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The
following table is a list of the most common contaminants
in a home or office. If you're suffering from symptoms
you can't seem to explain, check the symptom, and then
check to see what could be the cause of your problem.
Then you can narrow down the causes to one or more
contaminants, and we can work with you to eliminate
that contaminant and help you live and work in a clean
environment.
| Contaminant(s) |
Causes |
Symptom(s) |
| Asbestos |
Insulation and acoustical materials |
Possibly eye, nose and throat irritation, but frequently
no immediate symptoms until damage is done |
| Biological
Agents (Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Animal Dander,
Mites) |
House
dust; pets; bedding; poorly maintained air conditioners,
humidifiers and dehumidifiers; wet or moist structures;
furnishings |
Allergic reactions, asthma, eye, nose, and throat
irritation, occasionally intestinal symptoms |
| Carbon
Monoxide |
Poorly
vented or malfunctioning gas appliances, wood stoves,
and tobacco smoke |
Headache;
nausea; angina; impaired vision and mental functioning;
fatal at high concentrations |
| Formaldehyde |
Pressed
wood products such as plywood and particleboard;
furnishings; wallpaper; durable press fabrics |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; headache |
| Lead |
Sanding
or open-flame burning of lead paint; house dust |
Nerve
and brain damage, particularly in children; anemia;
kidney damage; growth retardation |
| Nitrogen
Oxides |
Poorly
vented or malfunctioning gas appliances |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; increased respiratory
infections in children |
| Organic
Chemicals |
Aerosol
sprays, solvents, glues, cleaning agents, pesticides,
paints, moth repellents, air fresheners, drycleaned
clothing, and treated water |
Eye,
nose, and throat irritation; headaches; loss of
coordination; damage to liver, kidney and brain;
various types of cancer |
| Radon |
Soil
under buildings, some earth-derived construction
materials, and groundwater |
Lung
cancer; frequently no symptoms until long-term
damage is done |
| Respirable
Particles |
Cigarettes,
wood stoves, fireplaces, aerosol sprays, and house
dust |
Eye,
nose and throat irritation; increased susceptibility
to respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung
cancer |
| Tobacco
Smoke |
Cigarettes,
cigars, and pipes |
Respiratory
irritation, bronchitis and pneumonia in children,
emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease |
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