The Health Cost of 'Tight' Homes

Formaldehyde exposures inside mobile homes

“…Manufactured housing units (e.g., mobile homes, prefabricated houses) are especially prone to formaldehyderelated problems because they tend to use proportionally more materials that emit formaldehyde than conventional homes, to have relatively smaller interior volumes, and to have lower air-exchange rates (7). In fact, complaints from residents of mobile homes about acute health effects, such as eye and throat irritation, skin rash, dry and sore mouth, coughing and sneezing, runny nose, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath, have prompted formaldehyde measurement programs in Minnesota (8)(9)(10), Texas (11,12), Washington (13,14), and Wisconsin (15)(16)(17).…”

Health and safety considerations for passive solar heated and cooled buildings

“…Reduced air infiltration results in higher concentrations of various pollutants emanating from interior sources and, therefore, a potential health problem. A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA) states, "The combination of hazardous materials in a tight structure simply allows these materials to build up rather than dilute" [15]. As reported in the April 1981 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Journal [16], the National Commission on Air Quality in issuing the final report of a three-year study of the Clean Air Act, addressing indoor air pollution for the first time.…”

Respiratory Effects of Wood Heat: Clinical Observations and Epidemiologic Assessment

“…An increasing number of families in the United States are converting to woodburning stoves in an effort to reduce winter heating bills (1,2). Documented hazards associated with the use ofwoodburning stoves include accumulation ofcarbon monoxide as well as an increased number of burn injuries and house fires (3,4). This paper reviews the clinical case report that first postulated an association of recurrent chest illness with woodburning stove exposure (5) and summarizes our findings to date on respiratory effects of wood heat for young children (6)(7)(8)(9).…”

“…Therefore, the question arises as to whether pollutants are accumulating in homes where woodburning stoves are used as a source of heat. This issue is especially important when one considers the trend to increase home insulation and overall airtightness in an effort to conserve energy and reduce heat loss (3).…”