The average American spends an estimated 90% of their time indoors. This time can include time spent at work, school, and at home. Because we spend so must time inside, it is important to have good air quality. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) just ranked indoor air to be one of the top 5 most dangerous environmental exposures human come in contact with. This is rather scary news. Sterling Environmental Air Duct Cleaning would like to share what pollutants are found in the average home and how to improve indoor air quality.
What Does the EPA Say about Indoor Air Quality?
One of the top environmental dangers is indoor air pollutants. There are 5x more pollutants found indoors than outside. These pollutants are breathed in daily which can be a scary thought. Homes vary as to the indoor air quality and what pollutants are found. The majority of indoor pollutants come from chemical products, combustion, building materials, and organic matter. The chemical in hygiene products and cleaning products can fill the air that we breathe in. Same can be said about organic matter. Mold, mildew and fungus are very dangerous and release spores into the air. Other organic substances found in homes are those left behind by pests. Some building materials can contain asbestos which can lead to cancer and other respiratory diseases. Each home can vary but some have been tested and ranked as high as 100% more pollutants in the air than what is found outside.
Cigarette Smoke is an Indoor Pollutant?
One of the top sources of indoor pollutants found in homes is those from tobacco smokers. Smoking releases over 200 different types of poisons into the air. Some are carbon dioxide and formaldehyde. Second hand smoke is more dangerous than smoking itself. Some of the known health concerns that second hand smoke or pollutants from tobacco smoking are lung cancer and heart disease. They can also trigger asthma attacks. There is an estimated 10 billion dollars in medical costs each year due to secondhand smoking. Secondhand smoking can also severely affect infants and increase the risks of pneumonia as well as respiratory infections, ear infections, and spur the development of asthma and other respiratory conditions.
Cleaning Products Can Cause Indoor Air Pollution?
Cleaning chemicals are often used to disinfect the surface inside our homes. As most cleaning chemicals work wonders on cleaning our countertops, they do not belong in our air. There are a number of cleaning agents we use in our home. However, small particles get dispersed into the air which we breathe in. Chemicals in the air have been linked to a number of medical conditions such as allergic reactions, skin irritations, nausea, and dizziness.
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Knowing that the indoor air is full of pollutants it is natural to look for ways to improve your home’s indoor air quality. One way that greatly helps to improve your home air is having your air ducts cleaned. So much passes through the air duct system and into your home. By having the air ducts cleaned they can help eliminate the number of pollutants that flows through your home. Additionally, installing a home air purifier is another great way to help remove the pollutants that is found in your home air. Make sure to vacuum your carpet and rugs and open the windows when the weather permits to help circulate fresh air into your home.
Air Duct Cleaning in West Branch, Oak Park, Madison Heights, Warren, Sterling Heights, Detroit & Southeast Michigan
For professional dryer, air duct, and other air quality services, call Sterling Environmental Air Duct Cleaning and schedule our services today.
