Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air that
is within and around homes and buildings. Understanding the causes of indoor
air pollutants can greatly help to reduce associated health risks.
According to World
Health Organization, 4.3 million people die each year from exposure to bad
indoor air.
Potential Indoor air pollutants and their health effects:
1.
Asbestos:
Excessive inhaling of this pollutant can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma,
asbestosis, and other cancers.
2.
House
dusts, Mold, Bacteria and Animal dander: These biological
agents can cause asthmas symptoms, allergic reactions, nose and throat
irritation, fever, humidifier, influenza, and many such other diseases.
3.
Carbon
Monoxide: This usually spring out of the gas stoves, tobacco
smoke or car gas. It can cause inhalers frequent headaches, nausea, and
sometimes death at high concentrations.
4.
Lead:
It spreads in indoor airs due to house dusts and paints. The damage caused by
lead can be deathly such as brain, nerve and kidney damage, anemia and
cardiovascular effects to name a few.
5.
Organic
chemicals: These are mainly found in dry-cleaned clothes,
glues, and welding. It can cause infection in the eye, nose, and throat of the
inhaler, leading to serious breathing issues and permanent damage of the lungs.
6.
Formaldehyde:
It is one of the most common forms of bad indoor air. This leads to irritation
of throats, nose, as well as allergic issues. In some cases, formaldehyde has
been linked to cancer.
7.
Phthalates:
Found in children toys, used to soften plastic, in air filters and battery
covers. It leads to asthmas, allergies, rhinitis, and is also found to be the
source of problem in reproduction organs.
8.
Radon:
Mainly found in soil under buildings, in ground waters and construction
material/areas. It leads to one deadly health issue of, Cancer.
Depending on the amount of bad indoor air one is exposed to,
the severity of the effects would vary.
Some health effects may show up instantly, while other can
act like the slow, silent killers. Immediate effects are short term and easy to
treat while others can cost endless visits to the doctor. Long term effects can
show up after weeks, months or years. The long term effects include respiratory
disease, heart diseases, cancer and other such health issues that can be
deadly. It is imperative you improve the indoor quality of your homes even when
symptoms are not easily visible.
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References:
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