Health risks from the air we breathe!
Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Many people are unaware of the potential health risks they may face from the air they breathe. Whether at school, work, or even your own home, you must be cautious about the air quality you expose yourself and others to.
Some indoor air pollutants that may be harmful to your health include but are not limited to radon, secondhand smoke, Carbon monoxide(CO), Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), molds, etc.
EXPOSURE
When exposed to these pollutants, one may experience health problems such as sore eyes, burning in the nose and throat, headaches, or fatigue. In more severe cases, the pollutants can cause or worsen allergies, heart disease, cancer, respiratory illnesses (asthma), and other detrimental severe conditions. .
Indoor air quality
To avoid these harmful health risks altogether, you can take steps to improve your indoor air quality. The first step is to control the sources of pollution.You can accomplish this by ventilating the room or rooms where the air pollution has entered. By increasing the amount of fresh air being brought indoors, you are decreasing the amount of pollutants.
This is usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality according to the EPA.
Furnace Filters
Another major step that you should take to improve your indoor air quality is to be sure you are changing your furnace filters on a regular basis.
Having high quality air conditioning filters are critical in improving your air quality because they trap all of the dust and pollutants that try to enter and pass through your air supply.
Without decent air conditioner filters there is nothing protecting you from the various pollutants floating around in the air you are breathing. Also, be sure that you clean or change your AC filters according to the directions on the package.
Humidity
The final step that must be taken in order to ensure that you are maintaining clean indoor air is to adjust the humidity.
Humidity can directly impact the amount of pollutants that exist indoors. For example, if your home has a very high humidity there will be a greater risk of mold growing in your home.
The EPA recommends that, “You keep indoor air humidity between 30 and 50 percent”.
In my 30 years, I have only been sick a few times, unlike many of my friends who have been ill many times.
The difference between my friends and me is that I was brought up in a home with immaculate, pollutant-free air, while they most likely were not.
The air quality you expose yourself to impacts your health and well-being, so keeping your air fresh and clean is essential.
By Rachel Rosen
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
