Most individuals spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, whether it be at home, work, or school. And while we frequently discuss the level of pollution in our environment, we rarely think about the quality of the air we breathe indoors.
However, it has been demonstrated that indoor air pollution has significant consequences on both short- and long-term health and is considered to be the cause of 4.3 million deaths annually. Find out what you can do to make your home’s air quality better.
What is Indoor Air Pollution and Its Sources?
It refers to any pollution of the air inside a structure. Molds, solvents, pesticides, smoke, pet dander, and gases are the broad categories into which pollutants fall. Without sufficient ventilation, it is possible to breathe in chemicals and other air pollutants, which can harm your health in a variety of ways.
Indoor air pollution can come from a variety of sources, some of which can be identified by their smell but many of which go unnoticed.
- Mold – A form of fungus that develops from spores. It is widespread in humid conditions and is especially prevalent in the winter and areas with higher humidity levels. It might be fuzzy or rough-textured, and it can be white, black, green, or yellow.
- Tobacco Smoke – Over 40,000 people die in the United States each year as a result of secondhand smoke. Cigarette smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution.
- Carpet – For indoor pollutants, it serves as a trap that collects mold spores, smoke particles, allergies, and other harmful substances.
- Household Products – These products include paints, air fresheners, and many more may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can cause harmful health issues.
- Appliances – Space heaters that use fuel to generate energy are common in homes and workplaces. If the device is broken, it may release harmful substances including hazardous aldehydes and gases like carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide.
- Pet Dander – It is made up of minute skin flakes that domestic animals shed and can lead to symptoms including coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, and many more.
What are the Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Our Health?
The health effects of indoor air pollution become worse the longer you stay on the premises and get better when you leave. The most typical signs are as follows:
- Headaches
- Sinus congestion or a runny nose
- A skin rash
- Itchy eyes
- Drowsiness
- Difficulty in breathing
However, if you have similar signs and symptoms repeatedly when within a certain structure, and they worsen over time, indoor air pollution may be to blame. You can try the following to reduce the symptoms on your own:
- To allow in the fresh air, open the windows or the doors.
- Set the temperature to around 66°F.
- Consider taking more frequent workplace breaks.
- Whenever possible, go outside and breathe some fresh air.
When exposed repeatedly, some of the health impacts of indoor air pollution may be quite harmful and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
How to Improve Indoor Air Quality?
How can you enhance the quality of the air you breathe when you suffer from indoor air pollution? Here are a few potential options.
1. HEPA Filters
High-efficiency particulate air or HEPA filters can remove dust, spores, mites, and other particles from the air. It can trap up to 99.97% of particles with a size of 0.3 microns or larger. To put things in perspective, a car’s starting-up emissions start at 1 micron.
2. Vacuum
For better indoor air quality, vacuuming is crucial, especially if you have carpets and dogs. To keep dust levels low, it is advised that you vacuum at least three times each week.
3. HVAC Filters
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filters, or HVAC filters, purify the air that enters and leaves the numerous units spread out around your house. These filters make sure that your equipment operates well and lower the number of unpleasant particles in the air.
4. Plants
According to NASA, houseplants are “nature’s life support system” and play a crucial role in enhancing indoor air quality. They also take in airborne particles that bind to carbon dioxide in addition to the gas itself. It also suggests that using indoor plants is a great strategy to reduce and manage air pollution.
In Conclusion
Indoor air quality is important as you spend most of your time indoors. This is why it is vital to take action to reduce indoor air pollution through various ways mentioned in this article and many other techniques.
If a HEPA filter is what you need, we can help you get a reliable filter product that can make your indoor air quality better. Get in touch with us and let’s work together in improving your indoor air quality.
