Learn To Reduce Indoor Air Pollution By Dealing With The Sources

Although you’ve made every effort to lead a health conscious lifestyle that includes the installation of “good” habits in your daily activities at home, chances are, you’re forgetting one very important element you shouldn’t- cleaning the air you breathe.  Truth of the matter is, you can easily forget all about it since the air you breathe is invisible, and you don’t really think much about it; at the end of the day, breathing comes natural to you.

In reality, indoor air pollution (pollution of air inside your house) can be just as bad, if not worse, than outdoors air pollution. Yet, if you constantly watch what you eat, and how much your body moves, then you should be ready to ensure that the air you breathe is healthy too. In this article, we tell you about the commonest types of indoor air pollution and the means to get reign over them. Read along.

Smoking
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 18.1% of all American adults are smokers. This number accounts for nearly 42.1 million people who live close to you; in your home, class or office. And as you might know, smoking affects a non-smoker, in much the same way, or even worse than a habitual smoker. Smoking also significantly affects the quality of air you breathe in an enclosure such as your house. Research has also revealed that smoke can linger in your home longer than you can imagine when it’s absorbed by clothes fabric, drywalls and other porous materials around your home.

If you want to get rid of this type of indoor air pollutant, you should start being strict on where and how smokers are allowed to smoke around your home. Ideally, they should smoke outside your house and away from open windows.

Household cleaners and chemical air fresheners
Many of the household cleaners and fragrant solutions have chemicals in them. The ironical fact of the matter is, while “freshening” your house environment with certain air fresheners and household cleaners; you might be in reality, busy introducing pollutants into your indoor air. These chemically produced fresheners might not only irritate your lungs, but also trigger reactions with your pets, among other things.

The key to dealing with this kind of air fresheners or household cleaners is avoiding them entirely whenever you can. In the end, you’d rather face a mild healthy smell, than a poisonous and dangerous one. Also check the ingredients your fresheners are made from.

Off-gassing pollutants
When you buy a new pair of shoes, repaint your home or polish your home, chances are you smell something new. The smell is simply the off-gassing of chemicals from those materials, walls or utensils and goes a long way to pollute your indoor air. The most common culprits in your immediate home could range from shoes treated with dyes and chemicals for purposes of enhancing looks and durability or carpets with volatile chemical compounds.

If you can, always take precaution to lower off-gassing in an indoors setting. For instance, always allow newly purchased items to off-gas outdoors in the sun and wind before using them indoors. You can also store them in a properly aerated room to avoid further contamination.

Seasonal contaminants
With the spring month being best known for lots of pollen from ripening plants, spores, dust and other particles you can’t see with your naked eyes, there are a lot of other air contaminants you must know about.  And the cause of these contaminants in not just your open windows, these contaminants can gain access into your home via agents such as your shoes, clothes or even pets.

Molds are another group of air pollutants you should worry about since they also come with the season. Most medical reports have linked molds with aggravated asthma attacks and other breathing complications.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the key to defeating different seasonal air contaminants lies in being ready for them. For example, limit the number of times your windows stay open in the spring season. Also consider using air purifying aids or general HVAC maintenance to deal with the more serious issues.

Generally, the air you breath indoors can be more polluted than the one outside for a wide range of reasons- smoke, off-gassing, chemical fresheners and cleaners, seasonal changes and whatnot. Actively apply the recommendations in this article for fresher indoor air.