Are you worried about the air you breathe? Don’t think you’re safe just because you’re inside. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that the air in homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air.
Indoor air pollution can cause big health problems. People who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods are often those most at risk to the effects of indoor air pollution.
Almost anyone can be at risk for indoor air pollution depending on their pre-existing health conditions and the buildings they reside in, especially because people spend up to 90% of their time indoors.In Particular, children, older adults, and people with long-term (chronic) illnesses.
Effects On Humans
People experience a wide range of health effects from being exposed to air pollution. Effects can be broken down into short-term effects and long-term effects.
*Short-term effects, which are temporary, include illnesses such as pneumonia or bronchitis. They also include discomfort such as irritation to the nose, throat, eyes, or skin. Air pollution can also cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Bad smells made by factories, garbage, or sewer systems are considered air pollution, too. These odors are less serious but still unpleasant.
*Long-term effects of air pollution can last for years or for an entire lifetime. They can even lead to a person’s death. Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema and asthma. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects. Nearly 2.5 million people die worldwide each year from the effects of outdoor or indoor air pollution.
People react differently to different types of air pollution. Young children and older adults, whose immune systems tend to be weaker, are often more sensitive to pollution. Conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease can be made worse by exposure to air pollution. The length of exposure and amount and type of pollutants are also factors.
Avoid indoor air pollution effects
Everyday pollutants can be introduced into the air of your home a number of ways. Some are carried in on a breeze; some are carried in unwittingly by you.
To get rid of impurities, you need to pursue several lines of attack. Follow the checklist below to help minimize indoor air pollution and its effects.
* Open Windows
* Ban Smoking
* Give Your Pets a Bath
* Put down a Doormat
* Don’t Cover Up Odors
* Store Chemicals Safely
* Vacuum Often
* Try an Air Purifier
