The comforts of a modern home are myriad -- temperature-controlled rooms keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and carefully engineered windows can even cocoon you from noisy neighbors and nasty drafts. “Newer constructions are more airtight than older ones,” says Alan Barlis, a New York City–based green architect. But there’s a catch. A home that blocks out the outside world also seals in potentially harmful substances -- including dust, dirt, and mold. You also have to contend with microscopic fragments that are released when you cook or light a candle, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are given off by some detergents and paints, and certain materials in furniture. Over time, these things can irritate eyes, skin, and airways, says Neil Kao, an allergist in Greenville, South Carolina. Some researchers also suspect that VOCs could be a contributing factor in higher cancer risks. Fortunately, driving out these elements is easier than it sounds when you do these small tasks on a daily, weekly, and seasonal basis.
