When it comes to the improvements of the quality of life, people pay attention to such aspects as a proper diet, physical activity, and a visit to a doctor.
BUT there is one important factor that seems to be neglected often and that is the quality of the indoor air.
In fact, the EPA estimates that people spend over 90% of their time indoors and this makes the quality of indoor air a critical factor in the health of people.
This article seeks to discuss and explain how indoor air quality monitoring can be useful in improving the overall health of an individual, in avoiding sicknesses and in making the environment safe for living.
Understanding Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality (IAQ) means the quality of air in indoor environments that include residential houses, offices, schools, and any other structures.
Indoor air pollution may be due to several factors including dust, pollen, mold, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and radon.
Such pollutants can be derived from various sources such as cleaning detergents, building materials, outdoor air, and even from some of everyday activities such as cooking and smoking.
The “Impact” of Poor Indoor Air Quality on Health
1: Respiratory Issues
Health issues that can be caused by poor indoor air quality include respiratory diseases. These are coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, and the production of whistling sounds when breathing which is called wheezing.
For asthma and other chronic respiratory disease sufferers, exposure to indoor pollutants can cause a worsening of their condition and an increase in the frequency of attacks.
2: Allergies
Some of the allergens that are found indoors include dust mites, pet dander and molds. Some of the common signs include sneezing, and running nose, while some can be severe and include breathing difficulties, and chest pains.
This, in turn, will enable in identifying and control the presence of these allergens hence minimizing the occurrences and impacts of allergic reactions.
3: Cardiovascular Effects
Current research has indicated that indoor environment quality has an impact on health complications of the cardiovascular system.
Hazardous substances including particulate matter and carbon monoxide impact the heart and increase the possibility of heart attacks and stokes.
Chronic exposure to the same results in what may be described as chronic cardiovascular diseases; a reason to ensure that the quality of air indoors is good.
4: Cognitive Function
The air that we breathe in also plays a role in the cognitive functions of the human brain.
According to previous studies, exposure to high concentrations of indoor pollutants is known to affect an individual’s cognitive abilities, including concentration, memory, and decision-making.
This is a big concern, especially for children, because poor-quality indoor air may hinder their learning and growth.
5: Sleep Quality
Pollution also plays a major role in the reduction of the quality of sleep that one is likely to get.
VOCs and carbon dioxide interfere with the quality of sleep that one has, which results to sleepless nights and fatigue during the day.
This way, the level of indoor air quality can be regulated to enhance better sleeping habits and thus improve health.
How Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Works?
IAQ monitoring is the process of assessing the concentrations of pollutants in the indoor environment using instruments.
These devices are capable of detecting a number of pollutants such as particles, CO2, CO, volatile organic compounds, and humidity.
Thus, by observing these factors at regular intervals, one can get information about the quality of air in the enclosed spaces and take measures to enhance it.
Benefits of Indoor Air Quality Monitoring
1. Early Detection of Pollutants
This service enables one to detect the presence of dangerous pollutants and tackle them before they worsen.
This can prevent illness and make the surrounding area a healthier place to live.
2. Improved Ventilation
If you use IAQ monitoring you can easily notice the areas with inadequate fresh air circulation.
Ventilating the house by opening windows and doors, using exhaust fans or installing air cleaners can greatly decrease the concentration of indoor pollutants and thus improve the quality of air.
3. Allergy and Asthma Management
Such people who suffer from allergies or asthma can benefit by using IAQ to track the sources and measures to avoid it.
This may mean that symptoms can be managed more effectively and the patient’s quality of life can be enhanced.
4. Enhanced Comfort
Improved air quality can enhance comfort through odor control, regulation of humidity, and providing a cleaner indoor environment.
This can result in higher efficiency and a better environment in which one can live or work.
5. Long-Term Health Benefits
To improve occupants’ health in the long run from diseases such as respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases, it is advisable to ensure proper indoor air quality is preserved.
Since this is a long-term investment in your health, it results in improved health standards and low medical bills.
Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality
-
Use Air Purifiers
Some of the air purifiers with HEPA filters can help in removing the particulate matter, dust, pollen and other allergens from the air. It is suggested to position air purifiers in the highly trafficked regions as well as the sleeping areas to cleanse the air.
-
Ventilate Regularly
Ventilate the room as much as possible by opening windows and doors. Operate exhaust fans particularly in the kitchen and the bathroom to eliminate moisture and other pollutants.
-
Control Humidity Levels
To minimize mold and allergens, it is recommended to keep indoor humidity levels between 30-50%. Ventilate the room and use dehumidifiers or humidifiers according to the recommendations on the required relative humidity level.
-
Avoid Indoor Pollutants
Reduce the use of items that have high VOCs like certain cleaning agents, paints, and air fresheners. In this case, it is recommended to use natural or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) products to minimize IAQ.
-
Regular Cleaning
Clean your house and vacuum the floors often to get rid of dust, hair from your pets and other contaminants. To get the best results one should use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter for cleaning.
-
Test for Radon
Radon is a radioactive gas that has no color and no smell and can enter houses through the floors. Radon exposure for long duration is one of the major cause of lung cancer. Radon testing and possible mitigation if the levels of radon are found to be high can go a long way in improving the quality of indoor air.
Conclusion
Monitoring is very important in ensuring that the indoor air within a home is of the best quality.
Once you realize how indoor pollutants affect one’s health and how one can control the same to ensure that their indoor air is of high quality, you will notice an improvement in your health.
In a bid to avoid respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases, better sleep, as well as the enhancement of brain functions, the quality of air indoors is crucial.
If you need help or expert services to enhance the quality of air inside your home, reach out to Finest Heating & Air.
Our personnel shall ensure that you get the best services in making your home environment more healthy and comfortable.
A step towards a healthier tomorrow and start using indoor air quality monitoring and improvement products today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is indoor air quality monitoring?
Indoor air quality monitoring entails the use of devices that detect concentration of pollutants in the air including particulate matter, carbon dioxide, VOCs and humidity.
This enables understanding of the potential sources of indoor pollution and ways of reducing them for the sake of people’s health and comfort.
2. How frequently should the indoor air quality be checked?
Monitoring frequently is perfect for ensuring that the indoor air quality is as it should be.
However, if continuous monitoring is not possible, then periodic examination especially during the change of season or after changes in the house structure is recommended.
3. Do plants enhance the quality of air indoors?
Yes, some of the indoor plants do have the ability to filter out some of the indoor pollutants and release oxygen. Some of the best air-cleaning plants include spider plant, peace lily and snake plant among others.
4. What are VOCs and why is it dangerous?
VOCs are chemical compounds that easily evaporate into the air as gas from various products such as paints, cleaning agents, and construction products. Prolonged exposure to VOCs has adverse health effects such as respiratory diseases, headaches among others.
5. What should I do to detect radon in my home?
Radon can be detected in your home using a radon test kit that is readily available in hardware stores or you could contract the services of a professional in radon testing.
If the level of radon is high, then some measures need to be taken to reduce the level of radon such as placing a radon mitigation system.
