'There's no place like home' as the old saying goes.
And since the pandemic threw the world into chaos, many of us have been spending much more time within our sacred four walls - which now embody offices, gyms, and creative spaces. But have you ever stopped to think just how dirty the air is in your home?
Incredibly, indoor air quality can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, and since people typically spend around 90 per cent of their time indoors, this could be a big problem. From scented candles to cleaning products, your home could slowly be polluted by particles that are putting you at risk of serious health problems, according to TV doctor Amir Khan.
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Speaking in a video posted on his Twitter, Dr Khan said: “When we normally think of air pollution, we think of outside - cars, planes, emissions - that kind of thing.
“But there are common household items that can pollute the inside of our homes. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to lung disease, heart disease and even strokes. So, let’s look at some examples.”
The perils of wood-burning stoves and open fires
First on the list are wood-burning stoves and open fires which can produce something called 'particulate matter'. The unusual term refers to a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dirt, soot, dust, or smoke, are big enough - or dark enough - to be seen with the naked eye.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says such fine, smaller particles can be “dangerous” as they can get into the deep parts of your lungs - and even into your blood.
“These tiny particles when breathed in can damage our lungs and increase our risk of lung cancer in the long term,” Dr Khan said.
The health body also linked particle pollution to eye, lung and throat irritation, trouble breathing and problems with babies at birth.
Scented candles and incense sticks
When it comes to less obviously 'risky' household items, look no further than scented candles and incense sticks. These are singled out as they give off tiny particles of other pollutants when they burn.
Dr Khan said: “Incense sticks, in particular, give off more than 100 times more fine particles than a scented candle. So, it’s a good idea to light these in well-aired large spaces.”
Cleaning products
And finally we come to perhaps the most likely candidate of air pollutants within the home - cleaning products.
Dr Khan said: “Cleaning products, like furniture polish, air freshener, carpet cleaner, oven cleaner, as well as aerosols, like deodorant and hairspray, contain something called volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which when breathed in can irritate our airways, cause nausea and damage our nerves and other organs.”
The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Total Exposure Assessment Methodology studies found that the levels of these common organic pollutants are two to five times higher inside homes than outside.
Furthermore, this data was the same regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas.
Dr Khan added: “I know it’s impossible to avoid all of these things in our homes but by minimising their use, having lots of indoor plants, and opening windows, allowing for good ventilation, you can improve your indoor air quality.”
