We place so much emphasis on ensuring clean air outside our homes and evidently neglect same indoors. Unfortunately, we neglect serious air pollutants within our homes and these pollutants end up posing serious health challenges when not properly handled on time. Air pollutants can be created from smoke, toxic fumes from a running machine, formaldehyde and toxic fumes from certain perfumes. The air quality indoors are usually compromised when we allow air pollutants to accumulate over time and they can go undetected for months or even years depending on the type of pollutant. They have same negative effect as environmental pollution.
Use Exhaust Fans in Kitchen or Bathroom
Most indoor pollution emanates from faulty cooking devices inside the kitchen, and the use of an exhaust fan installed will help to eliminate these toxic fumes and allow fresh and clean air to circulate. When frying or cooking some food using adulterated products, toxic fumes circulate indoors and sticks to furniture and other household items. While bathing in the bathroom, it’s important to ensure that exhaust fans are in place to take out humid air from the bathroom. Most kitchen and bathroom come equipped with window units. Ensure these are always opened to allow fresh air in. when the air pollution index is above 130, it’s a sign of an unhealthy air within an apartment. Simple air pollutant detectors can be installed in apartments to check the pollution index from time to time. When the color for pollution index is greater than 130, it indicates an unhealthy pollution index by showing Red.
Planting of Flower Indoors
This will help in so many ways to eliminate air pollution indoors, especially when they are well taken care of and watered daily. The average plants indoors are known to absorb toxins found in most homes. They also produce oxygen as part of their photosynthesis process. Not all plants are effective in absorbing contaminants. a classic example of a plant that’s so effective in absorbing contaminant from the atmosphere, is Aloe Vera plant. They perform this role by ensuring contaminated fungi attached to their root cause a rapid uptake of toxic contaminant. Some flower plants are also helpful in the fight against controlling air pollution indoors. A flower-like Chrysanthemum helps to eliminate a common indoor pollutant called benzene. It is, however, important to be careful with the type of plant we allow indoors, avoiding creating more problems for those who are allergic to certain scents and are asthmatic.
No Smoking Policy
It is a common feature to find a person smoking indoors. This is rather unhealthy and can prove disastrous in the long run. a stick of cigarette contains more than 3,000 chemicals which are harmful to the body. These chemicals can cause lung cancer and their effect may be terminal. It is therefore important to put a visible ‘No smoking’ sign inside your home to warn visitors from polluting the air within. It is important to note that fumes from cigarette smoking are ten times more toxic than fumes from a diesel car. This shows how dangerous it can be. It harms people around the smoker especially kids. The impact of smoking is even more compared to within where there are various channels of air contamination. This pollution from cigarette arises from the burning of cigarette organic matters and the paper used in wrapping them. The concentration of toxic created by a single puff of cigarette indoors is higher than the acceptable air quality standard.
Regular Mopping or Vacuuming
Regular mopping of the home will help to eliminate dust particles which carry lots of contaminants and pollution. Also, doing regular vacuuming of the home goes a long way to suck away pollutants that are trapped indoors. Unfortunately, some individuals only do these on weekends and create an atmosphere for air pollutants to multiply. The cleaner the home, the lesser the level of air pollution found within. Carpets, for example, collect so much air pollutants and must be cleaned regularly. Cleaning of air conditioning unit is very important, as a clogged air conditioning filter can be a veritable source of air pollution. Also, remember to clean household items and ensure they are free from dust. After mopping and vacuuming has been carried out, you can use a HEPA air purifier. That is a high-efficiency particular air purifier. It is an air filter that is approved for indoor air purification.
Elimination of Radon
Radon is one of the chief causes of air pollution in most countries of the world. What makes it even more dangerous is the fact that it is not just a radioactive gas, but it is odorless, colorless and very dangerous. They appear via cracks and holes in faulty foundations in most homes and can be detected using an air pollutant detector. Use of a gas detector can also help to uncover traces of radon in the home. One funny fact about radon is that it is the heaviest known gas. Radon is released when water is warmed in showers or washers. Radon concentration level can be affected by ventilation level indoors. Apart from the fact that radon cannot be seen with the physical eyes, it is also one of the leading causes of lung cancer. An approved radon eliminator can help to eliminate any issue in your home at a very affordable cost.
Increasing the air quality level indoors is achievable as long as implement these tips as much as possible. Personal hygiene and regular implementation of some other regular checks around the home may help detect sources of air pollution and possible solutions must be immediately deployed. Some of these methods to increase air quality indoors are cheap and inexpensive, but some may be expensive and depend on the budget available to the individual.
Final Words
Having your home tested regularly will be helpful in eliminating his problem. The level of air quality can have a negative impact on our health and general well being. Some health impact may show up years after regular exposure to air pollution indoors. Making conscious efforts daily to improve our indoor air quality is something the entire family must consider as a priority, especially in a home where there are kids. This is because kids are usually prone to this air pollution more than adults. There are practical and basic levels to be deployed in the entire process, but the starting point is to understand the fundamental issues associated with air pollution.
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