According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air inside of our homes can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside. Further still, indoor air pollution is currently considered to be one of the top five risks to public health that is caused by environmental factors. With these two statistics taken into account, it’s easy to see how large of an issue indoor air pollution is, and how big of a problem it can quickly become in any household.
Luckily, many indoor air pollutants are easily addressed through home air purification and filtration systems, some of which promise to reduce allergens and bacteria in the air by as much as 99%. Listed below are three of the most common indoor air pollutants found within most homes, along with a few reasons as to why their reduction is essential to your respiratory health, as well as to your overall quality of life.
Allergens
There are typically two classes of allergens. One is mold, whose growth is induced by moisture. The other is natural substances that are released into the air, such as pet dander and plant pollen. Sometimes these allergens are visible to the human eye, but many times they are not and can only be detected from professional inspections and testing. Because some household molds can be very toxic and even trigger asthmatic episodes or other health complications, the elimination of mold and mildew spores from the air is essential to enhanced quality of life.
Bacteria
Some bacteria in the air are waterborne and, much like mold and mildew, caused by excessive moisture in the air. However, a large portion of the bacteria present in the air of our homes is actually a result of natural human shedding. There is far more bacteria present on the surface of human skin than is present in the human body, and this bacteria is constantly being spread and distributed throughout the air around us. While not all bacteria is necessarily harmful, some types, such as Legionella, can cause serious illness in those with long-term exposure to it.
Organic Compounds
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a variety of chemicals that are emitted in the form of gases, produced from a varying range of sources. VOCs can not only be to blame for offensive odors within your home, but they can also be highly toxic as well. Unfortunately, VOCs are extremely common because they are found in literally thousands of household products – cleaning sprays, pesticides, paint, glue, permanent markers, and even cosmetics all contain organic chemicals as some of their main ingredients. Because these VOCs only build-up after extended periods of time, their presence usually goes unnoticed or ignored until the inhabitants of a home begin to experience health problems as a result.
One of the worst things you can do in treating allergens, bacteria, and organic compounds in your indoor air is to treat them with more chemicals. That is why All Day Air is proud to offer filtration systems from Fresh-Aire UV® that are chemical-free and safe to use, as well as economically sound. These systems are safe and effective at reducing mold, germs, allergens, and odors, foregoing chemicals and instead utilizing UV light to trap and destroy pollutants in their places. For more information on air purification and filtration systems in Southwest Florida, contact All Day Air today at (239) 357-0727.
