Indoor Air Quality
Most Canadians spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Indoors is where we can be exposed to a variety of indoor air contaminants from how we heat our indoor spaces, to the products that we buy, and from the way we choose to live our lives. Some people are very sensitive to IAQ and can become ill from poor air quality. People with asthma or other respiratory illnesses can suffer tremendously from poor IAQ.
Symptoms commonly
attributed to IAQ include: |
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People especially vulnerable
to IAQ problems: |
- Headaches, fatigue, and shortness
of breath
- Sinus congestion, cough, and sneezing
- Eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation
- Dizziness and nausea
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- People with allergies or asthma
- People with suppressed immune
- People with respiratory diseases
- Contact lens users
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The two main types of indoor air pollutants that affect human health can be characterized as either biological or chemical. Biological pollutants originate from living things or are themselves living things. These contaminants can also be either gases or particles (e.g. mould spores). Chemical pollutants can be either gases (e.g. carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide) or particles (e.g. dust, soot). The table below lists common sources of these indoor air pollutants.
Sources of Common Chemical Contaminants
- Oil and gas appliances
- Tobacco smoke
- Paints
- Pesticides
- Many common household products
Sources of Common Biological Contaminants
- Humidifiers and air conditioners
- Mattresses
- Pets
- Carpets
To learn more about your indoor air quality, visit our other indoor air quality sections on home, workplace, schools, scents and air cleaners.
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