What Are the Dangers of Indoor Pollution?

The home should be a safe place. It’s a comfortable space separated from many of the dangers lurking right outside of the door. But there is a serious threat hiding inside of the home: indoor pollution. A recent report from the Royal College of Physicians found that more than 99,000 people died due to indoor pollution in 2012. This hidden threat can cause serious health problems and even fatalities if the proper steps aren’t taken. That seemingly never-ending cold or unceasing allergy symptoms could be the result of breathing the mold-infested air inside your own home or at work. Regular exposure to indoor air pollution can cause eye irritation or even more serious long-term effects, such as cancer and respiratory disease.

What causes indoor air pollution?

Indoor pollution can be a caused by a variety of common household activities. One of the most common is using cooking fires inside of the home. Burning wood and coal inside of poorly ventilated areas can generate carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other toxic airborne particles. The soot and smoke inevitably fill the lungs and bronchial passages just by being breathed in while cooking. Inhaling the contaminated air can lead to chronic pulmonary disorders, respiratory infections and even fatal cancers. The pollution problem is magnified during the winter months, when the doors and windows are tightly sealed to keep the cold air outside of the home. While this keeps heating costs low, it also slows the process of replacing the indoor air.

Breathing in paint fumes, cleaning chemicals and other common household toxins can cause similar issues.

What are the symptoms of indoor air pollution?

The symptoms of poor indoor air quality can vary based on the contaminant. Some of the most common include coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, dizziness, fatigue, upper respiratory congestion and headaches. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable to the effects. Many of these symptoms are often mistaken for allergies or the flu, so pay special attention to whether they are exacerbated as soon as you enter a certain room. Check with your doctor if any of the symptoms persist.

How to improve air quality

The first step is to have a professional perform indoor air quality and mold testing in Aspen, CO. They will investigate the space before making any recommendations to improve the indoor air quality. In the meantime, you can also take a few steps to help remedy the situation. Try opening the windows to bring clean, fresh air into the contaminated space. Only cook in areas that have proper ventilation for smoke, such as a chimney or a vent. Avoid smoking indoors and keep the home relatively free of clutter, as dust and dust mites can contribute to a negative indoor environment. Wear a medical mask when painting walls or removing old carpet to eliminate the effects of breathing in the residual fumes.

Contact HealthSafe Inspections Inc. today to mitigate the threat of indoor air pollution. We’ve provided pollution and mold testing in Aspen, CO for more than a decade. Call us today to take the first steps toward a pollution-free home.

Categorised in: Mold

This post was written by Writer