05:10 PM CDT on Monday, June 20, 2005

By Chau Nguyen / 11 News

It's no secret the air outside is pretty bad here in Houston, especially at this time of year. But there is growing evidence that the air we breathe indoors is actually more polluted than the air outside, at least according to one Texas researcher.

KHOU-TV

Scented candles are enemy No.1 when it comes to indoor air pollution.

The dog days of summer are here. Many of us can't wait to run from the blistering sun and make tracks indoors.

But not so fast, settling in for a long summer inside may be anything but a breath of fresh air.

"The indoor environment in terms of our exposure to toxins is much, much worse than the outdoor environment in general," says Dr. Richard Corsi, an environmental engineer at the University of Texas. "That's right ... indoor air is often more polluted than outdoors. Even when you add in what traffic spews out."

"A lot of the products we bring into our homes do cause respiratory irritation. I have no doubt of that," says Dr. Corsi.

In his high-tech lab in north Austin, he and his students study everything from chemicals coming from mothballs to paint to spray cleaners.

"We can look at the rates at which different chemicals can actually be transported through something like a wall," says Dr. Corsi.

He claims that we have only ourselves to blame for most indoor air pollution. Newer homes are sealed so tightly air can't move. Plus so many of us pay extra for things to smell even better as we make them cleaner, shinier and brighter.

Dr. Corsi's conclusion is that artificially scented products, particularly scented candles, emit particles that react with ozone in the air and can irritate respiratory systems.

"Scented candles are particularly bad in terms of the amount of particles they release to the indoor environment," he says.

Children and the elderly are most at risk, but poor air quality can affect anyone, causing problems such as respiratory disease, asthma, headaches, fatigue and even nausea.

One of the quickest solutions is also one of the easiest solutions, blow 'em out, open up and air out.

"Within about an hour or two you'll drop the level of most toxins in the home down to levels that are even difficult to detect," says Dr. Corsi.

"We're all like little canaries, and it only takes a little straw to break the health back," he claims.

Jim Holland keeps the door open to his store as often as possible. He says many products are now available un-scented or with natural scents.

"Just because they sell the stuff doesn't mean they're safe," says Holland. "You can have Clorox and chlorine and ammonias all can be sold to you, but you can make deadly gasses out of them."

Dr. Corsi says the best way to cure the problem of potentially dangerous scents is to use common sense.

Don't become paranoid, but know that breathing in what you bring into your home may not always be a sweet smelling success.