KEEPING WARM 
a fire risk and burn hazard for children. 
In addition, the efficiency of open fire- 
places is only one-third that of wood- 
stoves. In very cold weather, an open 
fireplace operating at the same time as a 
conventional central heating system 
may actually draw more hot air up 
through the chimney and out of the 
house than the amount of heat it re- 
places by radiation. 
Cooking on a gas stove produces both 
gaseous and particulate air pollutants. 
The good smells that emanate from the 
kitchen stove and draw the family 
around the dining table may be accom- 
panied by other, less desirable vapors. 
There are two potential sources of pollu- 
tion at the kitchen stove: the cooking or 
Installing storm windows and 
siding serves to cut home heating 
costs, but as the rate of exchange 
between inside and outside air 
is reduced, indoor air pollution 
can become a real problem. 
burning of food and the gas flames used 
for cooking. The process of cooking food 
releases gases and particles that include 
small quantities of POMs. Only occa- 
sionally, however, are the POM concen- 
trations high enough to cause alarm, as 
when the burning of food creates a pall 
of blue smoke hanging below the ceiling. 
Of greater concern are the emissions of 
carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides 
from gas cooking. Tests show that in 
some kitchens equipped with gas stoves, 
the level of nitrogen oxides may be five 
times higher than the level outdoors, 
and carbon monoxide levels are also 
higher. Both nitrogen oxides and carbon 
monoxide — caused outdoors primarily 
by motor vehicles — are recognized by 
the Environmental Protection Agency 
as serious pollutants that give rise to 
both acute and chronic health problems. 
There are, however, no national air qual- 
ity standards for private homes. In 
houses where tests have been made, the 
federal ambient air quality standards 
for outdoor air are sometimes exceeded 
for particulates, nitrogen oxides, and 
carbon monoxide, even though the out- 
door air quality has met the federal 
standards. These increased indoor air- 
pollution levels are largely attributed to 
open fireplaces, gas cooking, and ciga- 
rette and cigar smoking. 
Air pollution from smoking is highly 
variable, and the subject is, of course, 
controversial. Cigarette smoke produces 
particulates, such as hydrocarbons and 
POMs, and is responsible for increased 
particulate levels inside private houses, 
offices, and public buildings. Due to the 
absence of open fires and cooking facili- 
ties, however, the air quality in offices 
and public buildings is usually better 
than that in homes and sometimes even 
better than that in the streets. Further- 
more, most offices and public buildings 
have better ventilation and air-filtration 
systems than the average privately 
owned house. 
Although particulates, carbon mon- 
oxide, and nitrogen oxides are the most 
common home pollutants, there are oth- 
ers that may also be a cause for concern. 
Painting, cleaning, and the projects car- 
ried out in home workshops often in- 
volve the use of volatile organic solvents 
that are components of paints, thinning 
agents, cleansers, and glues. The con- 
Donald Dietz /Stock Boston Inc 
1 12 
