Common Air Pollutants in the Home and What to Do About Them

Common Air Pollutants in the Home and What to Do About Them – Indoor pollution is rare, making it hard for people to relate. But it is common for people that stay indoors to perceive this smell. Indoor pollution is 2 to 5 times stronger than outdoor air. This pollution, like any other, affects you negatively. This is because pollutants have different means of entering your home. However, the situation generates hazards if ignored for too long. Read on to find out the causes, types, and common ways to clean indoor odor.

What Is Indoor Air Pollution?

You can smell or feel indoor pollution. The smell may be severe due to the concentration of chemicals. This pollution can lead to allergies, breathing sickness, and fatal diseases. In essence, indoor air pollution is the air contamination inside the home, making it difficult to breathe.

Additional: Understanding Air Quality Index Scores

What causes indoor air pollution? Common Air Pollutants:

Tobacco smoke

Cigarettes, pipes, and cigars are the common dangerous forms of air pollution in the home. There are more than 7000 chemicals in tobacco and 70 carcinogens. These chemicals cause chronic pulmonary issues and other cardiovascular diseases that further migrate to heart attacks and other severe consequences. In addition, the smell is enhanced by secondhand tobacco, the primary cause of over 7,300 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers in America. In many studies, the smell contributes ten times more pollution than other pollutants like diesel or car exhaust. Therefore, it is considered a severe indoor air pollutant.

Cooking stoves

Cooking stoves create indoor air pollution by producing particular matter(PM). Most developing countries rely on solid fuels like firewood, coal, and dung for cooking and heating indoors. Inhaling this PM from the stove creates many health issues like respiratory infection, cancer, heart disease, and asthma.

Cleaning products

Many cleaning products have harmful polluting chemicals. Inhaling this chemical is directly inhaling toxic fumes. These toxic fumes cause many health issues like asthma, cancer, and respiratory infections. Also, some of the products contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These gasses don’t stay long in the atmosphere but can result in short and long-term health problems, including nausea, liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage, and headaches.

Mold

Mold also may result in respiratory issues, asthma, and allergies. Mold grows well in damp and humid places like walls, ceilings, floors, and basements. Exposing yourself to mold can exacerbate illnesses, especially those suffering from pre-existing conditions or weaker immune systems.

Ways to tackle indoor air pollution

There are ways to restore your indoor aura though it may take some time. Here are a few ways to reduce pollutant levels.

Proper ventilation

Poor ventilation is the primary reason for indoor air pollution. Proper ventilation is the easiest way to eliminate indoor pollution and replace the atmosphere with fresh and clean air from the outside. Unfortunately, poor indoor ventilation helps the pollutants grow faster to dangerous levels, especially in sealed homes.

Use air purifiers

An air purifier is strong enough to eliminate indoor pollution like mold spores, pet dander, dust, and pollen. Taking an air purifier with high CADR is essential as it determines the level at which the purifier works.

For more information on common air pollutants and how to make your home healthier, give Pilchuck Heating a call!

Common Air Pollutants in the Home and What to Do About Them

Pilchuck Heating

Posted on December 13, 2022