Pollutant Sources

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.
Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in house-keeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome
Sick-building-syndrome is any building that causes health problems such as allergies, skin rash, respiratory ailments, loss of concentration, and headaches. Most illnesses are the result of poor ventilation (Bahnfleth et al., 2005). When ducts aren't cleaned regularly, they can release dust and fibers. Energy efficiency has limited the amount of fresh air circulated through the buildings, you still need.
Microbial contamination of indoor air represents a major public health problem and source of sick-building-syndrome. Mold for example, is a major factor in sick-building-syndrome becoming an ever increasing concern to many home owners and businesses. In addition to being unattractive to see and smell, mold also gives off spores and mycotoxins that cause irritation, allergic reactions, or disease in immune-compromised individuals (Bahnfleth et al., 2005).
Prevention of Indoor Air Pollution: Ventilation and Air Cleaners
The U.S. EPA (1990) lists three main strategies for reducing indoor air pollutants: source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. Source control is considered the most effective and eliminates the sources of pollutants or reduces their emissions. Regrettably, not all pollutant sources can be identified and practically eliminated or reduced.