L'air de votre maison
rend peut-être votre famille malade
20+ hidden hazards. Invisible. Odorless. Dangerous. Radon, mold, carbon monoxide, VOCs, and more — all tested and explained using publicly available EPA and CDC data.
1 in 15
foyers ont des niveaux de radon au-dessus de la limite d'action de l'EPA
5-10x
la pollution de l'air intérieur est pire qu'à l'extérieur (EPA)
96%
des foyers ont au moins un problème de qualité de l'air intérieur
Dangers critiques — agissez maintenant
Ces dangers peuvent causer des dommages immédiats ou des atteintes durables à la santé. Faites les tests dès aujourd'hui.
Gaz radon
Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after smoking. It seeps from soil into basements and crawl spaces. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The only way to know is to test.
Monoxyde de carbone (CO)
CO is a silent killer — colorless, odorless, and lethal at high concentrations. It binds to hemoglobin 200x more than oxygen. Every home with fuel-burning appliances needs a CO detector.
Fibres d'amiante
Asbestos causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Homes built before 1980 likely contain asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, and pipe wrapping. Disturbing it releases deadly fibers into the air.
Poussière de peinture au plomb
Lead paint was banned in 1978 but remains in millions of homes. Sanding, scraping, or peeling paint releases lead dust that causes irreversible brain damage in children. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Timeline
CO poisoning follows a predictable timeline: mild symptoms within hours, confusion and drowsiness as exposure continues, and unconsciousness or death with prolonged exposure. Understanding this timeline can save your family's life. At 400 ppm, CO can be lethal in under 3 hours.
Unvented Propane Heater Emissions
Unvented propane and kerosene heaters release carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and water vapor directly into living space. Using them indoors without ventilation causes CO poisoning deaths every winter and soaks walls with moisture that feeds mold.
Vérifiez votre maison pièce par pièce
Chaque pièce a ses propres dangers. Sélectionnez une pièce pour voir ce qui pourrait s'y cacher.
Les 53 dangers de l'air intérieur
Des guides complets basés sur les données de l'EPA pour chaque grande menace de la qualité de l'air intérieur.
Exposition aux moisissures
Mold releases spores that trigger allergies, asthma attacks, and respiratory infections. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) produces mycotoxins linked to neurological symptoms.
critiqueGaz radon
Radon is the #2 cause of lung cancer after smoking. It seeps from soil into basements and crawl spaces. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. The only way to know is to test.
critiqueMonoxyde de carbone (CO)
CO is a silent killer — colorless, odorless, and lethal at high concentrations. It binds to hemoglobin 200x more than oxygen. Every home with fuel-burning appliances needs a CO detector.
élevéFormaldéhyde (COV)
Formaldehyde off-gases from pressed wood furniture, flooring, and new construction materials. It is classified as a known human carcinogen by the IARC. Levels are highest in new or recently renovated homes.
élevéVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are emitted by paints, cleaning products, air fresheners, and building materials. Concentrations indoors are up to 10x higher than outdoors. Long-term exposure damages liver, kidneys, and the central nervous system.
critiqueFibres d'amiante
Asbestos causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Homes built before 1980 likely contain asbestos in insulation, floor tiles, and pipe wrapping. Disturbing it releases deadly fibers into the air.
critiquePoussière de peinture au plomb
Lead paint was banned in 1978 but remains in millions of homes. Sanding, scraping, or peeling paint releases lead dust that causes irreversible brain damage in children. There is no safe level of lead exposure.
modéréDust Mite Allergens
Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and their waste proteins are among the most common indoor allergens. A typical mattress contains 100,000 to 10 million dust mites.
modéréPet Dander and Allergens
Pet dander consists of microscopic skin flakes that remain airborne for hours. It triggers allergic reactions and asthma in sensitive individuals. Even homes without pets can have dander carried in on clothing.
