The air we breathe inside our homes may seem clean and pure, but in reality, it can be filled with pollutants that are harmful to our health. There are many sources of pollution, from cleaning products to emissions from our appliances. Poor air quality can have negative consequences on our health. So what are the different negative effects due to this bad quality of the air we breathe in our house?
The first consequences of poor air quality are respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, allergies, coughing, nasal congestion and lung infections. Pollutants such as fine particles, harmful gases and molds can irritate the airways, which can cause breathing difficulties and symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
In people with asthma, exposure to these harmful substances can trigger attacks. It is therefore important to monitor your home’s indoor air quality and take steps that can range from regular ventilation to frequent cleaning to the use of high-quality ventilation systems.
Indoor air pollutants such as fine particles, harmful gases and allergens can attack the mucous membranes of these parts of the body, causing symptoms such as itching, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, throat irritation and headaches. For allergy sufferers, exposure to allergens in indoor air can worsen their symptoms.
Poor air quality can also lead to cardiovascular problems such as stroke, heart attack and coronary heart disease. Pollutants such as fine particles, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide can enter the circulatory system and affect the heart and blood vessels, which can cause cardiovascular health problems.
These pollutants can cause inflammation in the blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries and increased blood pressure, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Poor air quality can have disastrous effects on the nervous system. Indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particles, can enter the body and reach the brain, where they can cause damage.
There is evidence that exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause adverse effects on the nervous system, such as memory impairment, mood changes, sleep disturbances and reduced cognitive function.
In children, long-term exposure to these harmful substances can have even more serious consequences on brain development, which can cause learning and behavioral problems.
Poor indoor air quality can affect children’s development. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollutants because their bodies are still developing and they tend to breathe faster and spend more time indoors than adults.
Long-term exposure to air pollutants can have adverse effects on children’s growth and development, including decreased lung function, increased risk of asthma and other respiratory disorders, and impaired cognitive development.
Studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants such as fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide may be associated with decreased school performance, memory and attention in children.
Therefore, it is important to monitor your home’s indoor air quality and take steps to improve it. Here are some arrangements that can be made:
In addition, it is important to avoid exposing children to polluted outdoor environments, especially in urban areas where air quality may be particularly poor.
There are several common pollutants in the air, but here are some of the most common:
