These Building Materials Can Pollute Your Indoor Air

From headaches, concentration problems, allergies, immune system stress to genetic mutations, reproductive issues, or even cancer. All of this can result from toxic substances in your home.

Indoor toxins can be highly dangerous!

Our indoor air should be clean and free of pollutants, as we spend a significant portion of our lives at home. Continuous exposure to toxins in our indoor air can lead to minor or severe health issues.

What kinds of indoor toxins exist?

There is a distinction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). The difference lies in the volatility and vapor pressure of each substance.

VOCs are rapidly evaporating substances with a low boiling point of around 50 to 250 degrees, like formaldehyde found in solvents. These substances quickly emit from their source.

SVOCs have a higher boiling point between 250 and 500 degrees and slowly release from their source, but they persist in the surrounding air for longer. Examples include wood preservatives, plasticizers, or flame retardants.

Where are common sources of indoor toxins found? And what are their effects?

Many old buildings, especially those constructed before 1970, contain numerous materials that are now banned or considered hazardous to health.

These include asbestos in walls/facades, PCP and lindane in wood preservatives, formaldehyde in adhesives/finished parquet flooring, and mineral fibers in insulation.

Aside from the well-known toxins in building materials, primarily in old buildings, indoor air contamination from mold spores is also a concern. This occurs due to high humidity levels combined with improper heating and ventilation. When warm indoor air meets cooler outdoor air, it condenses and leaves moisture on the walls. Poor insulation promotes this process. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of mold spores in the air can lead to respiratory conditions like asthma.

All of these toxins can quietly cause long-term health problems. They may lead to allergies, fatigue, concentration issues, headaches, respiratory problems, and eye irritation. Some toxins, like asbestos, formaldehyde, and mineral fibers, are classified as carcinogenic.

Children are especially sensitive to toxins in the indoor air and more susceptible to related illnesses. 

What can be done about indoor toxins?

Most harmful substances are now banned in construction and are no longer used in new buildings. However, some toxins, such as plasticizers and solvents, are still available and sometimes used. Here, you can actively monitor the content of your building materials and avoid them.

Mold formation is a potential risk in any building. Consistent heating and regular ventilation of all rooms reduce mold growth.

In old buildings, the risk of toxic substances and indoor air pollution is the highest. To ensure that your indoor air is safe, it is recommended to perform an air quality analysis before proceeding with costly renovations.

Find a guide and useful information about various analyses here.

We offer the following analyses:

• Mold Analyses
  
• Indoor Climate Monitoring
  
• Indoor Air Quality Analysis for Toxins
  
• Wood Preservative Air Analysis
  
• Long-term Indoor Air Quality Analysis
  

With these analyses, you can easily take a sample yourself without prior knowledge and receive a clear result at an affordable price.

We test your sample for over 50 different substances and compare it to the limits set by the Air Quality Control Ordinance.