Behind Closed Doors: Air Pollution

March 31, 2015- We have written before about the health risks associated with household and ambient air pollution. Indeed, the World Health Organization says that in 2012 air pollution replaced poor diet as the world's largest preventable health risk.

An Air Monitoring section post by Environmental Technology Online mentions a study by the American Environmental Protection Agency which states that the average American spends 90% of their time indoors given their home lives and work, and that a direct correlation exists between high levels of air pollution and decreased life expectancy.

Here are more highlights from the EnviroTech-Online.com post, "Why Are Indoor Air Quality Standards So Important?"

• Indoor measurements of outdoor air pollution belie the fact that the amount of micrograms of pollutant particulates per cubic meter of air dropped significantly from 2000 to 2007, according to one study. During this time, there was also a recorded rise in the average life expectancy of 0.84 years.

• Air pollution makes the lungs and circulatory system less productive in delivering oxygen to the to body via red blood cells. "This is why external factors such as smoking are so dangerous for blood flow and artery health," Envirotech-Online.com writes. "Therefore, it is essential that we do as much as is possible to filter out the toxins in the air prior to breathing."

• Air pollution is often assumed to be an urban, ambient issue stemming from gases and toxins from factories, smoke and allergens that could cause issues with breathing. The situation is different indoors, particularly in many Asian countries where solid fuels are often used as a domestic energy source.

• Even where solid fuels are not used, there are a number of potential toxins which have the capability to significantly pollute the air we breathe: asbestos, dust, carbon monoxide, dust mites, mold and spores, paint and fumes from other chemicals and cigarette smoke. Knowing these factors are likely to cause problems, measures should be taken to eradicate them.

• Eradication efforts may include introducing air cleansers, banning smoking and the use of chemicals, using masks where possible when decorating or cleaning and ensuring that any furnace or boiler in the home is working efficiently so as not to allow the escape of gases means a good start to healthy lung function.

• Envirotech-Online.com closes the post by urging everyone to call upon schools and businesses to adopt healthy air policies and being transparent in these policies so that the good steps we take at home aren’t wasted.

Read the full Envirotech-online.com Air Monitoring post here.

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