Listed below are the most common indoor pollutants in the home. There are devices that can be purchased to detect some of these pollutants like the Carbon Monoxide Detector. The other pollutants can also be eliminated by simply not purchasing products that contain this ingredient. I was surprised to read that Formaldehyde is used in permanent press fabrics among other things. Here's the list.

- Carbon monoxide. This odorless gas — churned out by idling cars and poorly vented or malfunctioning fireplaces, woodstoves, and fuel-powered appliances — kills hundreds and sickens thousands every year.

- Formaldehyde. Used in permanent-press fabrics, paint, and the glue that binds plywood and particleboard, formaldehyde causes airway irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea and has been linked to asthma and some forms of cancer.

- Mold spores and dust mites. Mold spores and dust mites aggravate asthma and allergies and may cause other health problems.

- Nitrogen dioxide. This by-product of fuel-burning appliances and cigarette smoke irritates the eyes, the nose, and the throat; triggers asthma attacks and respiratory infections; and decreases lung function.

- Pesticides. Bug sprays, mothball fumes, and other pesticides hang in the air for hours or even days before settling on floors and other surfaces, where they can be kicked up by regular household activity. Pesticide exposure can cause respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, weakness, nervous-system damage, and cancer.

- Radon. An invisible, odorless gas produced by soil and rocks under homes, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is responsible for 21,000 deaths a year in the U.S.

- Secondhand smoke. A deadly brew of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and up to 4,000 nasty chemicals (including arsenic and cyanide), secondhand smoke triggers respiratory infections, worsens asthma, and kills more than 40,000 nonsmokers a year in the U.S.

- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These come from dry-cleaned clothes, cleaning products, synthetic carpeting, paints and varnishes, and thousands of other common household items. They can irritate the eyes, the nose, and the throat and bring on nausea, fatigue, and headaches. Some VOCs, such as benzene and methylene chloride, may increase the risk for cancer, cause nervous-system damage, and disrupt hormones.