Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality can affect your health, especially if you are:

• living with a lung or heart condition
• a person with asthma
• a young child
• an older adult

Symptoms

Poor indoor air quality can cause symptoms such as:

• coughing
• irritated or watery eyes
• trouble breathing
• feeling tired or unwell

Some indoor air pollutants can cause serious health problems. For example, carbon monoxide can be life‑threatening. Many different pollutants can lower indoor air quality, often from more than one source in the home.

Visit Health Canada to learn how to improve indoor air quality in your home.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is an odourless colourless gas that can be deadly in enough quantity.  It is the result of combustion so is usually the result of engine exhaust or a defective furnace, gas water heater, wood or gas stove. 

• All homes must have a carbon monoxide detector. 
• If the CO detector alarm sounds, you should vacate the premises and contact your local fire department. 

More information on carbon monoxide can be found here https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/pollutants/carbon-monoxide.html.

Natural Gas

Many homes use natural gas for heating or hot water. Natural gas can also be explosive at the right concentrations. To be able to smell natural gas a chemical called mercaptan is added which gives it a rotten egg or sulfur smell. 

If you smell sulfur or rotten eggs in your home or hear gas leaking leave the home immediately and call 911. 

Mould

Mould is a type of fungus that grows in damp areas. It releases tiny spores into the air that people can breathe in.

Breathing in mould can cause health problems such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and allergic reactions. Some people are more sensitive to mould, including infants, older adults, people with asthma or other lung conditions, people with weakened immune systems, and those with mould allergies.

Health effects depend on the type of mould, how much is present, how long a person is exposed, and personal sensitivity. Because people react differently, Health Canada has not set safe exposure limits for mould.

What to Do About Mould

The best way to manage mould is to remove it and fix the moisture problem that caused it.

If you find mould:

• Clean small areas with water and dish soap. Bleach is not needed.
• Remove and replace materials with heavy mould growth. Hire a professional if the area is large.
• Fix the source of moisture, such as leaks or high humidity.

When cleaning mould, wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask.

Mould testing is not recommended because it does not help protect health or fix the problem. There are no safe mould levels to compare results against, and mould is common in both indoor and outdoor air. Test results do not change what needs to be done.

Mould in Rental Homes

• Clean small mould areas, such as bathrooms and windowsills, with soap and water.
• Improve air flow by opening windows, using fans, or running a dehumidifier.
• If mould is caused by leaks or flooding, tell your landlord or property manager in writing and allow time for repairs.

For more information, visit Health Canada:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/reduce-humidity-moisture-mould.html

If you are concerned[AR1] , want to speak with a public health inspector, or wish to make a complaint, please contact us (internal link).

Radon

You should test your home for radon. Radon is a gas that increases the risk of lung cancer. It is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who do not smoke and greatly increases risk for people who do smoke.

Radon is colourless and odourless. It forms naturally from uranium in the ground and can enter homes through cracks, drains, pipes, and joints in the foundation. Basements usually have the highest levels. When radon builds up indoors, it can be breathed into the lungs.

For more information, visit Health Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radon-your-home-health-canada-2009.html

Testing Your Home for Radon

Most homes in Canada have some radon, but levels can be very different from one house to another—even next door.

The only way to know your radon level is to test. Testing is easy and affordable. You have three options:

• Long-term test kits are the most accurate and recommended. They are sold online or in hardware stores. The detector is left in the home for about three months and then sent to a lab. The best time to test is late fall to early spring, when windows are usually closed.
• Short-term test kits are also available online or in stores. Some municipalities lend them out through their libraries. Short term tests are less accurate than long term because radon levels fluctuate often over time.
• Hire a certified radon professional to test your home. You can find one at http://c-nrpp.ca/find-a-professional.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was widely used in building materials before the 1980s. It was used for insulation and fire protection in walls, ceilings, and floors.  Asbestos can cause serious lung disease, including cancer and asbestosis. Health risks occur only when asbestos fibres are released into the air and breathed in usually over a long period of time. Asbestos that is sealed and left undisturbed—such as inside walls or floors—does not usually pose a health risk

It is hard to tell which materials contain asbestos. If you think there may be asbestos in your home the only way to know for sure is to have a sample tested by a certified laboratory. If you plan to renovate and have asbestos use a professional asbestos removal company — especially if the material will be disturbed. Handling asbestos without proper training can be dangerous. If you choose to handle very small amounts yourself, wear protective clothing and a proper respirator, and shower afterward.  Most exposure happens at work, such as in construction or maintenance, but exposure can also occur during home renovations.

For more information, visit
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/health-risks-asbestos.html

To speak with a Public Health Inspector about asbestos, please contact us. (Internal Link)

Wood Burning

Burning wood can pollute both indoor and outdoor air. Wood smoke contains pollutants that can affect your health, especially for people with heart or lung conditions.

Reducing Wood Smoke Indoors

To lower your risk from wood smoke:

• Keep wood‑burning appliances well maintained and free of cracks or leaks
• Burn only clean, dry, untreated wood
• Avoid breathing in wood smoke
• Never burn treated wood, plastics, or garbage

What Is in Wood Smoke?

Wood smoke contains harmful pollutants, including:

• Fine particulate matter https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/fine-particulate-matter.html
• nitrogen oxides (NO2) https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/nitrogen-dioxide.html
• Carbon Monoxide (CO) (Internal Link).
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/volatile-organic-compounds.html

Health Effects of Wood Smoke

Breathing wood smoke can cause health problems. The effects depend on how much smoke you breathe in and your health. Common effects include:

• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Headaches, dizziness, and nausea
• Coughing, breathing trouble, and worsened asthma
• Reduced lung function and chronic bronchitis
• Heart rhythm problems and non‑fatal heart attacks
• Higher risk of early death in people with heart or lung disease

Long-term exposure may also weaken the immune system.

For more information, visit:

• https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/avoid-wood-smoke.html
• https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/sc-hc/H13-7-94-2010-eng.pdf