When you think about air quality, you probably think about outside pollutants, such as smog or ground-level ozone. According to the EPA, indoor air quality is a much bigger problem, because so many people spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. It can be hard to identify an indoor air quality problem on your own. Professional air quality testing in Orange County can help find problem areas and deal with them.

4 Common Air Pollutants

To judge whether your home may have air problems, know these common sources of indoor air pollution:

• Biological Contaminants – such as mold, dust, mites, bacteria and mildew

These pollutants may cause allergies and asthma attacks. You may notice nasal stuffiness or have nasal irritation. Although it’s practically impossible to completely eliminate these contaminants, you can minimize their presence by cleaning, minimizing humidity and getting air quality testing in Los Angeles.

• Carbon Monoxide – this odorless and colorless gas is caused by fumes from cars, gas or wood stoves and smokestacks. It’s difficult to detect, but exposure causes symptoms such as, headaches, dizziness, nausea and difficulty breathing. Install a CO detector if you have a gas or wood stove. If you notice people in your home with the same symptoms, get to a doctor.

• Tobacco Smoke (including second-hand smoke) – this pollutant can cause the same effects as smoking. Your eyes, nose and throat may be irritated. You may wheeze or cough. Some young children develop bronchitis. To avoid indoor tobacco smoke, have people smoke outside if they must.

• Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) – pesticides, hair sprays, glues and paints can irritate the nose, eyes and throat when the air inside isn’t properly ventilated. You should minimize the use of chemicals in your home. Let the smell of fresh paint dispel before you spend long hours in the room.

Enjoy your time indoors when you manage the indoor air pollutants that could make you ill. Work with an environmentally-friendly company to address serious air quality problems today.