Table of combustion products & related indoor air hazards:

Here we provide a table listing common indoor air quality contaminants caused by combustion (heaters, fireplaces, smoking, etc), their sources, effects, typical levels, and steps to reduce exposure.

Table of Combustion Products Found Indoors

This article series includes excerpts from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons), by Steven Bliss, courtesy of Wiley & Sons.

The following table lists common indoor air hazards and contaminants generated by combustion such as heating equipment, fireplaces, woodstoves, kerosene heaters, smoking.

The table provides, for each contaminant, the name, description, primary household sources, health effects, typical exposure levels, and steps to reduce exposure.

[Click to enlarge any image]

- Adapted with permission from Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction (Steve Bliss, J Wiley & Sons) .

Technical Articles on Heating Appliance Combustion Air & Contaminants

• COMBUSTION AIR REQUIREMENTS - details about the requirement for combustion air.
• COMBUSTION AIR for TIGHT BUILDINGS - how to provide outside combustion air for tight buildings.
• COMBUSTION GASES & PARTICLE HAZARDS - explanation of the dangers of inadequate combustion air.
• COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ - the relationship between fuel burning appliances and building indoor air quality.
• CARBON MONOXIDE - CO - potentially fatal carbon monoxide gas poisoning warnings
• CARBON MONOXIDE WARNINGS: HOME HEATERS - warnings about CO hazards from certain heaters
• COMBUSTION APPLIANCE CONTAMINANTS - what contaminants are produced by heating or cooking appliances in buildings
• FURNACES & IAQ - indoor air quality issues traced to heating boilers & furnaces, with attention to heating furnace heat exchanger leaks

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-10-05 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia DF, i saw an article saying about 90% of the children's hand contained nicotine they surveyed, i am just worrying about if my hand could transfer the third hand smoke on every surface i touch, resulting in everywhere in my house.

can you identify is the article is reliable?

On 2023-10-04 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Anonymous,

We have tried to answer your questions and concerns.

However there is no data here that would permit an informed and technically valid answer to your questions.

Frankly, the level of potential risk in the situation you’ve described is so minute that there’s nothing to be gained by further discussion.

On 2023-10-03 by Anonymous - (multiple questions from this reader are listed below)

@InspectApedia Publisher, for few times i touched it when came back from outside and didn't wash my hand and change my clothes.

i was asking the possibilities of dirty stuff may include tobaccos compound on my hand being transferred onto it when i touches it. how long this chemicals takes to break down when it is in low amount and low level.

what is molecular anxiety

can you at least tell me, the possibilite of transferring of touching and if it could how long would it take to breakdown in this case.

On 2023-10-02 by InspectApedia Publisher - no plausible second hand smoke risk of your mouse pad being cigarette smoke contaminated

@Anonymous,

Sorry if we have not been clear.

Because there is no plausible second hand smoke risk of your mouse pad being cigarette smoke contaminated after you entered the building where the mouse pad is present after you walked by someone who might have been smoking outdoors, assessing your mouse pads cleaning methods are so hypothetical as to prevent a meaningful answer.

Beware of molecular anxiety.

On 2023-10-02 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, thank you for the advice, but can you at least tell me if my clean methods works on the mouse pad

On 2023-10-02 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Anonymous,

Gentle Caveat: Beware of molecular anxiety

Where there has been no demonstrated level of exposure to a substance that might be hazardous, and thus no likely or measurable risk, the anxiety itself may be a more serious health hazard than the molecules of substance that are the subject of your concern.

This anxiety, in short, can be itself bad for your health.

With all due respect, it's past time to take your concerns to your doctor, ask her if the worries you've been discussing are significant in the doctor's assessment of your health and health risks. Ask for and follow her advice.

Related reading: MORGELLON'S SYNDROME https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Morgellons_Syndrome.php

On 2023-10-01 by Anonymous - (multiple questions from this reader are listed below)

@InspectApedia DF, forsome soft surafecs like mousepad that i prefer not to put into washing machine can i just spray the veineager spray or use an alcohol wipe?

what i did was spray some white vineager on it then wipe it with alcohol wipes.

it is made with cloth surface and rubber base.

On 2023-09-30 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Anonymous,

Any household cleaner works well on a hard surface.

On 2023-09-30 by Anonymous

@Anonymous, for surfaces like desks can i just use alcohol wipes of regular wiping method, i sprayed some white vinegar and the smell makes can't even open eyes.

On 2023-09-30 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia DF, just one more question, third hand smoke is not as dangers as the websites states right? that is what my doctor said but just not sure. is it easy for this compounds on clothes to transfer onto bed when I put it on the bed in the case of just walking pass by smoker?

On 2023-09-30 by InspectApedia DF (mod)

@Anonymous,

Yes.

On 2023-09-30 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, ok thank you, but just to make sure i am not talking about removing the smells, cause it never smelled smoky, i want to know if it actually cleans the harmful compounds

On 2023-09-30 by InspectApedia Publisher - normal cleaning works for clothing and other soft goods that you can clean using laundry or dry cleaning

@Anonymous,

Normal cleaning works adequately for clothing or any other soft goods that you can clean using laundry or dry cleaning.

On 2023-09-29 by Anonymous

@InspectApedia Publisher, what about bedding and blanket and pillow clothes, i use wash machine to clean it just like clothes. I don't smoke so i am not worrying about my curtain or sofa.

On 2023-09-29 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Anonymous,

Yes smoke particles can remain on surfaces and gases produced by fire or cigarette smoking can also permeate soft materials such as fabrics and upholstered furniture. Normal cleaning works adequately for clothing. For building interiors and furnishings getting rid of cigarette smell can be more difficult. We discussed that problem at this website but it doesn't sound as if you need that additional detail.

On 2023-09-29 by Anonymous - (multiple questions from this reader are listed below)

@InspectApedia DF, i just smelled the smoke, didn't walk through the smoke cloud, also i was told by doctor, that outdoor factors like wind will remove a significant amount of the compound in a showtime, only spend extended period of time with secondhand smoke in enclosed space might leave noticeable compounds on cloth. Also do I have to worry about it being transferred onto other objects.?

is it true as stated like on the websites, that they could stay on surfaces for months even in low level?

is it normal clean method like washing machine good enough? and for other objects, does alcohol wipe or just wiping it enough?

On 2023-09-27 by InspectApedia DF (mod) - should i worry about carrying third hand smoke back to house

@Anonymous,

Seems unlikely that a significant level of smoke contaminants gets carried into your home when you walk past smokers outdoors, though I'd speculate that with sufficiently-sensitive test methods you might detect low levels of smoke, tars, etc. if your passing exposure was sufficiently high (such as walking through a dense cloud of smoke).

Please read HAZARD vs RISK - what's the difference ? https://inspectapedia.com/hazmat/Hazard-vs-Risk.php

and post any questions raised by that distinction on that page and we'll be glad to discuss further.

On 2023-09-26 by Anonymous

should i worry about carrying third hand smoke back to house, if walked by smokers in outdoor environment?

 

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Continue reading at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CARBON MONOXIDE - CO
• INDOOR AIR HAZARDS TABLE

Suggested citation for this web page

INDOOR COMBUSTION PRODUCTS & IAQ at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING INDOOR AIR QUALITY IAQ

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Citations & References

In addition to any citations in the article above, a full list is available on request.

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