Indoor air pollution is equally threatening as outdoor'.
It can increase your risk of several health issues, which can become more critical with time.
Read ahead!
Talking about air pollution, we usually refer to the degrading air quality in the outdoor atmosphere. But indoor air pollution is also a serious thing, which can be even worse than outdoor air pollution. Because, as research has found, pollutants tend to build up more in contained spaces than in open areas.
Indoor air pollution can trigger several health issues, some of which are even life-threatening. A recent report has shown that it contributes to 4.1% of global deaths (the rate is higher in developing countries).
So, what is indoor air pollution?
In simple words, indoor air pollution refers to the contamination of air inside buildings. It has several sources such as:
Mold: Mold is a fungus that can grow on many different surfaces. It's rough in texture and can be black, white, yellow, or green. It releases various toxic substances into the air, which are highly detrimental to human health.
Smoke: Smoke (especially tobacco smoke) is another major contributor to indoor air pollution. It consists of thousands of chemicals that are extremely harmful to human health.
Radon: Radon is an odorless and colorless gas that has a relatively high density. It can easily get into the indoor air (especially if the building is constructed right on top of radon-emitting rocks). It emits radioactive particles that get attached to dust and then enter your body.
Some other sources are appliances, household products, pet dander, etc.
How does it affect your life?
Exposure to indoor air pollution for prolonged hours (we spend about 90% of our time indoors - be it at home or workspace) can cause many health issues.
The common symptoms are skin rashes, itchy eyes, headache, sinuses, drowsiness, breathing problems, etc.
It can also trigger several life-threatening issues. A report has shown that about 45% of all pneumonia deaths in kids (less than 5 years old) are due to indoor air pollution. It can also cause, ischaemic heart disease, stroke, COPD, lung cancer, nasopharyngeal, cataracts, tuberculosis, laryngeal cancers, and more.
How to improve indoor air quality?
There are many ways to improve the air quality indoors. The easiest one is to keep the windows open all time so that fresh air can circulate throughout. Also, clean your curtains, carpets, and sofas frequently to remove dust particles. Replace all the toxic products with non-toxic alternatives in your room. Moreover, you can have air-purifying indoor plants such as Peace Lily, Spider Plant, Money Plant, Peperomia Obtusifolia, Areca Palm, Rubber Plant, etc.
So, don't take indoor air pollution for granted.
