Indoor Air Quality 101 -stop Breathing Toxins
Posted by admin on Jun 26, 2009
When you think of toxins to the lungs, what images come to mind? For many, the issue of second hand smoke or factory fumes will often come to mind. While there is much accuracy to such assumptions, it is also important to note that there are many other dangerous air toxins that a person can ingest. This leads some to the conclusion that they are only safe in their own homes. However, this may not be the case at all. In fact, the home might be the worst place to look if one was in search of clean air! That is why it is important to understand the root cause of impure air in the home and how to correct the problem.
Some of the problems can be obvious. Rotting garbage can lead to significantly unpleasant aromas and humidity can often spur fungus growth. However, not all of the problems are quite so obvious. Case in point, foul smelling garbage and excess mold can yield airborne particles that contribute to allergies. As such, improving air quality in the home can lead to a much healthier living environment.
Some steps for improving air quality are simple. For example, if your bathroom is collecting mold, it would be best to clean it immediately since mold and mildew can negatively affect air quality. Of course, if you are cleaning the room with powerful, industrial cleaners, it is necessary to open a few windows so that the fumes from the cleaner are allowed to escape. Far too often, people will keep their doors and windows closed which leads to ingesting toxins as opposed to letting them escape.
Some ways in which people deal with less than pleasant aromas are not exactly helpful either. Yes, burning incense seems like a great way to cover up the smell of those cleaning agents, but incense is smoke. That means when you inhale, you will be taking in the thick smoke of incense into your lungs. Needless to say, prolonged exposure to such smoke could lead to respiratory problems down the road. Really, the use of any smoke or aerosol based product must be used sparingly since they can cause lung irritation. Of course, these products do serve helpful purposes and completely discontinuing their use is not recommended. However, any use of products such as incense should be tempered with proper judgment.
But, is there anything proactive one can do to improve the quality of indoor air. Actually, there are many and most of these methods are relatively simple to perform. Adding plants to a room is probably the easiest strategy. Plants will add helpful oxygen to a room while absorbing impurities in the air. And, of course, plants are relatively inexpensive making them a great addition to any interior.
By: Patrick Schnurbusch
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