Why don't we question air quality in our living spaces?
Think again.
It does indeed help but it is not enough. We list below 10 sources of indoor pollution : you will understand why it is not enough to air the room to protect yourself and your family.
What is causing our indoor pollution ?
Indoor air pollution can occur from a huge variety of outdoor pollution, chemicals, products, even pets. It can aggravate, irritate, and in some cases cause serious harm.
All combined, indoor air pollution causes 3.8 million deaths worldwide each year from diseases such as stroke and lung cancer.
Pollutants can cause a wide range of short-term and long-term health problems. In the short term, exposure to high concentrations of indoor air pollution can cause eye irritation, headaches, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, and dizziness.
Sometimes the symptoms resemble asthma, while others resemble cold symptoms. That can make it difficult to recognize the problem.
Long-term health problems can be quite serious. Sometimes years after being exposed, a person can suffer heart problems, respiratory sickness, and even cancer.
Several studies show a link between photocopiers and sore throats, skin irritation, asthma, and other health problems. That's because copy machines emit several toxic gasses, such as nitrogen dioxide and ozone.
Certain laser printers pose health risks, too. They emit tiny particles small enough to enter the human bloodstream by burrowing deep within our lungs. That can hurt your lungs and heart.
Scientific studies have found air purifiers both ineffective and dangerous. They don't remove carbon monoxide as many manufacturers claim, and they don't remove dust or pollen.
Sadly they can actually make indoor air quality worse by reacting to other contaminants to create new, harmful byproducts.
When a new carpet is installed, there's a very good chance it will release chemicals from its vinyl backing and the glue used to hold the carpet to the floor.
These chemicals can be released for as long as five years after a new carpet is installed, but the majority of the off-gassing takes place in the first few months.
Home products with formaldehyde include wood furniture such as cabinets and items using particleboard or plywood, as well as laminate flooring. These products release most of their formaldehyde after two years.
When it is released into the air, formaldehyde can irritate your skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and may cause breathing problems.
What do you use to clean your home? Chances are you use multiple cleaners or sanitizers. When these substances interact in the air you breathe, they can form complex VOCs that have been linked to various health problems.
Non-stick pans are safe to buy however a toxic chemical can be released from overheating your cookware.
Of course try not to let people smoke around you or in your car—whether or not the windows are open.
Using wood or charcoal to heat your home may be a quaint way to stay warm, but it also adds harmful substances to the air you breathe.
The convenience of natural gas is countered by the noxious gases these appliances emit: carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and even a bit of formaldehyde.
One study found that CO and NO2 levels are substantially higher in homes with gas ovens, especially in the winter when people are less likely to open their windows.
Air fresheners have been found to contain phthalates, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals, and often those chemicals are not listed among the product's ingredients as they may be considered trade secrets. One study found phthalates in 86% of the air fresheners it tested.
Phthalates are used commercially to soften plastics, make nail polish more adherent, and can be found in perfumes as well.
Pets who shed such as dogs and cats leave skin flakes known as dander in the air. Dander is an allergen for many, and can cause wheezing, irritation or coughing fits. The length of a pet's hair is irrelevant, since it's the dander that causes irritation.
The best remedy is to double down on housekeeping. Keep floors vacuumed and mopped. Have someone who is not allergic wash the walls down regularly too.
Have you heard about the Thanksgiving Air Quality test?
We spend most of our lives inside, where air quality has received little scrutiny.
The New Yorker published an article in 2019 about the Thanksgiving Air quality test.
Engineers in Colorado investigating air quality had suspected that the celebration qualified as *an airborne toxic event*. They measured and tested the levels of COVs resulting from our regular days cooking, cleaning, etc...
One of the scientists said that conditions inside the house had briefly exceeded those of the world’s most polluted city.
If you have a few minutes, the full article is a 10-minute-well-spent informative read.
The BioOrg reality :
This is the beauty and the curse : impossible to see the invisible.
It is there.
You're taken care of.
Additional readings
Air pollution is a major environmental health threat. - WHO article
Air pollution is a major cause of premature death and disease, and is the single largest environmental health risk in Europe. Full EEA article
PM is capable of penetrating deep into lung passageways and bloodstream causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and respiratory impacts. - WHO article
Indoor air pollution is a risk factor for several of the world’s leading causes of death, including heart disease, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes and lung cancer - OWD article
More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO guideline limits, both indoors and outdoors. - WHO article
The lower the levels of air pollution, the better the cardiovascular and respiratory health of the population will be, both long- and short-term. - WHO article
