Yes, your
indoor air isn’t as clean as you think. And, it’s not always easy to tell
what’s polluting it. When the situation gets out of control, it can spell
trouble for your house and everybody living in it. With that in mind, here’s a look at
surprising sources for indoor air pollution and the steps you can take to deal
with them.
Lemony
Fresh Products
You may
not know it but the scented candles you’re using in your home could be doing
more damage than good. Sure, they’ll make your living space smell good, but
there’s a reason to remain cautious. See, scented candles generate harmful
chemicals that can reduce the quality of indoor air.
What do
you need to know? Well, limonene, the primary ingredient responsible for giving
the candles and cleansers their sweet, lemony scent is a highly volatile
organic chemical (VOC). Don’t get it twisted though – not all VOCs are harmful.
Limonene,
however, can turn your indoor air into a toxic brew if it mixes with
ground-level ozone found in most houses. When the two mix, they form
formaldehyde, a cancer-causing carcinogen.
One of the
easiest ways to reduce indoor pollution caused by limonene is to stop using
scented candles. Or, you can switch to the best air fresheners that’ll keep odor at bay without
exposing your family to health hazards.
Also, you
can buy a couple of spider plants and place them strategically within your
house. Why spider plants? Well, because unlike other indoor plants, they can
suck VOCs out the air. More specifically, they’re excellent at driving down
airborne chemicals.
Ozone
Generating Cleaners
Make no
mistake about it – a conventional air purifier will improve the quality of your
indoor air. It’ll filter pollutants such as pet dander and dust. Electrostatic precipitators, however, operate differently.
They zap and gather airborne contaminants via an electrical charge that
generates ozone – and therein lays the problem.
When ozone
is up way up in the atmosphere (where it belongs) it ensures that we don’t
suffer the effects of ultraviolet rays – and that’s a good thing. But, when it
is ground level, it quickly turns in a respiratory irritant that can aggravate
asthma and allergies.
So, do you
really need a purifier to keep your air clean? Yes, if you’re not allergic or
asthmatic. You can use regular vacuuming or dusting to get rid of pollutants
especially if you live in a smoke-free environment. You can even add an exhaust
fan in your bathroom or kitchen.
Be sure to
conduct intensive research if you have to use a purifier. Read independent
customer reviews to have an idea of what to expect with the unit you’re
planning to buy.
Third-hand
Smoke
Remember
the e-cigs? And the buzz they created back in the day? Okay, e-cigarettes are
still a thing but there’s more to them than meets the eye. Sure, they’re not as
harmful as their traditional counterparts, but they can pollute your indoor
air.
The
second-hand smoke generated by e-cigs and tobacco can linger in the air for
more than 30 days. The ripple effect is that it forms a greasy buildup known as
third-hand smoke that can stay on your surfaces for years.
The
problem occurs when third-hand smoke mixes with other airborne compounds. If it
comes into contact with nitrous acid generated by cooking gas, it turns into a
toxic compound that can cause medical problems.
You have
to test for third-hand smoke to determine the best way to remove it. You can
take samples to the lab for a nicotine test.
Once you have established that your surfaces have third-hand smoke, the
best way to deal with the situation is to replace the items whether it is your
drywall or upholstery.
Or, you
can apply a protective coat such as the Foster 40-20 if you’re on a tight
budget. You’ll only need to wash your surfaces before applying the
antimicrobial coating.
Final
Thoughts
You need
to evaluate the quality of air within your living space regularly. Make sure
that you take the necessary measures to keep it clean and free of toxins. The
last thing that you want is to expose your family to harmful pollutants that
are easy to control.