Is Your Indoor Air Making You Sick?

By Dr. Mercola

The air you’re breathing inside your home can be five times more polluted than the air outside. A combination of carpet, chemicals, air fresheners, plastics and furnishings contribute to the chemical soup you breathe indoors.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you spend at least 10 hours each day inside your home and another eight hours at your work environment.¹ That’s at least 75 percent of your day spent indoors and often longer for many people.

Poor air quality has been linked to a number of different illnesses and diseases. The air you breathe inside is as important as the quality of the outdoor air in the city you live. Without too much effort, you can reduce the indoor pollution at home and contribute to better air quality at work.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the health effects you experience from indoor air pollution may be experienced immediately or several years later.² Understanding and controlling this pollution can reduce your risks and improve your overall health.

Installing an attic fan is another way of bringing fresh air into the home and reducing your air conditioning costs. Install kitchen and bathroom fans that vent to the outside to remove contaminants from these rooms.¹³

2.Consider a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV)

Because most of the newer homes are more air-tight and therefore more energy efficient, air exchange with outdoor air is more difficult. Some builders are now installing HRV systems to help prevent condensation and mold growth and improve indoor air quality.¹⁴

If you can’t afford to install an HRV, open your windows and run the bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans to vent your indoor air to the outside. You don’t have to do this for more than 15 to 20 minutes each day and should do it summer and winter at times when the temperature outside is closest to your indoor temperature. You might lose a little in electricity costs, but the improvement to your health is worth it.

3.Decorate With Plants

Houseplants are functional decorations that brighten your space and purify the air. Greenery improves your mental and emotional health as well. Try adding one of these top 10 plants in your home or apartment to improve your air quality and reduce your stress levels.¹⁵

4.Service Your Fuel-Burning Appliances

Poorly maintained natural gas heaters and stoves, furnaces, hot water heaters, space heaters, water softeners, and other fuel-burning appliances can leak carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.¹⁶

5.Keep the Humidity Less Than 50 Percent Indoors

Mold grows in damp and humid environments. Use a dehumidifier and air conditioner to keep your humidity under 50 percent. Keep the units cleaned so they aren’t a source of pollution.

6.Don’t Smoke in the House

Ask smokers to go outside. Second-hand smoke from cigarettes, pipes and cigars contains over 200 known carcinogenic chemicals, endangering your health.

7. Don’t Use Scented Candles, Room Fresheners or Hazardous Cleaning Supplies

Candles and air fresheners release VOCs into your home. You might enjoy the scent, but it’s not worth the risk to your health. Instead, remove all garbage from your home as often as necessary and keep soiled laundry away from the living areas. Clean with less hazardous supplies, such as white vinegar and baking soda.¹⁷

8.Test Your Home for Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas linked to lung cancer. It is trapped under your home during construction and may leak into your air system over time. Radon testing kits are a quick and cheap way to determine if you are at risk.

9.Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned and Change the Filters

The air ducts from your forced air heating and air conditioning units can be a source of pollution in your home. If there is mold growth, a buildup of dust and debris or if the ducts have become home to vermin, it’s time to call a professional and have them cleaned.¹⁸ Change your furnace filters every three months or earlier if they appear to be dirty.

Sources and References

• BBC News April 26, 2016
• Mind Body Green October 2014
• National Post November 28, 2015
• Huffington Post March 29, 2013

• ¹ Charts from the American Time Use Survey. (2016). Bls.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ² An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA. (2016). Epa.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ³ Basic Information | Air and Radiation | US EPA. (2016). Www3.epa.gov. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ⁴ Pollutant warning over ‘airtight’ modern homes – BBC News. (2016). BBC News. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ^5, 6 Volatile Organic Compounds’ Impact on Indoor Air Quality | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA. (2016). Epa.gov
• ^7, 11, 13 The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality. (2016). U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• ⁸ Household air pollution and health. (2016). World Health Organization. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ⁹ Indoor Air Pollutants and Health. (2016). American Lung Association. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ¹⁰ Carbon Monoxide. (2016). American Lung Association. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ¹² How To Know If Your Air Is Unhealthy. (2016). American Lung Association. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ¹⁴ Mike Holmes, S. (2016). Mike Holmes: Open your windows in winter for the good of your family’s health. National Post
• ¹⁵ Plant, A. (2013). 10 Houseplants For A Restful Home. The Huffington Post. Retrieved 30 April 2016
• ¹⁶ KidsHealth – Keeping Your Home Free From Two Toxic Gases : Dayton Children’s Hospital. (2016). Childrensdayton.org
• ¹⁷ Cleaning Supplies and Household Chemicals. (2016). American Lung Association
• ¹⁸ Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA. (2016). Epa.gov

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