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To protect yourself and your
family from combustion pollutants, you need to know whether
you're at
risk. Here are some common questions and answers.
Q: What are combustion pollutants?
A: They include gases or particles that come from smoking and the
burning of fuels--natural gas, propane, wood, oil, kerosene and coal. The
resulting harmful gases include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, particulates and excess water vapor.
Q: Why should I be concerned about them?
A: Carbon monoxide, an odorless gas, can be fatal. Nitrogen
dioxide can damage the respiratory tract, and sulfur dioxide can irritate
the eyes, nose and respiratory tract. Smoke and other particulates
irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and can cause lung cancer. Too much
water vapor can lead to moisture problems in the home, including the
growth of mold.
Q: How do combustion pollutants get into the
home?
A: Combustion pollutants enter the home from a
variety of sources. Any heating appliances that burn fuels--furnaces,
boilers, water heaters, fireplaces, stoves, space heaters, ranges and
clothes dryers--introduce combustion gases. These pollutants also are
caused by tobacco smoking, automobile exhaust entering from a garage, and
activities involving the use of internal combustion engines or burning,
welding or soldering.
Q: What causes these gases to build to
dangerous levels?
A: Harmful build-ups of these gases can
occur when: exhaust from combustion equipment is not properly vented to
the outside of the home, combustion equipment is not in good working order
and is not regularly inspected for safe operation, and a negative pressure
balance exists between the inside and outside of the home. Tobacco smoking
inside the home also contributes.
Q: What signs can help me determine if
combustion gases are affecting my health?
A: They may be
the culprit if you feel bad only when you're inside the home and the
symptoms disappear when you leave, or if more than one person in the home
has similar symptoms. A noticeable increase in moisture problems can also
be a sign of combustion pollutants in the home.
Q: How can I reduce the risk from combustion
gases?
A: The most important practice is to keep all
combustion equipment well-maintained and inspected for safety. Experts
recommend having your combustion heating systems inspected by a trained
professional every year. Such inspections should look for blocked openings
to flues and chimneys; cracked or disconnected flue pipe; dirty filters;
rust or cracks in the heat exchanger; soot or creosote build-up; and
exhaust or gas odors. Also, always operate combustion equipment for its
intended purpose and make sure it has been installed correctly.
You might consider installing a carbon monoxide detector, which will alert you to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. However, such a detector will not detect other combustion by-products that can still make you ill.
Q: Where can I get more information about
these pollutants?
A: Contact your local Extension Office
or your state department of health. The time to take action is now.
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