I have often sighed in despair while stepping out of the house in the early evening, seeing the smog hanging over the city making clear breathing and visibility a challenge. The thought of stepping out to the pollution makes chores seem depressing. It stands to reason that some of this polluted air may find residence inside our homes. The images of air pollution and the outdoors seem to be attached like Siamese twins. Yet, how often have you conjured up the mental picture of air pollution hanging in the insides of a trendy urban home? Probably never. But Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) accounts for most of our indoor colds, skin allergies and eats into our immune system.
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution:
IAQ is dependent on the amount of air contaminants inside your home such as quantities of suspended particles, vapors from household gadgets (humidifiers, computers, etc.), fumes and gases from chemical products we use (deodorants, hair sprays, nail enamel removers, dyes, perfumes, cigarettes), as well molds, mildew and bacteria, building material (asbestos), wall and furniture paints, oil, kerosene, insect and plant pesticides, starch sprays and other aerosols and fumes from hot non-stick cooking ware, certain plants that emanate specific aroma, dirt in general and open windows that let in high emissions from the outside.
How Indoor Pollution Affects You:
• Treatable conditions--allergic rhinitis, sneezing, runny eyes and nose, shortness of breath, lethargy, nausea, coughing and throat allergies, etc.
• Conditions that require aggressive management--asthma, skin allergies, etc.
• Critical conditions--sometimes health conditions come to the surface after being exposed to bad IAQ for years such as cancer or cardiac conditions, etc.
What Can You Do to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality?
1. Get the IAQ of your home measured/checked, especially for radon and lead contamination.
2. Identify which of the above-mentioned sources is a problem for you.
3. Re-adjust and place the emitting equipments near windows or ventilation sources.
4. Check to see if you have enough and working/effective ventilators, chimneys, etc., at home.
5. Install air-cleaning devices if it is not possible to eliminate the source of the pollution.
6. Consult your doctor to tackle your health condition arising from poor IAQ.
7. Open windows more often.
8. Clean out the house for molds and stuffy air, webs, etc.
9. Grow more plants in and around your home that will use up the carbon dioxide content of the air.
10. Smoke outside your home or with a ventilator on.
11. Purchase non-toxic material and paints for your home.
12. Check out to wash/replace filters for the air-conditioners, etc
13. Use less of the polluting/emitting products and dispose them safely after the contents are used up.
You may also refer to the guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, US (http://www.epa.gov/) for help.
Mamta Singh is a published author of the books Migraines for the Informed Woman (Publisher: Rupa & Co. - http://www.amazon.com/Migraines-Informed-Woman-Tips-Sufferer/dp/8129115174/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297702589&sr=1-2), the upcoming Rev Up Your Life! (Publisher: Hay House India) and Mentor Your Mind (Publisher: Sterling Publishers). She is also a seasoned business, creative and academic writer. She is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer & sports nutritionist through IFA, Florida USA. Mamta is an NCFE-certified Holistic Health Therapist SAC Dip U.K. She is the lead writer and holds Expert Author status in many well-received health, fitness and nutrition sites. She runs her own popular blogs on migraines in women and holistic health. Mamta holds a double Master's Degree in Commerce and Business. She is a registered practitioner with the UN recognised Art of Living Foundation. Link: http://www.migrainingjenny.wordpress.com and http://www.footstrike.wordpress.com