Harmful Pollutants in Your Home You May Not Be Aware Of

With the recent effects of global warming and climate change being at the forefront of news reports worldwide, the future looks sobering for the Earth shortly. In a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists have highlighted the unprecedented changes in Earth's climate system that are irreversible. As a result, the attention of many people is shifting on how to reduce pollution in our atmosphere. But did you know that there are harmful pollutants in your home that you may not be aware of? Let's see what they are. 

1) Carbon Monoxide 

Most homes produce carbon monoxide due to their furnaces, water heaters, and even automobiles. Low or moderate levels of exposure to carbon monoxide may cause flu-like symptoms, which may progressively become serious. High levels of carbon monoxide exposure may kill humans within a few minutes without any warning. Carbon monoxide dangers are substantial as they can affect the most oxygen-sensitive parts of the human body. It would be best if you had your furnace and water heater serviced annually. If you have a garage attached to your home, you should always double-check to ensure that your car or truck is not running before exiting the garage. It is a good idea to have carbon monoxide detectors on each floor of your house.

2) Radon

Radon is a health hazard that is lesser-known when it comes to indoor pollutants. It is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium in rock and soil breaks down. It is an odorless, invisible, and tasteless gas. Radon in your home can seep into your lungs and damage the cells there, leading to cancer. Lung cancer due to Radon poisoning may take between 5 to 25 years to develop. However, it is the second-highest cause of lung cancer cases in the US, the first being cigarette smoking. The only way to know if your home has high radon levels is by testing. Indoor Radon levels depend upon the soil composition around and under your home and how easy it could be for Radon to enter your home.

3) Biological pollutants

Biological pollutants such as animal dander, infection agents (like viruses or bacteria), pollen, cockroach parts, and dust mites promote insufficient indoor air quality. Some of these may damage surfaces both outside and inside your home. They may be a significant reason for absenteeism from school or work and may lead to doctor visits or even hospital admission. Even spotless homes may have these biological pollutants present inside. Even though it's practically impossible to get rid of all these pollutants from your home, you can follow these tips to improve your home's indoor air quality.

4) Indoor air pollution caused by cooking

People tend to use different heat sources for their cooking. Some of these could be electricity, wood, gas, or even coal, each of the mentioned heat sources may create indoor air pollution as a by-product of cooking. For example, propane and natural gas stoves may release formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, or other harmful pollutants. These pollutants, in large quantities, might be highly toxic to both people and their pets.  

Using a fireplace or a wood stove may result in high indoor air pollution due to the smoke from burning the wood. Exposure to these pollutants may cause health problems in people such as fatigue, nausea, headaches, nose and throat irritation. People with lung or heart disease, asthmatic individuals, and young children are vulnerable to the adverse effects of indoor air pollution caused by cooking.  

To control air pollution due to cooking, you should install a range hood and ensure it vents the smoke outside your house. Alternatively, if you don't have a range hood, consider using an exhaust fan while cooking. It would be best if you opened exterior doors and windows, which will help improve ventilation in your kitchen.