Carpeting, vinyl flooring, wall paint, particleboard, plywood, and insulation all emit myriad VOCs. clean air plant and equipment regulation 1997Even the items we use to clean our homes, such as air fresheners and cleaning sprays, contain toxic substances that stick around in the air long after use.air purifier against dust What chemicals are ‘off-gassed’?how to market air duct cleaningSince World War Two, 80,000 new chemicals have been invented and placed in household items, though we have only studied the impact of a few. Formaldehyde, for instance, is a known carcinogen, but is still found in wood finishes, glues, insulation, and even hand soap.

Polyurethane foam, a petroleum-based chemical found in mattresses, can cause respiratory difficulties and skin irritation. For a more complete list of chemicals and the household products they’re in, check the Department of Health and Human Services database. Is my furniture going to make me sick? It isn’t that cut and dry. The health effects of VOC exposure varies depending on the person, the chemical, and its concentration. Sometimes, off-gassing manifests as temporary dizziness after the use of cleaning products, but other times, you might feel nothing. In the long-term, however, doctors are concerned about continued exposure to off-gassing. So far, chemical contaminants have been linked to 180 diseases. Does this last forever? What if I can’t smell it? Chemical off-gas at different rates, but manufactured goods usually undergo their most noxious (and smelly) off-gassing for about a month after they’re produced. Still, some chemicals can emit VOCs for years.

Carpeting, in particular, can off-gas for up to five years. And certain VOCs, like Phthalates, are odorless, and so may go undetected. What can I do to make sure I don’t buy products that emit VOCs? Thanks to increased consumer safety advocacy over the past two decades, there are now numerous third-party certifications for household goods. For furniture, the GREENGUARD, Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) and SGS Group certifications denote goods that are low to no-emission. Solid wood generally contains fewer VOCs than particleboard or plywood. If you want to purchase a mattress, look for one that is made of organic cotton, chemical-free wool, or natural latex. Alternatively, buying used furniture is also a strong vanguard against harmful VOCs, as most second-hand goods have already undergone their worst off-gassing. What can I do to decrease off-gassing on the items I’ve already purchased? No need to throw it out, but you probably shouldn’t let items sit in your house as they off-gas.

Instead, leave them in a garage to air out for a few weeks. If that isn’t a possibility, many furniture stores will allow you to ventilate your purchases on-site before taking them home. If you’re painting, do it in the spring when you can open the windows. Because there can be dozens of items in your home at various stages of off-gassing, it’s also a good idea to use an air purifier to filter the VOCs out of the air.Air pollution inside the home is putting people at risk of developing heart disease, cancer and breathing problems, experts have today warned.Toxic Home Syndrome, which affects around 15.3 million houses in the UK, is where a person's health deteriorates because of the air circulating in their home.Scientists have warned simple day-today tasks, such as doing the washing or cooking dinner, could be putting families at risk of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and asthma. Air circulating inside contains more than 900 chemicals, particles and biological materials with potential health effects.

Mould spores, pollen, radon, carbon monoxide and dander all lurk within homes, seeping through cracks in walls and floorboards, brought in on clothing or produced by wood burners, gas hobs and detergents used in cleaning. Air circulating in the home contains more than 900 chemicals, including mould, which can increase a person's risk of developing heart disease, cancer and asthma Experts at the My Health My Home website warned failing to ventilate your home properly can increase the risk of falling ill. Simple day-to-day tasks including drying washing inside and heating the home with wood burners can cause symptoms including coughing, headaches, rashes, nose bleeds and lung diseaseCoughing, watery eyes, dizziness, sneezing, feeling tired and suffering headaches can be common signs of poor indoor air quality.While more severe symptoms include eye irritation, rashes, muscle pain, respiratory problems, asthma, fever or chills, hearing loss, nose bleeds, wheezing and lung disease.

The My Health, My Home infographic reveals from top to bottom, the key danger points in every home. The World Health Organisation states everyone has an uncompromised right to a healthy living environment. But air pollution is estimated to be the leading cause of environmental burden of disease in Europe.Experts have called for people to ensure their homes are properly ventilated and urged the authorities to make it mandatory for new builds to come with a 'Healthy Home Mark', indicating a good ventilation system is installed.  Is where a person's health deteriorates as a result of the air circulating in their home.The condition affects more than 15.3 million homes across the UK, experts believe.  Professor Peter Howarth, who specialises in allergy and respiratory medicine at Southampton University, called for increased awareness of what is being termed 'Toxic Home Syndrome'.'Toxic Home Syndrome occurs when individuals and families are exposed to a potent mix of airborne pollutants within the home arising from poor ventilation, causing respiratory and skin diseases to occur more frequently,' he said.  

