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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Also consider a dehumidifier in damp areas, such as a basement, to help prevent the growth of mold. Ensure that bathrooms, another potential source of mold, are well ventilated as well and scrub off any visible mold that collects in the shower, on fixtures, or walls. We consulted top orthopedic experts and combed through customer reviews to help you choose the best couch for good posture and a healthy back. Removal of low-molecular weight aldehydes by selected houseplants under different light intensities and CO2 concentrations. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
That may involve fogging the space and wiping it down, or using air purification technology. In severe cases, remediation — removing affected materials — might be required. Air purifiers have helped Kathy Przywara, who has asthma, improve her home’s air quality. "If you're not using bathroom ventilation, you can have mold and mildew buildup,” Gold says. “Use fans if they're working well and replace them if they're not." Inexpensive fixes can make a big difference, says Jamie Gold, 60, a wellness design consultant in San Diego and author of Wellness By Design.
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The fires released a toxic mixture of harmful gases and fine particulates into the air that put home air quality at risk. Even those out of a fire’s immediate path can feel the after effect of polluted air in their homes from the fine particulates that can embed deep into their lungs. The information provided here is based on current scientific and technical understanding of the issues presented. Following the advice given will not necessarily provide complete protection in all situations or against all health hazards that may be caused by indoor air pollution. Indoor air quality tends to be worse in the winter months because there is often no flow of fresh air from the outside, meaning allergens stay trapped inside. Air purifiers can help clean the air in your home from unwanted particles, such as pet dander, allergens, and smoke.
Here are some strategies you can use to improve air quality inside your home and hopefully improve your allergy symptoms. Gas-powered heating systems have the potential to release more carbon monoxide, an odorless gas that can cause suffocation and death, into your air. Some experts recommend using direct vent gas appliances, which keep the gas from mingling with your indoor air. Bringing an air purifier into your home is one effective way to keep your air cleaner. You may want to opt for an air purifier with a high efficiency particulate absorbing filter, since these tend to do the best job of removing harmful particles from the air.
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In bathrooms and kitchens, mold and mildew can become a nuisance where moisture levels are typically higher than in the rest of your house. Elsewhere in the house, try to limit what pollutants you bring into your house with furnishings and household chemicals. For example, buy furniture made of solid wood instead of pressed wood, or look for furnishings that have been certified to have low emissions. Before you bring new furniture or carpets into your house, air them out outdoors or in your garage for several days, or even longer if you can. Seek out household cleaning products with lower levels of volatile organic compounds, with these tips from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Air purifiers are proven to be effective in reducing indoor air pollutants such as pollen, dust, mould spores and certain odours caused by pets, smoking and other household chemicals. If you are a smoker, this is an important reason for you to stop smoking! The combustion of a cigarette generates the formation of toxic substances such as carbon monoxide, ammonia, tars, and other metals . For the WHO , smoking kills more than 7 million people worldwide each year, including 890,000 passive smokers.
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Household products including cleaners and even beauty products can release organic chemicals that may degrade air quality. Furniture and carpets that have been treated to be stain-resistant may release toxic “forever chemicals” (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS) into the air. Poorly functioning fireplaces and wood stoves can increase levels of fine particulates that can damage lung tissue. A growing body of research is revealing that gas stoves create air pollution in our homes that is bad for our health.
Most air purifiers on the market could remove and abort the bac, viruses, smoke, pet smell and dust, and other pollutants. So when you choose an air purifier, you could consider servals factors, such as CADR, the HEPA Stage, how big is your room, etc. A survey shows that urban people spend about 80% of their time indoors every day, and autumn and winter are more than 10% more than summer. Due to the relatively closed indoor environment, various pathogenic bacteria spread through the air and droplets and stay there. In a room with no air circulation, some virus and bacteria droplets in the air float for more than 30 hours.
These are a variety of organic chemicals that are released as gases from certain solids or liquids. The most common VOCs are acetone, benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, and perchloroethylene. If you do not have allergies, getting allergy like symptoms will be an even bigger alert that your air quality is bad. Often times, when you start coughing, or getting allergy like symptoms it is a sign that there is a new contaminant in your house. Some symptoms may include dizziness, nausea, rashes, fevers, chills, fatigue, vomiting, muscle pain, shortness of breath, or hearing loss. Even when a stove isn’t turned on, it might be leaking pollutants into your home.
Use a gentle hardwood floor cleaner monthly to keep flooring in good shape and avoid damage to subfloors. The area also will be dried with fans and dehumidifiers, then sealed with plastic and negative air pressure. If moisture in the wrong spots or humid conditions over time have led to mold in the home, you can try tackling it with a bleach mixture and small hand tools. There are also several ways to clean mold without harsh chemicals, including using vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil.
If you really want to improve the air quality in your home, be sure to check the filters in your other household appliances. Your vacuum cleaner, clothes dryer and kitchen vents should all be inspected and maintained periodically. It’s recommended to clean or replace these common household filters every few months. Air pollutants can range from contaminants brought in from the outdoors by your pets to dangerous gas leaks. Carbon monoxide is a common air pollutant resulting from natural gas that escapes into your home without being burned off. Older homes may contain asbestos and lead particles, which can be damaging to the lungs when released into the air.
Unfortunately, marketing claims by air purifier companies aren’t well regulated and you can’t always trust the information that manufacturers provide. To find an effective purifier for the size of the space you are trying to clean, seek out reviewers who conduct independent evaluations, such as Consumer Reports and the New York Times’ Wirecutter. You can also build a highly effective air purifier from high-grade furnace filters, a fan and a lot of tape, for less money than you’d spend on a commercial purifier. You can learn about how effective and safe these are, get links to order parts, and find instructions on how to build one here. Other items in your house likely are degrading indoor air quality, too. Furniture or cupboard shelves made with pressed wood release formaldehyde, which is a respiratory irritant that can trigger asthma attacks and may cause cancer.
No matter how gorgeous or shiny your laminate looks, people rightfully want to know that they won’t be exposed to high levels of hazardous chemicals in their homes. In 2019, Virginia-based Lumber Liquidators learned this the hard way with a $33 million lawsuit over their flooring with elevated levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde. Scented candles can be as irritating as a perfume, not ideal if lit in a home where someone is already dealing with regular asthma symptoms, for instance. Other triggers can be in the form of pet dander and mold that might be in your home. “I’m also focused on being thoughtful of inhaled triggers from smoke from fires and wood-burning fireplace, about candles, especially during the holidays,” she said.
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