Indoor Air Pollutants And Health: Impact Of Poor Indoor Air Quality On Your Health

In today's fast-paced world, where technological advancements and comfort have become central to our lives, we often overlook a critical aspect of our well-being: indoor air quality (IAQ). While modern homes are designed to offer convenience and aesthetic appeal, the importance of breathing clean and healthy air cannot be overstated. In this opinion article, we will discuss why focusing on good indoor air quality is a necessity rather than a luxury in our modern homes.

What are indoor pollutants and how are they different from outdoor pollutants?

We spend 90% of our lives indoors and generally the indoor air quality is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoors. The indoor air pollutants are mainly the VOC’s (Volatile Organic compounds), Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Humidity, and Suspended particulate matter, tells Mr. Rajesh Sachdev, CEO, Blutherm.

• Constant exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, nausea, irritation in eyes and nose, and some are also extremely carcinogenic in nature.
• Carbon dioxide and monoxide are responsible for memory loss, dizziness, fatigue, and respiratory problems.
• Humidity is responsible for the formation of mould, mildew, which give rise to microbial pathogens, thereby affecting our health.
• The suspended particulate matter goes into our lungs while breathing, and can cause chronic bronchitis, asthma, and various respiratory issues.

These indoor air pollutants are generally generated by the wrong planning of our dwellings, by our appliances and objects and by our indoor activities. For example, our cooking devices and fuel oil generate carbon monoxide and VOC’s, our bathrooms, cleaning products and laundry are responsible for VOC’s, and humidity, and we are generally surrounded by products like paints, varnishes, carpets, mattresses, furnishings which are constantly emanating VOC’s.

Also Read: Purify Your Home With These Indoor Plants

How can indoor pollutants affect our health & wellness

Dr. KV Harish, MBBS, MD (Internal Medicine), Senior Consultant at Fortis Hospital, Bangalore and Consultant Physician, Diabetologist, Clinical Cardiologist at Hansaa Healthcare explains that Indoor pollutants can have a significant impact on our health and wellness, leading to serious diseases if proper precautions are not taken. Various substances such as solvents, moulds, smoke, pesticide gases, pet dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, itch mites, pollen, and compounds emitted by heating devices contribute to indoor air pollution, which can be harmful to our health.

Also Read: Detrimental Effects Of Air Pollution On Asthma Patients

Serious health diseases that may be caused

Exposure to indoor pollutants can trigger a range of health problems, particularly affecting the respiratory system. These pollutants can irritate the airways of the lungs, causing conditions such as allergic bronchitis, asthma, reactive airway disease (RAD), upper respiratory tract infections, and lower respiratory tract infections. Individuals with respiratory conditions like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or asthma are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of indoor pollutants.

Moreover, indoor pollutants can lead to nasal blockage, irritation, and allergic rhinitis, resulting in symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and itching. In shared indoor spaces, the presence of cross-infections caused by viruses and bacteria in the air can increase the risk of respiratory illnesses, especially when an infected person coughs or sneezes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of respiratory infections in children are caused by poor air quality.

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to take measures to maintain good indoor air quality. Strategies such as reducing air pollution through cross ventilation (using mesh screens on doors and windows), air purification, and the proper use of air conditioning systems can help minimise the presence of indoor pollutants. Additionally, individuals at higher risk, such as young children and the elderly with respiratory diseases, should take extra precautions to avoid exposure to indoor pollutants.

By prioritising good indoor air quality, we can promote better health, strengthen the immune system, and enhance overall well-being. Maintaining a healthy indoor environment not only benefits our respiratory health but also improves our performance, productivity, and overall quality of life.

Also Read: Causes & Ways To Reduce Indoor Air Pollution

How to safeguard ourselves from indoor pollutants?

The “sick building syndrome” defined a few decades ago described a constellation of symptoms (including those involving the upper and lower respiratory tract)  that individuals experienced when they spent a prolonged time in a building, very often a workspace. Individuals with allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis have a low threshold for reacting to pollutants (both organic and inorganic), temperature and humidity fluctuations, all of which can make the quality of indoor air an important determinant of their health.

Dr. Lancelot Mark Pinto, Consultant Pulmonologist and Epidemiologist, P. D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre lists down some ways to keep ourselves safe:

• Improving air quality in closed spaces would involve architectural changes, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) optimization.
• Architectural changes are difficult, and modifying existing architecture to improve ventilation could be expensive.
• In a tropical country like India, opening up windows and letting air circulate is easier to do than in colder climates.
• Fans can be added to help lower temperatures, improve ambient comfort, and help air circulate.

There would be challenges to manage this in the monsoons, and one would have to think of novel and tailored solutions to prevent discomfort due to humidity. When it is not possible to turn off air conditioning, one should try to have air exchanges as frequently as possible rather than recirculate air (even though this may be less energy-efficient). Improving air filtration by mechanical, electronic, ultraviolet-C in air ducts, or HEPA filters can be used, but tend to be expensive. The most inexpensive way of improving ventilation is possibly a combination of opening up windows and installing strong exhaust fans, the combination of which will lead to a constant air circulation.