The best way to determine indoor air quality levels in your home is by having a professional air quality test done. However, you can have a rough idea of the level of pollution in your home by keeping an eye out for the following symptoms of unhealthy indoor air.

Indoor smoking

You don’t have to be a smoker to suffer the adverse effects of cigarette smoking. In fact, second hand smoking is more harmful to your health. Indoor smoking exposes you to the danger of developing chronic heart disease and lung cancer.

Growth of mold or mildew

The growth of mold or mildew exposes occupants of the home to mold spores. These spores produce toxins that can have adverse effects on our health. Mold spores distributed in the air if inhaled can result in allergic reactions, worsened asthma symptoms and much more.

High humidity levels

Humidity levels of higher than 50 percent encourage the growth of mold and mildew. It also encourages pest infestation. High levels of humidity are also linked to coughing, wheezing, rhinitis, sore throat, nasal congestion and worsened asthma symptoms.

Presence of solvents, paints and other chemicals

Do you store chemicals, solvents and paints within your home? These have been shown to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), benzene, formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals. These emissions increase as these chemicals age. Exposure to the emission is linked to the development of cancer, chronic lung diseases and many other adverse health effects.

Did you remodel your home recently?

If you remodeled your home recently, there is probably a great volume of new construction material in your home. You will be exposed to high levels of VOCs from solvents and adhesives used during construction. Many construction materials also contain toxins such as formaldehyde, which are emitted into the air.

Lack of ventilation

Modern homes are built for efficiency. They are airtight. This often means that they are poorly ventilated. HVAC systems simply recycle stale indoor air within the home. This means indoor pollutants are simply recirculated and will continue to accumulate in the home as long as air is not vented out of the home.

Keep an eye out for the above symptoms of poor indoor air quality. Ensure that you seek ways to control or eradicate these sources of pollution.