Strategies for Enhancing Domestic Atmospheric Clarity
In the comfort of our homes, we often overlook one crucial aspect: the quality of the air we breathe. Indoor air pollution can pose significant health risks, leading to various issues such as cancer, pneumonia, asthma, allergic reactions, heart disease, and low birth weight.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that levels of air pollutants indoors may be higher than outdoor air pollutants and could have a greater effect on health. This is due to a variety of sources, including wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, which release high amounts of harmful particles into indoor air, increasing the risk of developing long-term health conditions like lung cancer.
Gas-powered heating systems also have the potential to release more carbon monoxide into your air. To mitigate this, some experts recommend using direct vent gas appliances to keep the gas from mingling with your indoor air.
Unexplained respiratory symptoms could indicate a need to check the air quality in your living space. One way to do this is by using an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate absorbing (HEPA) filter, which can remove more than 99 percent of harmful particles from your air.
Common volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as formaldehyde found in glues used in composite wood and furniture, can seep into indoor air, causing respiratory issues. Secondhand smoke, including thirdhand smoke found on surfaces, poses a health risk and should be avoided indoors.
Controlling allergens such as dust, mold, pet dander, and dust mites can improve overall air quality and reduce respiratory symptoms. Preventative strategies for controlling allergens include brushing and bathing your pet regularly, washing bedding in hot water twice per month to eliminate dust mites, and choosing hypoallergenic pillows and impermeable mattresses to keep dust mites out.
Keeping the air flowing in your home can also improve air quality. Opening windows and doors, changing filters in heating and cooling systems, and cleaning air ducts can help.
The effectiveness of house plants in cleansing indoor air remains contradictory. However, some plants, like Dracaena, Spathiphyllum, and common ivy, are recognized as more effective at keeping indoor air clean.
Certain cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that may linger in your air. Choosing safer, nontoxic cleaning products can help reduce excess pollutants.
Radon, a natural radioactive gas, can seep up through cracks in the earth and build up in homes, leading to health problems including lung cancer. Home test kits can help check for unsafe levels of radon.
Dampness in indoor spaces can lead to health hazards, including mold growth and VOCs leaching into your air. Using a dehumidifier, turning on a fan or opening a window when you shower or cook, and finding and eliminating areas of pooling water or moisture can help reduce dampness.
Testing your indoor air quality can bring peace of mind and help you identify sources of pollution and guide improvements. This can be done through DIY test kits or professional services.
Taking steps to improve indoor air quality can lower the risk of developing health conditions and improve quality of life, especially for people with respiratory or heart conditions, young children, and older adults, who may have a greater risk of developing health concerns related to low indoor air quality.
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