Forget the pollution
outside, sometimes the air inside your house can be more polluted than
the one outside it. But worry no more, you can positively enhance the
indoor air quality of your home by taking simple, yet effective
measures towards it.
Molds, bacteria, carbon monoxide, Radon (Rn), and allergens
you name it, and it's possibly right there in the air inside a
building. The effects of breathing polluted air can be both short term
and long term. The ones experienced soon after immediate or repeated
exposure might include eye, nose and throat irritation, asthma,
dizziness, fatigue, headaches, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and
humidifier fever. Other conditions such as several respiratory
diseases, heart disease, and cancer might show up long after exposure
toxic indoor air.
|
Following are the first 21 steps that you can take to shield yourself against the ills of breathing polluted indoor air.
-
Identify, whether your house is well ventilated or not by
noticing the signs of poor ventilation such as moisture condensation on
windows or walls, smelly/stuffy air, and molds in the areas where
books, shoes, etc are stored.
-
Keep your house well ventilated, especially during and after use
of solvents in cleaning, hobby activities, and redecorating activities.
To do so, operate exhaust fans and window air conditioners in addition
to frequently opening doors and windows to let fresh air in.
-
Keep your gas stove properly adjusted and well maintained as the
one not adjusted properly can emit much more carbon monoxide than one
that has been correctly adjusted.
-
Don't smoke cigars, cigarettes and pipes indoors. Tobacco smoke
comprises about 4000 known chemicals and some of them are harmful
enough to promote cancer.
-
Install an air purifier, or an air purification system. However
remember that sometimes Ozone-based air cleaners are not advisable by
some environmental protection agencies.
-
Grow air-cleaning plants in the house. A NASA study showed that
some plants might improve indoor air quality. Even if the plants don't
work as efficiently as manufactured air purifiers, they might at least
reduce the CO2 emissions. Some of these plants are: Bamboo Palm
(Chamaedorea Seifritzii); Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema Modestum);
English Ivy (Hedera Helix); Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera Jamesonii); Janet
Craig (Dracaena "Janet Craig"); Marginata (Dracaena Marginata); Mass
cane/Corn Plant (Dracaena Massangeana); Mother-in-Law's Tongue
(Sansevieria Laurentii); Pot Mum (Chrysantheium morifolium); Peace Lily
(Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa"); Warneckii (Dracaena "Warneckii").
-
Employ natural household cleaning products to reduce exposure to
possibly toxic airborne substances. But, remember that sometimes the
"green" cleaners need only be used when the outdoor ozone levels are
appropriate for their use.
-
Choose natural pest control indoors instead of chemicals whenever possible e.g. (a mouse trap V/s rat poison).
-
Limit pesticide use in the garden/lawn so as to prevent any of the chemicals from entering the house and to pollute the air inside.Keep the house
-
Clean up the vents in your kitchen and bathrooms, to keep them functioning well.
-
Keep the air conditioners, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, cooling and heating systems properly serviced to ensure maximum efficacy.
-
When using humidifiers/dehumidifiers, keep the humidity levels between 30 – 50%.
-
Periodically replace filters on central cooling and heating systems and air cleaners based on the directions of the manufacturers.
-
Any carpet or furniture that's damp or has been damaged by water should be dried out or replaced as soon as possible.
-
Regularly clean the bedding and objects used by pets.
-
Don't leave your car idling inside the garage.
-
Use an automatic door closer for the garage, and always keep the door shut.
-
Perform a Radon (Rn) test of your house. Either hire a professional or employ a do-it-yourself kit.
-
Keep the basements, crawl spaces, and soil just around the house clean.
-
Weatherize or weatherproof your house.
-
Seal or enclose the sources that contain asbestos.
Apparently, allowing ourselves to breathe better quality air in our
own homes isn't all that hard, but has some real benefits to our well
being. Watch out for the next post for the remaining tips on clean
indoor air.
|
Leave a comment