We're all concerned with the quality of the outside air, but the air inside our homes can be much more polluted! According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities." The EPA also states that "people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors." That means that most of us are breathing in a good amount of toxic air in an environment where we usually feel the safest. Health effects could range from cold or flu-like symptoms to dire illnesses like cancer.
I know what you're saying: Aaarrgh! Is NOWHERE safe? Well, before one can apply some remedies to help solve the problem of indoor pollution, one has to first know what the main causes of it are. According to the EPA, "Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air and quality problems in homes." Great---so, what does that mean? Well, "combustion sources", such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood and tobacco are one source of indoor pollution. A "geological" source like Radon could also pollute your space. Other sources are things such as: insulation that contains asbestos, wet or damp carpet, pesticides, central heating and cooling systems, and humidification devices. And yet other sources of indoor pollution may seem innocuous, but can be just as harmful; these sources are: cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products, air fresheners, materials used in hobby activities, cleaning products, personal care products, pets, plants and even ourselves!!!
Before you run out of your house and move to the North Pole to go live in an igloo, let me suggest some remedies to lessen or negate the effects of indoor pollution. First of all, you could increase the ventilation in your home. Systems similar to the fans in bathrooms could be installed in other strategic locales in the home or you could open the windows on warmer days. Air ducts can be cleaned by a professional cleaning service. If you or someone in your household smokes, smoke outside or even better---QUIT! Clean/change all filters in your furnace or air-conditioning unit on a regular basis and keep up with the regular maintenance schedule. Get your chimney swept every fall. Vacuum your house more often and buy a bagless vacuum with a Hepa filter on it. Sweep and wash all uncarpeted floors and dust furniture and ledges (yeah, right!). Remove lead based paints. Keep the humidity of your house at 40%-60%. Comb your pet's fur on a regular basis. Also consider that older appliances tend to emit more harmful pollutants than newer ones---so when economically feasible, replace your oldest appliances, even for a refurbished appliance.
Try out some of these measures and research other methods for cleaning up the air inside your home! Sometimes, before we can tackle "saving the world", we might need to try to save "our world" first.















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