How you would rate your indoor air quality? What affects your indoor air quality? How can you improve it? The most widely quoted statistic about air quality is this: The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors!
While many sources of indoor air are fairly obvious and well-known -- second-hand smoke (lets hope none of you smoke indoors!), carbon monoxide and radon, to name the most prominent, and deadly -- there are more insidious, secret sources of pollution that any concerned homeowner or partner should consider. I have listed some of the most surprising.
Air Purifiers
Ok, who has one? I know I do. Like most people I was concerned about the quality of the air in my home and spend hundreds of dollars on an airpurifier, believing that it will, kill mold and bacteria.
But wait, theres more! That comes in the form of a highly touted mega-dose of ozone. Companies selling these air purifiers claim thats a good thing. Health officials know better. Ozone is the chief component of smog. If can scar lung tissue, trigger asthma attacks, cause coughing fits and lead to permanent damage that could shorten your life. That’s why the EPA has been cracking down on the sources of ozone outdoors. In other words, high levels of ozone is nothing that you want indoors.
If you have or are planning on getting an air purifier be sure to look for models that use high-efficiency pleated filters, known as HEPA filters, or electrostatic precipitators that do not emit high amounts of ozone.
Paint
So we all know about VOC’s and low VOC paint. Lead paint is a fairly well-known danger, U.S. banned it about 30 years ago. New paints release volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) that may have a range of subtle health effects if breathed even in low doses over a long period of time. Ventilation is one key to reduce the harm from off-gassing paints, but the better choice is selecting a low-VOC or non-VOC paint .
Cleaning products
Spray bottles, sponges and the cleaners that break up dirt are supposed to leave your home cleaner, but many can also introduce unhealthy compounds into the air.
Why buy off-the-shelf cleaners that contain powerful and often toxic solvents, and other nasty chemicals when you can make simple recipes with vinegar, baking soda and the like will do just as good a job without any of the risks.
Cabinets and Furniture
Lots of furniture, cabinets, and shelving are made with pressed wood is likely stuck together with glue that contains formaldehyde. As with rugs, the formaldehyde in the glue will “off-gas” over time, releasing small amounts into the air in your home.
To avoid formaldehyde, avoid pressed wood products unless you know they are free from formaldehyde.
The Kitchen Stove
We all ventilate our bathroom so mildew and mold will not sprout. Cooking on the stove can introduce unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide into the air. Make sure to properly ventilate your stove while cooking.
Houseplants are a very effective way in keeping your household air clean and pure.
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