Why is the air in your apartment more dangerous than outside

What pollutes the air

Due to large industries, transport emissions and the lack of forest near megalopolises, more than 80% of the population of cities in the world breathesAir pollution levels rising in many of the world’s poorest cities / WHO dirty air. There are 40 cities in RussiaReview of the state and pollution of the environment in the Russian Federation / Roshydromet in the red zone: the level of air pollution there is characterized as high and very high. In general, nine out of ten people in the world breathe air with a high concentration of harmful substances.Globally, 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air / WHO.

All these substances calmly penetrate into houses and apartments through open windows and doors - just look at the accumulation of soot and dust on window sills or inside fittings. In addition, each apartment has its own sources of pollution: dust, particles of household chemicals, animal hair. Therefore, the air in the house can be even more hazardous to health than outside.

Solid particles

A key indicator of air pollution is the concentration of particulate matter. Household dust can be seen, but the most dangerous particles are ultrafine PM10 and PM2.5 are so small that they are inaccessible to the human eye. The former is six times thinner than a hair, and the latter is 24. They consistAmbient air quality and health / WHO from a complex mixture of substances: sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, soot, mineral dust and water. And they appear due to transport emissions, erosion of the road surface and soil.

PM10 particles are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and settling in them. Small PM2.5 penetrate the membranes and go straight into the circulatory system. They causeHealth effects of particulate matter / WHO serious harm to health - provoke cancer and heart disease. And they can also affect mood, cause headaches, reduce a person's performance and even intellectual abilities.Xin Zhang, Xi Chen, and Xiaobo Zhang. The impact of exposure to air pollution on cognitive performance / PNAS.

Harmful gases

The ozone layer in the upper atmosphere is important for maintaining life on the planet, but at ground level ozone is a component of smog. It arises from the chemical reaction of industrial and vehicle exhaust with sunlight, therefore the highest level of ozone pollution is observed in clear weather. An excess of this gas in the air can lead to breathing problems, impair lung function and cause lung disease. Ozone is one of the main factorsAmbient air quality and health / WHO risk of morbidity and mortality from asthma.

Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide can also be implicated in the development of asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. It is almost impossible to get rid of them: these gases appear as a result of the generation of electricity and heating in cities.

Household dust and household items

The main source of common household dust is the residents of the house themselves. It is formed from dead skin cells, dandruff, hair, animal hair, clothing fibers. That is why, even with the windows closed, dust still accumulates in the apartment. Small particles constantly float in the air, while larger particles settle on surfaces. In addition, a huge number of dangerous microscopic parasites - dust mites - live in carpets, mattresses and pillows. They become frequent culprits.Dust Mites / American Lung Association allergies and asthma.

In addition to dust, there are other problems - evaporation from finishes and household chemicals. For example, chipboard furniture, solvents, varnishes, paints, aerosols. They can contribute to the formation of harmful substances, in particular phenol, styrene and formaldehyde. The latter contributesToxFAQs ™ for Formaldehyde / Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry the development of cancerous tumors.

How to clean the air in an apartment

The concentration of pollutants in the house can be 2-5 times higherIndoor Air Quality / United States Environmental Protection Agencythan in the city air. Now what can be done about it.

Get rid of harmful materials

Try not to buy furniture that is detrimental to air quality. The black list includes chipboard, fiberboard, polyethylene, foam rubber, polyurethane and other synthetic materials. When renovating, it is worth considering what goes into finishing. The most environmentally friendly are parquet or parquet board, ceramic tiles and paper or eco-wallpaper made of jute or bamboo. It is important to check the composition of any glue - it should not contain toluene. When choosing paint for the ceiling, give preference to water-based compositions. They are generally safe and solvent free.

No smoking at home

Tobacco smoke equalsSecondhand Smoke and Smoke ‑ free Homes / United States Environmental Protection Agency to air pollutants and is a major risk factor for cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. If you can't give up a bad habit, you should at least smoke outside the home. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers have found outLynn Yarris. Study reveals dangers of nicotine in thirdhand smoke / Berkeley Labthat residual nicotine settles on all visible surfaces of the room and reacts with ozone and nitrogen oxide. In this case, new compounds appear - potential carcinogens. Inhalation of these substances has been called tertiary smoking and has been proven to be hazardous to health.

Clean regularly

To get rid of dust and pet hair that has settled on surfaces, it is worth wet cleaning with cleaning agents at least once a week. Keep in mind that some formulations can only be used in well-ventilated areas, so read the instructions carefully. Household chemicals should not containSafer Choice / United States Environmental Protection Agency phthalates, phosphates, ionic surfactants, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, formaldehyde, butyl glycol, ethylene glycol, volatile organic compounds. It's also best to avoid artificial colors and fragrances.

Install an air purifier

Even a thorough cleaning is unlikely to get rid of PM2.5 particles. A wet cloth and a vacuum cleaner are powerless here: tiny particles are suspended in the air and do not settle on surfaces.

To keep the air always clean, special technical devices will come in handy - purifiers with a HEPA filter. They are capableWhat is a HEPA filter? / United States Environmental Protection Agency remove at least 99.97% of solid particles with a size of 0.3 microns. Such a purifier is especially important if you spend a lot of time at home, such as working remotely. And also if children, the elderly live in the apartment, or when someone close to you has asthma. The device will also come in handy for owners of fluffy cats or other pets.