Indoor Air Quality | Carmel Building and Design

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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
The products we choose to use in building or remodeling a home can affect the quality of the air indoors. Materials such as paints, stains, varnishes, carpeting, insulation, flooring, kitchen cabinets and countertops, plywood, particleboard, and paint strippers often contain compounds that can evaporate, or off-gas, into your home. Some common indoor air pollutants, some of which can cause cancer or other health effects, include formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, xylene, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, and glycol ethers. A poorly constructed home can also contribute to poor indoor air quality, by allowing moisture to accumulate and harbor mold, and by preventing proper fresh-air ventilation. Fortunately, there are many excellent brands of building materials and finishes available today that don’t contain dangerous chemicals, and good building practices that promote good indoor air quality. Here are some ways we can make your home (and the environment) healthier:

• Choose finishes and furniture made out of natural materials, such as wool, wood, stone, cotton, bamboo, sisal, and linoleum
• Choose unfinished wood products, or use low-VOC/natural oil or water-based finishes
• Finish your walls with integral-color plaster or stucco (these don’t require painting)
• Choose zero-VOC paint for walls and furnishings
• Use formaldehyde-free insulation, MDF, particleboard, and other materials; measure the formaldehyde in your indoor air
• Use solvent-free caulk and adhesives
• Build a detached garage, or make sure that your home is completely sealed off from it
• Install chlorine filters on showerheads and faucets
• Use non-toxic cleaning compounds and pest control techniques
• Keep ducting clean, and replace air filters regularly
• Control potential sources of carbon monoxide, and install proper ventilation

The EPA recognizes the short- and long-term health effects of certain building products, and recommends ways to reduce exposure to volatile organic compounds, including increasing ventilation and reducing sources of formaldehyde.

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