How harmful is household air pollution?

The use of wood or coal fuel for cooking, heating, and lighting, is said to be putting three billion people worldwide at risk of damaged health and early death.

There are many countries in the world, most in Africa and Asia that predominantly use wood or charcoal, or coal, to cook, heat, and light their homes - approximately one third of global population.

These smoky fuels are very dirty and the result of their combustion is high levels of indoor air pollution.  It is reported that in some areas, household air pollution is so high that it actually contributes to an increase of outdoor air pollution.

Because of the excessive levels of  household air pollution an estimated 600-800 million families worldwide are at increased risk of illnesses that include respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, COPD, asthma, and lung cancer.

The UK researchers from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine concluded that household air pollution killed approximately 4 million people in 2010. The researchers also reported that there are close to 3 billion people that are currently exposed to excessive levels of household air pollution.

Many third world countries have failed in their efforts to tackle household air pollution and the public awareness of the risks of cooking with wood and coal in poorly ventilated homes remains very low.

Scientists and health personnel in countries where household air pollution is still taking heavy toll need to work with governments and international health agencies to increase awareness of this issue in order to have any chance of success.

Indoor air pollution is often overlooked

Indoor air pollution is often more harmful than outdoor air pollution, especially because we spend the largest portion of the day indoor, inside our home or office. The air inside our homes and offices can sometimes be much more polluted compared to outdoor air, and thus present a major health threat.

In their latest study the British scientists were measuring air quality inside and outside three residential buildings with different types of energy use. What they have discovered is that the levels of one of the most common air pollutants nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the kitchen of the city centre apartment with a gas cooker were as much as three times higher than the levels measured outdoors, and well above clean air quality standards.

In order to reduce heating costs many people try to make their homes and offices more airtight which often leads in inadequate circulation of the air and high levels of indoor air pollution that could have adverse effects on human health.

Indoor air pollution is particularly hazardous to elderly people and young children, and can not only lead to respiratory diseases like asthma but also cause heart problems.

The indoor air pollution certainly needs to be included in general air pollution equation and we need to pay more attention on the quality of air we breathe in our homes and offices.

We spend approximately 90% of time indoors so the quality of indoor air is certainly one of the main prerequisites of the healthy life.

Indoor air pollution is yet to be widely recognized issue and there has been very little scientific data about emission rates from different appliances we use in our home and offices. There also hasn't been adequate regulation on indoor pollutants that would regulate the acceptable level of indoor air emissions.

There needs to be far more research about the indoor air quality because the effects of indoor air pollution on our health mustn't be overlooked.

Indoor air pollution from VOCs

Many people still fail to realize that indoor air quality is of equal (if not bigger) importance as the outdoor air quality. This is because we spend majority of our time indoors.

Indoor air pollution is mostly the result of inadequate ventilation. The most common indoor air pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Solvents such as paints and protective coatings are the major source of VOCs.

In our offices VOCs are usually the result of new furnishings, wall coverings, and different office equipment. The only proper way to fight against VOC's is by having good ventilation and adequate air conditioning systems.

According to the data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the concentrations of VOCs in indoor air are in average 2 to 5 times greater than in outdoor air. New buildings are usually associated with the highest levels of VOCs.

VOCs concentrations are the highest in winter, up to four times higher than compared to summer because of inadequate ventilation due to cold outdoor weather.

Low VOC emitting products are being used more widely in buildings than they were used before, and there are also several programs that test VOC emissions from building products. But even despite this new measures VOCs have still remained the major source of indoor air pollution.

VOC emissions from building materials and products have often been linked to occupant illness. World Health Organization has stated that around 1.5 million deaths are the result of indoor air pollution.

Why is it important to reduce indoor air pollution?

Many people are not aware of the fact that indoor air pollution is globally speaking the bigger problem than outdoor air pollution. It is very important to reduce indoor air pollution in your home or in your office because indoor air pollution can lead to several health problems, in fact several studies have showed that indoor pollution is one of the main causes of respiratory illnesses that affect large number of people across the globe.