élevéGas Stove Emissions (NO2 and Benzene)
Gas stoves release nitrogen dioxide and benzene even when turned off. A 2022 study linked gas stoves to 1 in 8 childhood asthma cases. Benzene is a known carcinogen that spreads throughout the home.
modéréHigh Indoor Humidity
Humidity above 60% creates ideal conditions for mold, dust mites, and bacteria. It also increases off-gassing of VOCs from furniture and building materials. The EPA recommends 30-50% indoor humidity.
modéréPoor Ventilation (Stale Air)
Modern energy-efficient homes trap pollutants indoors. Without adequate ventilation, CO2, VOCs, and airborne pathogens accumulate to levels 2-5x higher than outdoors. This is called sick building syndrome.
modéréCockroach and Pest Allergens
Cockroach saliva, feces, and decomposing body parts become airborne allergens. They are a major trigger for asthma in children, especially in urban environments. Mouse urine proteins cause similar reactions.
modéréCandle and Incense Smoke
Paraffin candles release benzene, toluene, and ultrafine particles when burned. Incense smoke contains PM2.5 at levels comparable to cigarette smoke. Both contribute to indoor air pollution and respiratory issues.
élevéPFAS (Forever Chemicals) in Household Dust
PFAS chemicals from nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and waterproof clothing accumulate in household dust. They never break down in the environment or the human body. Linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune suppression.
élevéThirdhand Smoke Residue
Thirdhand smoke is the residual nicotine and chemicals left on surfaces by tobacco smoke. It clings to walls, furniture, and carpets for months. Reacts with indoor air to form carcinogenic compounds. Children are most vulnerable.
modéréPaint Fumes and Off-Gassing
Fresh paint releases VOCs including formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene for weeks after application. Even low-VOC paints can off-gas for days. Children and pregnant women are most at risk.
élevéBasement Air Quality Hazards
Basements accumulate the worst indoor air hazards: radon, mold, chemical storage fumes, and pest allergens. Because warm air rises, basement pollutants circulate throughout the entire home through the stack effect.
modéréLaundry Room Chemical Exposure
Laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets release VOCs and synthetic fragrances. Dryer exhaust can contain microplastics and chemical residues. The warm, humid environment also promotes mold growth.
élevéAttached Garage Air Contamination
Car exhaust, gasoline vapors, and stored chemicals from attached garages seep into living spaces. A running car in an attached garage raises CO levels in the home within minutes, even with the garage door open.
modéréSick Building Syndrome
Sick Building Syndrome occurs when building occupants experience acute health effects linked to time spent indoors, with no specific illness identified. Symptoms improve or disappear when leaving the building. Caused by a combination of poor ventilation, chemical off-gassing, mold, and dust.
élevéBlack Mold (Stachybotrys) Danger
Stachybotrys chartarum, commonly called black mold, produces mycotoxins that can cause severe respiratory distress, neurological symptoms, and immune suppression. It thrives on water-damaged cellulose materials and can grow hidden behind walls for months before detection.
élevéPFAS in Tap Water
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as forever chemicals, contaminate drinking water supplies across the country. They never break down in the environment or the human body. Even low-level exposure over years is linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system damage.
critiqueCarbon Monoxide Poisoning Timeline
CO poisoning follows a predictable timeline: mild symptoms within hours, confusion and drowsiness as exposure continues, and unconsciousness or death with prolonged exposure. Understanding this timeline can save your family's life. At 400 ppm, CO can be lethal in under 3 hours.
élevéAsbestos in Popcorn Ceilings
Popcorn ceilings installed before 1980 almost certainly contain asbestos. Scraping, sanding, or disturbing these ceilings releases deadly asbestos fibers into the air. Inhaled fibers cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer — but symptoms may not appear for 10 to 40 years.
modéréTap Water Safety
Municipal tap water is regulated but not necessarily free of contaminants. Lead from aging pipes, PFAS forever chemicals, chlorine byproducts, and agricultural runoff can all be present at levels that pose health risks — especially for children and pregnant women.
modéréFormaldehyde in Furniture
New furniture — especially pressed wood, mattresses, and baby furniture — can off-gas formaldehyde for months. This known carcinogen is particularly dangerous for infants and young children whose rooms are often small and poorly ventilated. New parents should take special precautions.
modéréAir Purifier Risks
Air purifiers can improve air quality — but the wrong type or poor maintenance can make things worse. Ozone-generating purifiers damage lungs. Dirty HEPA filters recirculate trapped pollutants. UV-C purifiers can leak harmful radiation. Not all air purifiers are created equal.
