You may often see news reports about air pollution and its impact on public health. But how often do you think about indoor air quality?
While outdoor air pollution is certainly a concern, it can be easy to forget that the quality of the air you breathe at home can be just as important.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), levels of indoor air pollutants may not only be up to 100 times higher than outdoor air pollutants, they may also have a greater impact on your health.
The health effects of indoor air pollution depend on the types of pollutants present in the air, but they may include:
- cancer
- pneumonia
- asthma
- allergic reaction
- heart disease
- low birth weight
People with respiratory or heart disease, as well as young children and older adults, may also be at greater risk for some health problems related to low indoor air quality.
Unexplained respiratory symptoms may provide a clue that it may be time to check the air quality in your living space. But other times, even contaminants with the potential to cause harm go completely undetected for years.
Taking steps to improve indoor air quality can help reduce your risk of health problems and even improve your quality of life. We have eight tips to help you get started.
An important way to keep indoor air clean is to understand common sources of pollution and avoid adding contaminants where possible.
Some common contaminants include:
radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep from cracks in the earth and accumulate in your home, causing health problems including lung cancer.
Home test kits provide an easy way to check for unsafe radon levels in your home. If tests show you have high levels of radon in the air, you can usually reduce the radon by sealing your home's foundation so the gas doesn't leak into your living space.
Learn more about radon and how to deal with it.
second hand smoke
Secondhand smoke refers to exhaled cigarette smoke. Anyone exposed may be at higher risk of developing health problems, including certain types of cancer. Thirdhand smoke also poses a health risk when found on surfaces such as clothing or furniture that absorb it.
The best way to keep second-hand and third-hand smoke out of your living space is to avoid smoking indoors. It's best to minimize this habit if possible, as thirdhand smoke on clothing may still affect your living space and air quality.
formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a common volatile organic compound, or VOC, one of many harmful gases sometimes emitted by common household items.
Commonly found in glues used in composite wood and many types of furniture, formaldehyde can seep into indoor air. Excessive exposure can cause respiratory problems, including bronchitis.
You can reduce the impact of formaldehyde on air quality by:
- Choose used furniture rather than new – furniture tends to release smaller amounts of formaldehyde over time
- Choose solid wood furniture over composite wood
cleaning products
Some cleaning products contain harmful chemicals that may remain in the air, including:
- glass cleaner
- air freshener
- bleach
- cleaning spray
Choosing safer, non-toxic cleaning products can help you keep your home clean without the excess contaminants found in some standard cleaning products.
If you're concerned about the air quality in your home but aren't sure which changes will help the most, it's best to start by testing your air quality.
You can go the DIY route or call a professional.
The method you choose can depend on your needs. It's usually cheaper to do it yourself, but working with a professional may yield more extensive results and personalized information.
DIY air quality testing
You can find a variety of air quality testing kits online. Some kits allow you to check for multiple contaminants, while others only test for one, such as radon.
Since many home testing kits are not comprehensive, it may make more sense to test at home if you are only interested in checking for one or two specific contaminants. If you want a full panel of results, working with a professional may actually be more effective in the long run.
Comprehensive home testing typically costs up to $200, but may cost more when checking for more contaminants.
Professional air quality testing
Hiring a professional may cost more than using a test kit, but many professionals offer additional services to help you manage any sources of contamination discovered during testing. For example, a professional who provides air quality testing may also specialize in mold prevention and removal.
You'll typically find a host of allergens and irritants in many indoor spaces, including:
- dust
- mold
- pet dander
- dust mite
Staying away from these allergens will often improve the overall air quality in your home, not to mention reducing your chances of developing respiratory symptoms, including
- runny nose
- big watery eyes
- sore throat
- sneeze
- rash
- itching
Managing allergens in your home requires prevention and maintenance.
Preventive strategies for controlling allergens include:
- Brush and bathe your pet regularly
- Wash bedding in hot water twice a month to eliminate dust mites
- Choose hypoallergenic pillows and impermeable mattresses to keep dust mites at bay
You can also remove allergens from indoor air by:
- Vacuum and dust to prevent the build-up of pet dander, dust and dust mites
- Use a bleach or soap solution to clean mold from impermeable surfaces such as tiles and metal
- Remove and replace carpet, wood or drywall where mold has grown
Bringing an air purifier into your home is an effective way to keep the air clean. You may want to choose an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate absorbent (HEPA) filter, as these filters tend to be the best at removing harmful particles from the air.
In fact, HEPA filters can remove more than 99% of harmful particles in the air.
Air purifiers cannot remove all types of pollution, so you may want to consider an air filter if you want to reduce:
- volatile organic compounds
- smokes
- mold spores
- excess carbon dioxide
- Allergens such as pet dander
An air purifier with a HEPA filter can even help remove flu virus particles from the air.
Looking for an air filter but don't know where to start? Check out our list of the best HEPA air purifiers.
Maintaining good air circulation in your home provides an easy (and potentially free) way to improve your air quality. Opening doors and windows to let some outside air through is one way to do this - as long as the outside air is clean or has low pollen levels.
But air enters your house through weak points like vents and small spaces around doors. While there's nothing you can do about the air that enters through these openings, it may help to ensure that the air entering your living space through the vents isn't causing problems.
this means:
- Regularly change any filters in your home heating and cooling system
- Make sure any air ducts in your home are clean and clear, as dust can build up over time
- Check the filters in appliances that bring air into your home and replace them according to the manufacturer's instructions
Moisture in indoor spaces can lead to many health hazards, including mold growth. Moisture and high humidity can also cause VOCs to leak into the air.
A damp indoor environment can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- humid climate
- leaky pipes or roof
- Areas with standing water
- Insufficient ventilation in areas with a lot of steam, such as bathrooms and kitchens
Wet conditions can cause a number of respiratory symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, and asthma attacks.
You can reduce moisture in your living area by:
- Use a dehumidifier
- Turn on a fan or open a window when showering or cooking
- Find and eliminate areas in your home where water accumulates or accumulates
Some heating systems can also have a significant impact on air quality.
Wood-burning stoves and fireplaces release large amounts of harmful particles into your indoor air, which may increase your risk of long-term health conditions like lung cancer.
Other potentially high-risk heating options include heating systems with older furnaces and gas heating equipment.
Gas heating systems have the potential to release more carbon monoxide into the air, an odorless gas that can cause suffocation and death. Some experts recommend using direct exhaust devices to prevent gases from mixing with room air.
Solar and electric heating options can keep your indoor air cleaner than other heating systems. If you have a choice, these are usually your best bet for cleaner air.
Indoor plants are often recommended to help purify the air in your home.
However, research on this remains conflicting.
A 2017 review of research found that houseplants can help reduce certain indoor air pollutants, including VOCs and fine particulate matter, but results from many studies vary on the true impact houseplants have.
What's more, results from a 2019 review show that the ventilation already in most buildings removes VOCs from the air better than indoor plants.
If indoor plants become a source of mold or trigger allergies, they may even cause more problems than they solve.
Another factor to consider is the type of plant. Not all plants are created equal when it comes to removing pollutants.
Plants considered more effective at keeping indoor air cleaner include:
- Dracaena , a popular genus of houseplants that often have sword-shaped leaves in a variety of colors
- Spathiphyllum , also known as peace lily
- ivy or common ivy
Of course, indoor plants still have a lot to offer.
A variety of factors can affect the air quality in your living space, and they can lead to a range of short- and long-term health effects.
If you're concerned about indoor air pollution, testing your indoor air quality can give you peace of mind. From there, taking steps to prevent and reduce specific problem pollutants can help you maximize the air quality in your home and minimize any associated health risks.
