People automatically assume that the air is much safer and cleaner when they come inside their homes than the outside environment. That isn’t necessarily the case. Many things contribute to poor quality air inside the household like:
- Carbon monoxide: When carbon experiences incomplete oxidation, the result is carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless gas that can result with gas stoves or appliances that are vented improperly like a water heater.
Since these gasses deprive organs in the body and also the brain of oxygen, inhaling carbon monoxide can be fatal for humans.
- Smoking: Nonsmokers are affected by secondhand smoke from those who enjoy tobacco products. Those who inhale this air will have the same sort of effects as if they were an active smoker. It is only possible to eliminate this issue if indoor smoking ceases.
Adverse reactions to smoking conditions will be heart disease and attacks, lung cancer, along with aggravating symptoms of wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and increases in phlegm.
- Carbon Dioxide: Humans emit this colorless, odorless gas (the metabolic process) when exhaling or breathing out. These levels are substantially higher on the inside of a home as compared to the outdoors.
The levels will be particularly elevated with many people in one space. High levels can contribute to headaches, dizziness, confusion, or loss of consciousness.
- Dust/mites: Inside the home, among the most common pollutants is dust, one of the most challenging elements to avoid. These particles are minuscule and can remain floating in the air with an excellent likelihood of being inhaled.
Dust mites are found in various areas of the home like carpeting, curtains, bedding, upholstery, and mattresses and will feed on human’s dead skin cells.
Not only can inhaling dust create allergic reactions but the mites as well. These issues can trigger those with a predisposition to respiratory conditions like asthma.
- Dander: Dander, most commonly skin shed from animals, can cause allergic reactions depending on the individual’s level of sensitivity.
- Asbestos: The building material was used until roughly 1975 in constructing structures and homes. For those living in a home aged before this time, there’s much material in components like floor tiles, insulation, shingles, and on.
Over time, as the material disintegrates and releases fibers throughout the air, people can become exposed to severe adverse health effects. One potential reaction to exposure is lung cancer.
- Volatile organic compounds “VOCs”: These are typically found in varied household products for disinfecting, cleaning, or in aerosol sprays. Due to poor ventilation, the concentration can be as great as ten times more intense inside than outdoors.
It can have long-term effects depending on the level of exposure and concentration. You can experience nausea, eye/nose/throat irritation, loss of coordination, fatigue, dizziness, and even develop cancer.
- Mold/mildew: These fungi are found around excess moisture. The level of danger will depend on the sort of mold it is. When coming in contact with black mold, it can be toxic.
Microscopic spores cannot be seen flying throughout the air surviving in intense atmospheres where the actual fungi couldn’t. The spores can result in allergic reactions or potentially cause an asthmatic response when inhaled.
As homeowners, it’s our responsibility to take measures to improve the atmosphere around us in an effort to prevent adverse health reactions. Health risks like dust mites and mold can result from neglect of standard home upkeep and maintenance.
When you know the proper way to cleanse your atmosphere, you can contribute to a safer and healthier environment for yourself and your family. See here for a guide for caring for indoor air quality.
How Can You Keep The Air Inside The Household Clean
It’s critical to keep the air in the household clean for optimum health. That’s especially true if compromised individuals, perhaps small children or seniors, are in the home.
The lower the purity, the more at risk for health effects. The question is how to improve the atmosphere in the household with so many variables contributing to its pollution.
Simply cooking and cleaning can alter the indoor air quality, as can our own personal/beauty products, cooling and heating appliances, and furniture like certain wood or upholstered pieces. It might seem virtually impossible to make adjustments that could positively affect the overall quality, but it’s not. Learn ways to improve air quality indoors at https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality/ . Let’s look.
● Control the humidity
When the humidity is high inside the household, it will lead to excessive dampness and moisture, affecting health. These things aggravate allergies and asthma and stimulate mildew and mold growth. The ideal solution for humid air is a “dehumidifier” to draw moisture and pollutants from the air.
● Kitchen ventilation
When cooking meals in the kitchen, there needs to be adequate ventilation. A gas stove emits nitrogen dioxide, which is especially harmful when it reaches higher levels.
It’s been indicated by the EPA that this gas is typically higher on the inside of homes than it is in the outdoors, potentially leading to instances of chronic or acute bronchitis or possible lung diseases.
In attempting to decrease these risks, it’s vital to maintain adequate gas stove adjustments and venting. An air vent installed in the kitchen can help to keep the gas to a minimum.
● Reduction in dust
Household dust is tricky to eliminate. While a homeowner can wipe away what’s hiding on furnishings and in corners, what is one to do with the particles floating through the air? These are the ones that are readily inhaled, causing health concerns.
The suggestion is to invest in a vacuum comprising a HEPA filter boasting the capacity to eliminate dust settling on most surfaces. In order to handle the air particles, an air purifier can pull the air in, sending it through varied filters and releasing only a refined version.
Final Thought
Of course, you can do so many other things to keep your air fresh and clean; stop smoking inside the house, avoid VOCs products – that can be numerous different items.
The idea is to research to find out what is acceptable and what’s not so you can ensure to steer clear of what’s unhealthy. Install new air filters in the heating and cooling systems every 30-60 days and search for professionals to periodically perform air duct cleaning in Fort Worth. The ducts are a prime area for dust and debris collections that carry throughout the house. This should be taken care of regularly for optimum air quality in the home.
You can also have a professional come in to test your air quality to see what culprits are contributing to the poor quality so you can progress forward in making adjustments. Excellent additions to a home are houseplants, and these are also really wonderful at contributing to a cleaner air environment.