6 Common Air Pollutants Lurking in Your Home

Air pollution affects more than outside air, hiding in America’s homes and businesses and risking the health of inhabitants. In fact, the air inside your home can be up to five times more dangerous than the air outdoors. And the harmful air within your home can cause more than breathing issues – it can be a major risk factor for major diseases.

What Air Pollution Dangers are You Overlooking in Your Home?

1. Everyday pollutants.
   Household cleaners, air fresheners, detergents, fabric softeners, and many other products (even those not sprayed) can release harmful chemicals into the air of your home.
2. Upholstery & fabric pollutants.
   Pollutants trapped in drapes, couch cushions, bedding and more can dislodge and boost particles into the air with every movement.
3. VOCs.
   Found in many common items including carpeting, building materials, and furniture, VOCs are found in the air of nearly every indoor setting. Short-term effects include headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness, nausea, eye and lung irritation.
4. Home heating pollutants.
   Heating systems are often a prime contributor to poor indoor air quality, whether a wood burning fireplace or gas furnace. Your AC units can also affect air, particularly those in need of an air filter or duct cleaning.
5. Moisture-related dangers.
   Moisture can lead to serious indoor air quality issues. Moisture encourages bacteria and mold growth, including the proliferation of dangerous, mycotoxin-producing black mold. Moisture also attracts pests, increasing the proliferation of dust mites, a top allergen.
6. Air freshener pollutants.
   While pollutants in the indoor air can create bad smells, masking them with air fresheners or candles only adds more toxins to the air you breathe.

Is Your Health Being Adversely Effected?
The link between air pollution and its effect on those with allergies and asthma is well-established. Children, the elderly, and infirm are at increased risk, experiencing deterioration in health when pollutants are present. Air pollution is also a well-established risk factor in lung and heart disease, brain health (stroke), and diabetes, with toxins disrupting insulin and inflammatory responses. Unfortunately, most homes do not have such effective air filtration – a primary reason why those who work in the home suffer higher cancer rates than those who work elsewhere.

Improving Air Quality
The only way to remove these dangerous pollutants from the indoor air you breathe is with proper ventilation and filtration. Luckily, the air in your home can be easily and effectively cleaned with the right ventilation measures, air cleaners, (de)humidifiers, and UV lights, alone or as part of your home heating and cooling system. Regularly changing and upgrading your HVAC air filter, and altering your cleaning choices, purchasing decisions and lifestyle can further safeguard the air in your home by reducing pollutants as well.

Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, leading the EPA to rank indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental health risks today. Is your family at-risk? Learn more about the latest in air cleaning technology. Contact the trusted professionals at H & H Heating & Air Conditioning today.