Keep the Air Clean
Scientific evidence has suggested that the air in homes is more polluted than outdoor air, even in the largest, most industrialised cities. Approximately 70 per cent of our time is spent indoors, so perhaps the risk to health is largely due to exposure to indoor air rather than that outdoors.
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A fireplace may add warmth and glow to your room, but beware of the pollution it might cause
Pollutant sources
Outdoor pollution source include factors such as radon, pesticides, air pollution from motorised traffic, proximity to industries and commercial establishments.
Indoor pollution sources are:
• Combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products.
• Dampness.
• Building materials and furnishings.
• Asbestos-containing insulation.
• Products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies.
• Central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices.
Lack of ventilation from outside can lead to accumulation of pollutants in the home.
Improve air quality
Source control is about preventing pollutants from getting in the air and can be done in the following ways:
• Avoid smoking indoors.
• Keep your home dry. Fifty per cent of problems occur due to dampness. Control humidity levels and repair anything that causes dampness and allows mould to grow. Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets and building materials (within 24 hours if possible) or consider removal and replacement. Reduce carpeted surfaces as much as possible.
• Make sure all fuel burning appliances such as furnaces, fireplaces, gas stoves and water heaters are well-maintained and working properly. Get a ventilation hood for gas stoves and have all appliances inspected at least once a year.
• Ventilate ignored corners to prevent moisture build-up.
• Keep the house clean. Dust mites, pollen, animal dander, and other allergy-causing agents can be reduced, although not eliminated, through regular cleaning.
• Install and use exhaust fans over gas cooking stoves and ranges and keep the burners properly adjusted. Using a stove hood with a fan greatly reduces exposure to pollutants during cooking.
• Vacuum regularly. Consider area rugs instead of wall-to-wall carpets.
• Clean the water trays and filters of your air-conditioner often.
• Clean the entire house regularly if you have pets. Clean pets regularly.
• To get rid of dust mites, clean and vacuum regularly. Wash bedding in hot water above 130° F. Use more hard-surface finishes; they are less likely to attract and hold dust mites.
• Check for contamination of fresh air coming in.
• Cover dustbins.
• Soiled linens should be stored in a particular area.
• In curtains, polyester and synthetic fabrics and blinds are recommended, so they don’t absorb dust and grime.
• Make surfaces impermeable with tile cladding, so the wall is not allowed to breathe.
• Restrict eating to dining spaces only. Clean the kitchen and utensils before going to bed.
• Store kitchen rags in dry areas.
Ventilate
This keeps pollutants at low levels; increasing the amount of outdoor air that comes indoors. It removes stale indoor air and reduces indoor air pollutants. Ventilation also helps limit the build-up of moisture that can contribute to mould growth.
• Open windows and doors. Air out all the rooms once a day.
• Turn on kitchen or bathroom exhaust fans.
• Improve cross-ventilation in rooms.
• Avoid havans indoors. If they are held, open all the windows and remove the curtains beforehand.
Air cleaning
This should be done along with source control and good ventilation. Indoor plants are effective in reducing airborne particulates, removing pollution and improving air quality. Low-light requiring houseplants have demonstrated the potential for improving indoor air quality.
A number of air cleaners are also available on the market:
• Mechanical filters can be installed as part of the ventilation system. There are also stand-alone devices designed to capture particles from the air in room-sized areas.
• Electronic air cleaners use an electrical field to trap particles. They can be a part of the ventilation system or a stand-alone device, and some even produce ozone as a by-product.
• Ion generators use static charges to trap particles and are only available as portable units. Some ion generators also produce ozone as a by-product.
• Hybrid models are air cleaners that incorporate two or more of the air-cleaner types into a single product and are becoming more and more common.
• Install aerosol dispensers.
Sources: The Telegraph (Kolkata, India)