Inside your home or business is where you spend most of your life. You wake up in one and spend the day in the other. But have you taken much time to think about the air you’re breathing? The air can affect your daily health for better or for worse and can even have long-term effects on your body.
Indoor air quality consultants, or experts on diagnosing and improving air pollutant problems, share the 5 following unknown facts about indoor air quality. There are a few surprising things about the air you breathe, and some hidden risks.
Your Air is Surprisingly Polluted
They call it “getting fresh air” for a reason. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, indoor air can be up to 1,000 times more polluted than outdoor air. This means that you’re breathing chemicals and allergens that you shouldn’t be breathing—and you may not even know it! This also means spending most of your day surrounded by possible carcinogens, and substances that can cause asthma and allergy problems. Professional indoor air quality solutions exist to correct the common problem of harsh and dangerous indoor air, a problem that affects businesses and homes alike across the world.
Indoor Pollution Is Stealthy
Research has shown that many contaminants and pollutants of indoor air don’t register to your nose. Even worse, some problems, such as mold and rodent waste in the air, can be harmful in light amounts, so small that you won’t necessarily smell rot or waste. The Environmental Protection Agency has reported that there is little conclusive research about the amount of time it takes for health effects of indoor pollution exposure to kick in. However, they strongly recommend that you take steps to improve indoor air quality, even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms, such as allergies, or noticing foul odors.
The Kitchen Is the Worst
Most people know that the kitchen is one of the most high-maintenance rooms in your home. It’s tough to keep it clean, and troubles such as pest or water damage can make your life difficult. But you should also know that the kitchen may be the most polluted room in your home. That’s because your kitchen appliances may be releasing deadly levels of harmful air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, formaldehyde, and more. Proper ventilation is essential when you cook, and so are indoor air quality control steps.
Radon Is Common and Deadly
Radon is a gas that can’t be seen, smelled, or tasted. At high enough levels, it can be deadly. In fact, radon can actually cause lung cancer. So it may shock you to learn that a whopping 1 in 15 US homes contain dangerously high levels of radon, according to the EPA.
The Long-Term Effects Are Serious
Indoor air problems don’t just cause temporary illnesses or irritations. They can actually decrease your lifespan. A 2012 study showed that the population-wide impact of indoor pollution is just has bad as the population-wide impact of car accidents! In other words, indoor air takes just as many years of healthy human life as car accidents do. And even exposure to moderately polluted air can cause respiratory or heart disease as well as cancers.
Breathe with Confidence – Call Air Quality Systems
Dirty duct work can put the health and welfare of your family at risk. Contact Air Quality Systems for a thorough inspection and cleaning, and avoid the detrimental facts about indoor air quality. You just may be shocked by the amount of unwanted dust, dirt and grime that can be removed. Air Quality Systems can improve your indoor air quality in Atlanta, GA. For the sake of your health, your family’s health, and the health of your employees, call us today at 770-446-1142.