What In The World Am I Breathing?
Have you ever stopped to think about whether the air you're breathing at home is healthy? Indoor air affects everyone, and it often contains higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants than outdoor air.
How can the air inside our homes be so bad for us? Over the years, homes and buildings have been made more airtight to conserve energy. Unfortunately, when we trap in hot or cool air, we also trap in pollutants and sometimes generate more. This means that everything will remain inside a home or building unless proper ventilation is used.
Indoor Air Quality: What's in the Air?
On average, people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Sixty-five percent of that is spent at home. To make matters worse, those who are most susceptible to indoor air pollution are the ones who are home the most: children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. Children breathe in 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than adults. EPA studies have found that pollutant levels inside can be two to five times higher than outdoors. After some activities, indoor air pollution levels can be 100 times higher than outdoors.
There are many sources of pollutants in the home, including chemicals, cleaning products, and pesticides. Less obvious pollutants are caused by simple tasks such as cooking, bathing, or heating the home. It has been proven that in some geographical areas the earth emits some volatile gases. Radon is an example of this. It can seep through foundations and eventually find its way into the housing structure through infiltration. Studies have shown that radon is a known carcinogen. There are also volatile organic compounds that can be found in the air along with asbestos, mold, and viruses. You can see why it’s important to implement a good indoor air quality program including monitoring and filtering the air we breathe. Everyone will be healthier and more comfortable, which will make us feel better and be more productive.
