Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution
It may suprise you to know that air pollution levels within the modern home can be two to five times higher than the levels outside. Combining that with the fact that the average person can spend up to ninety percent of their time indoors, it will come as no suprise that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new byword in the English language.
Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is recycled again and again with pollutants like tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and pet dander all contributing towards asthma attacks and allergies.
Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include dizziness, head aches, tickly throats, sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes, sickness, sluggishness and an lack of concentration. Certain immediate effects are akin to those from common colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution.
If you notice that the symptoms subside or even disappear when you are outside, the chances are that poor air quality inside your home is the problem. If that is the case, there are several things that you can do to all but eradicate the possible causes and breathe a little easier.
Here are several easy measures you can take to improve the air quality in your home.
No Smoking Inside
Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the home but if this is not possible, endeavour to confine it to one place. In our case, any friends or family that call are limited to the kitchen area or the back garden if they want to smoke. In the kitchen, an extractor fan pushes the smoky air outside as it does with cooking smells.
Let the Bad Air Out
Weather permitting, you should open windows and doors in order to reduce the concentrations of inside pollutants while allowing outside air to come in. If you have bathroom or kitchen extractor fans, make use of them regularly. You should also routinely clean the vents in the extractors and make sure they work properly.
Get Rid of Those Chemical Cleaners
If you have ever taken the time to interpret the labels on home cleaning products, most of them will include a warning about how bad the chemicals are for your health or skin. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. I have quite often started coughing after spraying counter tops with so called anti-bacterial cleaner. Personally, I have taken the enviromentally friendly approach to home cleaning. Baking soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for the majority of cleaning jobs. They are not only cheaper but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your home.
Clean and Dust Your House Regularly
Although it might appear obvious to some folks, regularly vacuuming your carpets and flooring can go a long way in controlling airborne allergens and dust. It is claimed (although I have no proof) that some 70% of all household dust is composed of dead skin, which we humans shed day in and day out. Dust mites like to feed on this dead skin which in turn makes them grow. They then shed their own skin and that, combined with their feces is what causes allergic reactions in people.
Pet Dander Allergies
For those folks with a cat, dog or other pet, allergies like asthma attacks can be sparked off by their dander, which they molt all the time. If you suspect that you or a family member may be allergic to your family pet, action is needed. Ideally, it is better to keep pets out of the home completely although that is seldom possible. As a possible alternative, try and restrict the rooms that the pet is allowed into. One definite area to keep them out of is the bedroom.
Reduce Indoor Air Humidity
If the climate where you live is either very humid or just plain wet (as in too much rainfall), you will no doubt be aware of just how much moisture levels within your home can increase. This excessive moisture or humidness is the ideal breeding ground for mold. For anybody with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment since they are able to remove excess dampness from the surrounding air, thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.
Get an Indoor Air Purifier
An allergy relief air purifier or a room air cleaner does as their name indicates and clean the air of pollutants and allergens like mold spores, pollen, cigarette smoke and pet dander. Besides being employed to reduce the concentration of these airborne contaminants, they are particularly useful for people who suffer from allergies and asthma attacks. Air purifiers and room air cleaners are quickly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner. Even so, there are various types of air purifier, some of which can in reality make allergies worse instead of better.
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