Most of us at Riderwood spend a great deal of time inside our apartments. Naturally, we want the air we breathe indoors to be of good quality.
However, some of the products we use in daily life—for personal care or cleaning—may emit gases that are harmful to our health. Fortunately, many of these products are easy to avoid. There are simple steps Riderwood residents can take to make the air in our apartments safer and more healthful.
So why are many personal care and cleaning products harmful? The answer is that a great many of them contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are carbon-based liquids or solids that become gases at room temperature.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, many (though not all) VOCs can harm human health through both short- and long-term exposure. Possible effects include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; headaches; nausea; and respiratory problems. VOCs can also trigger inflammation in the airways, worsening asthma symptoms. Some VOC exposures have even been linked to serious organ damage and cancer. Specific health impacts depend on the type of VOC, its concentration, and the duration of exposure.
Indoor exposure to VOCs is a concern for everyone, but it is of particular concern to the roughly 25 percent of Americans who report heightened sensitivity to airborne chemicals.
Because VOCs are typically used indoors, their concentration can be as much as ten times higher inside than outside, according to the American Lung Association. VOCs can linger indoors for hours, days, or even months, making them a major contributor to indoor air pollution.
Many VOCs found in personal care and cleaning products are fragrances. These are added to shampoos, skin creams, detergents, all-purpose cleaners, and countless other products to make them more appealing to consumers. In addition, cleaning products may contain hundreds of VOCs intended to enhance their effectiveness.
Not all VOCs are harmful. Fragrant plants, for example, naturally emit VOCs, and for most people these natural fragrances pose no problem. It is synthetic, man-made fragrances that are of greatest concern.
Riderwood resident Dr. Claudia Smith, a public health nursing professional who has written extensively about indoor air quality, offers the following practical guidance for keeping apartment air healthful and low in VOCs:
- Look for fragrance-free personal care products. Fragrance-free deodorants, soaps, lotions, and similar products are increasingly available and are usually clearly labeled.
- Choose fragrance-free cleaning products.
- Use fragrance-free laundry detergents and fabric softeners. Because dryers are vented to the outdoors, fragrances from scented dryer sheets can prevent sensitive neighbors from using their balconies and patios during use.
- Use simple, non-VOC cleaning solutions. For example, windows and mirrors can be cleaned with a mixture of one part white vinegar to ten parts warm water. Wood surfaces can be cleaned with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice, olive oil, and water. Many effective do-it-yourself cleaning recipes are available online and are often less expensive than commercial products.
- Avoid products containing chlorine, a particularly harmful VOC. Choose disinfectants made with hydrogen peroxide instead.
- Avoid waxes and products heavily scented with pine or lemon.
- Do not use air fresheners. These products do not eliminate unpleasant odors; they simply mask them with scented VOCs.
- Substitute cedar wood for mothballs, or store clothing in airtight containers.
- Avoid smoking, of course. Fortunately, Riderwood is an entirely smoke-free community.
- Use washable markers instead of permanent ones.
- Weather permitting, periodically open windows to increase ventilation and reduce indoor air pollution.
- Run bathroom exhaust fans to remove moisture and help prevent mold growth, which is harmful to the respiratory system.
- When work is done in your apartment—such as painting, drywall repair, or caulking—request that only low-VOC products be used, and ventilate the apartment during the work.
- Filter indoor air to reduce pollutants and microbes. Riderwood replaces furnace filters in all apartments twice a year.
- Use a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to keep dust and other particles from recirculating in indoor air.
- Reduce the need for insect control, which often involves toxic chemicals. Keeping food covered and avoiding open snacks can help prevent infestations. If pests do become a problem, explore non-chemical solutions first and use toxic chemicals only as a last resort.
Residents who would like to get involved in efforts to make the indoor air at Riderwood cleaner for all may want to join the Chemical Sensitivity Subcommittee of ABLE (Achieving a Better Living Environment). Contact Tony Langbehn, subcommittee chair.