We often take the air we breathe for granted, assuming that the confines of our home offer a safe haven from outdoor pollution. However, the truth is that most airborne pollutants are invisible menaces. Your itchy eyes or nagging cough might signal something’s amiss, but only a home air quality test can detect the hidden threats in the air you breathe.
Although a home air quality test can expose many types of pollutants lingering in your indoor air, we’ll focus on chemical contaminants in this article:
- Lead. If your home was built before 1978, there’s a chance that old, lead-based paint could be silently releasing toxic particles into the air. Even if you can’t see the paint deteriorating, lead dust can accumulate in your indoor air and pose severe health risks, especially to young children and expectant mothers.
- Radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally. It leaks into homes through cracks in the foundation, walls, or floors and is one of the leading causes of lung cancer among non-smokers. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, making it a particularly insidious indoor threat. Radon levels can vary significantly from home to home, even within the same neighborhood, so testing is the only way to know if you and your family are at risk.
- Formaldehyde. This colorless gas with a pungent odor is commonly found in pressed wood products, carpets, and even some household products. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. Furthermore, long-term exposure has been linked to certain types of cancer.
The Bottom Line
The only way to truly understand the air you breathe is to test it. Armed with that information, you’ll be better positioned to ensure a healthier, safer home for you and your family. If you need a professional home air quality test, get in touch with us today.