6 Main Indoor Air Pollutants

Particulate Matter

Particulate matter (PM) or particulates are mixtures of microscopic solid and liquid droplets, which may include dust particles, mold, spores, bacteria, and viruses. And these pollutants can penetrate deeply into the lungs for prolonged periods of time, even permanently deposited in our bodies, causing cancer, stroke, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and allergies.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical gas and can last 15 years long! It is one of the chemical components of many building materials and fiber fabrics, detergents and adhesives. The most common sources of formaldehyde in buildings are plywood, carpets, and foam insulation. Formaldehyde can cause eye and nose irritations, chronic bronchitis and asthma. World Health Organization (WHO) has identified formaldehyde can lead to cancer. 

Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC)

Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) are compounds containing one or more carbon atoms. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified more than 900 VOCs found in indoor environments. VOCs can penetrate through walls and enter indoors. VOCs also emit by building materials, detergents, cosmetics, carpets, furniture, printers, adhesives, and paints.

Bacteria & Viruses

Microorganisms in the air mainly come from the soil, water, animals, plants, humans and so on. They are bacteria, fungi, viruses, phage (E. coli). Microorganisms exist in the form of suspended particles with microbial dust, particulate matter, and liquid aerosols. The amount of microorganisms in the air is one of the important criteria for air quality.

Mold

Mold is a type of fungus, commonly found in homes. Mold can release millions of spores through the air. Although mold spores reach their peak in the humid season, mold will continue to create spores throughout other seasons, which can cause allergic reactions throughout the year. 

Dust Mites

Dust mite is number one allergen in people's homes. Inside the carpets, beds, and fabrics are hidden millions of dust mites. They contain large amounts of allergenic proteins that can cause asthma and allergies. And people easily expose to dust mite excrement through airborne.

Gas Tabacco Smoke

Cigarettes and cigars smoke release large amounts of respirable suspended particulates. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds. The US Environmental Protection Agency has classified 60 of those compounds can lead to cancer. Beside the first-hand and the secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer, the third-hand smoke has the same profound impact on our health, too. Thirdhand smoke refers to as chemical residues from cigarettes onto the furniture, walls, carpets, toys, clothes, hair, and skin, then react with other chemical compounds in the air to become a new carcinogen.