The Top 4 Indoor Air Pollutants That Threaten Your Health

One of the best things about southern New Mexico is the excellent air quality one can enjoy once one steps outdoors. Unfortunately, indoor air isn’t always so fresh, depending on where you live or work. There are at least four major indoor air pollutants that are worth monitoring for your health. 1. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is the most dangerous indoor air pollutant known to man and can be deadly at high concentrations. Most indoor carbon monoxide is produced by gas stoves and oil furnaces that aren’t operating at peak efficiency. Even low levels of carbon monoxide can cause headaches, nausea, and an irregular heart rate in humans. 2. Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile organic compounds are harmful gases emitted by a wide array of liquids and engineered building materials. Paints, varnishes, waxes, carpeting, and laminate flooring are familiar sources of these potentially hazardous substances. Left unchecked, VOCs can cause headaches, nausea, eye irritation, breathing problems, and even liver damage. 3. Asbestos Once a common building material, asbestos continues to contaminate indoor air in homes and businesses all over New Mexico. If they become airborne, asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma and several other lung diseases. Older homes that have recently undergone...