The ones that suffer the most are children, elderly people and people that already suffer with some respiratory illness. Fortunately so, indoor air pollution is one of the problems that can be solved but this is definitely not something to be taken lightly. First you need to identify the source of indoor air pollution in your house because in order to win a fight you need to know who you're fighting with.

The sources of indoor pollution.

In many homes and offices smoking is one of the main causes of indoor air pollution, so to reduce the indoor air pollution in this case the best option would be no smoking in these areas. If you or someone else wants to smoke then do it outside. Cigarettes contain many chemicals that are not only harmful to the person who smokes but for those who do not but share the living/working space with him/her. (second hand smoking).

Having adequate air ventilation is definitely one of the best ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Excellent ventilation significantly contributes to the quality of air in your home or in your office so make sure to ensure it, especially in your kitchen and bathroom (many people for instance use exhaust fans for these purposes).

Don't be afraid to use air purifiers if you have to. Among the best possible options among air purifiers is Ionic breeze quadra silent air purifier that combines high efficiency with very silent work but there are also some other quality options.

Oh yes, once you get rid of indoor air pollution this doesn't mean that you won't meet it again. Indoor air pollution requires constant fight so do not take it lightly. Remember your health is on the line.

Best tips how to prevent indoor air pollution?

The quality of air in your home or at your working place is in some cases well below health standards. Though many people think of only outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution has lately been serious problem in many parts of the world, and some studies have even confirmed that by just doing regular daily activities we are polluting indoor air up to five times compared to the quality of the air outside.

The are different pollutants that decrease quality of the air inside our homes and offices such as natural gas, chemical cleaners, smoking, mold, perfumes. The people mostly affected with indoor air pollution are elderly people, and young children but also adults who suffer from allergies.

In order to prevent air pollution at your home or at your office here are some things you can do:

*Disallow smoking inside your home or inside your office.
*Be careful with moisture levels.
*Ensure enough ventilation in areas where you are using the natural gas.
*In any given opportunity open your window and allow fresh air inside your home/office.
*Use air purifiers (especially if some member of your family suffer from allergies or asthma).

The quality of indoor air can result in many health issues so make sure to take all the necessary steps to prevent indoor air pollutants. If you have doubts whether your indoor air is polluted or not you can tested it by experts.

Indoor air pollution - Most common causes.

Dust - Major factor in indoor pollution

If you thought that pollution is only happening outdoor then you were dead wrong because indoor pollution problem is becoming bigger and bigger. This has plenty to do with our way of life, that is responsible for introduction of different pollutants that pollute our homes and offices making them unhealthy places to be in.

Many people do not pay the necessary attention to indoor pollution problem like they are forgetting that we all spend most of our lives in our offices and our homes. Therefore it is of vital importance to protect our homes and offices  from indoor pollution because indoor pollution can not only cause allergies but even some other more serious diseases. In order to control pollution in your homes and offices you need to know the major pollutants that are causing it.

The most common of all pollutants is dust. Sometimes you have the feeling like dust is everywhere and how it is literally impossible to get rid of it because it requires daily cleaning (sometimes even couple of times per day). Maybe you'll be more happy when cleaning dust if knowing that dust can lead to acute breathing problems. So make sure not just to clean your homes and offices but also to ventilate it regularly. You should also try to locate the major sources of dust that come to your interior and do what it takes to eliminate them, if possible of course. When cleaning try not to use some toxic products or air fresheners, fresh air from your window is more than enough in most cases to freshen the room you're in.

The dust looks to be everywhere as it loves carpets, curtains, bedding, soft toys furniture, and with just a little of warm moisture in the air dust can become major issue. Daily cleaning and daily ventilation are probably two best allies against dust, so don't be lazy to protect your interior from this annoying pest. After all, we are talking about your health.