élevéRadon Danger Myths vs Facts
Radon causes an estimated 21,000 lung cancer deaths per year in the US alone, yet myths persist: 'I don't have a basement,' 'My neighbor tested low,' 'Radon isn't really dangerous.' The science is clear — radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and every home should be tested.
élevéHouse Making Me Sick (Comprehensive Guide)
If you feel sick at home but better when you leave, your house may be the cause. Six hidden hazards — mold, radon, carbon monoxide, VOCs, lead, and PFAS — can combine to create chronic health problems. This comprehensive guide connects you to testing and solutions for each.
élevéLead Paint Hazards
Lead dust from deteriorating paint in pre-1978 homes. Especially dangerous to children. Even low-level lead exposure causes irreversible neurological damage, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. There is no safe blood lead level for children.
élevéPM2.5/PM10 Particulate Matter
Microscopic particles from cooking, candles, and outdoor pollution that penetrate deep into lungs. PM2.5 particles are smaller than 2.5 microns and bypass the body's natural defenses. Chronic exposure increases heart attack, stroke, and lung disease risk.
modéréNitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Gas produced by gas stoves and heaters. Causes airway inflammation at elevated levels. NO2 irritates the respiratory tract and worsens asthma. Children and elderly are most vulnerable. Even short-term exposure at moderate levels can trigger symptoms.
élevéBenzene Exposure
Cancer-causing chemical off-gassed by paints, glues, and vehicle exhaust in attached garages. Benzene is a known human carcinogen linked to leukemia. Indoor concentrations can be significantly higher than outdoors, especially in homes with attached garages or recent renovations.
élevéTrichloroethylene (TCE)
Industrial solvent found in some older homes near contaminated sites. Linked to cancer at low exposures. TCE vapor can seep into homes from contaminated groundwater and soil through a process called vapor intrusion. EPA classifies TCE as a human carcinogen.
élevéPolychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Persistent chemicals in old fluorescent light ballasts and caulking. Hormone disruption risk. PCBs were banned in 1979 but remain in older building materials. They do not break down easily and accumulate in the body over time, disrupting endocrine and immune function.
modéréFiberglass Insulation Dust
Irritant fibers released from exposed or damaged insulation. Skin, eye, and throat irritation. Fiberglass particles become airborne when insulation is disturbed during renovations or when ductwork degrades. While not classified as a carcinogen, the fibers cause significant irritation.
élevéSewer Gas
Sewer gas contains hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane that leak indoors through dry drain traps and broken vent lines. Low levels cause headaches and nausea; concentrated hydrogen sulfide is toxic and explosive.
modéréOzone From Air Purifiers
Some electronic air cleaners and "ionizer" purifiers intentionally generate ozone, a lung irritant. In small rooms with poor ventilation, ozone can accumulate above health-based limits and worsen asthma.
élevéWood Smoke Indoors
Fireplaces and wood stoves leak fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons indoors, especially from old or improperly drafted units. Wood smoke triggers asthma and is linked to heart and lung disease.
modéré3D Printer Emissions
Desktop 3D printers emit ultrafine particles and VOCs like styrene and caprolactam when melting filament. Printers run unattended in small rooms for hours, creating concentrated exposure plumes at face height.
modéréLaser Printer Emissions
Laser printers and copiers emit ozone and respirable ultrafine toner particles during operation. Office-grade devices in small home offices can push particle counts far above outdoor levels during long print jobs.
modéréAmmonia Cleaner Fumes
Ammonia-based glass and multi-surface cleaners release irritating vapors that concentrate in small, unventilated bathrooms and utility areas. Mixing ammonia with bleach produces toxic chloramine gas — a common household emergency.
