Common Airborne Carcinogenic Chemicals

Jan 24

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

Airborne chemicals can be found in many places and we might not even know it. The most common airborne chemicals come from everyday items, furniture, cleaning products, and more.

Airborne chemicals create toxic air. Toxic air can be caused by pollutants from factories, oil refineries, power plants, cars, trucks, and buses. Pollutants from these sources make the air dirty or smoggy which can lead to respiratory problems like asthma or bronchitis.

Poor Causes Of Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollutants have multiple varieties of types, the main ones being Particulate Matter (PM) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

Causes Of Poor Indoor Air Quality Include:

Smoke (From any source including cigarettes, cigars, vaping, marijuana, burning, cooking, etc)
Chemical Fumes (such as paint, gases, and other chemical agents)
Dust Mites
Household Cleaners
Pet Dander
Mold and Mildew
Synthetic Fabrics and Carpets
Carbon Monoxide
Lack of Fresh Air
Construction Materials (such as synthetic insulations)

Overall Health Effects

Many of us experience some kind of air pollution-related symptoms such as watery eyes, coughing, or wheezing. Even for healthy people, polluted air can cause health impacts such as respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities. Your actual risk depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure to the polluted air.

The indoor air we breathe can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. There are many chemicals that can be found in the air, such as formaldehyde and benzene, which can affect our respiratory system.

These chemicals can cause a variety of health problems, such as asthma and allergies. The symptoms of these diseases may vary depending on the individual and the chemical they are exposed to.

People Most Vulnerable To Poor Air Quality Include:*

Children under 14, which are still developing their lungs
Active People who engage lungs by doing cardio activities
Pregnant Women
Individuals with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

*Please note that all people can be affected by poor indoor air quality, not just those of us listed above.

Long Term Exposure To Air Pollution Can Include Health Risks Such As:

Loss of breath and/or lung capacity
Development of illness and diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and possibly cancer
Shortened life span

Airborne Carcinogenic Chemicals
CARCINOGENIC car-ci-no-gen-ic producing or tending to produce cancer or the carcinogenic action of certain chemicals		Journal of the American Medical Association
Chemical Name:	Commonly Found In:	Typical Symptoms, Ailments & Diseases:
Benzene	Paints, Carpets, Drapes, Upholstery, Rubbers, Detergents, Pesticides, Tobacco, and Secondhand Smoke	Cancer Causing Agent Headaches Drowsiness Confusion Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
Ammonia	Tobacco Smoke Cleaning Supplies Building Chemicals	Eye Irritation Nose Bleeds Swelling In Throat Coughing
Chloroform	Paint New Drapes New Carpets	Headaches Drowsiness Confusion Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
Formaldehyde	Tobacco Smoke Cabinets, Furniture Office Dividers New Carpet & Drapes Plywood & Particle Board	Cancer Causing Agent Sore Throat; Itching/Burning Nasal Congestion Chest Pain Shortness of Breath
Benzopyrene	Tobacco Smoke Secondhand Smoke Vehicle Exhaust	Cancer Causing Agent Bronchitis Causing Agent Toxicity on: Nervous System, Immune System, and Reproductive System
Hydrocarbons	Tobacco Smoke, Glue, Paint Thinners, Gas Stoves & Burners, Oil & Gas Furnaces	Headaches,Coughing, Shortness of Breath, Rapid or Irregular Heartbeat
Sources & Reports On Carcinogens: www.atsdr.cdc.gov https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/benzene.html https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/benzoapyrene https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/formaldehyde.html