Dangers of air pollution in closed environments
Most of us are in closed environments more than 80% of the time; It means that we are either at home or at our workplace, which usually has a closed space. You may be interested to know that the closed environment is 5 to 10 times more polluted than the open environment. Have you ever had a headache, sore throat or burning eyes when you are indoors? These symptoms may be due to the accumulation of pollutants in closed spaces. In this article, we will talk about air pollution in closed environments.
What is air pollution in closed environments?
Air pollution in closed environments is caused by the release of harmful pollutants in the interior of the building. This type of pollution can include fine particles, carbon monoxide and various other toxins. Indoor air pollution is one of the biggest problems in developing countries. The problem with closed spaces is that the air inside the building can stagnate quickly and therefore the level of pollutants can rise quickly. Pollution in all forms can be harmful, but indoor air pollution poses greater risks because people are often immersed in it for long periods of time.
According to the report of the World Health Organization, approx 4.2 Millions of people in the world die every year due to indoor air pollution.
The cause of air pollution in closed environments
There are many reasons for air pollution in closed environments. Some of them are easily identified by the smell they emit, but many others are not. Here we introduce you to the main causes of air pollution in closed environments:
cigarette smoke
One of the most common indoor air pollutants is cigarette or pipe smoke. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, at least 70 of which are known to cause cancer. If these substances are inhaled, they can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other cardiovascular diseases, and lead to heart attacks and other serious consequences. Even if you don’t smoke and someone else smokes next to you, you are still at risk.
Out of every 10 deaths that occur in the world due to inhalation of cigarette smoke, one of them is related to people who were not smokers themselves and were only exposed to tobacco smoke. These people are called second-hand smokers.
Some reports show that tobacco smoke causes air pollution ten times more than the exhaust of diesel cars.
Oven
Air pollution in closed environments can also be due to the use of an oven for cooking. Cooking stoves introduce particulate matter (PM) into the indoor air, which is considered highly polluted. In some developing countries, solid fuels such as wood, coal and dung are used for cooking and providing warm air at home. Exposure to high levels of PM from cooking stoves has been linked to respiratory problems such as asthma, heart disease, and cancer.
Air pollution in closed environments can be caused by cooking stoves and causes the death of about 4.3 million people a year, most of whom are children and women.
Cleaning products
Chemicals in many cleaning products can pollute indoor air. These cleaning products release toxic fumes that can be harmful if inhaled and cause asthma, respiratory diseases and types of cancer. In addition, many cleaning products contain volatile organic compounds. These compounds can easily evaporate at room temperature.
When VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are released into the air, they can have both short-term and long-term health effects. For example, they can cause headache and nausea, which are short-lived, or cause damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
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Mold is one of the causes of air pollution in closed environments
Mold is an indoor air pollutant that can cause health problems. For example, it can cause respiratory infections and asthma and allergies. Mold grows in wet and humid environments and can be found in various places in the house such as walls, floors, ceilings and basements.
If you have a weakened immune system or suffer from asthma or allergies, exposure to mold can worsen your illness and trigger more serious respiratory infections.
Pet dander
Another factor of air pollution in closed environments is related to pet dander. Dandruff can be found in the skin and saliva of animals. When pet dander is released into the air, it is inhaled by people and causes respiratory problems such as asthma, hay fever and other allergies.
Ways to deal with air pollution in closed environments
To reduce indoor air pollution, take help from the following solutions:
Reducing air pollution in the living room
The living room should have proper ventilation to prevent the accumulation of pollutants. For this purpose, you can get help from an air purifier. Choose a device that fits the size of your desired room. Also, try to change the air flow in the house several times a day by opening the doors and windows. Avoid smoking in a closed environment and stay away from air freshener sprays, which are mostly allergenic.
Fighting pollution in the kitchen
Disinfectant and bleaching solutions are usually used inside the kitchen, and because of this, contamination occurs. Keep these products in a closed place and out of the reach of children. To prevent the release of carbon monoxide in the kitchen, make sure that the gas stove has proper ventilation.
Air pollution in the bathroom
The most humid place inside the house is the bathroom and toilet. Proper ventilation of these two places is very important. High humidity causes fungus to grow, and in this case, the possibility of asthma and allergies increases. Be sure to consider proper ventilation for the toilet and bathroom and keep these two environments as dry as possible. In this way from Air pollution in closed environments will decrease
bedroom
There is usually a lot of dust on the furniture in the bedroom. Dust increases the risk of asthma and allergies. Be sure to dust the bedroom at regular intervals. Also, wash sheets and beds regularly to reduce the effects of air pollution in closed environments.
final word
Air pollution in closed environments can sometimes be many times more than the outdoor environment. One of the best ways to reduce this pollution is to use an air purifier. Also, it is better to do dusting constantly, do not smoke cigarettes, hookah and pipes at home and keep cleaning products away from you. Many disinfectants and cleaners contain Volatile organic compound and are considered harmful to health. Indoor pollution can be associated with respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies and even increase the possibility of lung and heart problems. Do you use an air purifier in your home?
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