Indoor and outdoor air pollutants are the major causes of air pollution. Air pollution causes negative effects on your health and sometimes leads to death in extreme cases. Indoor air pollutants are more harmful than outdoor air pollutants because their health effects hit faster. Therefore, it is crucial to know more about major indoor air pollutants.
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Here are the common indoor air pollutants that you should know:
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide gas is one of the major indoor air pollutants. The incomplete combustion of carbon causes the gas. The equipment that produces this gas in your house includes kerosene heaters, charcoal grills, gas-fuelled furnaces, wood stoves, etc.
According to the American Lung Association, inhaling a small amount of gas can cause chest pain and fatigue in individuals with prolonged heart disease. Also, the symptom that you can have from inhaling this gas include dizziness, vomiting, weakness, headache, etc. Furthermore, excessive inhalation of the gas leads to loss of consciousness and death in some cases.
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Environmental tobacco smoke is also a form of indoor air pollutant. Tobacco smoke affects both smokers and non-smokers. Tobacco smoke is a major cause of lung cancer. Environmental tobacco smoke on non-smokers includes irritation of your eyes, throat, and nose, sudden infant death syndrome, decreased lung functions, low birth weight, and some behavioural changes in children. Also, it would be best if you protect your children from tobacco smoke because reports have shown that they are more affected by the smoke.
Pesticides
These are toxic chemicals used indoors and outdoors to control or kill insects and microorganisms. Pesticides can be in the form of disinfectants or insecticides. They are majorly used in the house to control insects, rodents, termites, etc. The health effects of your exposure to pesticides include irritation to the eye, throat, and nose, damage to the kidney and central nervous system, and a high risk of cancer.
Suppose you have been exposed to a pesticide. In extreme cases, your likely symptoms may include dizziness, headache, nausea, muscular weakness, and death. One of the ways to reduce the indoor effect of pesticides includes using recommended quantities and disposing of unneeded pesticides in the house, among others.
Nitrogen Dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide is also a major indoor air pollutant. This gas's primary source in your home includes unvented combustion appliances, kerosene heaters, and vented appliances with defective installations. Its effect on your health includes developing chronic bronchitis, diffuse lung injury, increased risk of respiratory infections, etc.
Conclusion
Indoor air pollutants are detrimental to humans. Some of the common indoor causes of indoor air pollutants and their effect are listed above. Your exposure to indoor air pollutants may affect your body. Therefore, the ideal way of reducing indoor air pollution is to get rid of all the pollutants.
