Table of contents:
- Sources of indoor air pollution
- 1. Asbestos
- 2. Mold and damp room
- 3. Perfume, deodorant, and cleaning agents
- 4. Cigarette smoke
- 5. Household activities
Many people think that air pollution only occurs outdoors so they feel safe when indoors. In fact, the air in your home, or in any room, can be polluted without you knowing it. Let's identify what sources of pollution can pollute the air in the room.
Sources of indoor air pollution
According to WHO, more than 3 billion people in the world use fuels, such as wood, charcoal, coal and plant waste for indoor cooking.
As a result, women and children who often spend time around the stove are likely to be exposed to air pollution without them knowing it.
In order to be more vigilant, you should know the origins of the sources of pollution that pollute the air in the room where you live, including:
1. Asbestos
Source: The Jakarta Post
One of the most common sources of indoor air pollution is asbestos. Asbestos (a mineral fiber) is a type of roof made of rock and soil. The strength of the fiber makes asbestos heat resistant.
The type of roof that is most often used by Indonesians consists of micro particles that are invisible to the human eye. In fact, these micro particles can affect the human respiratory tract and are carcinogens, aka the potential to cause cancer.
According to Scottish Environment Protection Agency, inhaling asbestos fibers for a long time can injure your lungs. This is most common in construction workers. The effects will be seen in the next few years.
2. Mold and damp room
Source: Daily Post
Apart from asbestos, it turns out that mold and damp rooms are also quite worrying sources of indoor air pollution.
Mold in rooms, such as in your home, will appear if the humidity level in your room is excessive. This condition usually occurs when there is a leak in the wall, creating a suitable environment for mold to grow and thrive.
A damp room can also increase the growth of mites, cockroaches, and bacteria which can have a negative impact on health.
Sensitive people, especially asthma sufferers, generally will trigger asthma symptoms more quickly when the air in the room starts to get humid. Starting from eye irritation, skin, and a myriad of other respiratory problems can also arise due to mold and high humidity.
3. Perfume, deodorant, and cleaning agents
According to a journal about the effects of indoor air pollution on your health, household cleaning products, such as cleaning agents and other household appliances such as perfume and deodorant that you use can be a source of pollution in the room.
Some of you may like to use air fresheners to make the house feel fresher and seem cleaner. Unfortunately, some air freshener products also contain organic compounds that are volatile and increase levels of air pollution.
4. Cigarette smoke
Almost all agree that cigarette smoke is a form of pollution. When you smoke indoors, of course this will be a source of pollution that can add to the list of disease risks that you and those around you may suffer.
Cigarette smoke is included in the category of sources of indoor air pollution because it contains dangerous chemical compounds, such as benzene, carbon monoxide, nicotine, and so on. As a result, burning one cigarette will produce 7-23 mg PM (Particullar Matter).
A person who smokes is exposed to their own smoke. People around them, such as residents of the house or people in the same room, will also inhale smoke even if they don't smoke.
In the end, the particles that come out of cigarette smoke will stick to the furniture, hair, clothes, to the floor of the room for some time. As a result, the air in your room becomes polluted and endangers other people in your home.
5. Household activities
The main source of indoor air pollution, especially in developing countries, such as Indonesia, is fuel for cooking. Generally, people often use biomass fuel for cooking, such as:
- Firewood
- Plant waste
- Animal waste
- Charcoal
These fuels are more affordable, but they can have a negative impact on your respiratory health because they emit very high gaseous pollutants, ranging from carbon monoxide, carbon, silica, phenols and to free radicals.
You know that when you inhale large amounts of carbon monoxide and for a long time, the compound can enter the red blood cells. As a result, carbon monoxide blocks the intake of oxygen needed by the body and causes various diseases.
Recognizing what sources of air pollution in the room are good, but don't forget to reduce various activities that can also pollute the air in your home. If you start to suspect something is wrong with your respiratory system, you should consult your doctor to get the right treatment.