A pan-European study, carried out by the National Institute for Health and Welfare, revealed the impact indoor allergens has on disease and life expectancy.Researchers confirmed a link between indoor exposure to pollutants and cardiovascular disease.The annual burden of disease caused by inadequate indoor air quality is estimated to correspond a loss of more than two million healthy life years in the EU.The researchers found pollutants in the home increase the burden of disease. More than 15.3 million homes in the UK are at risk of Toxic Home Syndrome, where a person's health deteriorates because of the air circulating in their homeFifty-seven per cent of the total burden relates to cardiovascular diseases, 23 per cent to lung cancer, 12 per cent to asthma and the remaining eight per cent is linked to other respiratory conditions.  Make sure you have effective ventilation throughout your home.Less toxins and pollutants are found in eco-friendly products, making the air fresher and cleanerOpt for roll on deodorant and beauty products rather than aerosol cansCarpets harbour dust, dust mites, pet hair, fungus and other harmful particlesSwitch off your technology when you've finished using themShoes can carry pollen, dirt and soil from outside, spreading it through your homeYou can make sure your home is radon free by getting a testEnsure paint has dried compleletly before using a newly painted roomDry

your washing outside, if possible. If not, make sure you open the windowsEnsure shower curtains are changed regularly and avoid ones made from vinyl, because the material harbours water and creates mould The researchers suggest a change in the way homes in Europe are ventilated could reduce the overall burden of disease, by around 38 per cent. Professor Howarth, said: 'Many people associate indoor air quality with more innocuous conditions such as eczema or asthma, however, I have seen many patients with serious health conditions due to pollutants within the home and the risk of cardiovascular disease should not be dismissed.'With respect to asthma, mould allergy is recognised to be associated with worse asthma and poorer asthma control. 'The presence of moulds within the home is a reflection of poor ventilation and increased humidity. 'Homes with mould are also likely to have higher house dust mite allergen levels and this may worsen both respiratory and skin conditions. 'The lack of adequate ventilation within the home can also be associated with the build up of non-allergenic noxious fumes which are detrimental to health.'He urged people to assess the systems they have in their homes, and called for new homes to come with a 'Healthy Home Mark', as an indication of good ventilation.   

'I advise my patients to prioritise good household ventilation – assess the systems your home has in place and look to update them if they are faulty or out of date,' he told MailOnline.'I would also like to see a 'Healthy Home Mark' on new homes to confirm that they have mechanical ventilation systems with effective heat exchange installed – to help reduce the health risks for future generations.'Currently, just two per cent of the UK has mechanical ventilation systems installed throughout their home; which is concerning given this data, Professor Howarth added.'If people are exposed to high concentrations of pollutants over long periods of time, even non-chemically sensitive individuals can be susceptible to the associated serious health risks,' he said. Mould spores increase a persons susceptibility to asthma and allergiesHomes with poor ventilation can become a breeding ground for a number of different pollutants that increase the burden of disease.Around 81 per cent of people are at risk of suffering a respiratory or dermatological condition because of poor indoor air quality. 

Fifty-eight per cent of people have experienced mould or condensation in their homes, increasing to 70 per cent among 25 to 34 year olds.Mould spores, released in the atmosphere by damp spots on the walls, window frames and decaying foods are among the most common biological pollutants. The increasing prevalence of dampness in homes has caused a rise in mould levels, which in turn increase people's susceptibility to asthma and allergies. can also be a pollutant in the home, usually brought inside when windows are left open or people walk through the house with shoes they have worn outside. Meanwhile are tiny particles, which come from feathers, skin or hair and can also cause allergies., found in everyday cleaning products, can trigger asthma.They are commonly found in air fresheners, carpet cleaners, polish and oven cleaners.As well as biological pollutants and VOCs, there are a number of different gases, which are common within the home. is a natural radioactive gas, that comes from the soil.