It’s Important to Control Indoor Sources of Air Pollution
As we know, the air we breathe can appreciably affect our well-being. A considerable number of studies have connected poor outdoor air quality to acute health outcomes. That said, the fact is, air inside our homes can be even more contaminated than the air outside, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Since research reveals, not surprisingly, that we spend most of our time indoors, we have all the more motivation to begin to clean up our indoor air. In this blog, we’ll offer a summary of why our indoor air is so polluted and some solutions for cleaning it.
Sources of indoor air pollution
There are plenty of reasons why your indoor air might be polluted. Some items in your home, including both furnishings and construction materials, can discharge pollutants practically all the time, says the EPA. Activities such as smoking, cleaning or remodeling can also sporadically release pollutants. Unvented or broken appliances can discharge potentially hazardous amounts of pollutants indoors (which is why it’s so critical to have a working carbon monoxide detector in your home).
Here are the more everyday sources of indoor air pollution:
- Volatile organic compounds. VOCs can be discovered in household items including cleaning products, bonding agents, sealants and solvent for stripping paint.
- Particulate matter. Minute particles of dust and pollen normally stem from outdoor sources including vehicles’ exhaust or indoor goings-on such as cooking or burning candles.
- Tobacco smoke. Even secondhand smoke discharges toxic chemicals.
- Mold and mildew. The accumulation of moisture leads to the growth of mold and mildew, both which discharge bacteria and mycotoxins into the air.
- Radon. Whether you live in an older home or a newly constructed one, you might have a problem with radon. It normally moves out of the ground and into a home by way of gaps and cracks in the foundation. Did you know that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, even more so if you smoke?
Here are some practical solutions to help clean the indoor air.
Change filters regularly
We realize you’re probably tired of hearing this, but once again, we implore you to replace the air filters in your HVAC system to enhance air flow and prevent captured particles from circulating.
Open the windows
The simplest way to clean the air in your home is to let in some fresh air from outdoors. This is especially crucial if you are taking a shower, cooking or cleaning, and should be the case even in rooms with built-in ventilation systems that exhaust directly to the outdoors.
Use an air purifier
Air purifiers can be a great way to lower unsafe particles in the air. Installing an air purifier can drastically improve your indoor air circulation, especially where there is a shortage of natural ventilation. Fact is, air purifiers circulate and clean the air inside your home, gathering up to 99 percent of potentially harmful particulates, including pollen and dander. Look for a unit rated MERV-13 or higher. (MERV is a measure of filtering efficiency.) Place air purifiers where your family spend most of their time, such as bedrooms and living rooms.
Get rid of mold
These forms of fungi can discharge spores into the air that can produce allergy symptoms. Mold loves dark, damp places, including bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements. Remember, use plain, chemical-free cleaning products to rid your home of mold.
Speaking of chemical-free ingredients, you should always use eco-friendly cleaning products to steer clear of releasing dangerous chemicals into the air.
Patrol for dust
True, modern homes built away from or high above busy streets may need dusting only once a week, but it’s been found that grime accumulates faster in older homes or those with poor ventilation. Such homes need to be wiped down at least twice a week.
To get every speck as well as simplifying your work, a variety of interior cleaning companies suggest always “starting high and finishing low.” Here’s another argument for simplicity: The less items you require to dust, the easier it is to take on this chore.
Spruce up your décor with houseplants
Let’s face it, any room is more attractive with a fern, spider plant or aloe vera. But It’s also better for your health. Enjoying indoor houseplants can help enhance air quality, according to a study by the American Society of Horticultural Science. It’s a known fact that various types of house plants filter out everyday VOCs from your indoor air. For instance, spider plants are useful in reducing chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.
NASA research has demonstrated that indoor plants such as these work as a living air purifier disclosing, “both plant leaves and roots are utilized in removing trace levels of toxic vapors from inside tightly sealed buildings. Low levels of chemicals such as carbon dioxide and formaldehyde can be removed from indoor environments by plant leaves alone.”
Keep your pets groomed
Pet dander is located nearly all over in a home with pets. More than pet fur, dander can trigger asthma-like symptoms or worsen your asthma if it previously exists. So, if you have a pet, make sure to keep dander to the smallest possible amount by cleaning your pets routinely, brushing them outdoors if possible, and regularly vacuuming floors and furniture with a HEPA filter.
Use cooking oils with higher smoke points
To escape a kitchen filled with smoke and a persistent smell of burnt oil floating through your house for hours, you should use cooking oil that smokes at higher temperatures.
For example, extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoking point compared to avocado, peanut, safflower, canola, corn and sunflower oil. However, if you do enjoy the taste of olive oil, you should use light olive oil, which has a higher smoke point than the extra virgin variety, says the North American Olive Oil Association.
Keep in mind, indoor air pollution can be a significant source of unhealthy air, but managing its sources is under your control!