Since the corona pandemic, we know that we need to regularly ventilate our homes and offices to maintain optimal air quality. However, that is not only a good idea in the fight against the corona virus. After all, our buildings also accumulate a lot of chemical and polluting substances that can be very harmful to our health. We list the most important here.
VOS
VOC or Volatile Organic Compounds are substances that belong to different chemical families and which have in common that they evaporate quickly at room temperature (hence: ‘volatile’). Sometimes they are also called VOCs or Volatile Organic Components. The complete VOC family includes a tangle of more than 200 substances such as dichlorobenzene, trichloroethane, cyclohexane and toluene, but there are some that occur much more frequently than others. Acetone, for example, which occurs in dissolvents and varnishes and can cause nose, throat and eye irritations and even nausea, headaches and confusion at higher concentrations. Or the now banned formaldehyde, which was used in, among other things, floor lacquer, chipboards, plastics, wood panels and wallpaper. It causes irritations of the mucous membranes of the eye and upper respiratory tract and is carcinogenic with prolonged exposure.
Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally released from the soil, but also from building materials such as concrete, brick and natural stone. There are different versions, the so-called isotopes. What is popularly called radon is usually isotope Radon-222. Radon is odorless, colorless and tasteless and can cause lung cancer because it is inhaled together with the ambient air. The risk of cancer mainly depends on how long one is exposed to radon and in what amount. For example, in the Ardennes, with its rocky subsoil, the concentrations are higher than in Flanders. There are radon detectors that can measure the amount of radon in the house. Such a detector consists of a jar with a sensitive film that picks up the radon. After analyzing the film, the radon concentration can be determined.
Asbestos
Asbestos is an invisible, fibrous material that is highly toxic. Since 2001, its use has been completely banned in our country. However, because it was previously widely used in certain building materials, it is still strongly present in our living environment. Asbestos is only dangerous if you inhale the loose fibres. These can be released if the asbestos-containing material is damaged. When inhaled, these fibers penetrate deep into our lungs. There they can cause a lot of damage and can lead to lung cancer and tumors. Another well-known disease is asbestosis, in which scar tissue forms in the lungs, causing patients to have difficulty breathing. Removing asbestos-containing material requires the right precautions and protective equipment and is a job that is best left to professionals.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide or CO is a very poisonous but colorless and odorless gas that is formed by incomplete combustion of carbonaceous substances. Such as coal, oil, petrol, heating oil, gas and wood. When carbon monoxide is inhaled, it attaches easily and quickly to the hemoglobin of the blood and takes the place of oxygen. This disrupts the oxygen transport to the cells and causes ‘cellular hypoxia’. This causes headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of consciousness, coma and even death. A major cause of CO poisoning is heating equipment that is poorly adjusted, poorly maintained or broken and that does not properly discharge the combustion gases. Exhaust gases from car engines that run in a closed space can also cause CO poisoning.
fungi
Molds are microscopic fungi that mainly occur in damp areas that are poorly ventilated, such as bathrooms. Mold can also appear on the underside of poorly insulated walls or walls that are not completely sealed, in shower curtains and in the joints of kitchens and bathrooms. Mold is visible as green, gray or black spots on the walls and can cause various complaints. Ranging from sore throat, sneezing and coughing over a stuffy nose to wheezing and shortness of breath. In people with a reduced resistance, lung infections can even occur after inhaling fungi. Ventilating rooms after bathing, showering and cooking helps to prevent permanent condensation on walls and furniture and to combat mould.
Dust
Dust in the house can come from outside (natural dust, pollen, smoke, fine dust from cars) but can also be caused by the residents. For example, from cigarette smoke, the use of a fireplace and from cooking and heating appliances. Homework and textile fibers also contribute to dust formation. The largest particles can get stuck in the nose and throat and cause inflammation, if there are also infectious microorganisms on them. The smallest particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, into the bronchi. There they can cause inflammation, respiratory allergies, asthma and even cancer and COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The latter makes breathing difficult, which means that you absorb less oxygen and become fatigued more quickly.