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Coeur D’Alene & Spokane Area

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The Importance of Proper Ventilation to Prevent Methylene Chloride Inhalation for Homes in Mead

There are a lot of chemicals affecting the indoor air quality in Mead  and each of them poses a unique risk to your health if not treated properly. One such chemical that you can probably guess to be unsafe is methylene chloride. Found in paint strippers, methylene chloride is usually accompanied by an incredibly strong solvent smell and can be overwhelming to the senses if not properly ventilated from the room in which it is being used. Moreover, the EPA has listed it as a toxic substance with clinically studied links to higher rates of lung and liver cancer in animals (and a strong correlation in human beings).

Your Exposure to Methylene Chloride

Because it is used largely in industrial applications, most people are not exposed to this chemical at home, unless they decide to use chemicals to strip paint, wax or other substances from walls or floors. It has also been used as a propellant in certain aerosols and insect sprays and in some cases is used to fumigate grains and strawberries.

If you spray paint indoors, use other aerosols containing the chemical or work in an environment with a high degree of chemical access, the risk of exposure increases dramatically.

Air Filtration to Reduce the Risk of Exposure

While methylene chloride is not yet a listed carcinogen, it is considered a “probable carcinogen” based on clinical studies and therefore is not something you want in your lungs. Immediate responses to the chemical range from headaches and dizziness to reduced visual and motor functions and long term effects are even worse, resulting in central nervous damage and potential damage to the liver, kidneys and cardiovascular system.

The easy solution is if you must use a substance containing methylene chloride to ventilate properly. Proper ventilation should increase the total air flow in the space significantly. Support the ventilation with a breathing mask and take frequent breaks. The best rule of thumb is if you can smell it, you’re breathing it. And if you can feel it, you’re breathing too much of it. Stay safe and the effects of methylene chloride can be reduced and hopefully negated.

Please call ACI Northwest if you have any questions about indoor air quality in Mead.

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