Is Your New Home Toxic?

Today's new homes are built for energy efficiency. Unfortunately, while builders are striving to build homes tighter in order to save energy, they're overlooking the impact this has on indoor air quality.

Tightly sealed homes typically have inadequate ventilation, which is why most new homes come equipped with an HRV (heat recovery ventilator). HRVs exchange stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air. They also help to keep CO2 levels inside the home from building up to unsafe levels. They're great when they're used properly, and I'd recommend that you have one, especially if you're living in a newer home. An HRV, however, does not do enough to improve the air quality inside of a home. This is due to the fact that in newer homes there are thousands of items and materials releasing toxic chemicals into the air every minute of every day. These chemicals are commonly referred to as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Volatile organic compounds are carbon-based chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature. They "off-gas" from various solids and liquids that include:

• Carpets
• Composite and wood products
• Paints
• Upholstery fabrics
• Vinyl flooring
• Adhesives
• Solvents
• Varnishes
• Sealants
• Pesticides
• Air Fresheners
• Cleaning and disinfecting chemicals
• Office equipment (copiers and printers)
• Cosmetics

VOC concentrations are typically 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. This is due to the fact that a new home is, obviously, made of brand new materials that are just beginning to off-gas. They also cannot escape the energy efficient construction of the home. The lack of ventilation allows for these VOCs to accumulate over time. Compounding the problem is the fact that while some items off-gas over a relatively short period of time, others can off-gas for years.

Some of the health effects associated with short-term exposure to volatile organic compounds include:

• Eye, nose and skin irriation
• Worsening of asthma symptoms
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Dizziness and lack of coordination
• Lack of concentration
• Fatigue

Long-term exposure to VOCs could lead to cancer and damage to the liver, kidney or central nervous system. All of the long-term health effects of VOC exposure are not fully known at this time. It is worth noting that evidence suggests that children are especially sensitive to VOCs.

VOCs pose serious health threats that should not be downplayed or ignored. If you live in a newer home, these toxic chemicals pose an even greater threat to you and your family. Having adequate ventilation will help to reduce VOC levels, but may not solve the problem entirely. If you notice items in your home giving off strange odors, it may be best to remove them temporarily until the odors subside, or entirely if the odors persist. If you think you have a serious problem with VOCs in your new home, you should consult your builder immediately.

By Michael McLean
L2B Environmental Systems Inc.