If you think your home is safe from air pollution, you\’re wrong. The thing what can be detected under the microscope can\’t be seen by the naked eye. In fact, there are possibly potent air pollutants and allergens in a perceived clean environment. Outside pollution from the traffic and industry activities will only aggravate the air quality at home when the windows are directed at them. This is called manmade pollution and carbon monoxide is one of the most common toxic gases to weather our air daily.
Nevertheless, air pollution can also be caused by natural agents like forest fires, wind erosion, pollen agents or anthropogenic activities. A good testing of air pollution is when you feel the unusual heat during the season.
These are some of the pollutants commonly found indoors:
1. Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)
SPM consists of dust, dust mite and fumes. Among the common chemicals are nickel, arsenic and lead. SPM can multiple if no adequate of sunlight and fresh air are allowed into the room. SPM could cause skin irritation and when inhaled, you could experience respiratory difficulties.
2. Carbon Monoxide
It\’s less noticeable but carbon monoxide can seep into your home whenever you turn your car engine on. To minimize the entrance, reduce the opening or shut down the windows and doors when you start someone starts the car. Or else, when carbon monoxide combine with hemoglobin, less oxygen is transported around to vital organs in the body and could potentially cause brain damage or organ failure.
3. Cleaning detergents
Detergents, bleaches and other cleaning agents may be manufactured from very strong chemicals which can be equally toxic to the body. Many may not realized but industrial emission can also take place at home when you start to spray or wash with the cleaning agents. The next time you shop, read the contents of production like the concentration of sulfur dioxide.
4. Decoration accessories
It\’s not surprising that your décor also contributes to indoor air pollution when it oxidizes over time. Paint or furniture glue with high volatile organic compounds or drawings which use high concentration of lead can emit harmful gases into the air.
Now, we\’ve to be realistic here. It\’s quite impossible to eliminate all pollutants at home unless you\’re using an oxygen pump. The only advice here is to reduce pollutions as much as possible and avoid direct contact so that to lower your exposure.
Additional Reading:
www.EcoCycle.com
www.ehow.com