élevéBleach and Chloramine Fumes
Chlorine bleach fumes irritate the lungs on their own, and mixing bleach with ammonia, vinegar, or toilet-bowl acid releases chloramine or chlorine gas. Accidental mixing during bathroom cleaning sends thousands to the ER each year.
élevéIndoor Pesticide Residue
Bug sprays, foggers, ant baits, and tracked-in lawn pesticides leave residues that persist in carpet dust for months. Children and pets get the highest doses because they touch floors and put hands in mouths.
critiqueUnvented Propane Heater Emissions
Unvented propane and kerosene heaters release carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and water vapor directly into living space. Using them indoors without ventilation causes CO poisoning deaths every winter and soaks walls with moisture that feeds mold.
élevéFlame Retardants (PBDEs) in Dust
Older furniture, mattresses, and electronics shed polybrominated diphenyl ethers into house dust. PBDEs persist for years and are linked to thyroid disruption and developmental effects, with toddlers carrying the highest body burdens.
modéréPhthalates in Dust
Vinyl flooring, shower curtains, synthetic fragrances, and soft plastics shed phthalate plasticizers into household dust. These endocrine-active compounds accumulate in children at higher levels than adults.
modéréCarbon Dioxide Buildup
In tightly sealed bedrooms and offices, exhaled CO2 climbs past 1,000-2,500 ppm overnight, causing morning headaches, grogginess, and reduced concentration. High CO2 also signals that other pollutants and CO risk factors are accumulating.
modéréHumidifier Mist Contamination
Humidifiers that run on tap water without cleaning grow biofilm and aerosolize bacteria and minerals directly into the air you breathe. Dirty-tank mist is a recognized trigger of "humidifier fever" and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
élevéRadon in Well Water
Radon dissolved in well water off-gasses into indoor air during showers, dishwashing, and laundry. Water can contribute a meaningful fraction of a home's total radon exposure, especially in homes already sitting on radon-prone soil.
élevéCockroach Allergens
Cockroach body fragments, saliva, and droppings are among the strongest indoor asthma triggers, especially in warm, humid kitchens and bathrooms. Allergens persist in dust long after the insects are gone.
modéréDisinfectant Residue (Quats)
Quaternary ammonium compounds in many disinfectant sprays and wipes leave residues that irritate skin and airways with repeated use. Overuse since 2020 has raised exposure levels, and quats resist breaking down indoors.
Une odeur étrange ?
That musty, chemical, or burning smell is your home warning you. Our "What's That Smell?" diagnostic identifies the hazard behind the odor.
Qu'est-ce que cette odeur ? Vérifiez maintenant →La plupart des propriétaires testent dès la première semaine
Every home benefits from these. The average person breathes 20,000 liters of indoor air per day — these tools help ensure it's clean.
Conseils issus des publications de l'EPA, des CDC et de Santé Canada.
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Obtenez votre score de qualité de l'air gratuit →Comparatifs de produits
Side-by-side comparisons of the detectors, purifiers, and test kits that matter most for your home's air quality.
Détecteur de radon ou détecteur de CO
Which silent killer should you address first? What each detects, where to place them, and why you probably need both.
Meilleurs purificateurs d'air 2026
Purificateurs HEPA d'entrée, de milieu et de haut de gamme comparés par CADR, surface, bruit et valeur réelle.
À propos de HomeAirHazards.com
HomeAirHazards.com is a free resource dedicated to helping homeowners identify and address indoor air quality hazards. All information is based on EPA, CDC, and WHO guidelines.
En savoir plus →Outils gratuits pour protéger votre maison
- Quiz sur les risques de qualité de l'air — évaluation de 2 minutes
- Scanner pièce par pièce — vérifiez chaque pièce
- Qu'est-ce que cette odeur ? — diagnostic des odeurs
- Vérificateur de symptômes — associez les symptômes aux dangers